#libraries are important

[musicalhell]

Libraries also develop their collections based on the existing needs and interests of the community they serve--and with funding likely an issue in the next few years, they'll need to be extra-careful about how they use purchasing money. Checking out queer books not only lets librarians know those books are being read, but that there are people in their area who would probably like to see more of them.

I'm already seeing advice from people in the US to purchase queer books and other banned or "controversial" books on paper as a way to combat the wave of government censorship that is coming. While this is a good idea (it is! absolutely!), it's not accessible to everyone, and truly, we're not going to be able to consumerism our way out of this one.

If you can buy the books, do. Whether you can buy the books or not, borrow them from your library.

Borrow the paper versions. Borrow the ebook or audiobook versions. Request the titles you want that your library doesn't have. The more a title circulates or is requested, the better librarians are going to be able to defend keeping it if and when it's ever challenged.

Use libraries like @queerliblib too. The more members they have, the better they'll be able to fundraise.

Your community resources depend on you using them. Borrow the books before they go away.

InB4: Piracy is not the solution here. We're trying to keep community resources available, not make sure individual people can read individual books. Different problems.

The books are still available. Borrowing them from your library and returning them on time and in good condition will help keep them that way.

[margaretthotcher]

Queer Book Recommendations

It's pride season in Wellington, New Zealand and my local library has published its second "Teen Staff Picks" zine! In that spirit, I bring you, a collection of lesser-known queer books featured in the two that have been released so far! I've narrowed the lists down to books that have 1000 or fewer reviews on Goodreads as of posting (though I actually use Storygraph personally). I haven't read most of these, they're new to me as well but looking forward to getting into them.

Sapphic

Trouble Girls - Julia Lynn Rubin

Planning Perfect - Haley Neil

Improbable Magic for Cynical Witches - Kate Scelsa

The Meadows - Stephanie Oakes

Never Trust a Gemini - Freja Nicole Woolf

This Is All Your Fault - Aminah Mae Safi

The Year My Life Went Down the Toilet - Jake Maia Arlow

Youngblood - Sasha Laurens

In the Role of Brie Hutchens - Nicole Melleby

Achillean

We Are Totally Normal - Rahul Kanakia

Two Can Play That Game - Leanne Yong

Blaine for the Win - Robbie Couch

I Like Me Better - Robby Weber

The Language of Seabirds - Will Taylor

The Feeling of Falling in Love - Mason Deaver

Charming Young Man - Eliot Schrefer

Emmett - L. C. Rosen

Pages I Never Wrote - Marco Donati

Trans Characters

Across a Field of Starlight - Blue Delliquanti

Welcome to St. Hell: My Trans Teen Misadventure - Lewis Hancox

The Borrow a Boyfriend Club - Page Powars

If I Can Give You That - Michael Gray Bulla

Transmogrify!: 14 Fantastical Tales of Trans Magic - G. Haron Davis

Jess, Chunk, and the Road Trip to Infinity - Kristin Elizabeth Clark

Magical Boy - The Kao

Kisses For Jet: A Coming-of-Gender Story - Joris Bas Backer

Between Perfect and Real - Ray Stoeve

Featuring Queer People of Colour

Ander & Santi Were Here - Jonny Garza Villa

The Loophole - Naz Kutub

Spell Bound - F. T. Lukens

Tim Te Maro and the Subterranean Heartsick Blues - H. S. Valley

Rise to the Sun - Leah Johnson

Never Kiss Your Roommate - Philline Harms

Rainbow! - Bloom & Sunny

Other Ever Afters: New Queer Fairy Tales - Melanie Gillman

Anne of Greenville - Mariko Tamaki

[dewitty1]

BTW, y'all. Sad news. I went to our local library, and yeah, it's been a while, but it was so disheartening to see how EMPTY it was. Not just that there weren't any people there, because there weren't very many. But mainly because there were barely any BOOKS. More than HALF the book shelves and books were gone. Straight up GONE. This is what happens when we don't use our libraries, and they lose funding.

