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Book covers: The Mountain's Base, What Do You Do With a Voice Like That, Surviving the City Vol. 1, Rise!, Forward Me Back To You, The Proudest Blue, We Set The Dark On Fire, Thirteen Doorways Wolves Behind Them All

Librarians Share Their Top Ten Feminist Books for Youth

Looking for great kids’ and YA reads about gender equality and justice? Librarians from the Feminist Task Force of the American Library Association’s Social Responsibilities Round Table have compiled a powerful list entitled “Rise: A Feminist Book Project for ages 0-18.” Selections include fiction, non-fiction, and graphic novels and highlight the work of diverse authors and illustrators. Here …

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Teen boy reading on couch in library

Calling All Teens: Vote for Your Top YA Reads

Love young adult literature? Now’s your chance to vote for your favorite YA books as part of the Young Adult Library Services Association’s annual Teens’ Top Ten. Each year, votes from readers aged 12 through 18 determine which books make the cut. Voting for your favorite titles can help teens across the country discover and enjoy …

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A grey cat sitting among library bookstacks

What It’s Like to Be a Library Cat During the Pandemic

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, libraries across the country have closed their doors to the public-but what has that meant for the cats who call America’s libraries home? Libraries have long been home to feline residents who keep patrons company, promote activities and programs, and assist with pest control. We checked in on four library cats …

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Book covers: The Babysitter from Another Planet, Out There, I Hope You Get This Message, The Strangers, We're Not From Here, The Pioneer

Librarians’ Favorite Sci-Fi Books for Kids and Teens

Members of the Library and Information Technology Association (a division of the American Library Association) have put together an out-of-this-world list of recent science fiction books for young readers. Their picks include options for kids of all ages, with titles aimed at readers from pre-school through 12th grade. Here are there 30+ picks: Books for …

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A pair of hands working in a sketchbook atop a table covered with art supplies and coffee

5 Reasons for Artists to Love Libraries

Whether you’re dabbling in crafts or a professional artist, libraries offer extensive free resources to support your creative pursuits. Painters, musicians, writers, designers, and more rely on their libraries for access to information, inspiration, and a whole community of creators to collaborate with. Here are a few of the most ways that artists and creatives …

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Still from a She-Ra and the Princesses of Power scene set in a library

These Animated Shows Defy Library Stereotypes

When people think about librarians and libraries, they may point to films, live-action TV shows, or even novels. However, one area is often missed: animation. In Hollywood, stereotypes are plentiful, as librarians are used as “shortcuts to propel the plot forward,” in the words of Jennifer Snoek-Brown, author of the Reel Librarians blog. While this generally applies to animation as …

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Still from Harris County Public Library's promotional video featuring Curbside Larry

Curbside Larry Reminds Everyone to Check Out Their Library This Summer

The internet is falling in love with Curbside Larry, the cowboy-hat-wearing, ultra-enthusiastic hype man for Texas’s Harris County Public Library (HCPL). In a viral promotional video from HCPL’s Barbara Bush Branch Library, Larry shares an irresistible pitch for using the branch’s curbside pickup services. “We got shelves and shelves of books, Blu-rays, and DVDs, and …

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Archival photo of crowds at Coney Island

Historical Backgrounds for Your Next Zoom Meeting

Conference calls getting stale? It might be time to mix things up with a new webcam backdrop. The Library of Congress digital collections contain countless options, offering a vast variety of historical images that are free to download and use. Just save your favorites and turn on Zoom’s Virtual Background feature to add some old-school flair to your meeting. …

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