#ask your librarian about the resources available to you!

[official-library-posts]

official library post

Just found out one community association near me has a community toy library. Basically a community toy store where you sign out toys like you would library books.

And it really woke up how badly I want a library economy.

Makeup/dress up libraries in place of salons and make up stores- borrow this makeup for a few months bc you like purple highlighter right now, sign out hair accessories or jewlery, sign up for a haircut/makeup day with a vollunteer that you mesh with, etc..

Toy libraries to replace toy stores, holidays and birthdays now bring you down to borrow bikes and stuffed animals that have been loved by others, to borrow dolls and dollhouses and their endless closests and accessories.

Craft libraries filled with sewing machines and looms and supplies to make things, classes to learn how to do it, making clothes for friends never been so easy because the endless amount of patterns available. The craft clubs that would bloom from it. The ceramics and painting and welding art that could come out of it if we just all had time and access.

Engineering and woodworking libraries. We could be living in a real animal crossing Era of furniture! The weird and cool lighting and other oddities that would come from it!

Clothing libraries that are busy during the season change but also regular shopping. I dont use this dress I love anymore so I'll return it to the library and get something in this new color pallet for myself.

Kids libraries that yes, filled with toys but also cribs, highchairs, walkers, jumpers, pumps, bottles, cups, etc.. things that kids use less then a year at a time and never really get fully used before passing it onwards. Oh to be able to borrow a well loved crib or rocking chair for your newborn

[dirtyheathencommie]

DEAR EDUCATIONALLY NEGLECTED HOMESCHOOLERS

I’ve gathered some resources and tips and tricks on self-educating after educational neglect. This is only what I did and what I know helped me. I’m about to graduate college with honors after having no education past the age of 9. I wouldn’t be here without the following. Everything is free, and at/well above the standard for education in the US.

The holy grail: Khan Academy. Nearly every course you could take is available here, in order and by grade level. Their open-source free courses rival some of the college classes I’ve taken. This is your most solid resource.

For inattentive types: Crash Course offers a variety of courses that are snappy, entertaining, and extremely rewarding. They work for my ADHD brain. They also have college prep advice, which is essential if you’re looking to go to higher education with no classroom experience.

To catch up on your reading: There are certain books that you may have read had you gone to school that you’ve missed out on. This list is the most well-rounded and can fill you in on both children’s books and classic novels that are essential or at least extremely helpful to be familiar with. You can find a majority of these easily at a local library (and some for free in PDF form online low key). There are a few higher level classics in here that I’d highly recommend. If it doesn’t work for you, I’d always recommend asking your local librarian.

*BE AWARE* The book list I recommend suggests you read Harry Potter books, and given their transphobic author you may or may not want to read them. If you choose to, I’d highly recommend buying the books secondhand or borrowing from a library to avoid financially supporting a living author with dangerous and damaging views.

TEST, TEST, TEST: Again, Khan Academy is your go-to for this. I don’t personally like standardized testing, but going through SAT and ACT courses was the best way I found to really reveal my gaps so that I could supplement.

Finally: As much as you can, enjoy the process. Education can be thrilling and teach you so much about yourself, and help shape your view of the world. It can get frustrating, but I’d like to encourage you that everyone can learn. No pace is the perfect pace, and your learning style is the right learning style for you. In teaching yourself, be patient, be kind, and indulge in the subjects you really enjoy without neglecting others. You are your teacher. Give yourself what others chose not to.

[faeriekit]

Alright, here's another thing about public service in a library setting that I think some people might struggle with; when people tell me about their experiences, I believe them.

Sure, they aren't always right, but their concerns are real. People who struggle to access things and reach out to services do think that they're never open, and that the service is therefore useless. Could it probably still help them? Sure. But they weren't able to figure it out, and their frustration is real, even if the circumstance isn't how they portrayed it. It's not my job to fix the thing they're struggling with; it's my job to address their concern.

Yes, we don't have enough WiFi hotspots. Sure, two dozen isn't enough. You are welcome to access our WiFi through the lobby, however, even if we're closed, which can be a stopgap here in person until we're able to get you that hotspot to take home. So the other library is never open, despite having a clear schedule on the door and on the website? Totally understandable to be frustrated; if you aren't able to make it in during open hours, we have an external pickup system that is available 24/7. It can be accessed at any time, and book drop offs can be done 24/7. So you think that the FBI is tapping your mail, and you need to send a fax to president Biden to convince them to stop? Well...uh... We don't have a fax machine here, but if you have an email address, we can help you look up where to send your request...

...because, ultimately, our job is to be arbiters of access, not to spend time nitpicking patrons over what they think of politics or whether or not they completely understand their interpersonal relationships. A person who didn't believe their social worker about how a program works isn't going to believe me either, but if they ask about alternatives, I can give them all the information required to help them make an informed choice. They know their own life best. I am only the librarian. I can give advice, recommendations, information, and resources, but their lives are their own at the end of the day, and they will go home with their own thoughts, feelings, memories, opinions, and experiences. That's just...how the world works.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Dirty Work 7

Warnings: this fic will include dark content such as bullying, familial discord/abuse, and possible untagged elements. My warnings are not exhaustive, enter at your own risk.

This is a dark!fic and explicit. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: You start a new gig and find one of your clients to be hard to please.

Characters: Loki

Note: This week is killing me.

As per usual, I humbly request your thoughts! Reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed, not only do I see them easier but it lets other people see my work. I will do my best to answer all I can. I’m trying to get better at keeping up so thanks everyone for staying with me.

