tales-from-the-library

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I made this into a video instead of a verbal story!!! It was so adorable to see how excited this family was to find transgender books in the library

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Tales from the Library

11/19/2021

My coworker informed me, that when she was young she lived in Atlanta and went to the Atlanta public library often.

There was a library page there named Newt Gingrich- yes- that Newt. Who my coworker admits that all the little kids made fun of him calling him “newt the nit”

How little things changed for poor Newt 🤣

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Tales from the library,

11/01/21

The weirdest thing happened to me today;

I was going through our collection, and found a book about growing up on a plantation.

I opened it up and it was filled with racist depictions of “the slaves really enjoyed keeping a tidy house” and “the slaves were very creative by making all of their own kitchen utensils.”

And suddenly, without warning, completely spontaneously, the book just fell apart in my hand while I was reading it. 🤷🏽‍♀️

It was the darndest thing.

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Tales From the Library

10/18/2021

Today I did a storytime at a Youth Center in the city,

All four year olds.

And three of the kiddos were amped when they saw my felt board of Goldie Locks and the Three Bears. One declared “I know this story! Let me tell it!”

And the three of them jointly told the rest of us the story! They did really well- the porridge, the ‘somebodies been sleeping in my bed’

But then, at the end of the story, when Goldie locks ran away- one child added “And then a Bee flew in the window and ATE BABY BEAR! Papa bear screamed in horror, and tried to get the bee. But the bee ATE Poppa bear too.

. . . Momma bear got away though.”

Child, WHO HAS BEEN READING TO YOU?!

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So two tweens were in the library today. And one turns to the other and says “you know what’s really gay?”

And I’m mentally preparing to talk to them about how its not okay to use gay as an insult. And the kid goes “Two straight men. There’s something suspicious about straight men hanging out with each other.”

The other nods and goes “Mad sus.”

I’m like - oh okay that’s….fair, I think ?

And then their just openly talking about their trans schoolmate who is non-binary and one asks “how does not having a gender fall into the gender spectrum? Like how does that work? You’re absent of gender, but it’s still collectively grouped with the other genders?”

And here I butted in, and was like “well - you know outer space right? And how the space between planets and stars is a vacuum?”

And he nods and I say “well if it’s a vacuum with nothing in it- how can it be space if its void? Gender is space.”

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Tales From the Library

5/11/21

Occasionally, teens help me make Tiktoks for my library TikTok account! And after we’re done being goofy I usually give them a little snack-a cup of pretzels or m&ms,

Today, after I gave them snacks, two of the teens proceeded to argue over who should keep the empty cup. The wrestled over it (not aggressively). And wouldn’t settle down until I gave each teenager their own paper cup.

One, proud of their trophy, tied their hair in a tight bun, and then slipped the cup over the bun, and wore their new crown.

I am sad I didn’t catch THAT on camera.

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3/30/21

Had the perfect moment yesterday.

For weeks, I have kept M&Ms in a old pill bottle in my desk.

And my boss told me “take a chill pill”

And there was a look of such pure horror on her face when I said “FINE!” And downed like 15 M&M’s in front of her.

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I did an entire zoom meeting with all my county’s librarians as a puppet.

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I often think about the final scene of MacBeth,

Where MacBeth is fighting MacDuff, and says “The witches told me no one Assigned Male At Birth can defeat me”

And MacDuff laughs and goes “I WAS NOT ASSIGNED MALE AT BIRTH”

Before killing MacBeth

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I’m cutting out children book characters and this accident was born

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Book review!

Title: “A Good Kind of Trouble” by Lisa Moore Ramee,

Genre: “General Fiction”

Reading Age: 8 - 12

Summary:

12 year old Shayla navigates her first year in junior high while expierencing a racial awakening. Trying to put the pieces of former friendships, family, interest in boys, all peacefully together under the backdrop of a policewoman on trial for murdering a black man.

Review:

This book is a must read. And I would encourage any and all English teachers to make this a part of their curriculum.

From Shaylas point of view we are introduced to a lot of real world problems - one is sexual assault. At one point in the book a boy grabs Shayla without her consent and kisses her! And in a very genuine and fluid manner we cringe along with Shayla, and follow her as she resolves this issue by enforcing the truth of consent, and the importance of asking before doing- but in a way that doesn’t come off as preachy, and imprints positive lessons to young readers about bodily autonomy!

The author has this way of using metaphors in such a subtle yet powerful way. That makes clear that prejudice is wrong, expierences through Shayla’s own prejudice towards other black students. In real time we follow her unlearning stereotypes and discover how harmful preconceived notions are.

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Oh I have too much fun

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Hello fans! I started a TikTok to make bizzare Library themed videos such as what you see above.

Follow it @parmapubliclibrary

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I missed a few posts of you and I am so relieved to see you on my dash. I'm glad you are well and I hope all your loved ones are, too!! I know you don't know me, but I love your blog. You're an awesome librarian and a great person. Thank you.

Thanks! Covid is hard on libraries, but soon there will be smiles again!