Alex Wermer-Colan
@alexwermercolan.bsky.social
writer, editor, dramaturg, translator | academic director of @tudigitalscholars.bsky.social, executive director @phillywireless.bsky.social, managing editor @proghist.bsky.social
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
ICYMI for Banned Books week SaraGrace Stefan and I shared @us.theconversation.com our analysis of cover images for every book banned in public schools and libraries in the 2021-2022 school year. Thanks to @mellon.org for their support, and to co-PI @lbmcgrath.bsky.social, and all our student workers
Book banners really are judging books by their covers 📚
More than 80% of banned titles show people on the cover — and most of those feature women or people of color.
Research by @alexwermercolan.bsky.social:
theconversation.com/many-book-ba...
#bannedbooks #polisky #books
More than 80% of banned titles show people on the cover — and most of those feature women or people of color.
Research by @alexwermercolan.bsky.social:
theconversation.com/many-book-ba...
#bannedbooks #polisky #books
Many book bans could be judging titles mainly by their covers
A study of more than 1,600 books suggests that book ban advocates may not look past the cover art.
theconversation.com
October 17, 2025 at 4:18 PM
ICYMI for Banned Books week SaraGrace Stefan and I shared @us.theconversation.com our analysis of cover images for every book banned in public schools and libraries in the 2021-2022 school year. Thanks to @mellon.org for their support, and to co-PI @lbmcgrath.bsky.social, and all our student workers
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
CORRECTION: the proper link here is theconversation.com/many-book-ba...
Many book bans could be judging titles mainly by their covers
A study of more than 1,600 books suggests that book ban advocates may not look past the cover art.
theconversation.com
October 17, 2025 at 7:22 PM
CORRECTION: the proper link here is theconversation.com/many-book-ba...
ICYMI for Banned Books week SaraGrace Stefan and I shared @us.theconversation.com our analysis of cover images for every book banned in public schools and libraries in the 2021-2022 school year. Thanks to @mellon.org for their support, and to co-PI @lbmcgrath.bsky.social, and all our student workers
Book banners really are judging books by their covers 📚
More than 80% of banned titles show people on the cover — and most of those feature women or people of color.
Research by @alexwermercolan.bsky.social:
theconversation.com/many-book-ba...
#bannedbooks #polisky #books
More than 80% of banned titles show people on the cover — and most of those feature women or people of color.
Research by @alexwermercolan.bsky.social:
theconversation.com/many-book-ba...
#bannedbooks #polisky #books
Many book bans could be judging titles mainly by their covers
A study of more than 1,600 books suggests that book ban advocates may not look past the cover art.
theconversation.com
October 17, 2025 at 4:18 PM
ICYMI for Banned Books week SaraGrace Stefan and I shared @us.theconversation.com our analysis of cover images for every book banned in public schools and libraries in the 2021-2022 school year. Thanks to @mellon.org for their support, and to co-PI @lbmcgrath.bsky.social, and all our student workers
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
Book banners really are judging books by their covers 📚
More than 80% of banned titles show people on the cover — and most of those feature women or people of color.
Research by @alexwermercolan.bsky.social:
buff.ly/rHm0sFG...
#bannedbooks #polisky #books
More than 80% of banned titles show people on the cover — and most of those feature women or people of color.
Research by @alexwermercolan.bsky.social:
buff.ly/rHm0sFG...
#bannedbooks #polisky #books
theconversation.com
October 14, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Book banners really are judging books by their covers 📚
More than 80% of banned titles show people on the cover — and most of those feature women or people of color.
Research by @alexwermercolan.bsky.social:
buff.ly/rHm0sFG...
#bannedbooks #polisky #books
More than 80% of banned titles show people on the cover — and most of those feature women or people of color.
Research by @alexwermercolan.bsky.social:
buff.ly/rHm0sFG...
#bannedbooks #polisky #books
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
Book banners really are judging books by their covers 📚
More than 80% of banned titles show people on the cover — and most of those feature women or people of color.
Research by @alexwermercolan.bsky.social:
theconversation.com/many-book-ba...
#bannedbooks #polisky #books
More than 80% of banned titles show people on the cover — and most of those feature women or people of color.
Research by @alexwermercolan.bsky.social:
theconversation.com/many-book-ba...
