Midwinter 2019 Top 10 Tweets—Day 3

By Crystal Carrazco | January 28, 2019

We started the day with Rick Steves and a refreshing perspective on travel.

By far @RickSteves talk @alamwis the BEST talk I’ve ever heard in Year and by far in this conference! Waw #alamw19

— Essraa Nawar (@EssraaNawar) January 27, 2019

It turns out @RickSteves is pretty good at standup #comedy! Pretty cool to see him in person. #libraries #alamw19 #travel

— Nick Roman (@SpectralChaos) January 27, 2019

After his talk, he encouraged a mosh pit signing. (Which may be the first mosh pit hosted at ALA Midwinter.)

"Let's form a 'librarian moshpit' and not stand in an orderly line" fastest & most fun author book signing I've been too. Loved how @RickSteves disrupted the orderly librarians lining up telling us to gather like Italians. Can't wait to read "Travel as a Political Act" #alamw19 pic.twitter.com/LWn0as5Drt

— melodysky (@melodysky) January 27, 2019

If you had some spare time, the Networking Uncommons was the perfect place to jazz up your lanyard.

Left alone with a button machine! #alamw19 pic.twitter.com/noOzis3rE5

— Elisa Rodrigues (@elisjr4) January 27, 2019

It was also great to see all types of library workers at Midwinter.

Hey non-MLIS library people at #alamw19– I’m so glad you’re here! You are valuable and worthy.

— Jenna Friebel (@jenna_friebel) January 28, 2019

Afterwards, the president’s program featured Robin DiAngelo who was such an engaging speaker.

Robin DiAngelo at #alamw19 is so impressive. Kudos to @ALALibrary and @loidagarciafebo for booking her.

— Kakistocracy Man (@jacobsberg) January 28, 2019

“Niceness is not antiracism. It takes intentional and strategic action.” – Robin DiAngelo #ALAmw19 #UWCCDE

— Kelli Yakabu (@kelliyakabu) January 28, 2019

Sunday wrapped up with a screening of The Public with a Emilio Estevez Q&A!

At “the publi” … Emilio Estevez gave an impassioned shout out to the Connecticut 4. Yay to my friends! #alamw19

— Michael Golrick (@mgolrick) January 28, 2019

By the time you got to your hotel, you realize you may have grabbed one too many books to ship the next day.

43 books picked up in one day at #ALAMW19! A good day if I do say so. pic.twitter.com/ScJMrlnb38

— Elijah Olson (@OlsonElijah) January 28, 2019

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Jackie Jennings writes: “It feels like the debate over whether #BookTok is bad has been raging since the moment the term was first coined. I’m starting off with a strong stance: BookTok is indeed bad. However, the problem with BookTok is not crappy books or bogus influencers. The problem with BookTok is TikTok itself. BookTok isn’t actually a community driven by fans, writers, influencers, or even publishers: it’s part of a social media corporation, controlled by the most mysterious, fickle god of all, the algorithm.” Not surprisingly, librarian recommendations can overcome some of BookTok’s limitations.

Jezebel, Apr. 18; Book Riot, Apr. 22
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ALA announced the launch of its state Intellectual Freedom Helpline grant program April 22. Over the next two years, 10 pilot program sites will operate a confidential reporting system that will help connect those experiencing censorship attempts with professional support, in-state peers, or referral to ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, as appropriate. State or school library associations or agencies wishing to either establish an Intellectual Freedom Helpline in their state or expand existing efforts may apply for $10,000 grants through July 14.

ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, Apr. 22
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In celebration of the release of his latest nonfiction title, The Secret Lives of Booksellers & Librarians, bestselling author James Patterson is honoring select American Bookseller Association and American Library Association members with bonuses. He announced plans April 11 to give $200 each to 250 library workers across the country. The deadline for ALA members may nominate members to receive bonuses through April 30. Winners will be announced at ALA’s 2024 Annual Conference in San Diego.
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Rodney Freeman writes: “I am proud to be a librarian—and rare. Less than 7% of librarians in the US are Black. Libraries symbolize the literacy that was denied to so many of our ancestors. For our enslaved forebears, something as fundamental as learning to read was illegal and dangerous, but they did it anyway. Separate but ‘equal’ schools and ‘colored’ libraries filled with cast-offs from white libraries were key features of the Jim Crow era. Today we are seeing the same impulse to distort access to information into a tool to suppress and control, and to make some people ‘other.’”

Newsweek, Apr. 16
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Library Leadership and Management, Apr. 15
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Megan Bennett writes: “Two decades ago, while Daily Show Senior Correspondent Dulcé Sloan was doing summer shows at a community theater in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, the library was her main hangout spot. In the small town of 9,000 people, it was a place to gather with other young actors—and the only place with internet access. American Libraries spoke with Sloan before her closing session at the Public Library Association 2024 Conference in Columbus, Ohio, about her new book, her journey in stand-up comedy, and her memories of libraries.”

American Libraries Trend, Apr. 17