#school librarians
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My dear friends: When a librarian or teacher says "Audiobooks count as reading", we do not literally mean that audiobooks are the same as decoding visual meaning via symbols representing sounds. We mean, among other things:
Audiobooks can expose listeners to new vocabulary and forms of syntax.
Audiobooks can present listeners with long-form fictional narratives with engaging characters, interesting literary devices, and poetic turns of phrase.
Audiobooks can teach listeners new information in a long-form manner that goes into depth or wide breadth on a particular subject or subjects.
Audiobooks can help listeners' verbal comprehension skills.
Audiobooks can do all these things without presenting the same difficulties to blind, low vision, partially sighted, visually impaired, or dyslexic listeners; listeners with ADHD; listeners who experience physical difficulty with holding a book or e-reader; or listeners who are disabled in a host of other ways that a physical book or e-reader might present.
The written word is not specially imbued with magical noble worth above the spoken word, and if you think it is, you may have some ableism and/or racism to deconstruct.
#audiobooks#audiobooks count as reading#librarians of tumblr#adult literacy#children's literacy#reading comprehension#bookblr#booklr#books and reading#librarians#books & libraries#public libraries#reading#child literacy#school librarians
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School libraries are one of California's most important resources, and with Banned Book Week coming to a close, we wanted to share some great information about AB 1078, which makes changes to what school boards can and can't do in regard to book challenges (as in, challenging a book's place in a library). Happy reading!
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By: Anonymous
Published: Jan 9, 2024
I’m a school librarian in a major UK city and I wanted to write to you about what is going on inside education at the moment. The final straw for me came when I received an email from the (US) School Library Journal about their trans and NB spotlight with the line “J.K. Rowling’s recent transphobic tirades on social media”. And check out the line-up on the Zoom panel!
Enough is enough.
I will admit that several years ago I was pretty full-on with my alphabet-soup allyship and then I got peaked by Mumsnet when I had my children. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
My issue is with how the indoctrination has seeped into books and materials unchecked. Last year I read the book “Nothing Ever Happens Here” written from the POV of a young girl about her father transitioning and it was utterly awful. The ending was the family all happy with two “mums”. It was a Stonewall pamphlet in disguise. Any possibility that the child would be upset by what was happening at home was quickly brushed aside. It turns out that its author, Sarah Hagger-Holt, is a Stonewall employee.
There are so many books like this finding their way into libraries and the library staff do not appear to be questioning the content or even the quality of the writing as long as the books tick the “inclusivity” box. For example, “If I Was Your Girl” is an award-winning story about a trans girl who gets surgery and hormones and “passes” in her new school. It’s written by Meredith Russo, a trans-identified male, who has a history of sexual and emotional abuse, but no matter! It reads like a TRA wet dream: the pretty young teen smoothly transitions and gets the life she wants, which includes getting a gorgeous, straight boyfriend. A young person reading this may not realise that this is simply wish-fulfillment wrapped up in Young Adult (YA) fiction and nothing in it is remotely feasible.
Recently I was being nosy on a secondary school’s website and discovered their library’s LGBT section was made up of “Some Girls Bind”, “Being Jazz”, and “The Trans Teen Survival Guide”. That was it. Nothing else for the LGB kids. “The Trans Teen Guide” explains to young people how easy it is to legally change your name, and signposts websites where you can buy binders. Mermaids are listed as a place to find support, of course.
Meanwhile, JKR is Satan for standing up for women and girls. It is painful reading discussion board threads written by librarians questioning what they should do about the “problematic author.” Facebook groups are particularly interesting as I’ve witnessed the group moderators remove the comments that support JKR because they were repeatedly reported by other members of the group. Some say they won’t buy her books, or they will remove them from circulation or stock them but not promote them.
No more Harry Potter events, no more displays of her work. It’s not all librarians, but there are plenty of vocal ones who have bought into the idea that JKR is literally murdering trans kids with her words. Last year I unsubscribed from a favourite Young Adult podcast for their segment on what to promote as an alternative to Harry Potter. It’s madness.
I think the thing I really object to in libraries overall is the lack of questioning going on. I know you have covered the Drag Story Time in public libraries, but I’m really shocked by the lack of research and critical thinking from information professionals who are supposed to be champions of these skills. I’m sure that many of them believe they are doing the right thing. I know I did.