#bannedbooks #polisky #books
Many book bans could be judging titles mainly by their covers
A study of more than 1,600 books suggests that book ban advocates may not look past the cover art.
theconversation.com
October 13, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Book banners really are judging books by their covers 📚
More than 80% of banned titles show people on the cover — and most of those feature women or people of color.
Research by @alexwermercolan.bsky.social:
theconversation.com/many-book-ba...
#bannedbooks #polisky #books
More than 80% of banned titles show people on the cover — and most of those feature women or people of color.
Research by @alexwermercolan.bsky.social:
theconversation.com/many-book-ba...
#bannedbooks #polisky #books
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
Library director fired over LGBTQ+ books gets $700,000 from county
Library director fired over LGBTQ+ books gets $700,000 from county
Library director fired over LGBTQ+ books gets $700,000 from county
Terri Lesley, a former library director, said she was wrongfully terminated for refusing to bow to county officials’ demands for censorship.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 11, 2025 at 2:29 AM
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
Library director fired over LGBTQ+ books gets $700,000 from county
Library director fired over LGBTQ+ books gets $700,000 from county
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
i am feeling, i am seeing, i am hearing, i am getting the vibes, that students this sem are better than they've been in years because learning offers a rare haven from authoritarianism, a place to convene, commune, think together, refuel for the fight
week 7, in a city under siege for 32 days and counting, and the students who are able to come to class despite the blitz are showing up like their lives depend on those 50 minutes of togetherness, poetry, and big questions
IDK, man. School started 2 weeks ago for us, and once again students remind me that they’re so curious and interested in the world and anxious to ask big questions. We hear that these questions are no longer useful or relevant, but wherever that’s coming from, it’s not what students believe.
October 11, 2025 at 4:10 PM
i am feeling, i am seeing, i am hearing, i am getting the vibes, that students this sem are better than they've been in years because learning offers a rare haven from authoritarianism, a place to convene, commune, think together, refuel for the fight
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
I’d like to amplify others’ pleas to *please* acknowledge and build upon the work of librarians and other organizers — @heykellyjensen.bsky.social, @tasslyn.bsky.social, @everylibrary.bsky.social, et al — who’ve been tracking *all of this* and developing expertise for YEARS.
Help us investigate book bans across the USA.
404 Media has gotten a grant to unearth public records about systematic censorship of books, schools, and libraries in the U.S.
🔗 www.404media.co/help-us-inve...
404 Media has gotten a grant to unearth public records about systematic censorship of books, schools, and libraries in the U.S.
🔗 www.404media.co/help-us-inve...
Help Us Investigate Book Bans and Educational Censorship Around America
404 Media has gotten a grant to unearth public records about systematic censorship of books, schools, and libraries in the U.S.
www.404media.co
October 10, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I’d like to amplify others’ pleas to *please* acknowledge and build upon the work of librarians and other organizers — @heykellyjensen.bsky.social, @tasslyn.bsky.social, @everylibrary.bsky.social, et al — who’ve been tracking *all of this* and developing expertise for YEARS.
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
Many book bans could be judging titles mainly by their covers
@us.theconversation.com
@alexwermercolan.bsky.social
SaraGrace Stefan
theconversation.com/many-book-ba...
@us.theconversation.com
@alexwermercolan.bsky.social
SaraGrace Stefan
theconversation.com/many-book-ba...
Many book bans could be judging titles mainly by their covers
A study of more than 1,600 books suggests that book ban advocates may not look past the cover art.
theconversation.com
October 1, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Many book bans could be judging titles mainly by their covers
@us.theconversation.com
@alexwermercolan.bsky.social
SaraGrace Stefan
theconversation.com/many-book-ba...
@us.theconversation.com
@alexwermercolan.bsky.social
SaraGrace Stefan
theconversation.com/many-book-ba...
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
LINK ROT: 38% webpages that existed in 2013 were no longer available 10 years later.
Even among pages that existed in 2021, 22% no longer accessible just two years later. This is often because individual page was deleted or removed on otherwise functional website.
Many implications for knowledge 🧪
Even among pages that existed in 2021, 22% no longer accessible just two years later. This is often because individual page was deleted or removed on otherwise functional website.
Many implications for knowledge 🧪
September 14, 2025 at 11:19 PM
LINK ROT: 38% webpages that existed in 2013 were no longer available 10 years later.
