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smwordsmith.bsky.social
Sara Smith
@smwordsmith.bsky.social
2.1K followers 1K following 830 posts
District Librarian in CA, Graphic Novel reviewer & owner of The Graphic Library. Co-author of Manga Goes to School. Reviewer @ Booklist & School Library Journal. Esports coach. #GraphicLibrary, #EduSky #LibrarySky, #TLSky She/her. www.graphiclibrary.org
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smwordsmith.bsky.social
Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · Dec 10
Our book is out and in the world!

I’m so proud of this project from @mangalibrarian.bsky.social, @bespokelib.bsky.social, @st741.bsky.social, Emily Ratica, and myself! Get yours today!

#TLSky #LibSky #SchoolLibraries #Manga #MangaGTS

www.ala.org/news/2024/12...
Press release for Manga Goes to School from ALA Editions, AASL Standards-Based Learning Series.
Reposted by Sara Smith
kpossibles.bsky.social
🚀 Tapas Entertainment is hiring a Marketing Manager.

Full time, hybrid in Culver City, CA,
$95k-110k. #jobalert #marketingjobs

jobs.lever.co/tapasmedia/d...
Tapas Entertainment - Marketing Manager
Are you a passionate advocate for storytelling, particularly in the realm of webcomics and web novels? Tapas Entertainment is seeking a Marketing Manager to lead initiatives to attract and engage new ...
jobs.lever.co
November 7, 2025 at 11:08 PM
smwordsmith.bsky.social
I reviewed 31 books this month between @ala-booklist.bsky.social, @slj.com, and posts on my own site, including lots of vols past #1! Tons of manga content coming at you! There's even a graphic novel or two in there. Check out the monthly newsletter:
share.sender.net/campaigns/dw...
A graphic for The Graphic library that reads "The Graphic Library October 2025 reviews" and features 31 covers of graphic novels that had reviews this month.
November 2, 2025 at 6:08 PM
smwordsmith.bsky.social
I’m sitting on my porch, dressed as something I slapped together from the myriad of costume pieces I own, finishing ANGELICA AND THE BEAR PRINCE by Trung Le Nguyen… 1/5
Cover of Angelica and the Bear Prince
November 1, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Reposted by Sara Smith
marzgurl.com
There we go, jotted down some spoiler-free words about the movie here on Letterboxd. Even as someone who hadn't previously latched on hard to Chainsaw Man, this movie makes you feel bad for this teenager not understanding the world around him.

Also, Beam the shark guy is my new favorite guy.
October 26, 2025 at 10:55 PM
smwordsmith.bsky.social
ICYMI: I reviewed a BUNCH of really cool #manga for @slj.com:

ON AND OFF: WORK LIFE IMBALANCE vols 1-2
I WANNA BE YOUR GIRL vol 2
HIKARU IN THE LIGHT vol 2

THE GUY vols 1-3
FALL IN LOVE vols 1-3
FRAGRANT FLOWER vols 5-8
A WITCH'S LIFE vols 1-2

and more!
#TLchat
www.slj.com/story/hidden...
Hidden Identities and True Love | Manga Fiction Series
Hidden identities, action and survival, and, of course, true love can be found in these new and ongoing manga series.
www.slj.com
October 26, 2025 at 11:26 PM
smwordsmith.bsky.social
With the success of the DEMON SLAYER: INFINITY CASTLE movie, thought it might be nice to dust this one off — “Manga Essentials: Demon Slayer,” where I reviewed every volume of the manga by arc to make buying in chunks easier
#manga

@ala-booklist.bsky.social
www.booklistonline.com/products/978...
Header that says “Manga Essentials”
October 25, 2025 at 2:15 PM
smwordsmith.bsky.social
“‘Harmful material’ is a subjective term, alongside ‘indecent’ and ‘profane’ content. They’re meaningless and serve only to create panic and discord in school districts, while costing them untold amounts of taxpayer money.”