The School Library Association made Juno Dawson one of their Patrons at the end of 2020. I met Dawson many years years ago at a library event and I really appreciated hearing an honest and frankly, painful story of a young gay boy being bullied and how much of a lifeline the school library was. Dawson struck me as a very kind and deeply sad person at that point. School libraries are a safe space for the vulnerable, and it’s no coincidence that often you will find the LGBT students seek it as a place of sanctuary. We do need someone popular and well-known to speak up for us as patron. Let’s be honest though; Dawson has made a tremendous career from being trans. From speaking to packed-out auditoriums of young readers to writing non-fiction books educating us as “she knows everything about gender because she’s been both.” A few years ago, over 300 copies of Dawson’s book “What’s the T” were bought and donated to schools by well-meaning people on Twitter. So heart-warming and kind. Nobody seems to be questioning this.
I’ve been a huge supporter of my LGBT students for the whole of my twenty-plus year career. It hurts to see these brilliant young girls telling me they’re non-binary or trans. The vast majority of our female students in this ever-growing group are on the autistic spectrum or have mental health issues. I don’t understand why this isn’t being questioned more vocally. I’m worried that I’ve made this much, much worse by promoting this propaganda dressed up as YA fiction for years. LGBT History Month? Here, have this book telling you being a lesbian is bad and you’re probably trans.
I’m scared that at some point the trans ideology train is going to come for the “forbidden” books in my library. Will my Head tell me I need to remove all the Harry Potter books? What about the non-fiction books that tell these girls the biological truth about periods and puberty? Cancel culture is coming for school librarians in the UK; how long before we become like the US school system where books are regularly banned for being offensive to individual, captured parents?
Librarians were struggling to keep our jobs before Covid-19 and now it is even harder. We are being made redundant to save money. Lots of school libraries were closed and became temporary classrooms, COVID testing centres, or spill-over staff rooms in 2020. Some of us haven’t recovered. Are librarians really going to poke their heads above the parapet if it means they might be marked as “transphobic” and made unable to get a job in a school again? Or maybe have to move sectors and end up working at university libraries which are even more indoctrinated?
For the moment I’m concentrating on trying to undo some of the damage I’ve done. Last year I purchased a pile of Young Adult books featuring happy, gender non-conforming girls. I’ve researched YA love stories about positive LGB relationships. I want our girls to realise they are perfect just the way they are.
To parents I would say, try to talk to your children about what they are reading. Honest, open communication is key.
Please remember that there are people in schools who are trying to make a difference. We just can’t say it openly.
(Author’s name has been witheld on her request. If you have a story on how gender ideology is affecting your place of work, please write to [email protected])
==
Reminder, Juno Dawson is the same self-hating gay man who said:
"There are a lot of gay men out there who are gay men as a consolation prize because they couldn't be women. That was certainly true of me."
He has no business giving any advice to anyone, least of all gay kids.
#Graham Linehan#librarieans#libraries#school libraries#school librarians#woke librarians#gender ideology#queer theory#propaganda#corruption of education#indoctrination#institutional capture#ideological capture#ideological corruption#religion is a mental illness
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"Among the Right to Read Act provisions:
Up to $500 million in Comprehensive Literacy State Development Grants
An increase in the Innovative Approaches to Literacy Program to $100 million
A concerted investment in the recruitment, training, and retaining of certified school librarians
Reaffirming student First Amendment Rights to access school library materials, with expanded liability protection for teachers and school librarians."
Text of the Senate bill is here, and the House bill is here.
Contact your legislator and tell them to vote YES on these bills. Do it today.
#libraries#librarians#tumblarians#Right To Read Act of 2022#S. 5064#H.R. 9056#school libraries#school librarians#American libraries#freedom to read
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#librarians are awesome#amanda jones#i hope she gets somewhere with this#censorship#moral panic#school librarians#librarians#u.s. politics#the stranglehold the ultraconservatives have on this country needs to END
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"Amanda Jones, a librarian at a middle school in Denham Springs, Louisiana, filed a defamation lawsuit Wednesday, arguing that Facebook pages run by Michael Lunsford and Ryan Thames falsely labeled her a pedophile who wants to teach 11-year-olds about anal sex.
Jones, the president of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians, was alarmed and outraged by the verbal attacks, which came after she spoke against censorship at a Livingston Parish Library Board of Control meeting. She said she’s suing the two men because she’s exhausted with the insults hurled at educators and librarians over LGBTQ materials.
“I’ve had enough for everybody,” Jones said in an interview. “Nobody stands up to these people. They just say what they want and there are no repercussions and they ruin people’s reputations and there’s no consequences.”"
"“The citizens of our parish consist of taxpayers who are white, Black, brown, gay, straight, Christian, non-Christian — people from all backgrounds and walks of life, and no one portion of the community should dictate what the rest of the citizens have access to,” Jones said at the meeting. “Just because you don’t want to read it or see it, it doesn’t give you the right to deny others or demand its relocation.”"