Even among pages that existed in 2021, 22% no longer accessible just two years later. This is often because individual page was deleted or removed on otherwise functional website.
Many implications for knowledge 🧪
Even among pages that existed in 2021, 22% no longer accessible just two years later. This is often because individual page was deleted or removed on otherwise functional website.
Many implications for knowledge 🧪
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
It is really demoralizing to try to operate normally in higher ed right now - even without the national context, the local context of do more with less is exhausting and upsetting.
September 12, 2025 at 11:24 PM
It is really demoralizing to try to operate normally in higher ed right now - even without the national context, the local context of do more with less is exhausting and upsetting.
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
Recent install in Kensington with volunteers and staff, expanding PCW’s network on the east side of Kensington Ave! Check out our live map at map.phillycommunitywireless.org to see where we’re currently located.
September 9, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Recent install in Kensington with volunteers and staff, expanding PCW’s network on the east side of Kensington Ave! Check out our live map at map.phillycommunitywireless.org to see where we’re currently located.
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
NEW YORK (AP) — Anthropic agrees to pay authors $3,000 per book in landmark settlement over pirated chatbot training material.
September 5, 2025 at 7:09 PM
NEW YORK (AP) — Anthropic agrees to pay authors $3,000 per book in landmark settlement over pirated chatbot training material.
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
I’m so glad to see this Edward Yang series at Film at Lincoln Center. I’ve never regarded myself as a cinephile, but I somehow happened upon a bunch of Yang screenings while I was in grad school. Yi Yi, especially — which I think I saw at Quad, alone — shaped my interest in urban studies.
Desire/Expectations: The Films of Edward Yang
Featuring newly restored and rarely screened films from the pioneering filmmaker’s profound body of work."Desire/Expectations: The Films of Edward Yang" is a comprehensive retrospective honoring one...
www.filmlinc.org
December 29, 2023 at 4:11 PM
I’m so glad to see this Edward Yang series at Film at Lincoln Center. I’ve never regarded myself as a cinephile, but I somehow happened upon a bunch of Yang screenings while I was in grad school. Yi Yi, especially — which I think I saw at Quad, alone — shaped my interest in urban studies.
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
It's the half anniversary of the publication of Binding Media and it is still half off (only $37.50!!) until Sept 8 during the end-of-summer sale at @stanfordpress.bsky.social
Binding Media | Stanford University Press
Far from causing the "death of the book," the publishing industry's adoption of digital technologies has generated a multitude of new works that push the boundaries of literature and its presentation....
www.sup.org
September 4, 2025 at 3:50 PM
It's the half anniversary of the publication of Binding Media and it is still half off (only $37.50!!) until Sept 8 during the end-of-summer sale at @stanfordpress.bsky.social
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
"Because [High Plains Public Radio] covers such a wide area, its engineering costs are high: excluding labor, engineering = ~46% of the budget, inldg 🔌 the nwtrk of 18 transmitters, insurance, + maintenance... The contributors ntwrk... will consist of a mix of part-time + volunteer positions"
With public media under siege, High Plains Public Radio builds a blueprint to cover more rural news with fewer resources
To expand regional coverage while keeping costs down, HPPR aims to build out a “contributors network” of part-time and volunteer community members coordinated by a lean central editorial team.
www.niemanlab.org
September 3, 2025 at 1:09 AM
"Because [High Plains Public Radio] covers such a wide area, its engineering costs are high: excluding labor, engineering = ~46% of the budget, inldg 🔌 the nwtrk of 18 transmitters, insurance, + maintenance... The contributors ntwrk... will consist of a mix of part-time + volunteer positions"
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
Help us expand internet access in Norris Square, Fairhill, and Kensington 💜🛜 No experience needed! Come join our team of everyday folks building community internet. Sign-up to volunteer with PCW through our “Volunteer Sign-up Form” in our linktree, and invite a friend!
September 2, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Help us expand internet access in Norris Square, Fairhill, and Kensington 💜🛜 No experience needed! Come join our team of everyday folks building community internet. Sign-up to volunteer with PCW through our “Volunteer Sign-up Form” in our linktree, and invite a friend!
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
What a cursed sentence (gift link)
“The A.I. companies selected to oversee the program would have a strong financial incentive to deny claims. Medicare plans to pay them a share of the savings generated from rejections.”
