Nelson
@nappell.bsky.social
Public Librarian, current Library Director. Trying to uplift books I love. And lots more.
“As it turns out, I have this affinity for beachfront property.”
January 21, 2026 at 2:21 PM
“As it turns out, I have this affinity for beachfront property.”
Barred owl outside the library at closing. Good luck? They stared into my soul for a moment.
January 21, 2026 at 3:20 AM
Barred owl outside the library at closing. Good luck? They stared into my soul for a moment.
Reposted by Nelson
For my library friends. This woman is great and, if you haven't seen her presentations, book her!
Listening to Library Users: A Wake-Up Call For Library Marketing via Super Library Marketing @angelahursh.bsky.social with a Bonus Becky Rant:
raforall.blogspot.com/2026/01/list...
raforall.blogspot.com/2026/01/list...
Listening to Library Users: A Wake-Up Call For Library Marketing via Super Library Marketing with a Bonus Becky Rant
Back in December, I wrote about the 2026 State of Reading Report from Everland and Fable. One of the conclusions from this study was: Huma...
raforall.blogspot.com
January 20, 2026 at 4:06 PM
For my library friends. This woman is great and, if you haven't seen her presentations, book her!
Reposted by Nelson
Love music? With Freegal, you can stream up to 8 hours a day and download 5 songs a week—completely free with your Library card! Explore hundreds of genres from over 50 record labels. Start listening today! Visit slpl.org to learn how.
January 20, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Love music? With Freegal, you can stream up to 8 hours a day and download 5 songs a week—completely free with your Library card! Explore hundreds of genres from over 50 record labels. Start listening today! Visit slpl.org to learn how.
As usual, doing things to help our disabled neighbors helps us, too. Use alt text.
Here’s the thing about alt text: it helps everyone! Sometimes, I don’t know what is in a photo without it.
Plus, it’s fun!
I won’t share anything without it. Most people here do the same.
Join us.
Plus, it’s fun!
I won’t share anything without it. Most people here do the same.
Join us.
January 20, 2026 at 1:47 PM
As usual, doing things to help our disabled neighbors helps us, too. Use alt text.
Reposted by Nelson
Here’s the thing about alt text: it helps everyone! Sometimes, I don’t know what is in a photo without it.
Plus, it’s fun!
I won’t share anything without it. Most people here do the same.
Join us.
Plus, it’s fun!
I won’t share anything without it. Most people here do the same.
Join us.
January 20, 2026 at 1:24 PM
Here’s the thing about alt text: it helps everyone! Sometimes, I don’t know what is in a photo without it.
Plus, it’s fun!
I won’t share anything without it. Most people here do the same.
Join us.
Plus, it’s fun!
I won’t share anything without it. Most people here do the same.
Join us.
Crazy thread. The world is absolutely mad sometimes.
I just woke up from a nap and somehow while I was asleep, everyone on the bus has figured out we are not going to the right place
January 20, 2026 at 4:39 AM
Crazy thread. The world is absolutely mad sometimes.
What I’m reading today, in case you want to know what a nerd I am. It’s riveting reading, imho. #libraries #librarysky
January 19, 2026 at 4:52 PM
What I’m reading today, in case you want to know what a nerd I am. It’s riveting reading, imho. #libraries #librarysky
At the coffee shop this week, a young woman recognized me as the local librarian and shared with me a book that she was reading and loved. It was “Death of the Author” by Nnedi Okorafor. “One of my favorite authors,” I said. “It’s on my tbr pile.” It was a magical little affirmation of life for me.
January 19, 2026 at 4:48 PM
At the coffee shop this week, a young woman recognized me as the local librarian and shared with me a book that she was reading and loved. It was “Death of the Author” by Nnedi Okorafor. “One of my favorite authors,” I said. “It’s on my tbr pile.” It was a magical little affirmation of life for me.
In honor of MLK, Jr, separate truth from falsehood in your lives. It’s a neverending journey that repays you the effort you put into to it.
✨ Martin Luther King Jr. couldn't have said it better: Regardless of the subject area, being able to think critically & separate fact from fiction are paramount to education.