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The LIBRARY MONSTERS are Here!!
Teaching Library rules was never more fun. Check out the new book by Jean Ransome and Stephanie Bearce
View On WordPress
#free lesson plans#Jeanie Ransom#Library Lesson Plans#Library Monsters#Library rules#Library rules book#school librarians#Stephanie Bearce#teaching library rules
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#Books#florida#woc#native american#poc#gop#libraries#librarians#black literature#Mlk#rosa parks#latinx#latinos#schools#abuela#mlk jr#ron desantis 2024
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buying books & reading books..two different hobbies.
#books and reading#books & libraries#books#bookstagram#bookstores#reading#used books#currently reading#book recommendations#booklr#comic books#library#support your local library#public libraries#school libraries#libraries#librarians#bookblr#book quotes
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via the Arkansas Advocate
it’s official: in Arkansas, library staff may now be charged with a Class D felony for providing books to their communities that are deemed “obscene”.
in Florida, school librarians and teachers can be criminally charged for checking out books to kids that dare to touch on LGBTQ topics & gender identity, thanks to the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
book censorship in the US is at such an all-time high, book sanctuaries are popping up all over the country.
library staff aren’t physically safe, either. just over the past couple months, threats against libraries and their staff resulted in the temporary closure of “five public library systems due to bomb and shooting threats," ALA. active shooter trainings have become the new norm for me.
the censorship myself and my colleagues have been watching unfold over the last several years has felt like watching a slow-motion car crash.
but this bill? this feels like a death knell for my profession.
via Teen Vogue
when I was a confused queer kid growing up in an ultra-religious household, the library was my refuge. when I asked hard questions, librarians listened and gave me the tools I needed to answer them. in many ways, libraries saved my life. it's why I became a librarian.
I can't believe I'm living in times where future generations of kids may not have access to the same refuge I did, but it's happening.
if you live in the US and you care about protecting open, equitable access to information, please check out the American Library Association for anti-censorship resources in your state, info on contacting your representatives, etc.
you can also report censorship you see in your community and ALA will investigate (1-800-545-2433, ext. 4266; [email protected]).
I know this isn't my usual content, but libraries are standing on the edge of a horrifying precipice- one we can't escape on our own.
libraries are free society's canary in the coal mine, and all the alarms are singing. when libraries fall, nations usually aren't far behind.
this matters- and we need help.
#censorship#book banning#libraries#banned books#arkansas#florida#public libraries#school libraries#librarians#american library association#american libraries#lgbtq+#lgbtq+ history#us politics#homophobia#transphobia
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Holiday 2022 Newsletter is out!
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Teachers. I love you. I love you so much. I respect you so much. You are asked to do so much with so little and as a librarian I can relate to that except I know your situation might be even worse.
So when I say please stop making your students find books to read by Lexile or AR level, know that I say it with no ill intent whatsoever - no intent, in fact, except to keep your students in love with reading and keep their parents from tearing their hair out.
#librarians of tumblr#books & libraries#librarians#public libraries#school librarians#teachers#education#booklr#bookblr#child literacy#reading
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Other options:
Don't read the book
Don't check the book out
Don't ask that librarians purchase it for the collection
Don't bother other people who want to read it
Tell a librarian what you want to read, in addition to what you don't want to read
#banned books#censorship#school libraries#school librarians#American libraries#freedom to read#means that you give everyone that right at stfu if you don't like something
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Shared by my library supervisor
I feel called out. lol
comic by @myjetpack
#school librarian#librarylife#libraryland#school libraries#libraries#the real life of me#i'm just saying#lol#tom gauld
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Honestly the story of mlp must be very weird from the pov of a random guy in ponyville, like one day a new antisocial librarian moves into town, and like a year later that librarian ascends into godhood and becomes the new ruler of the entire world
#I would respect the hell out of every librarian I ever met if I lived in Equestria#You never know which one will be your next god#mlp#mlp fim#my little pony#my little pony friendship is magic#mlp g4#twilight sparkle#that one weird prissy girl you went to school with in your youth becomes the head of a fashion empire and the savior of the world#That shy girl you used to bully marries the embodiment of chaos#Those two girls who wouldn’t stop fighting during the autumn race gets married#And one of them becomes the captain of the wonderbolts#Your towns local baker marries Weird Al Yankovich#Id be pissed at myself that I never volunteered to help out during the summer solstice all those years back#outside pov
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