Sarah Werner
@wynkenhimself.bsky.social
feminist bibliography, old books, mutual aid, and doikayt // author, Studying Early Printed Books 1450–1800: A Practical Guide; editor, The Papers of the Bibliographical Society of America; organizer, consistentmoneymoving.org // sarahwerner.net
Important Whale Facts episode for my Moby-Dick pals 🐋
today's fun fact is that a whale penis is called a dork
February 20, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Important Whale Facts episode for my Moby-Dick pals 🐋
Reposted by Sarah Werner
Reposted by Sarah Werner
Occasionally reminded that Georgia added a “post tenure review” process bc they were so certain that professors became deadweight once they had job security, and all the outcomes have proven JUST THE OPPOSITE! People work harder and in more complex ways when they feel secure in their employment.
February 19, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Occasionally reminded that Georgia added a “post tenure review” process bc they were so certain that professors became deadweight once they had job security, and all the outcomes have proven JUST THE OPPOSITE! People work harder and in more complex ways when they feel secure in their employment.
Reposted by Sarah Werner
My favorite part about this story is that the plastic disk (of whale songs recorded in 1949) was titled "fish noises," which makes it sound like Ishmael labeled it 🐋
In 1949, WHOI researchers recorded what ended up being the earliest-preserved whale song—without realizing what they'd captured! 🐳🎶
Nearly 80 years later, that sound has resurfaced!
🎉Celebrate World Whale Day with the full story: go.whoi.edu/whoi-1949
Nearly 80 years later, that sound has resurfaced!
🎉Celebrate World Whale Day with the full story: go.whoi.edu/whoi-1949
February 19, 2026 at 1:46 AM
My favorite part about this story is that the plastic disk (of whale songs recorded in 1949) was titled "fish noises," which makes it sound like Ishmael labeled it 🐋
Reposted by Sarah Werner
some of you are looksmaxxing when you need to be booksmaxxing
February 18, 2026 at 7:41 PM
some of you are looksmaxxing when you need to be booksmaxxing
Reposted by Sarah Werner
And dare I add: my workbook, which targets faculty and staff (not students) is specifically about assessing risk and taking action in higher ed. It may be useful here.
halperta.com/shalperta%20...
halperta.com/shalperta%20...
February 18, 2026 at 3:54 PM
And dare I add: my workbook, which targets faculty and staff (not students) is specifically about assessing risk and taking action in higher ed. It may be useful here.
halperta.com/shalperta%20...
halperta.com/shalperta%20...
this was largely my thought about a rare books course that focuses explicitly on the materiality of Jewish and Christian books. why those two and not Muslim texts? why would we choose to continue the weird insistence that the Islamic world wasn't a part of that conversation?
There is no coherent historical legacy that directly links Athens and Rome to Christian Europe and the United States while leaving out the Islamic world. This is such ahistorical nonsense.
February 18, 2026 at 3:19 PM
this was largely my thought about a rare books course that focuses explicitly on the materiality of Jewish and Christian books. why those two and not Muslim texts? why would we choose to continue the weird insistence that the Islamic world wasn't a part of that conversation?
ZINES ZINES ZINES
“Is there a technology the left is excited about?”
High-speed rail! MRNA vaccines! New cancer treatments! Solar and wind energy collection! Better and longer-range EVs! That wood that's harder than steel! New apples! Fibermaxxing! Buldak Swicy ramen! Muppets! Muppets are too a technology, shut up!
High-speed rail! MRNA vaccines! New cancer treatments! Solar and wind energy collection! Better and longer-range EVs! That wood that's harder than steel! New apples! Fibermaxxing! Buldak Swicy ramen! Muppets! Muppets are too a technology, shut up!
February 18, 2026 at 3:16 PM
ZINES ZINES ZINES
Reposted by Sarah Werner
Books, bitches!
“Is there a technology the left is excited about?”
High-speed rail! MRNA vaccines! New cancer treatments! Solar and wind energy collection! Better and longer-range EVs! That wood that's harder than steel! New apples! Fibermaxxing! Buldak Swicy ramen! Muppets! Muppets are too a technology, shut up!
High-speed rail! MRNA vaccines! New cancer treatments! Solar and wind energy collection! Better and longer-range EVs! That wood that's harder than steel! New apples! Fibermaxxing! Buldak Swicy ramen! Muppets! Muppets are too a technology, shut up!
February 18, 2026 at 2:29 PM
Books, bitches!
Reposted by Sarah Werner
Exciting news for historians of astronomy -- the scholar who discovered this copy also has a quite interesting recent book on Galileo's early-career use of material from the Almagest: link.springer.com/book/10.1007... #HistSTM #EarlyModern @springer.springernature.com
February 17, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Exciting news for historians of astronomy -- the scholar who discovered this copy also has a quite interesting recent book on Galileo's early-career use of material from the Almagest: link.springer.com/book/10.1007... #HistSTM #EarlyModern @springer.springernature.com
Reposted by Sarah Werner
Immigration and Customs Enforcement cannot re-detain Kilmar Abrego Garcia because a 90-day detention period has expired and the government has no viable plan for deporting him, a federal judge ruled. https://cnn.it/4kHhwqR
February 17, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Immigration and Customs Enforcement cannot re-detain Kilmar Abrego Garcia because a 90-day detention period has expired and the government has no viable plan for deporting him, a federal judge ruled. https://cnn.it/4kHhwqR
Reposted by Sarah Werner
The drunk uncle theory.