Your feedback will help in this and future works (and WiPs, I haven’t forgotten those!)

I love you all immensely. Take care. 💖

Sunday sees your second day in your new position. As you send off your letter of resignation to the agency, you can't help the coil that winds tight in your stomach. There's no going back now.

You close out of the several templates you Googled in your efforts. It's the one thing you know how to do. Willa, the friendly librarian who checked out the PC for you, always said, if you can Google, you can figure it out. Still, you feel like there's so much you don't know that you're not sure a search engine can answer.

You close the laptop and take both your phones with you into the hallway. You have to go check out that gazebo and figure out if you need to make a call about it. Oh, and the fridge was beeping when you filled your bottle, you have to call the maintenance number that flashed up too.

That makes you even more anxious. You've never really been the sort for phone calls. You never had anyone to talk to and everything else was easier done in person. Well, you'll have to muddle through. Work isn't supposed to be fun or easy.

As you near the staircase, your flip chimes. You juggle to answer the right phone. The slim touchscreen is set only to buzz, an option not available on the clumsy burner. You answer the call as you stop on the top stair.

The woman on the other end asks for you by name. You confirm your identity as you hear familiar noises in the background. She's a nurse from the downtown hospital.

“I'm calling to confirm your father's discharge tomorrow at noon,” she says over the rustle of paper and clack of keys, “we'll need the bed so if there is any delay, another day would be added to the invoice.”

“I understand, I'll be there, erm… noon. Tomorrow,” you don't have your notebook so you key a reminder into the other phone. “Thank you for letting me know.”

“Of course, miss, we would recommend you arrive earlier. We have some resources and counseling available on what you can expect getting the patient settled at home,” she continues, “nine would be ideal. I'll be able to add a note for the doctor to check in as well.”

“Oh, yes, I can do that,” you squeak, “thank you.”

“Alright then, I have all that logged. You have a good day.”

“You too,” you utter before the line dies.

Phone calls weren't too bad. You think you did okay with that one. Then again, you didn't think! You're supposed to work tomorrow. Mr. Laufeyson said you could take Wednesday off, and tomorrow is only Monday.

You close the flip phone and stare at it. Oh boy. You really don't want to spoil this. Just the mention of the coming invoice underlines your desperation. You need the money. Your dad needs it.

“Are you finished?” Mr. Laufeyson's timbre drawls from down the hall. You glance over as he stands just in the doorway of his study. You gulp.

“Sorry, Mr. Laufeyson. I didn't mean to disturb–”

“Yet you did,” he insists.

“I was only going to check–”

“Not my concern so long as it's done,” he waves you off, “an important call, I assume, to make such a racket.”

“Mr. Laufeyson, um,” you shove the phones away, one in each of your pockets. “I… could I have the day tomorrow? Instead of Wednesday. My father is getting out of the hospital and–”

“The day? What time?” He snips as he approaches with decisive steps.

“Well, I'm supposed to go at nine,” you explain, “I'll come in Wednesday still.”

“You will come in tomorrow, after all that,” he says. “You can work later then.”

“Yes, Mr. Laufeyson, but my father will need help getting settled–”

“Figure it out. You agreed to this schedule–”

“I did but–” you stop yourself as his eyes flare, “I will be here in the afternoon, Mr. Laufeyson.”

“You will be. In the appropriate attire, I expect,” he snarls and spins to strut back to his office, swinging the door shut sharply.

You waver at the hard slam. You didn't mean to anger him. You can't help that your father needs you. You thought Mr. Laufeyson would be more understanding, after all, he's the one who pointed out how much you needed the money.

🧹

Your father shoos you away as you try to help him sit. He lets go of the walker and flops back with a grunt, his oxygen tank clinking against the aid’s metal leg. He coughs and snatches around blindly on the cushion for the remote. You retrieve it from the folding table beside him and put it in his hand.

That agitates him further as he growls and jams down the button to turn on the television. You yawn and back away. You still have a full day left ahead of you, and what feels like one behind you. You spent the night doing some last minute tidying to make sure everything is read for your father.

“Smokes,” he snaps his fingers and hacks.

“Er,” you hesitate. You go to find the half-crushed pack you found with him on the floor. You knew better than to throw it out. You return to him, clutching the package nervously, “Dr. Shearer said–”

“Give it to me,” he demands.

You relent and obey. He’s been doubly miserable than before. You feel like an annoying gnat buzzing around his head as he tries to swat you away.

“I made you meals for the weak. They’re all labeled in the fridge–”

“I’m not a goddamn kid,” he scowls and takes the lighter from the folding table.

“I know, but–”

“But I’m home. You probably hate that,” he sneers, “you’d be happy if I died in that hospital.”

You’re taken aback by the accusation. You gasp and shake your head, “of course not, I’m happy you’re here. That you’re alive–”

“Painfully,” he snorts darkly, “the fuck you keep me here for?”

You take a breath and frown. Your eyes tinge and your cheeks pinch, “because you're my dad… and I love you,” you croak.

He doesn’t reply as he pulls out a cigarette and moves the tube from below his nose. You watch him, waiting. He lights the smoke and sucks on it eagerly. You drop your head and give a shrug.

“I gotta go to work,” you say, “I’ll see you tonight.”

“Don’t be slamming around when you come in,” he dusts ash over the freshly vacuumed carpet, “doctor said I needa sleep.”