👉🏾 Read the speech MLK Jr. gave at Morehouse College in 1948: go.newslit.org/MLKEducation
#MLKDay #NewsLiteracy
👉🏾 Read the speech MLK Jr. gave at Morehouse College in 1948: go.newslit.org/MLKEducation
#MLKDay #NewsLiteracy
January 19, 2026 at 4:41 PM
In honor of MLK, Jr, separate truth from falsehood in your lives. It’s a neverending journey that repays you the effort you put into to it.
IMLS is important to every state. Losing it will greatly reduce libraries’ abilities to share materials.
BREAKING:
The Trump administration has filed an appeal over Rhode Island v. Trump, which barred the administration from further dismantling the IMLS.
That, plus the IMLS propaganda-laden grant application period.
bookriot.com/rhode-island...
The Trump administration has filed an appeal over Rhode Island v. Trump, which barred the administration from further dismantling the IMLS.
That, plus the IMLS propaganda-laden grant application period.
bookriot.com/rhode-island...
Trump Administration Appeals Decision in IMLS Lawsuit Brough By State Attorneys General
The Trump administration had filed an appeal to overturn the court's decision in November that bars further dismantling of the IMLS.
bookriot.com
January 19, 2026 at 4:05 PM
IMLS is important to every state. Losing it will greatly reduce libraries’ abilities to share materials.
“The results were striking.
People with long COVID reported worse disability than 98% of the general Australian population. A total of 86% of those with long COVID met the threshold for serious disability compared with 9% of Australians overall.” #longcovid
People with long COVID reported worse disability than 98% of the general Australian population. A total of 86% of those with long COVID met the threshold for serious disability compared with 9% of Australians overall.” #longcovid
Long COVID is more than fatigue. Our new study suggests its impact is similar to a stroke or Parkinson’s
Long COVID isn’t just a bunch of lingering symptoms. A new study shows it can stop peoole doing what they want to do, and need to do.
theconversation.com
January 19, 2026 at 3:55 PM
“The results were striking.
People with long COVID reported worse disability than 98% of the general Australian population. A total of 86% of those with long COVID met the threshold for serious disability compared with 9% of Australians overall.” #longcovid
People with long COVID reported worse disability than 98% of the general Australian population. A total of 86% of those with long COVID met the threshold for serious disability compared with 9% of Australians overall.” #longcovid
Cory is so brilliant. I’m amazed at how he chooses a metaphor to perfectly illustrate a point.
AI companies will fail. We can salvage something from the wreckage (Cory Doctorow in the Guardian)
buff.ly/e8AbUsW
AI is asbestos in the walls of our tech society, stuffed there by monopolists run amok. A serious fight against it must strike at its roots
buff.ly/e8AbUsW
AI is asbestos in the walls of our tech society, stuffed there by monopolists run amok. A serious fight against it must strike at its roots
AI companies will fail. We can salvage something from the wreckage | Cory Doctorow
AI is asbestos in the walls of our tech society, stuffed there by monopolists run amok. A serious fight against it must strike at its roots
buff.ly
January 19, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Cory is so brilliant. I’m amazed at how he chooses a metaphor to perfectly illustrate a point.
Reposted by Nelson
Córy Doctorow with another verbal bullseye: pluralistic.net/2026/01/13/n...
January 18, 2026 at 5:29 PM
Córy Doctorow with another verbal bullseye: pluralistic.net/2026/01/13/n...
Ditto.
RIP, Terry Pratchett.
RIP, Terry Pratchett.
This is a good lesson, no matter how you come to learn it
January 18, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Ditto.
RIP, Terry Pratchett.
RIP, Terry Pratchett.
Libraries want fair treatment for purchasing for their e-collections. That’s it. This pricing means fewer books for users.
No surprise to librarians, but perhaps surprising to users, demands/prices for ebooks /audiobooks are killing public library budgets. David Szalay's book, Flesh,” costs DCPL:
$28.99 hardcopy
$59.99 ebook
$69.99 audiobook
DCPL owns hardcopy; rents & must repurchase ebook & audio book every 2 yrs.