“The A.I. companies selected to oversee the program would have a strong financial incentive to deny claims. Medicare plans to pay them a share of the savings generated from rejections.”
Medicare Will Require Prior Approval for Certain Procedures
www.nytimes.com
August 29, 2025 at 12:43 PM
What a cursed sentence (gift link)
“The A.I. companies selected to oversee the program would have a strong financial incentive to deny claims. Medicare plans to pay them a share of the savings generated from rejections.”
“The A.I. companies selected to oversee the program would have a strong financial incentive to deny claims. Medicare plans to pay them a share of the savings generated from rejections.”
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
oh shit, a state prosecutor may actually do the thing
Krasner: So, if what you have is a group of ICE agents, or even the military, coming into Philadelphia and committing crimes—assaults that are illegal, kidnapping, unlawful restraint, obstruction of the administration of justice—they can be prosecuted.
August 27, 2025 at 2:59 AM
oh shit, a state prosecutor may actually do the thing
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
This is why public transit across Pennsylvania will start collapsing tomorrow. Unclear what can be done—Dems already passed bills with all of GOP's demands—other than for Dems to retaliate against rural funding and services until the GOP stops attacking urban areas.
humantransit.org/2025/08/the-...
humantransit.org/2025/08/the-...
August 24, 2025 at 12:09 AM
This is why public transit across Pennsylvania will start collapsing tomorrow. Unclear what can be done—Dems already passed bills with all of GOP's demands—other than for Dems to retaliate against rural funding and services until the GOP stops attacking urban areas.
humantransit.org/2025/08/the-...
humantransit.org/2025/08/the-...
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
The University of Michigan is now claiming that students have an ‘ethical responsibility’ to use AI.
August 20, 2025 at 12:40 PM
The University of Michigan is now claiming that students have an ‘ethical responsibility’ to use AI.
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
It's so good to see this year's cohort of CUNY Lost & Found Archival Research Fellows--always an inspiring program--with these luminous & necessary projects, including on Sam Delany's correspondence with Kevin Killian, Black Arts liner notes, & much more.
centerforthehumanities.org/2025-lost-fo...
centerforthehumanities.org/2025-lost-fo...
2025 Lost & Found Archival Research Fellows and Projects - Center for the Humanities
Each year, Lost & Found: The CUNY Poetics Document Initiative offers Archival Research Fellowships and Grants to CUNY Graduate Center doctoral students conducting archival research on poets, writers, ...
centerforthehumanities.org
August 15, 2025 at 10:10 PM
It's so good to see this year's cohort of CUNY Lost & Found Archival Research Fellows--always an inspiring program--with these luminous & necessary projects, including on Sam Delany's correspondence with Kevin Killian, Black Arts liner notes, & much more.
centerforthehumanities.org/2025-lost-fo...
centerforthehumanities.org/2025-lost-fo...
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
“One reason that small-town library rsrch works so well is bc of its natural parameters. Rather than an ocean of information to click through, you get a small stack of 📚. A small stack of 📚 is manageable. It’s focusing. In our era of seemingly limitless data, I for one thrive on these boundaries.”
How Small-Town Public Libraries Enrich the Generative Research Process
Like many authors, I love doing background research. Also, like many authors, I do some of my research online. Setting a chapter in San Luis Obispo, but never been? Drop your little gingerbread dud…
lithub.com
August 12, 2025 at 11:16 PM
“One reason that small-town library rsrch works so well is bc of its natural parameters. Rather than an ocean of information to click through, you get a small stack of 📚. A small stack of 📚 is manageable. It’s focusing. In our era of seemingly limitless data, I for one thrive on these boundaries.”
Reposted by Alex Wermer-Colan
The Carpentries (@carpentries.carpentries.org), a nonprofit that has trained over 100,000 researchers in coding and data skills, turned down a $1.5 million NSF grant after being asked to strip diversity-related content from its programming. www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...
Nonprofit Refuses $1.5M Science Grant Due To New Federal DEI Rules
A coding nonprofit turned down a $1.5M NSF grant after new DEI restrictions, highlighting the clash between federal policy and scientific community values.
www.forbes.com
August 12, 2025 at 8:53 PM
The Carpentries (@carpentries.carpentries.org), a nonprofit that has trained over 100,000 researchers in coding and data skills, turned down a $1.5 million NSF grant after being asked to strip diversity-related content from its programming. www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...