Life with a teen who is curious is wild. They watched Coyote vs. Acme. Since then, we’ve discussed various aspects of capitalism, the meaning of Camus’ quote “We must imagine Sisyphus happy”, and I think we’ll be reading and discussing “The Myth of Sisyphus” by this weekend.

We should all be doing our jobs - paid and elected - well enough that when someone questions why a simple task took over a year and a half, we don’t lose our minds and reveal that we expected others to give us the information we were capable of finding/reading on our own.

Explaining to my spouse the connection between a dream last night has lead to a late afternoon booking for a flash tattoo.

Yesterday our Community Liaison led a tour of campus for parents. While visiting the library, they asked pointed and interested questions about our services, circulation, & budget. A parent commented “so we have the highest circulation, but the smallest HS budget” & thought our budget was too small.

Yesterday, I went to get boba. The employee working the register looked at me and exclaimed “You were my high school librarian! You helped me find books I enjoyed.” She’s still reading (yay!) and I found out what she’s studying at university and her next goals.

Student: This cover was created with AI. My library tech and I: No, it wasn’t. Student: It looks AI. I hate that AI has made kids skeptical of real art. And I missed an opportunity to open the book and find the jacket artist info. When he returns it, I will show him how to find that info.

A note from Teen Librarian Toolbox: This post was scheduled to run in late September. Today we learned that Benjamin Alire Sáenz passed away Tuesday night at age 71. teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2026/07/29/t...

That’s the Art of It: Writing When the World Was Happy, a guest post by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

It isn’t hard to understand why I say that I was reluctant to write this book—but reluctance doesn’t make for good writing.

teenlibrariantoolbox.com

I learned about theater.games a few weeks ago - they now have an app! I’ve been enjoying playing SPIKE, CRTN, REBLOCK, and now PROGRAM even though my solve rate varies.

theater.games — Daily puzzles for show people

A daily collection of theater puzzles. Play SPIKE, REBLOCK, GEORGE, and more — built for Broadway fans.

theater.games

As I prepare my comments for our school board meeting tonight, I am grateful for: - CA Legislative website for access to all the Codes - poorly written policy draft on tonight’s agenda - CA Cities handbook on the Brown Act - Hamilton lyrics for comment inspiration (1/4)

As we approach the Fourth of July and America’s 250th birthday, MVP Vote Devon sums up what so much of us are feeling: “Loving a county means you get to be furious when it goes against the very ethos of its founding.” Read Devon’s full essay at www.madvoters.org/post/the-mos...

I bedazzled my first book today!

We decided to start this today and my kiddo is convinced that the whole town is just Scooby Doo pranking the mayor, my wife is a shade of red that only comes from laughing, and I keep feeling like this is Jaws with spooky stuff told from the pov of the mayor.

Shane Anderson 🏳️‍🌈@shaneanderson.bsky.social · 4mo ago

My god WIDOW'S BAY had an absolutely perfect season of TV. That's one of my favourite things ever,feels like it was tailor made just for me, and yet the huge reach it's having is so wonderful.

Two weeks ago, I won a membership to one of our local breweries. It comes with a stein and whatever name you want on it. Of course, I had to go with a reference to my favorite Orion. Tonight we listen to the band a friend’s husband is in and I get to drink out of my new stein!

I just presented two library awards at Senior Awards Night and the cheers that the students gave me when I was introduced was so sweet and so surprising. One of my awardees was not there, but I made the other one cry.

I would purchase all the buildings in our historic downtown area and rent would be about supporting the success of small businesses, not making me money. Also, I would be a Renaissance-style patron of the arts. And for me: a lady’s maid (paid a handsome wage, of course).

After a 5.5 hour School Board meeting, I received a compliment that I am still smiling from - “After your professional career is over, you would make a phenomenal board member.”

If you tuned in to watch the mission live, you should definitely tune in now!

Robin Bradford@tuphlos.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Hey, i think some astronauts are gonna talk about some stuff in a few minutes. You know, if you’re interested….

Watched the NASA livestream of the Artemis II launch today in the library and enjoyed geeking out with students. The joy I felt all day was just the best!

Does anyone have anything in their email signature about not feeding your email into a genAI tool? Or anything about your email being your own words and requesting real responses, nothing drafted by AI? Or requesting that if AI is used, it is cited?

While on Spring Break, my district hosted a county event at my site. I knew the library would be used as the green room for the speaker and presenters, but the district made a mistake by filming videos of leadership in the library, saying how proud they were to host the event. (1/2)

My child (currently in AP Euro History) & I have discussed that university is a place for “big thinky thoughts & that everyone deserves to have access to institutions that prioritize the joy of learning - not just those whose wealth enables the freedom from labor (current or future labor).

Boze Herrington, Library Owl@sketchesbyboze.bsky.social · 8mo ago

I get yelled at for saying this but for many hundreds of years people went to university not to get diplomas or be employable but because immersion in the humanities was considered foundational to a good life, and school must return to its original purpose: the joy of learning.

I’m hosting a game night for our staff tomorrow and I can’t wait to show off all of the board games that can be borrowed from the library. After sorting our 70+ games, I’m really happy that the majority of them are 15+ and 30+ minutes.

Today a hate poster was posted around my kiddo’s school. Found about it through communication from admin. Found out my kiddo and a friend covered one that they passed. So proud to have this kiddo in my family.

Not on my bingo card for Winter Break: Rolling over and immediately falling out of my bed while taking all of the sheets and blankets with me. Hysterical laughter while on the ground is one way to wake up.

Just read this powerful awards acceptance speech by @authorsabb.bsky.social. #DoWhatYouCan #EveryActionCounts www.prettyokmaggie.com/blog/2025/11...

After consistently showing up at my local school board meetings, I was invited to a one-on-one meeting w/ the Superintendent, am consistently greeted by some of the school board members at meetings, & board members & staff at the board meetings say hi to me when they see me at school events.

Greg Pak@gregpak.net · 11mo ago

I really can't emphasize enough that if you care about local politics, all you gotta do is show up. Just a regular schmegular person showing up. Literally just show up consistently in person and within a remarkably short amount of time, you will have a shocking amount of influence.

I returned to work last week, but this has been helping me unwind at night - and this past weekend. Only one more set of panels to complete.

The weekly Substack is up! I'd like to make sure @k8applebee.bsky.social knows she inspired some great new additions into our library that I mention! Excited for things to come! #librarian #library #books #tlsky #skybrarian #skybrarians #librarians

Weekly recap 2/24 - 2/28

Libraries are more than just books—they’re a mix of creativity, community, and controlled chaos. Let’s talk about it.

open.substack.com

I had so much fun!

Jen Zimny@jenthelibrarian.bsky.social · 2y ago

Great workshop by @k8applebee.bsky.social at @4csla.bsky.social on board games in your library! Great start to conference!

Great workshop by @k8applebee.bsky.social at @4csla.bsky.social on board games in your library! Great start to conference!