[vexy-hexy]

I want to remind readers/book lovers (myself included) that while collecting books is fun, it's also not really good and is another way capitalism gets you

Books are getting really expensive nowadays, and you're eventually going to run out of space, and you may not even LIKE some of the books in your collection, but you still spent a good amount of money on that book you now see as a waste of time and money

My advice is to go to your local library (if you can. I'm aware that not all libraries across the world are as fortunate as the ones near me). Read the library copy, and only if you REALLY like the book, then get a copy for yourself, but check local used bookstores or thrift stores if it's been out for a while for much less than what you'd pay at Barnes and Nobles or Coles

On that note, if you are done with books and they are in good condition, please donate them to the libraries or to used bookstores (some used bookstores will also pay you a small amount or give you store credit for the books you bring in)

I'm still working on getting out of the claws of capitalism and supporting my community/local stores when I can, and I advise other people to do the same if you are able to

[ohmysatan42]

We also like carrot cake and a bigger building with more space and resources.

[notetoriouslylazy]

Remember periodicals? Yeah, that newspaper and magazine section you learned about in school and thought the Internet killed.

Most libraries still have them, and are updating them based on usage. One of the libraries I work at has History Today and Smithsonian Magazine which I check out every month.

When I started at the other library I work at one of my first assignments was to look at stats for our existing subscriptions, select 3 titles to cut, and recommend replacements.

Everyone I've ever talked to has loved their local library. But most of them also admit they don't go to the library because "who goes to the library anymore?"

Tons of people! We sign up new members every day! You love your library? You want to support it? Get a library card! Check out books! Check out movies! Check out magazines!

FFS one of the libraries I work for lends out ukuleles, hiking back packs, bocce sets, night vision goggles, and so much more depending on the season. Both of them lend out telescopes.

So what if you don't like to read books? We won't judge you. Come in and use the computer! Ask about our museum passes! Check out our upcoming programs! You don't have to be a bookworm to love the library. You don't even have to be literate. (Seriously, one of my friends is functionally illiterate, it's not his fault. He has learning disabilities and the school system failed to help him.)

Libraries are one of the last places in America where you can hang out for hours without the expectation of paying money.

LIBRARIES ARE FOR EVERYONE!

Unhoused? Come to the library!

New to the country? Come to the library!

Teen who needs a safe space? Come to the library!

Retiree who needs stimulation? Come to the library!

IDGAF who you are, what your background is, or how you identify. If you come into my library I will treat you as a friend and equal.

Public libraries are one of the most valuable resources for the marginalized and underprivileged in this country. Help us keep providing valuable resources to those that need them. Support your local library! Show your elected officials how much you care!

Both of the libraries I work for are facing budget cuts and everyone is upset about it but they don't make their frustration known when it matters most.

Because our biggest patrons are the disenfranchised, few of them go to the voting booth. When a town or city is facing budget cuts the library is one of the first to go. Combine that with attacks from alt right groups that want to dictate what we can and can't do, libraries are in a crisis nationwide.

My experience is no different from someone in California, Kansas, the Bible Belt, or the Pacific Northwest. We are all struggling, we're all dealing with compassion fatigue. We all need the help and support of everyone in our communities in order to keep providing the kinds of access and resources that are invaluable to millions of people across the US.

[homeagainrose]

Once more as in all things, the solution is to go to the library.

[lavoixhumaine]

So, someone tweeted something complimentary about this guy’s book and this was his genius response. In the age where libraries are struggling to stay open, this douchebag decided to be the anti-Neil Gaiman.

What a jackass.