Closure, waste, & distrust — that’s the goal here, not protecting kids.
October 20, 2025 at 5:28 AM
smwordsmith.bsky.social
Me #AALS25 didn’t end how I wanted and I didn’t get to say goodbye to everyone, but I had a whirlwind of a time presenting FIVE TIMES with most of my #MangaGTS crew, meeting virtual friends IRL, and learning about valuable nonfiction & elem resources.
A collage of pictures from AASL 2025. A woman in front of the Gateway Arch; a man and a woman sit in fireside chat style with microphones; a woman holds up a book and a small sign that says “published!” And looks excited; four women stand in front of a presentation screen and smile after they’ve finished presenting; the same four women crowed around a different presentation screen after a different presentation; a woman holds up checkered flags and smiles; a woman holds up a book next to the author who just signed her book; another author and the same woman stands and smiles holding the book he just signed for her.
October 19, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Reposted by Sara Smith
librarianjones.com
Sessions and authors and exhibits and FRIENDS!!!! #AASL25
October 17, 2025 at 2:02 AM
smwordsmith.bsky.social
MANGA FANS! This is not a drill.
darkhorse.com Dark Horse Comics @darkhorse.com · 24d
🚨 MANGA SALE 🚨

@barnesandnoble.com is having a BOGO 50% off sale on all manga!

Until 10/19, all currently released Dark Horse manga are eligible -- Gantz, Berserk, Trigun, and many more.

Shop the sale: https://bit.ly/4ncZSLl
October 18, 2025 at 10:22 PM
smwordsmith.bsky.social
Love it. Let’s go Portland
frettie.bsky.social Frettie Fingers @frettie.bsky.social · 24d
#nokings
Portland frog brigade
October 18, 2025 at 10:16 PM
smwordsmith.bsky.social
Great advice from Kelsey Bogan
simplyrain.bsky.social Rain @simplyrain.bsky.social · 24d
"There is very little life and death in library collection work." @kelseybogan.bsky.social

#AASL25
Kelsey presenting on Dynamic Shelving at AASL25
October 18, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Reposted by Sara Smith
jonspike.bsky.social
Hey #AASL folks! GamestormEDU is hanging out at Tabletop T3 - stop by and say hi. We've got educational board and card games for the library thst focus on storytelling and social media literacy. #AASL25 #AASL2025
October 18, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Reposted by Sara Smith
amandamacgregor.bsky.social
Take Five: Middle Grade Scary Books

"Where are your scary books?" That's what I hear all day long at school.

teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2025/10/17/t... @tltkaren.bsky.social
Take Five: Middle Grade Scary Books
teenlibrariantoolbox.com
October 17, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Reposted by Sara Smith
kelseybogan.bsky.social
If AI ruins & destroys Wikipedia, a resource that I genuinely believe to be one of mankind’s greatest achievements, so help me god I will lose it
emanuelmaiberg.bsky.social Emanuel Maiberg @emanuelmaiberg.bsky.social · 25d
wikipedia's data shows that AI is siphoning traffic away from the site, which is a danger to its sustainability. ironically Wikipedia is more important than ever to users who want reliable information instead of slop, and to AI companies that need it for training data www.404media.co/wikipedia-sa...
Wikipedia Says AI Is Causing a Dangerous Decline in Human Visitors
“With fewer visits to Wikipedia, fewer volunteers may grow and enrich the content, and fewer individual donors may support this work.”
www.404media.co
October 17, 2025 at 3:57 AM
smwordsmith.bsky.social
Another reason why teaching media literacy is becoming so critical. Spotting fake news websites and fake journalists is going to be another skill people need in this evolving landscape.
caulfieldtim.bsky.social Timothy Caulfield @caulfieldtim.bsky.social · 26d
Ugh. Yet ANOTHER reason to be "wary of a confusing media landscape."

AI-generated news sites spout viral slop from forgotten URLs www.niemanlab.org/2025/10/ai-g...

"These sites appear to be part of a new wave of AI-generated content farms that swoop in to seize dormant domains."
AI-generated news sites spout viral slop from forgotten URLs
A new generation of content farms are harnessing AI to spin out clickbait — and they’re getting help from Google.
www.niemanlab.org
October 17, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Reposted by Sara Smith
simplyrain.bsky.social
If your school librarian isn't named Smith or Jones what are you even doing???

