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The outside world is in literal and figurative flames, but I sometimes find it reassuring to remember that the everyday services are still happening inside my library. We’re hiring for open positions, prepping for the rush of summer reading, and trying to manage our increasingly large holds lists for our patrons. And although this post is primarily a roundup of helpful links for library staff, I hope it can also be a little reminder that mundane things are still happening, even when it feels like a dumpster fire outside. Let ordinary things be refreshing.
And finally, a library-adjacent story that I think is important to share in terms of how to effectively leverage privilege to advocate for change.
Former NFL player Chris Kluwe was arrested during a Huntington Beach (CA) City Council meeting “when he approached council members after making an impassioned speech that likened the MAGA movement to Nazism.” Kluwe was protesting the council’s decision to erect a plaque for the library’s anniversary that included the words “Magical Alluring Galvanizing Adventurous” as an acrostic reference to MAGA. This is a prime example of what John Lewis referred to as “good trouble” — Kluwe made his point effectively, without violence, and leveraged his privilege as a semi-famous cisgender white man even though it led to his arrest. The result? The incident made national news. The council went ahead and approved the plaque anyway, but this was very well done.