#library; open book

[creatureheart]

Made an updated version of this with a bit more info on things and a few tweaks, so go check out that version here!

I've made a few posts talking about things in the nonhuman and alterhuman communities recently, mostly just brief looks into them, so I thought I would share this one.

The info may not be all that much, and could easily be expanded upon, but I did my best for a simple bit of info for certain things.

All pictures have ALT text included, but I shall post the text also here, under a cut, cause it's a bit long, lol

Nonhuman as an identity: To identify as not human either fully or partially. (hate/trolls will be reported and deleted)

Reminder: These are all personal identities and why someone identifies as nonhuman and what term someone decides to use for themself is exclusively their business. In the end it is what makes the most sense to the individual and not up to others. Now, onto some of the communities that are included under the nonhuman identity:

Otherkin: from the term "otherkind" - an identity which typically encompasses being wholly or partially a nonhuman entity. Usually understood to cover those who identify as mythical creatures and other fantastical things. Also covers those that fall outside of beings and creatures.

Examples of non-being or creature based identities: Conceptkin: an identity where one identifies as a concept such as the concept of night or fire. Objectkin: and identity where one identifies as an object. Songkin: an identity where one identifies as a song.

Examples of being and creature based identities: Therianthropy: usually shortened to therian - where one identifies AS a nonhuman animal. Some will say that this term refers to only earthen animals, living or extinct, but it has never only encompassed earthly animals. The community's language came from those who identify as werecreatures. Theriomythic: an alternate identity term for one who identifies in some intrinsic was as a mythical creature. Paleotherian: an identity term for one who identifies as a now extinct earthly animal, like a dinosaur or mammoth.

Cladotherian or Cladokin: an identity term for one who does not identify as a distinct species, but a broader identity encompassing an entire genus or larger grouping. Cladomythic: an identity term for one who identifies as a group (clade) of animalistic mythical creatures.

Fictionkin: an identity term that covers all things fictional. For those who identify as something fictional like characters, animals, species, objects, etc. These can be from books, shows, video games, etc, but not always! Original fictional characters and such are also possible.

There are many other identities that fall under the nonhuman umbrella which is why it's important to do your own research to figure out if a certain term works for you. All these identities share the trait of being involuntary. You cannot choose to be therian, otherkin, or the other mentioned identities.

While the already mentioned identities are involuntary, there are some identities that fall under being voluntary. Otherlink: an identity where one voluntarily identifies as nonhuman. Copinglink: an identity where one voluntarily identifies as nonhuman to copes with things such as trauma, stress, etc.

A lot of people may also say that it is impossible to become a therian, otherkin, etc. While the identity is involuntary, things like trauma and neurodivergence can cause an individual to take on a nonhuman identity when they had not had one previously.

Most will usually see people explain that these identities are spiritual or psychological, but these are only some of the ways that individuals may experience them. Some other experiences of nonhumanity: Symbolic Metaphorical Ancestral Physical (Yes this is an actual reason for some and they are just as much a part of the community as anyone else. Physical and Ancestral nonhumans are part of the community's history and some of its founders.)

For those looking for more information, and community places, here are some places to check out! Werelist Nonhuman National Park Alterhuman Archive The Chimera's Library. The above are forums and archives of information on the community. Most archived information is thanks to who-is-page, liongoatsnake and frameacloud on tumblr.

While this is a brief look into the nonhuman identity that I could share, I do hope it has been helpful in some way. Remember to be true to yourself, and don't let anyone tell you how to feel. Ignore, report, delete and block the haters!

Yeen out~

[destielmemenews]

"Publishers accused the nonprofit of infringing copyrights in 127 books from authors like Malcolm Gladwell, C.S. Lewis, Toni Morrison, J.D. Salinger and Elie Wiesel, by making the books freely available through its Free Digital Library.

The archive, which hosts more than 3.2 million copies of copyrighted books on its website, contended that the library was transformative because it made lending more convenient and served the public interest by promoting "access to knowledge.""

source 1

source 2

source 3

[missdarhk]

the theme is: there is no heterosexual explanation for what they have going on

honorable mentions:

[julijbee]

girlbossing too close to the sun.