“I won’t,” you promise and back away.

As you leave the room, your chest plummets in dread. You think of coming home, of finding him like you did before, laying on the floor, lifeless. You sniff and swipe away the speckling of tears. More than you want him to love you, you want him to love himself. You don’t just want him to want you around, you want him to be around.

🧹

You hurry up to Mr. Laufeyson’s gate with your kit and water bottle jostling. You fumble around until you find the smartphone and bring up the digits to punch into the code box. You buzz through and shuffle inside. You set off on your usual path around the back.

You stop at the rear door and try to untangle the strap of the water bottle from your kit. Your hand lingers on the front of the ballooning shirt. You still haven’t gone to look for clothes so you did your best with what you had. One of your father’s forgotten button-ups and a pair of pants that could pass in an office. It’s ill-fitting and scratch but better than jeans.

You get inside and leave your kit in the closet. Today’s a cleaning day but you have a few things to check off the schedule first. With your water bottle bouncing on your hip, you go upstairs and scurry down to the library.

As you enter, you’re surprised to discover the space less than empty. You apologise aloud and choke on the word, ‘mister’. It isn’t the house’s single resident as you expect, no, this figure could not be more different than Mr. Laufeyson. You recognise them, from the dinner.

The blond man faces you as he stands by the window, the drapes open to add the peculiarity of the situation. Like the man, the space is golden with sunlight. You lean back on your heel as you clutch the door handle.

“Hello,” he grins as he greets you in a playful demeanour. You can’t answer. You don’t know if you should. 

Is it rule one; don’t speak unless permitted; or the other rule, do not disturb my guests. You can’t figure out the riddle so you languish in perplexity.

“Aren’t you a sweet little lamb,” he muses as he steps away from the window, placing his hands on the back of the dimpled leather chair. His large hands. If you thought Mr. Laufeyson was tall, this man is even taller and twice as wide. “I remember you. The sweet maid.”

You blink. Where is Mr. Laufeyson? You can’t speak. You’re too terrified; not just of the strange man but of the one you know by name. Your employer would be unhappy to know you spoke out of turn.

“Have you seen my brother at all?” He prompts disregarding your stagnant silence. “Has he spoken of me? His brother? I'm Thor.”

You look down at your hand on the door handle.

“And what is your name?” He asks.

You don’t answer. You know it’s not right but you have no other choice. You pull the door shut and close the man in. You retreat in a half-sprint and barrel back down the stairs. You trip at the bottom and barely save yourself from stumbling to your knees.

You latch onto the banister post to keep your balance and catch your breath. You hear the door above. Oh no, would he follow you? Another door clicks and you look up to find a shadow on the other side of the frosted glass framed in the front entrance.

Mr. Laufeyson steps inside coolly, unbothered as swings the door shut and tugs on the lapel of his suit jacket. His eyes fall on you and he scuffs on his sole, tilting his head in curiosity. You didn’t realise he hadn’t even been there. You look at the ceiling with wide eyes; so how was the other man inside?

“Well, there you are,” he says matter-of-factly, “this place is sore in need of a dusting–”

Laufeyson is interrupted by a clamour of footsteps above. You let go of the banister and sidle away as his green eyes flick to the top to the staircase. You shy away and listen as the man descends in a series of thunder thumps. You turn to peek down the hall, wanting to hide in your chores.

“Stay,” Laufeyson commands. You turn back to him as he points at your feet. You stop in place and sway. He faces his visitor as he comes to the bottom stair, “brother, what is the meaning of this intrusion?”

“Can I not come see my baby brother?” The other man; the stranger; his brother, called Thor, booms.

“You may, when you warn me of it,” Laufeyson rebuffs.

“Ah, don’t be so grim,” Thor claps his shoulders and is swiftly shrugged off, “this place is always so dark. I hope you don’t mind, I opened a few windows.”

“I do mind,” Laufeyson says, “you do always presume.”

“And you are always offer such a warm welcome,” he tries to tap Laufeyson’s cheek but is batted away. The dark of the brothers backs up with a scoff. “Ah, and there she is. I was only just coming to find the little maid. She rushed off so suddenly–”

“You don’t need to bother with her,” Laufeyson dismissed with a slice of his hand through the air, “maid,” he points at you again, “back to work.”

You lean back on your heel, ready to disappear.

“Ah, don’t be so rude, brother. She is sweet. You get more bees with honey–”

“Do not tell me how to run my house,” Laufeyson growls, an edge in his voice you’ve never heard before. Dangerous and dark.

“Is she not doing you a service? A please would be appropriate–”

“You are not mother. I don’t need you to mind my manners,” Laufeyson girds and nears his brother, unflinching even as he comes up a few inches short of chest to chest, “nor do you need to worry for my staff. She does not take orders from you.”

“And I suppose that’s all she gets from you,” Thor chuckles.

You furrow your brow, stunned by their spat. You’re not quite sure what that last bit meant. You work for Mr. Laufeyson so of course he would tell you what to do. And why are they so volatile? They’re brothers. You don’t have any siblings but you always wanted one. So that you had a friend. So you weren’t alone. 

“Maid, go,” Laufeyson repeats, “now.”

Your eyes widen and you nod. You quickly turn and rush down the hall to the closet. You’re shaking as you try to sort out one phone from the other and find the old list of tasks. You can hardly steady your hands to get a pair of gloves on.

You take your time in the back of the house as you hear the men’s footfalls climb the staircase. You let your nerves settle just a little. You’re alone, for now, and your mission is simple. Clean and stay unseen.

