That Librarian: Amanda Jones

5 Ways to Organize in Support of Your Local Library How do you advocate for your library?

How do you advocate for your library?

I’m thrilled to announce that I wrote a brand-new afterword for the paperback edition of That Librarian, out September 30th! You can pre-order it now.

I made some changes. I’m no longer in the business of protecting people who didn’t protect me. 😉

cavalierhousebooks.com/book/9781639...

The Anti-Book Ban Laws Passed in 2025 (& What They Mean): Book Censorship News, August 1, 2025 What does it mean to pass an anti-book ban law in 2025? Here are what states have done it and what these laws mean.

Several more states passed Anti-Book Ban/Freedom to Read bills in 2025. Here's what they are, what they mean, and things we should be thinking about the future of such bills: bookriot.com/2025-anti-bo...

The JAMS Library Project continues! Phase Two is here: comfy furniture, more books students love, & better library tools. We’re not done yet—help us keep building!

Blog: bldglibraries.substack.com/p/were-back-...

@librarianjones.com @captainlibrary.bsky.social @andreatrudeau.bsky.social

My letter to the editor: lailluminator.com/2025/08/01/s... @la-cac.org

As an alum of Southeastern, I’m disgusted. Silencing Dr. Emami after she found toxic metals in Lake Maurepas is cowardly and dangerous. When profit outweighs truth, science dies. The university should be ashamed. @la-cac.org

Two children in a library, one selecting a book from a shelf filled with colorful children's books including titles like "Bone" by Jeff Smith, while the other is seated on the floor looking at a comic book.

Mapping the Library at Student Orientation bit.ly/3U3bVP3 #AASLkq

Partnerships Making a Difference: Kids Discover As we worked to transform the library and the library experience for students at Jane Adeney Memorial School, we knew we could not do it alone.

Big thanks to @kidsdiscover.bsky.social for being part of our buildinglibraries.org journey! Their engaging nonfiction inspires curious minds every day.

Read more: bldglibraries.substack.com/p/partnershi... (link in bio)

School Librarians Share Concerns, Hopes In the New School Year Censorship, AI, and federal funding top the list of concerns for school librarians heading into the 2025-26 school year.

School Librarians Share Concerns, Hopes In the New School Year
Censorship, AI, and federal funding top the list of concerns for school librarians heading into the 2025-26 school year.
#TLSky #Skybrarians
www.slj.com/story/School...

Going down the to-do list and catching up on life since I’ve been gone. Also going to take TWO naps today.

Did you know they changed the name to the Elizabeth Tower? I didn’t, but it will always be Big Ben to me.

One last video of our time aboard. I could have stayed home doing laundry all summer, but decided to be adventurous. Always dream big and do things that make you happy. Life is short. @andreatrudeau.bsky.social @captainlibrary.bsky.social

Thank you!

First iced tea in a month! Louisiana bound today.

Quick breakfast, we finished our 19 hour layover in London, and are headed back to the U.S.

We stayed in a capsule hotel in the middle of Picadilly Circus within walking distance to it all!

Only 19 hours in London? We went full tourist: Tube rides, Piccadilly, St. James’s, Buckingham, Big Ben, Westminster, Trafalgar. Fish & chips + pub, of course. Back to the U.S. with sore feet, no regrets.

Here’s a side-by-side of us: heading to Kenya vs. coming home. We gave up shaving—no mirrors, no hot water, sometimes no water at all.

Andrea had been before, so we packed smart: body wipes, bug spray, sunscreen. No A/C, no ice, rainwater laundry, bottled water for brushing teeth.

But—we made it!

Our time at JAMS in Kenya has come to an end, but the memories will stay with us forever. We’re so grateful to Dr. Wasonga for welcoming us and for reminding us that difficult roads often lead to the most beautiful places.

Our safari this morning in Nairobi National Park, Kenya, Africa!

Treat yo self! (New ring and bracelets.)

Safari preview at Nairobi National Park. More to come!

Did we relish our hotel meal? Absolutely. I was missing melted cheese, which is the glue that holds my personality together and the most elite food group known to mankind. I also missed AC. 🤣

We landed in Nairobi and went to a giraffe sanctuary!

JAMS and LBL work is done, and now we’re onto Phase 2: the side quest—on our own dime! Two days in Nairobi, then a 19-hour layover in London packed with sightseeing before heading home. Bonus: adorable school kids waving at planes. @captainlibrary.bsky.social @andreatrudeau.bsky.social

Our latest blog post is up!

We finished up the last row of books this morning that needed to be labeled!!!! All of the books are officially on the shelves, labeled, and color coded for ease of use.

People keep asking how the food is in Kenya—honestly, everything tastes fresher. Most of the fruits and veggies are grown right here at the school. I’ve tried new dishes (yes, even mudfish!) and I’m hooked on Kenya’s chili sauce. This morning’s breakfast? Popcorn, passion fruit, and mango.

Our latest blog post from Kenya!

We took a walk down the road from the school. Kenya is beautiful! @bldglibraries.bsky.social