@smwordsmith.bsky.social @librarianjones.com @themisterlibrary.bsky.social
Smith, Jones, Smith, Jones
October 16, 2025 at 1:37 AM
smwordsmith.bsky.social
Frieren manga goes on hiatus due to the poor health of the creators.

Here’s to the speedy and complete recovery of Yamada- and Abe-sensei, and I really really hope something can be done about the unhealthy lifestyle of the manga industry.

www.cbr.com/frieren-beyo...
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Creators Update Fans With Sad Announcement
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End has just received devastating news ahead of its long-awaited Season 2 premiere in January 2026.
www.cbr.com
October 15, 2025 at 2:20 PM
smwordsmith.bsky.social
Baki the Grappler was a super fun read with plenty of over-the-top fight scenes and amazing illustrations. I had a lot of fun reading this manga, and your readers probably will too!
#GraphicLibrary
Graphic for The Graphic Library with the cover of Baki the Grappler
October 14, 2025 at 11:53 PM
smwordsmith.bsky.social
I’m gonna be a busy lady this #AASL2025! Along with my co-presenters @mangalibrarian.bsky.social, @bespokelib.bsky.social and Emily Ratica, were presenting on 3 of the conference days! Come say hi and learn about some fabulous manga in your libraries. #MangaGTS
A graphic announcing sessions got AASL 2025: Carnegie: Great Immigrants - Great Americans; Manga Goes to School: Cultivating Engagement and inclusion in k-12 settings; Manga Goes to School authors recommend: grades 3-8; Manga Goes to School authors recommend: grades 9-12; myth-hating manga misconceptions
October 14, 2025 at 1:20 PM
smwordsmith.bsky.social
I’ve just finished my 200th book of the year! I might have done something more consequential if I had realized I was at a milestone, but I suppose it’s fitting that #200 is one of the most checked out books in our elementary libraries.
Graphic of Kirby Manga Mania with at 200 next to it. The logo for The Graphic Library is behind it.
October 14, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Reposted by Sara Smith
bespokelib.bsky.social
Final stages of prep for #AASL25! Excited to talk SO MUCH manga with @mangalibrarian.bsky.social @smwordsmith.bsky.social Emily Ratica. Going to be there? Come to one of our sessions—or multiple. They are all different! @alaeditionsns.bsky.social @aaslala.bsky.social
Listing of manga related presentations at AASL on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
October 13, 2025 at 2:39 AM
smwordsmith.bsky.social
42% of people are apparently stupid as hell. Or they surveyed literal children.

Either way I’m not fully surprised this number is so high, but I’m also surprised every time I learn people don’t know where their food comes from.

news.designrush.com/lays-biggest...
Graphic that states “what customers don’t know: Internal research revealed 42% of consumers did t know Lay’s chips come from real farm-grown potato’s. So the. Rand went back to the roots. Literally. Lesson? Brand clarity is the way to build authority”
October 12, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Reposted by Sara Smith
saturdayam.bsky.social
Saturday AM is proud to be featured on a MANGA ESSENTIALS list from BOOKLIST via the brilliant @smwordsmith.bsky.social .

To have our HOW TO DRAW DIVERSE MANGA and MAKING MANGA the Saturday AM Way featured among other great books is a blast!

Learn more here:
www.booklistonline.com/products/981...
Sara Smith writes for the BOOKLIST on Manga Essentials and named Saturday AM's HOW TO DRAW DIVERSE MANGA book and MAKING MANGA books as key titles to have for readers and stores interested in tapping into the growing interest in Japanese culture as well as diverse fans seeking to get closer to the material.
October 10, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Reposted by Sara Smith
fanbasepress.bsky.social
Fanbase Press' 10/09/25 newsletter: Interviews w/ @chrisryall.bsky.social (@abramscomicarts.bsky.social), Matt Wagner, & Kelley Jones, @thefanbaseweekly.bsky.social's Panel on ALIEN: EARTH, #GraphicLibrary's (@smwordsmith.bsky.social) Review of RIPPLE EFFECTS, & more!

mailchi.mp/fanbasepress...
October 9, 2025 at 9:39 PM