[melodylsimpson]

Melanin in YA

Imagine a space where you can easily find the next YA book written by a Black author to add to your TBR list. Best of all, amongst that book are an endless amount of other YA books waiting to be discovered by you, all written by Black authors. In that same space, you can find out if any of these authors have a book event near you or will be attending a festival / convention near you. In that same space, you can find out their NYT bestseller stats, book to screen adaptation details, a list of Black audiobook narrators to listen to, a detailed list of Black literary agents to query, Black bookish social media influencers to follow, Black led bookish podcasts to subscribe to, Black owned bookstores to visit and so much more. 

That space is Melanin in Y.A. A database for all things Black in traditional young adult publishing. It acts as a no excuses cross-referencing tool for industry professionals, press, readers, writers, students, educators, librarians, program administrators and more. It’s available to you 24/7 for free.

I, Melody Simpson, created Melanin in YA in August 2020 and have been running it entirely by myself from day one. I really want to hire an intern to help me out because maintaining and promoting this is a lot but I’m tapped out on funds and cannot afford an intern right now. Though I am in desperate need of one and would never ask anyone to do the amount of work that I need done without paying them. If you’d like to help in that regard, you can do so here (gofundme) and no donation is too small, thank you so much. If you’d like to help out in other ways, can you please do any of the following below to help amplify this invaluable resource? 

1) Follow and/or repost/retweet Melanin in YA content on Instagram or Twitter

2) Shop merch at Shop Melanin in YA

3) Send the melanininya.com link to your English teachers / professors, librarians, favorite booksellers, colleagues, fellow book club members, anyone you know who loves books, anyone you know who values diversity, equity and inclusion, and everyone you think could use this resource.

Full transparency, when Melanin in YA first launched, there was lots of excitement around it. But it’s been quite the struggle to get people to talk about this resource and share this resource outside of moments in time, say other than Black History Month or when something tragic doesn’t happen to Black people and makes it to mainstream news. I appreciate your support 365 days a year. Especially during a time when Black YA books are being banned more than ever before. This resource is so necessary. Your support is so necessary. It means so, so much. 

Thank you.

[kingsbridgelibraryteens]

If this recent segment from Last Week Tonight With John Oliver about public libraries inspired any questions about libraries, banned and challenged books, unusual items that can be checked out from libraries, and library budgets, we're here to give you some answers!

You can learn more about libraries and what they have to offer, both in-person and digitally, by visiting their websites. Here in New York City we've got three different systems: 

New York Public Library (includes Bronx / Manhattan / Staten Island)

Brooklyn Public Library

Queens Public Library

You should definitely visit your local library system's website, but you can also expand your scope and look outside of your neighborhood. For example, did you know that you can get a New York Public Library card if you live, work, or go to school anywhere in New York State? And did you also know that you can access material from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled if you're a resident of the United States or even an American citizen living abroad?

Banned and challenged books have been a hot topic for years. Unfortunately, the topic is getting hotter all the time as the number of challenges is increasing! The American Library Association keeps track of books that are banned and/or challenged, and which ones are challenged most frequently. Dealing with book challenges is part of librarians' jobs year-round, but we give banned and challenged books extra attention once a year during Banned Books Week. The more time you spend visiting libraries and library websites, the more you'll discover book displays as well as book clubs and other events bringing more attention to the topic of banned and challenged books.

Okay, let's take a minute to talk about unusual things that you can check out with your library card. As you might expect, a library is a place where you can check out books (about the BERENSTAIN BEARS and many other topics), CDs, DVDs, and magazines. While we don't have any taxidermied animals to offer (!!!), at different branches in our system, patrons can check out things like seeds, launchpads, or even STEAM Discovery Kits which contain educational objects like games and telescopes. I'd like to make sure that you ALSO know that many libraries offer lots of digital resources like ebooks, audiobooks, & video as well as databases, so you can even have library access without leaving the house. And finally, you should know that some libraries have Take-Home Kits available for kids and/or teens, and those don't require a library card at all!

If you'd like to help restore budget cuts to your library, you can reach out to your local politicians directly, or sign letters of support virtually or in-person through your library. For example, right now at NYPL we're facing a new round of budget cuts which could reduce our library service from six days a week down to five days a week. We're asking people to show support for us by:

Signing a letter in person

Signing a virtual letter

or even filling out a virtual sticky note saying why libraries are important to you!

If you live outside of the New York City / New York State area, then please visit your local library's website and see how YOU can help keep libraries open and help protect your community's freedom to read!

[wearelibrarian]

Since you requested asks.

What are some library resources that you love that don’t get the appreciation and use that they deserve?

I think y'all on Tumblr already know about this one, but the Internet Archive's Open Library is wonderful for accessing out-of-print resources that may not be available in other ways! It also serves as a catalog of books across the world, including ones which cannot be checked out or read through the Internet Archive. Most of my other favorites require that your local library (or your college/university) have a subscription, but this one is free.

The library resource that needs the most appreciation, though?

Librarians!

So many people are hesitant to come in person, which I understand - it can be scary to go up to the desk, and it can be difficult to find transportation to the nearest library. Many libraries provide assistance over the phone, and some even have online chat available to the public! You don't have to have a library card to ask a librarian for help, though we do appreciate when people sign up for cards. (September is Library Card Signup Month, fyi - go get your library card! I have four and intend to obtain more, since I'm lucky to be living in an area where I can obtain free library cards from multiple area libraries.)

