Gavin Downing

A screenshot of a reddit thread on r/fednews, by u/ruskiytrolk, describing DOGE dismantling the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

DOGE is shutting down the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

This makes up 0.004% of the federal budget, and provides profound value to people in every corner of the country.

Statement on Trump's Attack on Federal Funding for Libraries

www.everylibrary.org/statementiml...

I promise you that video games don't lead to a lack of empathy. I have some experts on that I could tag if you want some evidence.

I simply am baffled by so many people interested in harming others just to harm them.

I dealt with a book ban effort just outside Seattle Washington, deep blue area if there ever was one, just three years ago. They're everywhere.

And if you can also support it for the hearing, that would be super-cool.

app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifie...

If we can get this bill passed, we can make a significant difference in the lives of so many of our students in this state.
app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/...

I would PROFOUNDLY appreciate it if you could please sign in support of this bill online. It takes only a minute or two, and it would really make a difference.

app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/5551

FOR MY WASHINGTON STATE RESIDENT FOLLOWERS:

Senate Bill 5551 is coming up for a hearing NEXT TUESDAY. And it's asking the legislature to assure that every student has access to a certificated Teacher-Librarian. The funding is already there. but not all districts use the funding in that way.

There is still hope. If there were not, there would be no reason to get up in the morning. There is hope. Sometimes you need to be jarred into finding it, jarred into sharing it.

MAYA ANGELOU
Poet

#BlackHistoryMonth

“The Democrats didn’t do enough on Gaza, so I withheld my vote to make a statement.”

“Well, Trump won and now he’s gonna destroy Gaza.”

“Yep. We’re paying the price for the Democrats’ incompetence.”

“‘We?’ The Gazans are paying the price, not us”

Pause.

“I needed to make a statement.”

Republican Senators Say They’re Fine Handing Their Power to Elon Musk Musk's actions may be unconstitutional but “nobody should bellyache about that,” Sen. Thom Tillis said.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) told NOTUS that even though what Elon Musk is doing is unconstitutional — “nobody should bellyache about that.”

He added: “That runs afoul of the Constitution in the strictest sense. But it’s not uncommon for presidents to flex a little bit...”

www.notus.org/congress/tru...

Donate to Rally for Rhea Young's Library Legacy, organized by Jacque Gonzalez Hello, my name is Jacque Gonzalez, and I am a library patron fundraising on beha… Jacque Gonzalez needs your support for Rally for Rhea Young's Library Legacy

Please join me in supporting Rhea Young, a Texas librarian fired for protecting the right to read. It's a tough time for her right now. If you can, please consider helping out or sharing. gofund.me/83ab39bc

Kelly, I'm so sorry.

‘Civil rights fight of our time’: new film explores the battle over US libraries A Sarah Jessica Parker-produced documentary on the brave librarians fighting a wave of rightwing book bans has sparked conversation at Sundance

www.theguardian.com/film/2025/ja...

LOVE a well-used suggestion box! Mine, at a high school, is a QR code, and the kids love leaving suggestions, too! And I always order from that list when I can!

ALA to U. S. Department of Education: Book bans are real The American Library Association responds to the Department of Education's dismissal of complaints about censorship and discrimination: the "effort to terminate protections... advances the demonstrabl...

www.ala.org/news/2025/01...

Reports of Navajo people being detained in immigration sweeps sparks concern from tribal leaders The DOJ argued in court that Indigenous people don't have birthright citizenship, even though they have for 100 years

So this is some bullshit.

azmirror.com/2025/01/24/r...

‘The Librarians’ Review — Sundance 2025 - InBetweenDrafts Directed by Kim A. Snyder, The Librarians uncovers the next chapter of book bans and is an education on how to fight against them.

“The Librarians doesn’t aim to be a page-turner, just that we still have pages to turn. Reminding us that the freedom to read, learn, and think critically is not a guarantee. It must be fought for.” inbetweendrafts.com/the-libraria...

Omigosh, I like ALL those things!! Yay!!

Lots of bad takes on the "book ban hoax" article from folks who haven't done a lot over the last four years related to book banning.

The release is purposeful disinformation, with the intent to make folks on the left hate the DOE and agree it should be shut down.

Call it what it is.

A press release from the U.S. Department of Education, saying "U.S. Department of Education Ends Biden's Book Ban Hoax." Dated January 24, 20205, it goes on to say, "The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) today announced that it had dismissed 11 complaints related to so-called 'book bans.' The complaints alleged that local school districts' removal of age-inappropriate, sexually explicit, or obscene materials from their school libraries created a hostile environment" The image is cut off there.

Book banning is real, and it is terrorizing teachers, librarians, and students. You do NOT get to gaslight us and claim it was a hoax, you rancid mango.

Photo of Gavin wearing a mask at the airport.

On my way to Phoenix for American Library Association's LibLearnX! Hope to see some of you there!

YouTube video by BruceCockburnVEVO Bruce Cockburn - Lovers In A Dangerous Time

You gotta kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight.

This track's been on heavy play the last week.

youtu.be/7IX4gWkFqvU?...

Fair winds to a man who did his part to make the world a better place.

Thank you, Mychal! School librarian here who loves and supports my public library, my public librarians, my fellow school librarians, and other specialty librarians. And that includes you!

Do me a kindness! Share this if you love and support your local library & librarians (and remember: that includes your school library & school librarian) 😊📚

Thank you libraries & library workers… for everything ✨💚

Headline from the Hollywood Reporter: Anita Bryant, Singer and Crusader Against Gay Rights, Dies at 84. She has hits with songs like "Paper Roses" and served as a spokesperson for Florida orange juice before her career came crashing down. By Chris Koseluk, January 9, 2025 2:26 PM

To paraphrase Bette Davis, "They say we shouldn't speak ill of the dead, only good. She's dead. Good."

So cute! I added needle felting to my library's Makerspace, and several kids have gotten into it. I love what you did!

THIS IS HUGE! Researchers at Stanford Medicine have devised an influenza vaccine that prompts immunity to ALL four major flu subtypes AND shows potential against bird flu, indicating a significant advancement in flu prevention and a potential increase in vaccine efficacy. Let’s talk about that! 🧪🧵⬇️