[libraribear]

[fandomshatewomen]

talking about librarians: please let's support the librarians of our towns and neighborhoods, they fight to keep information and reading accessible and free. Unfortunately, they receive very little and are constantly overworked and undervalued. I had access to extremely expensive academic books (which are rare to even find on the internet) completely free in local libraries, as well as help because I'm autistic and the librarian helped me find really cool films (i watched it for free too!). I study at university and my studies are cheaper thanks to librarians.

hey thanks for this!!! I am very lucky that I've gotten to work with a school librarian as a TA when I was in high school and she was just amazing I loved her so much. Please please please check out your local library and sign up at least to use their libby and hoopla resources (they're apps that just require a library card to get ebooks and audiobooks to use. So like think of kindle and audiophile but free)!

mod laina

[smart-macademia]

the key to surviving grad school (also maybe life but definitely grad school) is to pick a side quest every few months or so. something that brings you joy and that you can get better at over time, independent of whether or not your research or classes are going well. put your need for academic validation to use in a non-academic setting and everything will feel less dire and you will learn you are more than your work

[swordandstars]

Friends!

Are you feeling hopeless in the face of the oncoming MAGA-pocalypse? Want to do something fast, easy, and free that will make a difference?

If you're in Michigan, keep reading! If you're not, signal boost this to your Mitten State Mutuals!

Michiganders, it's time to contact your state reps and tell them to vote YES on HB 6034 and HB 6035. Together, these two bills comprise the Freedom to Read Act and they severely limit the ability of assholes to ban books in the state of Michigan.

Want to read the bills for yourself? Click here:

https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Search/ExecuteSearch?sessions=2023-2024&docTypes=House%20Bill,Senate%20Bill&contentFullText=%22freedom%20to%20read%22

Tl;dr? Here's an article and video summarizing the Act from CBS News:

Not sure how to contact your Michigan state representatives? Text RESIST to 50409 and Resistbot will walk you through it.

It's easy, it takes about 5 minutes, and you can do it from your couch/bed/puddle of despair.

Tips for contacting elected officials:

1) If you're asking them to vote YES or NO on something, say that in the first line. Bonus points if you can tag the actual bill (HB/House Bill) number.

2) Only include ONE issue per communication.

3) 1&2 are because these are being skimmed by interns who keep a running tally of what each communication is about. One communication = one point.

3a) Don't be a dick to the interns. Their lives are hard enough.

4) Keep it short. One sentence very clearly stating what you want. One or two sentences about why they should care about what you want ("As a resident of your district, I know you agree that SOMETHING SOMETHING FREEDOM, SOMETHING SOMETHING LIBERTY, SOMETHING SOMETHING THINK OF THE CHILDREN.") Appeal to the person they claim to be in their campaign ads. Get it, give them clear instructions, get out.

5) No profanity.

6) No threats.

7) No memes/ slang/ sarcasm/ lols. You are cosplaying as someone who thinks salt is too spicy and whose greatest joy in life is sorting their collection of plain white socks.

8) 5, 6, & 7 are because anything you communicate to an elected official will become a matter of public record. It goes into a file. And if anyone ever pulls that file, you want to be on record as the most boring, conscientious, polite, non-threatening motherfucker who ever lived.

Now go forth and make your voice heard!

(Hey @unpretty and @official-michigan-posts, can you help get the word out?)

[bbb-bbbbbbb]

reveal of my gordon hlvrai costume project, now that about half of it is done! this is cardstock and glue and tape and more glue and paint and velcro. and 2 gloves (one hand-sewn)

i got started sometime in early-mid fall, but i committed to making it work with cardstock in january- it was originally meant to be a sizing test before construction with eva foam over the summer. then i realized how expensive thatd be, too much pressure for a form of craft ive never practiced. im pretty amazed with how its come together, even with the large seams! during that whole time when it was unpainted (started painting two weeks ago) there was no way to tell

[waitineedaname]

feeling so fucked up over kim dokja and yoo sangah. what if you cracked your soul open and shoved me inside of it to keep me safe. what if I got cozy inside your soul and read every page of the story that makes you who you are. and we were both coworkers.

[racingwest]

i think it's pretty clear who's who