[the-wizard-library]

Sourdough Salutations! How does one go about acquiring a library card for this monolith of wisdom? I am looking to check your records for ancient Carbohydramancer Cookbooks. You see, I am one of the last of my order. That is, one of the last of the Carbohydramancers. Our sacred texts were burnt long ago. If any place had any manuscripts remaining, I thought it'd be here.

Signed, @panem-crustus: Bread Wizard.

Welcome, oh Starchy One. It has been a long time since one of your order has graced our halls, and the Librarian is honoured that you would like to make use of our resources. To the South of the Library's main campus, you will find the Baker's Tower, right beside our world-renowned magical boulangerie - you may need to do some dusting, but we offer state-of-the-art kitchens and a full library of magical cookery books. The Librarian would like to assure you that there are at least thirteen first-edition Carbohydramancer Cookbooks in the Tower, as well as a box of scrolls detailing recipes that nobody has yet had the skill or courage to test. If you get lost on your way over, just follow the scent of freshly-baked sourdough. It has never truly faded.

The Wizard Library operates on an honour-based system. Anyone is welcome to enter and browse to their heart's content, however if you would like to borrow any of our resources, then Wizard Library Cards are available, free of charge, from the Receptionist. Please note that they will ask you for an address (this can be as vague or as specific as you'd like), but this is only so that they can settle on loan periods and late fees, which may differ depending on your home dimension and intended method of payment. Cards can be customised as desired.

The Receptionist promises that there is no fine print.

[pinkacademic]

hey girl it's the harvard anon here and i got 2/5 on my graded 2nd quiz and last time i got 3/5 and im lowkey so annoyed especially because i was up all last night studying & doing the lectures like damn y'all use words that ive Never seen y'all use in the lectures, like, i'm glad I at least got some of the questions right but still 😭

Hey girl! Sorry you’re struggling!! Let’s talk about how to ask for help.

Who can you go to?

Do you have a rapport with your lecturer?

If not, is it too late to send an email?

From my understanding, American universities tend to have like… teaching assistants also? Do have a rapport with any of them?

If not, could you send a few emails?

Don’t be intimidated. Most likely, they’re all really chill people who are genuinely passionate about the subject and who genuinely want to help people succeed. The arseholes are rare but even they know it reflects better on them when their students succeed.

Are there study groups?

Does your subject have a club/society?

What about friends in your class?

And of course, the internet.

Oh, and look for resources such as study support (they can have different names) who essentially you can go to, usually like an hour a week, and who help you with things you may struggle with. This is often available to disabled students, and abled students can also often avail of the services, it just depends what’s available.

Now, of course, the specific point you brought up was a problem with vocabulary. So let’s talk about that.

Google is a hellscape, but search engines are your friend

Do you have a source such as a vocabulary guide for your subject, a glossary, or even just a straight-up dictionary of terms. If you’re not sure, ask an academic librarian for help. And honestly? Just a regular librarian in your local, off-campus library, if the former is intimidating… this is part of my pro-libraries agenda.

Let’s talk also about studying.

Sorry, but cramming is for emergencies only. I don’t know if you did cram, but you said you studied all night. I’m wondering if you need to change your routine

I have plenty of resources of my blog on: different kinds of learners and what helps them (including what helped me) scheduling, etc. I still have work to do on the #pink academia masterpost project, but everything in my study series ought have that tag.

Do your own research

Ask people you know

And girl, sleep is good for your brain.

The most important thing tho is not giving up!! You can do this! You CAN do this!!

HOWEVER

I also want to make it clear that there is no shame in doing so either. If this situation isn’t right for you, get on out.

With that disclaimer out of the way, remember that the best thing you can do is maintain your inner peace, and to remember that a Positive Attitude Changes Everything.

This test does not define you. You are the lexicographer of your own life ok? You define you.

TLDR: ask for help, change your study routine, sleep is good for you, there’s no harm in dropping out, HOWEVER remember to be positive and you can achieve what you’ve worked for.

[literaticat]

From your perspective, what are the best resources to send to a true beginner (someone who knows absolutely nothing at all about children's publishing but says they have a story idea) for learning the craft and business of writing picture books?

Well, first I'd probably tell them that EVERYONE has story ideas -- trust me, if I tell people I work in publishing, I hear "I have a great story idea!" or "Wow, I've always wanted to write a book!" from anyone from dentist to dog-walker. Actually doing the hard work to study the market, write a book, revise the book, etc, is generally a bridge too far for most. And that's fine.

If they are serious about it, though, they should figure out what kinds of books exist, and what kind they are writing or looking to write. (Many adults don't remember much about kid's books, really, and have NO IDEA how much variety exists in the kid's section, or how to tell these books apart, but it's important! And if they walk in and are just lost, they can always ask a nice librarian or bookseller for some guidance!).

Are they looking to write a picture book? A chapter book? MG/YA? Fiction, nonfiction? Each category of books has its own rules and norms, and you kinda need to know them if your goal is to get published. So they should take some time at the bookstore or library to really get to know the different age levels and categories, and immerse themselves in various books that are in the category they want to write. How long are those books? What is the vocabulary like? What's popular? Which publishers are publishing those books? They will likely come to see that there are patterns -- like, most picture books are 32 pages long and under 500 words (much shorter than their faves as a kid might have been!), most chapter books are in series, etc. (Protip: If you hate this step, and reading a bunch of children's books isn't fun for you, you probably should NOT be writing for kids!)

