Jean Darnell: Awaken Librarian

For #InternationalWomensDay, a Literary Hub author Jess Decourcy Hinds, selected librarians who inspire her...and I MADE THE LIST! 🥰 Truth be told, this mention lifted my day above the clouds. I overwork, overthink and overanalyze just about everything I interact with so much so that I deplete my energy reserves without regard to rest. But this...the title and all of my peers included within the article speaks to the fearlessness librarians and women MUST have to endure in this world led predominantly by those who want to silence us. Normally, I'm celebrating the accomplishments of women who inspired me for Women's History Month, but this time, the table's turned. I embrace the honor and present to you: "8 Badass Librarians We Need to Celebrate This International Women's Day"

Welcome to my Back-to-School Leadership and Advocacy post! I am super excited to present to you some ways to get your students involved in the censorship battles across America. This post is written in conjunction with the wonderful Da'Taeveyon Daniels, winner of the Sam G. Whitten Award for Intellectual Freedom this past year at the 2024 Texas Library Association Annual Conference: Here's a bonus for you, Da'Taeveyon has written a Top 5 List for Student Advocacy to educate and elevate student voices in leadership. As student activists, advocates, organizers, and storytellers, we play a crucial role in shaping the future of our communities and our country. If you're just starting in student advocacy, especially in the fight against book bans, here are five essential tips to help you take a leadership role and inspire action. 1. Educate Yourself and Others Knowledge is power. Start by understanding the issues at hand—why are books being banned, who is aff...