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George Takei is best known for his role as Sulu in the 1960s cult-classic TV show Star Trek, but the actor has found even more fame later in life thanks to his prolific social media presence and activist work. In his new graphic novel, They Called Us Enemy (Top Shelf Productions), Takei details his childhood years spent in internment camps for Japanese Americans during World War II. Takei spoke with American Libraries at the 2019 ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C., about his book and the profound and lasting danger of not learning from history.
American Libraries: Newsmaker, July/Aug.
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July 20 marks the 50th anniversary of the first crewed moon landing, when Apollo 11’s lunar module deposited astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the surface of the moon. On July 21, 1969, Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the moon. To celebrate, the Academy of American Poets has curated this special collection of classic and contemporary poems inspired by the moon and space travel.
Academy of American Poets
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Anna Gooding-Call writes: “As a librarian, I think I could be forgiven for thinking that not enough people use the library. In fact, I feel this way most of the time. However, I have my days. These are the days when I encounter that 2% of the public that does not know how to be a good library patron. This isn’t just about not damaging the books. It’s about being a good citizen in a unique public space where personal boundaries can feel a bit fuzzy. I’m convinced that this is a lapse in education, so I’m gonna edumacate you right here and right now. If you think you’re a stellar patron, read this anyway.”
Book Riot, July 19
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Elisabeth Cook writes: “Ah, coffee and books: Two of humanity’s great loves. We loved coffee so much we named a table after it. We loved books so much we created a category of books just for that table. But today, we’re going to be mashing these two wonders of the world together and checking out nine of the best coffee books. In other words, books about coffee. Whether you’re looking for the best coffee books for baristas, the best books about espresso, or the best books on coffee in general, read on.”
Book Riot, July 19
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On July 19, 1848, the Seneca Falls Convention convened. Heralded as the first American women’s rights convention, the two-day event was held in the Wesleyan Chapel in Seneca Falls, New York. Despite a minimal amount of publicity, there were an estimated 300 attendees at the inaugural meeting. Many of the convention attendees lived locally, as there were a number of abolitionists living nearby. Convention organizer Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her husband Henry B. Stanton were both well-known abolitionists. Many working in the antislavery movement eventually became a part of the struggle to obtain equal rights for women.
Library of Congress: Today in History, July 19
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Jill Duffy writes: “Email can make us feel like we’re struggling to keep our heads above water. Is your inbox pages long? Do you begin every day reading email, thinking you’ll reply to the most important messages, only to look up and realize an hour has slipped by and you’ve done nothing so far? Are you running out of space for your email every few days? Does email feel like a productivity multiplier, or a productivity killer? Here are 11 tips for making email less of a burden. Let me warn you that these tips are rooted in common sense and don’t provide a magic bullet, which means they won’t blow your mind or become an overnight sensation. But neither will flossing.”
PC Magazine, July 15
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The exclusive screening of the newly released GKIDS animated film Okko’s Inn will highlight the Library of Congress’ “Anime for All” series, which is being presented in conjunction with Otakon, Washington, D.C.’s annual convention celebrating East Asian pop culture (anime, manga, music, movies, video games) and its fandom. “Anime for All” will be held July 25–26, in the Thomas Jefferson Building. The film screening—along with a collection display of rare Japanese graphic art, a panel discussion on the emergence of Japanese hip-hop, and a live Studio Ghibli performance—will showcase the evolution of Japanese storytelling traditions.
Library of Congress, July 17