Now that they know their way around the kid's section, it's time for a little online investigation. There are free Facebook groups, for example, like KidLit411, where newbies can observe and ask questions and there are people a little further along in the journey can help answer them. They will see a lot of jargon and things they probably won't understand immediately (like "queries", "R&R", "twitter pitch" or whatever, that we take for granted that people know, but they won't!) -- so, great, they can google and get more familiar with the lay of the land. They will quickly start to realize just how much they really DON'T know, but they'll also start to pick it up.

They should also think about their GOALS. WHY do they want to write children's books? WHO are they trying to reach with their stories? Do they want to be an agented and traditionally published author, where their books are available in regular bookstores for a general audience? OR, do they want to write a very specific niche kind of book for a very specific audience? (Like, a book about dealing with XYZ Illness, aimed at children with that illness and their caretakers, for example, or a book about a specific regional event that is likely to sell A LOT of copies in one small part of the country, and zero copies outside of it) That might mean that a small niche publisher dealing with that thing/locale/whatever exists -- or it might mean that self-publishing is their best bet. (None of these options are BAD, mind you, they are just different, and might mean the paths they will take are different, and they should be aware of that).

If they find all of this research invigorating / exciting, they should continue to the next step. If they find this daunting and awful, they should STOP and go live their lives!

Once they are clear that a) yes this is work, and will take time and effort to master, and it is FAR from a get-rich-quick scheme, and b) they are up for the challenge, and passionate about the stories they want to tell, and c) yes they not only have "an idea" but also know what KIND of book they are going to be writing and what they should be aiming for, and d) they have some idea of their own motivation and goals...

THEN, I'd tell them to sit their butts down and start writing, and if they are enjoying it and want to go to the NEXT step, look into joining the SCBWI.

The SCBWI has huge conferences, of course, but they also have LOADS of free resources for members, and smaller regional events all over the world that are often free or inexpensive; if you happen to live in an active region there are often meet-ups, critique opportunities, etc -- getting to know other authors and getting access to these resources can be REALLY valuable for newbies. But I would just suggest those other steps FIRST, because it's pointless to spend the money to join if you aren't really committed, and you won't know if you are committed until you know more about what it all even is and actually are writing things. You know?

[mercurygray]

Hi! How are you?

I hope you are well.

I wanna ask something if it doesn't take your time.

Do you have any suggestion on how to make research about World War 2 for a fanfiction?

Generally do you have any book recommendation on World War Two? Specifically about woman in war and world war two military healthcare, doktora,surgeons, nurses, medics etc.

Thank you already. (I am an anon cause I am shy even on internet.)

This is a great question, Kind Anonymous Friend, and I don't mind answering it at all!

I answered a similar question here in 2021, and I stand by everything I wrote here: Advice for writing Band of Brothers fics I have a list of books that I like and recommend here: Women in World War II Reading List

I have to be honest and say that my reading list doesn't have a lot of books on actual medical care, or the experience of doctors, surgeons, or medics. Certainly all of those people wrote memoirs, though, and that's a great way to start learning about what their lives were like.

If you have access to a good library (your local library, a college library - whatever) go and ask one of the reference librarians for where you would find those books. (Some reference desks now even take questions online!) Librarians are some of the world's friendliest and most knowledgeable people and they are there to help. They are also usually trained to ask questions to figure out how to get you what you need.

If you can't access the librarian, that's fine! Take some of the titles on the list I gave and look up some of the books in your library's catalog. If you can find one book in the catalog, go and find it on the shelf and then look at the books around it.

Also take a look at the catalog record for the book. Catalog records contain subjects - strings of keywords you can use to find other books in the catalog on similar topics. (If you're using a digital catalog, you can often click that subject to search by it.)

Ruth Haskell's Helmets and Lipstick, a memoir of her time with the US Army Nurse Corps, uses the following subjects in its WorldCat library record:

World War, 1939-1945 Medical care World War, 1939-1945 Personal narratives, American

A doctor's war : the memoir of Charles E. Tegtmeyer, Combat Surgeon in the 1st Infantry Division, 1940-1945, another memoir, this time from a US Army surgeon:

Medicine, Military Medicine, Military Biography Surgeons Surgeons United States Biography Tegtmeyer, Charles E United States United States. Army. Infantry Division, 1st World War, 1939-1945 Biography

And If I Perish: Frontline U.S. Army Nurses in World War II, by Evelyn Monahan and Rosemary Neidel-Greenlee, a general overview book of American nurses in World War Two:

Military nursing Military nursing United States History 20th century United States. Army Nurse Corps United States. Army Nurse Corps History 20th century World War, 1939-1945 Medical care United States

If you do NOT have access to a physical library, for whatever reason, archive.org is a great and wonderful resource that has many digital books available for free just by creating an account. You can use some of the subject headings I've given here to see if you can find a digital book on the subject you want! Archive.org is also fun because they have a large number of original documents from the 1940s, as well as some films. (A quick search just now got me War Dept Film Bulletin146: Medical Service In The Invasion Of Normandy, 1944)

Whatever you find, I recommend reading widely - not just about the specific subject you're interested in, but general knowledge, too. And good luck!

