The American Library Association announced last month that book-banning attempts have reached record highs, and yesterday, it released a report detailing the most challenged books in the country. "Gender Queer: A Memoir" by Maia Kobabe tops the list, which is dominated by books about LGBTQ folk and people of color. “More and more, we’re seeing challenges that say, simply, ‘This book has a gay character,’ or, ‘This book deals with LGBTQ themes,’ even if it has no sexuality in it,” Deborah Caldwell-Stone, the director of the ALA’s office for intellectual freedom, says. “We’re seeing those naked attacks on simply the visibility of and knowledge about LGBTQ lives and experiences.” Here's more from Smithsonian Magazine.
“The most challenged books in the United States in 2023 continued to focus on the experiences of L.G.B.T.Q. people or explore themes of race…”
Time to buy these books, and/or request your public library purchase if they don’t have them. #bookstodon#books#libraries#censorship#race#lgbtq@bookstodon
If you care about books, about libraries, and about your own freedom to read (and write) whatever the hell you want, it behooves you to pay attention. Currently, Kelly Jensen is the only journalist devoted to this beat, 24/7, for several years now.
Here's her call to action: pay attention and show up locally; don't hope for someone else to stand up for your rights.
Years ago, author, literary arts organizer and publisher Michelle Tea was hanging out with a fellow writer who was a nanny for a young boy, and noticed how the child was transfixed by the wigs in the window of Gypsy Rosalie's Wigs and Vintage in San Francisco. It was there that she had the germ of the idea for Drag Story Hour, which she launched in 2015 at the Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial branch of the San Francisco Public Library. For Alta Online, she talks about the evolution of the series, how she feels about right-wing attacks on it, and why she chose to launch in libraries. "Librarians have always been cool. They’ve always been pro-queer, pro-liberation, pro-freedom. Of course they’re going to love a drag queen reading to kids.”
As the article states: "Every library is different, and not every library is going to offer all of the services outlined here. You will have to check the website for your local library—or head to the library and ask someone—to find out what your library has to offer."
So go ahead and check what your local library offers.
I’m trying to expand my Librairy access of those who offer a free Librairy card with valid ID over the internet?
I’m not interested in checking physical books out with these, vs digital and so many books aren’t available in my network.
Separate:
Also some books aren’t available to me and are generally only available at university libraries. Are there any that offer a membership over the internet for digital?
De Gruyter Handbook of Citizens’ Assemblies (2023) #OpenAccess#Book by M. Reuchamps, J. Vrydagh and Y Welp (eds.).
"Citizens’ Assemblies (CAs) are flourishing around the world. Quite often composed of randomly selected citizens, CAs, arguably, come as a possible answer to contemporary democratic challenges. Democracies worldwide are indeed confronted with a series of disruptive phenomena such as a widespread perception of distrust and growing polarization as well as low performance. Many actors seek to reinvigorate democracy with citizen participation and deliberation. CAs are expected to have the potential to meet this twofold objective."
Is there anything more solarpunk than public libraries? Serving at the heart of communities, they’re a place where anyone regardless of income, ability, race, class, or gender can go to read books, listen to music, use the internet, learn things, hear story hour, get out of the weather for a while, and ask librarians for information on just about anything, including what organizations to turn to for additional support in your life or endeavor.
In Episode 2 of Season 2 of Solarpunk Presents, Christina talks to Don Gardner, a librarian for many years for the Salinas Public Libraries in Monterey County, California. Hear about how people rescued the library after the city council tried to close it down to save money, about what libraries can do for you and your community, and about what you can do for your local library.
My library hold for Helen Oyeyemi's newest, Parasol Against the Axe, arrived and I was able to sneak a few pages in yesterday. Taking place in one of my favorite settings, Prague, the book feels like it's going to be a strangely intriguing one. And it has a book-within-a-book that changes stories depending on the reader.
The Hidden Library of St. Paul's Cathedral in London will be available for its first overnight guests on March 15. Two lucky people will be able to peruse its 22,000-book collection and climb the dome of the cathedral, led by the Dean of St. Paul's, before settling down for the night. They'll also receive signed advance copies of books including Holly Jackson’s "The Reappearance of Rachel Price," John Grisham’s "Camino Ghosts," and Kevin Kwan’s "Lies and Weddings." The stay costs just £7 (about $9) and includes breakfast, dinner and activities. Here's more from @thrillist including a link to book, which will go live on March 12 at 10 a.m. GMT.
Like many library systems across the country the Worcester Public Library in Massachusetts doesn't charge late fees but does fine patrons for damaged or missing books. This month they have set up a meow-velous way to pay those fines.
what the fuck do we do. theyve destroyed communication in gaza. they keep bombing. we don't even know how bad it is. if it was that bad when the world was watching. Jesus.
Your library and your community need your help. Mid-year City budget cuts in November 2023 forced New York City’s public libraries to reduce the vital services we offer to all New Yorkers, including ending Sunday service at most locations offering it across the city, and reducing collections, programming, and maintenance at our branches.
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