$28.99 hardcopy
$59.99 ebook
$69.99 audiobook
DCPL owns hardcopy; rents & must repurchase ebook & audio book every 2 yrs.
Libraries can't afford e-books. D.C. lawmakers have a plan.
The demand and price for e-books is up — and it’s busting the D.C. Public Library budget.
51st.news
January 18, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Libraries want fair treatment for purchasing for their e-collections. That’s it. This pricing means fewer books for users.
We’re glad you’re still with us, buddy!
January 18, 2026 at 3:50 PM
We’re glad you’re still with us, buddy!
Making History by KJ Parker. Quick read, and smart, playing with the concept of history and academics and historical truth and more. Fun. Loved it. #booksky
January 18, 2026 at 12:20 AM
Making History by KJ Parker. Quick read, and smart, playing with the concept of history and academics and historical truth and more. Fun. Loved it. #booksky
Great thread below. I have really noticed my outlook shifts based on the stories I tell myself, based on the stories I see, based on the history I read. May I recommend “We Will Rise Again” as a great place to start, or a great place to continue the story…?
January 11, 2026 at 7:51 PM
Great thread below. I have really noticed my outlook shifts based on the stories I tell myself, based on the stories I see, based on the history I read. May I recommend “We Will Rise Again” as a great place to start, or a great place to continue the story…?
This is why I like Bluesky. Block and Mute are very effective tools.
Only a small % of people engage in toxic activity online, but they’re responsible for a disproportionate share of hostile or misleading content on nearly every platform
Because super-users are so active, they dominate our collective impression of the internet www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...
Because super-users are so active, they dominate our collective impression of the internet www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...
Are a few people ruining the internet for the rest of us?
Why does the online world seem so toxic compared with normal life? Our research shows that a small number of divisive accounts could be responsible – and offers a way out
www.theguardian.com
January 11, 2026 at 7:09 PM
This is why I like Bluesky. Block and Mute are very effective tools.
I resisted having a smart phone for a long time. “I’ll help you buy one,” said family. No, I know I will love it, I said. I know myself. I’ll use it too much, to the expense of other activities I love. Lo and behold, once I finally got the smart phone, that was true.
An intervention found that blocking internet access on smartphones for 2 weeks improved mental health, subjective well-being, and objectively measured ability to sustain attention; 91% of participants improved on at least one of these outcomes.
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
January 11, 2026 at 7:08 PM
I resisted having a smart phone for a long time. “I’ll help you buy one,” said family. No, I know I will love it, I said. I know myself. I’ll use it too much, to the expense of other activities I love. Lo and behold, once I finally got the smart phone, that was true.
“Gerzon argued that real heroes are often ordinary people—those who accept responsibility, serve others, and act with restraint when no one is watching. Choosing heroes like that doesn’t just shape who we admire. It shapes who we become—and what kind of society we leave behind.”
A brief but compelling invitation for us to carefully consider who we think of as heroes. It ends with "real heroes are often ordinary people—those who accept responsibility, serve others, and act with restraint when no one is watching."
A Choice of Heroes
The heroes we choose shape who we become
open.substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 6:57 PM
“Gerzon argued that real heroes are often ordinary people—those who accept responsibility, serve others, and act with restraint when no one is watching. Choosing heroes like that doesn’t just shape who we admire. It shapes who we become—and what kind of society we leave behind.”
I want to learn more about these “lake wizards.”
For you youngsters out there just finding out about him, Jesse Ventura is not "some kind of lake wizard" but was at one time the governor of Minnesota and before that a professional wrestler
January 11, 2026 at 2:42 AM
I want to learn more about these “lake wizards.”
www.placonference.org
This is going to be an “interesting” conference, given current conditions on the ground.
This is going to be an “interesting” conference, given current conditions on the ground.
PLA 2026 Conference | public library conference
Largest public library event in the world, where thousands of public library workers, advocates, and vendors come together for an unparalleled opportunity to learn, connect, and be seen. Over 100 educ...
www.placonference.org
January 10, 2026 at 4:52 PM
www.placonference.org
This is going to be an “interesting” conference, given current conditions on the ground.
This is going to be an “interesting” conference, given current conditions on the ground.