[rubythecrimsonwriter]

i just wanna tell you that you’re the first person to congratulate me for graduating from high school. my parents just said “well, at least you did one thing right” and skipped my ceremony leaving me without a ride home and I had to walk home in my cap and gown (without my diploma too bc there had been a delay) the whole day was so bittersweet because I was proud of myself but nobody in my entire family cared that I was graduating at all and the closest thing to an “I’m proud of you” that I heard was my grandparents telling me they were surprised I didn’t get pregnant and drop out during covid. your message means everything to me and i bet it will continue to mean a lot to the next few years of graduates.

Your parents are despicable and the adults in your life have failed you miserably. I'm so sorry, Nonnie, high school was rough even without the world falling apart at every available turn. I'm so proud of you and I'm sorry more people can't see your effort and your successes. I would recommend befriending some librarians, they're older and have a stupid amount of resources to help you get set up in the world outside of schooling, and they also are more informed than the average person--they know exactly how hard high school is nowadays. They're also some of the most genuine people I've ever met. "If your family sucks, make your own," has been the ostracized person's motto for centuries, now, and for good reason.

I'm twenty-five, now, I've been through some shit. I'm not a librarian, but you and all the other teenagers I've got in my notes are welcome to send me questions. I might not know everything you ask me, but I have adults in my life (well, adultier adults than me) that I can ask, as well as a multitude of librarians. Or I can direct you to Youtube channels that have helped me a bunch, or (American) government help pages that help with food, housing, paying bills, education, disability, and a buuunch of other stuff. Tumblr, if you're in the right circles, is also surprisingly helpful about sharing links that make a big difference, and I pass those around when they come on my dash too.

I wish you well in the world outside of high school. Good news: general workforce is a lot easier than high school.

[faeriekit]

I have an MLIS and I am trying to find a job in a library - how did you find yours?

Hiya! Sorry to say that I'm probably the worst person to ask, because I had a library job before getting my MLIS. Like a lot of people on the shelf of what to choose to do professionally forever, I signed onto a shelver/circ desk part time gig when I was vaguely interested in library stuff, and then started looking for a MLS program I liked. That gave me access to the internal job board for some upwards mobility once I was into my degree program.

Advice other people have told me before, however, constitutes this:

Your state library association may have its own separate job board. Go to that one. Use the newest job postings; some old ones may be posted but already internally filled. There may even be a routine— I know our state's updates a specific day of the week, every week. If there's a state border by you and you don't mind working there either, check and see if you can access that too.

Apply anyway. The job you get at first might be bad but job searching with an income and experience is so so so much easier than applying without either.

NETWORK. OH MY GODS HALF THIS JOB IS NETWORKING. Joining your state library association might be expensive but if there's any library organization you can latch onto, do it. That's how you find out about jobs before they're even posted and find out who's interviewing and what they like to hear and what they're looking for in a candidate and what the job environment is like... Make friends with every librarian.

It's easier to do this part when you're in school, but walking into your local library and asking questions about library topics and environment questions helps you ingratiate with the local library professionals community. Having an ice breaker like "I had this question for my essay... can I interview you?" Makes this a lot easier, but it's not like AS doesn't automatically get job board questions all the time anyway. Network network network.

If you had a library you worked with during your practicum, continue to foster those relationships with the staff. Email them questions. Ask for advice. Ask for resources. They may even have a public lending access for library journals you can scour. Call and see if the local universities hire non-students. Ask them the same questions— it's not like they won't answer non-student questions, they just can't lend you anything without an account or alumni account. Hell, email your old advisors at the school you went to and ask them where to look. It's pretty bleak to be out there with an MLIS and no idea where you're going, but there are opportunities available. Most of them are just...really really annoying to find.

I should know. My boss's boss once insisted on posting our job openings to the local community "only on facebook, since they should be internet proficient enough to use Facebook at least."

Yeah. At least she seems to have figured out that the local community uses WhatsApp since then...

Good luck!! 🍀🍀🍀🤧🍀

[supercantaloupe]

hi i'm back (verdi anon). thank you sososo much. re specifics if this helps at all: it's actually a review of a performance but we have to do background research on the composer. also i'm nervous as fuck to ask anyone about anything because i have an ambiguous extension and i really don't want to push my luck with it.

i think a general overview biography from like an anthology/textbook chapter or a music encyclopedia/dictionary entry will be most useful to you then; an entire in depth novel length biography on verdi's entire career would certainly be interesting, but probably a bit too much for this. see what your library has in terms of musical dictionaries (like new grove/oxford music online!), or look for anthologies or textbooks on music or opera in the 19th century/romantic era. verdi was a huge figure in 19th century music and opera so a book surveying those topics is practically guaranteed to discuss him and some of his career. maybe check to see if your library has "the cambridge companion to verdi" (book) or something similar (maybe skim it if you find one, though, they can be a little dense sometimes). tertiary sources like these can vary in their content and the audience they're aimed at, but i find the cambridge companion series pretty approachable. for now, avoid "research guides" that are just novel-length bibliographies, they aren't going to be helpful to you for this.

and i totally get being nervous to reach out for help, i've been there myself. but i do want to stress that your professors and librarians are there to help you, it's literally their job! for help in generally finding resources, talk to or email a librarian. they know what resources you have available and how to find them, and they're not gonna, like, tattle on you to your professor or advisor or something for asking for help, i promise. and if you're confused about or stuck on something related to class content or an assignment, email your professor or talk to them during office hours (professors really like it when you visit them in office hours! it shows interest and dedication). i mean, if it's your freshman year in college, then it's 100% understandable and even expected for all this stuff to be new and confusing; you'll figure it out over time, with experience and help from your faculty. it's not about being right or perfect yet (if it ever is).