[queerliblib]

Do you know of any other free online libraries like yours? I love QLL So Much and I would love to be able to expand my book possibilities even more :) They don’t have to be queer focused - anything is good! (Of course i’m also signed up w my local library which is great and has a good-size selection, but sometimes holds are very long)

one of the reasons we exist is because there isn’t anyone else doing exactly what we do!

there are quite a few other brick & mortar queer libraries scattered across the continent but most don’t have that digital presence (unless you’re in Minnesota! if so, check out Quatrefoil). there are also a LOT of regular libraries with digital collections on Libby or Hoopla - some public libraries have really specific residency requirements to be a member, others have some flexibility (reddit is actually a font of knowledge if you’re exploring this - r/audiobooks or r/libby to start). If you already have a public library card, there are also a lot of resource-sharing initiatives out there between libraries that you may be eligible for - for example MeL in michigan, or the Brooklyn Public Library’s Books UnBanned initiative if you meet their age window, or if you have any connections to an academic library InterLibraryLoan (ILL) - even if you’re not a student/faculty/staff some colleges/universities have ‘community user’ policies you could explore. you can always walk into your library and ask a library worker if your local system is connected to anything like this (they will be THRILLED to answer that question, let me tell you).

I’d also strongly encourage you to go absolutely hog wild on Open Access resources like Project Gutenberg, which has a ton of amazing things in the public domain. also the directory of open access books or world digital library for the more academically inclined.

[huariqueje]

More Research - Joan Griswold

American , b. 1954 -

Oil on canvas , 20 x 16 in.

[a-lady-and-her-quill]

Video is from 4maj82@pinterest.com

[thefugitivesaint]

If you've been a frequent, repeat visitor to this tumblr and you actually follow my "source" links, you'll know that many (if not most) of those links refer you back to the Internet Archive. I spend many hours combing through the archive for images I find interesting and aesthetically pleasing from artist's whose work I enjoy. I then transfer that labor, freely, into "content" for your viewing pleasure (or so I hope). If you were not aware of this, the book industry (which is basically controlled by 5 companies) brought a suit against the Internet Archive in 2020 that claimed that the Open Library program offered by the IA was financially damaging to the publishers themselves through "copyright infringement." During the COVID-19 lockdowns, the IA created the 'National Emergency Library' which removed lending restrictions on lent digital material allowing for expanded access to books at a time when public libraries were, in many cases, not operating (or operating at a very limited capacity). In response to the NEL, four book publishers sued the Internet Archive claiming that CDL (controlled digital lending) was not an example of fair use and that offering books without wait restrictions was a violation of their copyrights. The argument made by the publisher's was only partially aimed at the NEL, the ACTUAL target of their lawsuit was with the process of CDL itself. A lower court agreed and the Internet Archive appealed. The case was taken to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit only to have that court affirm the lower court rulings on a unanimous decision (with some seriously questionable reasoning involved).

What does this mean for the Internet Archive? What about public libraries in general? Read the piece and the links provided in the piece. I don't do in-depth analysis here. I just refer you (dear reader) to smarter people who are putting in the work. I really just dig pictures. Pretty pictures. *Homer Simpson drooling* Seriously though, if the topic interests you, follow the links and do yourself some learning.

[creatureheart]

Static image version of a previously posted video. All images are ALT text, but I shall also paste the text here:

COMMUNITY PSA: A reminder that those who identify physically as nonhuman are welcome and have always, and will always, be a part of the therian, alterhuman, nonhuman, otherkin, and similar communities, and can use ANY of these labels.

Whether their reason for identifying this way is spiritual, due to delusions, trauma, mental health, conditions such as lycanthropy or zoanthropy or is similar to the notion of "this is my body, and I am nonhuman, therefore my body is nonhuman" is their business and theirs alone.

People outside of the communities will always find a way to dislike us, and trying to cater to them by putting down other members of these groups will never make them fully accept us. Playing into the "Us vs Them" mindset only pushes the community apart.

All I hear when I see videos and comments from fellow therians, nonhumans, otherkin and alterhumans talking about these identities being ONLY non-physical is, "well, we OBVIOUSLY don't identify physically as animals/etc. We're not like those CRAZY people!"

