Friday Thread 🧵#8: Give these people something to do!
Your Suggestions for the Book Ban Contingency
Funny story.
As you know if you’ve been following my newsletter, I’m donating all proceeds in 2024 to individuals and organizations fighting book bans. So far 23 people have contributed over $1,400 to the cause, $430 of which I already donated during National Library Week to that American Library Association’s United Against Book Bans initiative and to wrongfully terminated Llano, TX librarian Suzette Baker’s GoFundMe (after chatting online with her pro-bono attorney).
I set a goal in August to connect with at least 5 more people who would be willing to contribute so that we could make a big donation for Banned Books week. Last week, I was very excited to see a new paid subscriber pop up, putting me just one away from my goal. But before this person’s free trial expired, they sent me this “user feedback”:
“I do not wish to support, directly or indirectly, the political activities of the ALA.”
My first thought? SAME, girl, SAME.
I mean, in my ideal world the American Library Association would have no need to be a political organization. Libraries would be funded to develop and circulate a collection, curated by consummate professionals, to their communities. They’d be trusted to do that and the public would be trusted to… wait for it… read the books they want to read.
Or not.
There are a million other things people who do not have jobs with the actual institutions trusted to publish and circulate books could be doing with their time, when they’re not-reading books, besides trying to decide which books they’ve not-read should be made not-readable for others.
Or signing up for bookish newsletters and leaving head-scratching feedback because they’re surprised to find the writer is actively opposed to book bans.
Anyway, I cheered myself up by thinking about a list of some of those things this person could do with themself. I’d never email it to them, but maybe they’re lurking…
Would you join me in making that list on this glorious Friday? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments.
And for the rest of you wonderful readers looking for excuses for things you’d rather not do this week, in the name of a good cause here are two events you might be interested in:
EveryLibrary Live! is offering a virtual event with 25 panels with 45+ authors and experts on Book Bans throughout next week. Check it out and RSVP.
And for anyone in Denver, the [margins.] Book Festival, centering stories told by BIPOC, LGBTQIA, disabled and neurodiverse communities, is happening September 21-22.
It’s not too late to sign up as a paid subscriber to contribute to next week’s donation by The Booktender community. Or if you prefer, send me a receipt for a donation of at least $5 you’ve made directly to Every Library, the ALA United Against Book Bans, Suzette Baker or any other librarian fighting book bans this year and I’ll upgrade you.
Cheers,
Abra
Some ideas for some more useful things this person could do with their time:
1. Take that $5 and invest it in Bitcoin
2. Wear wet socks while looking for parking
3. Have a staring contest with a houseplant
4. Write a Yelp review for their corner stoplight
5. Dress up the Roomba and pretend to have friends
Good for you! I plan to upgrade to paid once I land my next job (my last contract just ended).