[metadata-uber-alles]

As someone working behind the scenes at a university library, I'm going to follow up on "the library will have a copy of your textbook".

Books (and other resources) that a professor has asked the library to set aside for a class are called "course reserves". The rules for checking out course reserves can be different from those for other materials--if a book needs to be available to the whole class, they can't let one student keep it for three weeks. Make sure you know what the policy is!

Try not to put yourself in a position where you and everyone else are trying to get the same course reserve item the night before class.

Libraries also have subscriptions! If you find yourself needing a paywalled article, search for it through the library catalog, because odds are good that the library has paid the paywall for you.

If you have trouble accessing something ask the library staff! Publishers of ebooks and online journals love to set up weird hoops for people to jump through. Trust me the librarians are just as annoyed with this as you are.

Larger universities have Subject Area Librarians, that is, librarians who specialize in researching Art History or Spanish Literature or Computer Science or Sociology or whatever their area is. Talk to the librarian for your major and discover databases you never dreamed existed.

If there is anything that would make it easier for you to use the library, from materials you wish they had to accessibility issues, send in that suggestion! There will probably be something on the library website, or you can always ask whoever is at the desk how to send in feedback on [topic]. Librarians spend a LOT of time thinking about how to get people to use the library more, so suggestions are useful, and a record of specific requests from students helps them justify the funding.

Actual good first-time college student advice:

Wear jeans/pants that “breathe” and bring a sweater, even if it’s scorching hot out, until you know which building blasts the AC to 60 degrees F and which feels like a sauna

Backpacks with thick straps are your friend!  Messenger bags are cool and all but if you’re commuting with a lot of stuff, symmetrically styled backpacks are better for your back

You are your own person and you can walk out whenever you need to or want to, so long as you’re not disrupting the class.  Meaning you can go to the bathroom without permission, take a breather if you’re anxious, answer an important phone call, etc.

If you don’t like the class on the first day, if you can- DROP THAT CLASS AND TAKE ANOTHER ONE!  It’ll only get worse from there!

If you can, take a class outside your major; it’s a good break from your expected studies.

You are in charge of your schedule.  Your adviser and guidance counselor is there to ‘advise and guide’ but if you don’t like certain classes and you can substitute for others, that’s your choice.

Consequently, if you are changing anything drastic in your plan, talk with your adviser and instructors.

Pay attention to your credit hours and grades.  Never leave this to the last week of school, you will be sorry and stressed beyond belief!

Unless it’s a lab book or otherwise specified, go to the class for a week or so before buying an expensive textbook.  Some classes, while having it on their required list, do not actually use the textbook a whole lot and you might find some of it scanned online.  Rent if you can or buy used online (schools actually don’t give discounts).  Use your best judgement on what you think you need.

Tell the people who go up to you selling or advertising things you are not interested in that you are in a rush to class and don’t have time to listen to them.  It’s less rude and they’ll leave you alone.

The smaller the class, the better it is to have some sort of acquaintanceship with a couple classmates.  They might save your ass if you are absent one day or need to study.  And talking with them makes the time go by faster without it being so insufferable.

You don’t need to join a club or sport, but internships are cool and useful!

If you can afford it, take a day off once or twice each semester if you’re too exhausted.  Just be aware of what you missed and if it was worth missing!

Your health is the most important, this goes for mental health too!!  Note: College-age/upper teens is when mental disorders like depression and anxiety are most commonly diagnosed.  Most schools have therapy services, especially during exam time.  Look into it if you need to!

Communicate with your professor if you are having trouble with something.  Anything.

Eat and stay hydrated.  Bring a water bottle and snack to class.

All-nighters will happen but never go over 36 hours without sleep.

It’s going to be hard and there will be times you might think about giving up.  This WILL happen.  You just have to make sure what you’re doing isn’t making you absolutely miserable and/or there is something rewarding and positive to look forward to at the end!

[hitchhikersguild]

Level 1: Investigator

This level forms the basis for all of the work you will do as part of the guild. The goal is to learn as much as possible about your community. How you define "community" is up to you, and can be as small as your neighborhood or as large as the world.

Instructions:

Know the emergency number where you live. The big one. You probably already know this, and may decide to learn the main numbers for other countries or regions. Keep this information on your person. I recommend a small notebook or a phone app, whichever is most accessible to you.

Learn the non-emergency numbers for your local fire department and hospital. Keep this information on your person.

Learn about the social services in your community. Who helps people who are dealing with physical injuries or illness? Mental illness? What resources are available for people whose housing is insecure or nonexistent? How about food insecurity? Who helps with environmental disasters? What resources are available for traditionally underserved communities? Who helps with wild animal encounters? Keep this information on your person.

Learn the emergency procedures for at least three places you go frequently. Where are people to go in a fire? Weather emergency? Active shooter situation? Be sure to ask people who would know, like a store manager or employee, a park ranger, a mall security officer, or a librarian. Keep this information on your person.

Learn about situations or problems unique to your locality. How do people go from place to place, and what can stop people from moving around safely? Is electricity an issue? Are you more likely to encounter a stray dog, a racoon, a coyote, a bear, or a lion? How are these situations dealt with? Are you in or near a war zone? What can people do and what do people need? Keep this information on your person.

The better you understand your community, the more you can help. Wearing the investigator pin (link in bio) can help remind you of your mission, and help others see that you are part of a group.