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Exterior of Seattle Public Library

For Formerly Incarcerated People, Libraries are a Lifeline

Each year, millions of Americans are released from prisons and jails. Libraries work hard to help these formerly incarcerated populations transition back into their communities, providing free access to education and job training in a welcoming setting. “Libraries & Reentry,” a recent report from the American Library Association, details the many ways that libraries support individuals …

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Jigsaw puzzle featuring REM's celebrity READ poster

Get This R.E.M. Puzzle for the Shiny Happy People in Your Life

Thirty years ago, beloved rock band R.E.M. posed for the American Library Association (ALA)’s READ campaign to promote the joy of literacy, and the resulting poster became an instant collector’s item. Now, book lovers and music fans can enjoy this iconic image as a jigsaw puzzle, with all sales supporting literacy efforts. On the poster, musicians …

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Photos of a large reptile and a sign reading: Library Biblioteca

What It’s Like to Be a Librarian in the Galápagos

Librarians work all over the world, from big cities and suburbs to the furthest reaches of the planet. Case in point: Edgardo Civallero is a librarian stationed in the Galápagos, an archipelago off the coast of Ecuador known for influencing Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Civallero is part of the Charles Darwin Foundation (CDF), a …

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People on kayaks on a body of water

For a One-of-a-Kind Book Club Experience, Hop on a Kayak

During the pandemic, libraries have gotten creative to continue serving their communities while maintaining social distancing. Indoor group activities like book clubs are no longer feasible, so many libraries have switched to online or phone-based conversations. Connecticut’s Russell Library has taken a different approach, bringing literary discussions into the great outdoors with their Book Yak …

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Still from the animated Library Takeout music video

We Can’t Stop Listening to this Viral Library Song

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, creative librarians have been pulling out all the stops to inform their communities about curbside pick-up and other socially distant services. One highlight: “Library Takeout,” a viral music video created by Duke University librarian Jamie Keesecker to explain the contactless pick-up process. Since debuting on YouTube in August, “Library Takeout” has racked up nearly 700,000 …

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Laura Braunstein works on a crossword on a tablet

Crosswords at the Crossroads: Intersection and Inclusion in Puzzles and Libraries

If you’re a crossword fan, you’ve probably come across work by Laura R. Braunstein, digital humanities librarian at Dartmouth College: her puzzles have been published in the New York Times, the Chronicle of Education, and more. She’s also a co-founder of The Inkubator, a project that challenges the gender imbalance in the crossword world. The site …

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Archival photo of a library reading room

8 People Share Their Favorite Library Memories

We asked I Love Libraries readers and the American Library Association’s social media followers to share their favorite library memories. Here are a few highlights: “As a child in first grade, ‘going to the library’ was going outside in front of the school and boarding a bookmobile to pick out a book. It was my …

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An adult helps put a face mask on a child

If Your Kids Need Help Coping with the Pandemic, Look to Libraries

COVID-19 has taken an enormous mental toll on people of all ages; even young children are struggling with grief, isolation, and fear during the pandemic. If you’re wondering about the best way to approach challenging conversations with the kids in your life, turn to children’s library professionals for expert guidance and support. As part of …

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