things i heard at the library: an occasional series: #31
One of the most frustrating and sad things we encounter at the library are people we can’t help, who don’t understand why we can’t help them — and who blame…
poverty and class
laundromats, underground libraries, and criminal charges: a library link round-up
I have so many cool stories about libraries and librarians, scattered through multiple email and social media accounts. Lucky for you, I wanted to gather them all in one place.…
laundromats, underground libraries, and criminal charges: a library link round-up
I have so many cool stories about libraries and librarians, scattered through multiple email and social media accounts. Lucky for you, I wanted to gather them all in one place.…
from the 2018 cupe ontario library workers conference: libraries and the opioid crisis
I recently attended the CUPE Ontario Library Workers Conference, which has become a highlight of my year since I first attended (and was elected to the organizing committee) in 2015.…
required reading for revolutionaries: jane mcalevey and micah white
I’ve wanted to write about these two books for a long time, but adequately summarizing them is a daunting task. I just want to say to every activist and organizer:…
what i’m reading: pit bull: the battle over an american icon
If you have an opinion about pitbulls, chances are good that it’s based on myth, misinformation, and even disinformation. I know a good deal about dogs, and I thought I…
what i’m reading: leaving lucy pear
The year is 1917. A teenage girl from a wealthy family is pregnant, the result of rape — by a man who her mother pushed her to pursue for marriage.…
postscript: some clarifications and addenda to my recent post on cultural appropriation
Many people have been discussing my recent post about cultural appropriation on Facebook. I’m not surprised that many people disagree (that’s why I wrote it, to put my countering opinion…
accusations of cultural appropriation are a form of bullying — and don’t reduce racism
I’m increasingly dismayed by accusations of cultural appropriation that are used as weapons, rather than as a tool for raising awareness and educating. Accusations of appropriation have become a form…
it’s crunch time at the bargaining table
Now here's an interesting calendar of events.June 27-29: The Negotiating Committee for CUPE Local 1989, Mississauga Library Workers Union, returns to the bargaining table for three days.June 30: The Negotiating…
rtod: we only want the earth
On the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising, these Revolutionary Thoughts of the Day are brought to you by the great Irish socialist, James Connolly.The day has passed for patching…
precariously yours: notes from the 2016 cupe ontario library workers conference
Last week I attended the CUPE Ontario Library Workers Conference, my second year, and my first since being elected to the organizing committee. This year's theme was precarious work, and…
dispatches from ola 2016, part 2: libraries and prisons
I've had a longstanding interest in prison libraries, and was happy to meet another librarian-friend who shares this. But I was very pleasantly surprised at the large turnout for the…
things i heard at the library: digital divide edition (#20)
In library school we talked a lot about the digital divide, the ever-increasing gap between those who have access to information and communication technology, and those who do not. Public…
bernie sanders, the pope, and the politics of amnesia
I see a lot of excitement online, in places like Common Dreams and The Nation, and in my Facebook feed, about Bernie Sanders, supposedly remaking US politics, and Pope Francis,…
wmtc 2015-06-21 17:00:00
I stumbled on this letter to the New York Times Book Review from a few weeks ago. It’s in response to a review of two books about precarious work –…
what i’m reading: salt sugar fat by michael moss
Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us by Michael Moss is an excellent addition to a bookshelf that includes works by Michael Pollan, Eric Schlosser, Marian Nestle and…
mcdonald’s announces phony wage increase: workers rising on april 15
The resurgent workers’ movement scored a huge victory earlier this year, when Walmart announced it was raising wages – a step on the road to a true living wage and…
walmart increases wages: workers united are winning, and the struggle must continue
Workers in the US have won a significant victory in their struggle for dignity and a living wage. This week Walmart announced that within one year, all current Walmart employees…
what i’m reading: pro: reclaiming abortion rights by katha pollitt
Katha Pollitt’s new book, Pro: Reclaiming Abortion Rights, is a powerful gust of fresh, clean air that blows away the toxic stench of the current discourse about abortion. Pro is…