Which is not only ableist but paints those who do identify physically in a bad light, whatever their reason may be. Delusions and mental illnesses that may cause them does not mean the identity of that individual is fake or wrong. So treat others nicely, even if you may not understand.

Not only that but delusions and the mental illnesses that cause them do not always equate to distressing or bad. Unlearn the idea that such things are an indicator of something being wrong and so has to be fixed because that mindset hurts many who live unbothered lives with them.

All of my accounts will always be safe spaces for those who have physical nonhuman and alterhuman identities. Just as they will be a safe space for those whose identity is non-physical. The only one who can decide what and who you are is yourself.

Stay true to yourself! Ignore, report and block the haters! Your happiness is more important than their ideas of you!

[bitchesgetriches]

In honor of NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK we've got a new post!

Our libraries have been under attack for years now. Book bans and outright censorship are one thing, but extremists are also attempting to restrict library access for marginalized people; fire highly trained and educated librarians and replace them with untrained ideologues; privatize libraries to turn them into for-profit businesses; and close some libraries altogether, effectively killing community access to all the great services I talked about above.

And with the killdozer that is Project 2025 rampaging through our federal government, things are likely only going to get worse. We know from history that the people trying to ban books and censor diverse viewpoints are never the good guys. So I will just call these most recent attacks on our library system exactly what they are: an attack on our democracy itself.

Megan Phelps Roper, a former member of the Westboro Baptist Church, actually credits trips to her local library with getting her out of the viciously bigoted cult. The resources and librarians she encountered there helped release her from the hateful indoctrination she’d been fed since birth. And if that ain’t proof of concept, I don’t know what is!

The Library Is a Magical Place and You Should Fucking Go There

Video Version 🍋 Audio Version 🍋 Text Version

[escapismsworld]

Jane B. for Agnes V. (1988)

Director: Agnès Varda

[howi99]

Open book chapter 4

*for it is in living we can achieve atonement...*

Finn: *waking up, surprised to be alive* What... *Looking for the deep gash that should have been the end of him* It's gone?

Jaune: *entering the room* I see you are awake.

Finn: *Seeing the knight sitting in a chair next to him* Who... Are you?

Jaune: *sigh* My name is Jaune. I had to take drastic measures to save your life. *Looking at Finn* Sadly, you are now a prisoner of the library, as you are now an anomaly.

Finn: W-what!? You mean i distorted!?

Jaune: Distorted? *Shaking his head* No, i meant that you are now literally something that shouldn't exist. *Pointing to himself* Like me.

Finn: *calming down* What do you mean?

Jaune: *scratching the back of his head* It's difficult to explain, but i saved you by using the manifestation of your soul. As of right now, you can use your own soul as a weapon or armor.

Finn: Is... Is this what they call an EGO?

Jaune: From what Roland explained to me; it is similar but distinct. Hence why you are being kept here.

Finn: ... Why did you save me?

Jaune: *sigh* You're just a kid trying to do good. *Chuckle* I guess you reminded me of someone i knew.

Finn: Oh... Well, thank you for saving my life!

Jaune: ... *Nod to Finn before leaving the room*

__________________

Angela: *pensive* ... Tell me, what do you think of this Aura?

Roland: Well, it seems to be a powerful tool to use. Akin to an EGO without the drawback of potential distortion. *Shaking his head with a smile* The number of people who would kill for this kind of power in the city. *Chuckle* And in his world, there are thousands like him.

Angela: ...

[writethestory365]

It doesn’t matter what you start with — just get started.

[jstor]

https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv2pzbkcg.14

As Tumblrinas we’ve surely witnessed the evolution of music consumption into a participatory process.

Naturally, we looked into it on JSTOR and found this 61-page, open access chapter about the state of music post-internet.

Enjoy 🎧

[shaadowmilkcookie]

hi sorry yall really havent been able to escape these guys huh??? ;u; i saw a cute yume october prompt list and i knew i wanted to try some of them! the day 1 prompt is ‘first meeting’!

primotalii broke into the blueberry yogurt academy’s library in the middle of the night just to……. read…? okay man.