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
agree with this (hah) but also think a particular mistake the left made for a long time online, and still makes to an extent, is failing to understand that the person whose mind you may actually change is the one reading the argument you're having, not the one you're arguing with
The secret to engaging in social media debate is knowing you will never win anyone over. The best you can hope for is to have people who already agree with tell you you're awesome. You might great a dopamine thrill from the righteousness of your anger! Fine benefits, all. But you will never win.
February 16, 2026 at 11:35 PM
The drunk uncle theory.
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
Reposted by Sarah Werner
This is an odd and niche request, but does anyone know how the shelfmarks of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana would have been updated between the 1880's and now?
February 17, 2026 at 2:01 PM
This is an odd and niche request, but does anyone know how the shelfmarks of the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana would have been updated between the 1880's and now?
Reposted by Sarah Werner
Sadie Peterson Delaney worked at NYPL then moved to Tuskegee AL to be a librarian at the VA. She was an early advocate of bibliotherapy, pairing people needing care w/ reading material which engaged them and helped them heal. She also taught Braille.
poklib.org/sadie-peters...
#BlackHistoryMonth
poklib.org/sadie-peters...
#BlackHistoryMonth
February 17, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Sadie Peterson Delaney worked at NYPL then moved to Tuskegee AL to be a librarian at the VA. She was an early advocate of bibliotherapy, pairing people needing care w/ reading material which engaged them and helped them heal. She also taught Braille.
poklib.org/sadie-peters...
#BlackHistoryMonth
poklib.org/sadie-peters...
#BlackHistoryMonth
Reposted by Sarah Werner
Oh, man! admire and model thyself after the whale!
February 17, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Oh, man! admire and model thyself after the whale!
Reposted by Sarah Werner
RIP Jesse Jackson (Jacob Lawrence's portrait of Jesse Jackson, created in 1970 for cover of Time magazine, now in collection of the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery) npg.si.edu/object/npg_N...
February 17, 2026 at 11:24 AM
RIP Jesse Jackson (Jacob Lawrence's portrait of Jesse Jackson, created in 1970 for cover of Time magazine, now in collection of the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery) npg.si.edu/object/npg_N...
Reposted by Sarah Werner
Rev. Jesse Jackson's "I *am* somebody..." remains one of the all-time great pieces of 20th century rhetoric / agitprop
And he could deliver it at a Black separatist meeting, the Democratic National Convention, or on god-blessed Sesame Street (see below 🥹)
RIP to the Voice of the Voiceless
And he could deliver it at a Black separatist meeting, the Democratic National Convention, or on god-blessed Sesame Street (see below 🥹)
RIP to the Voice of the Voiceless
February 17, 2026 at 11:29 AM
Rev. Jesse Jackson's "I *am* somebody..." remains one of the all-time great pieces of 20th century rhetoric / agitprop
And he could deliver it at a Black separatist meeting, the Democratic National Convention, or on god-blessed Sesame Street (see below 🥹)
RIP to the Voice of the Voiceless
And he could deliver it at a Black separatist meeting, the Democratic National Convention, or on god-blessed Sesame Street (see below 🥹)
RIP to the Voice of the Voiceless
Reposted by Sarah Werner
Someone captured my colleagues an I servicing the cameras during Kīlauea’s episode 42. We stopped to discuss what we were seeing, but because I talk with my hands it looks like I’m fixing to push someone in…
Credit: Volcano Hideaways
Credit: Volcano Hideaways
February 16, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Someone captured my colleagues an I servicing the cameras during Kīlauea’s episode 42. We stopped to discuss what we were seeing, but because I talk with my hands it looks like I’m fixing to push someone in…
Credit: Volcano Hideaways
Credit: Volcano Hideaways
Reposted by Sarah Werner
"Hanging is the most visceral symbol of power. It offers a pure, clean expression of Jewish supremacy."
Maya Rosen speaks to sociologist Ron Dudai about Israel's death penalty bill, which is set to "give Palestinians fewer rights than Eichmann received"
jewishcurrents.org/giving-pales...
Maya Rosen speaks to sociologist Ron Dudai about Israel's death penalty bill, which is set to "give Palestinians fewer rights than Eichmann received"
jewishcurrents.org/giving-pales...
February 16, 2026 at 3:54 PM
"Hanging is the most visceral symbol of power. It offers a pure, clean expression of Jewish supremacy."
Maya Rosen speaks to sociologist Ron Dudai about Israel's death penalty bill, which is set to "give Palestinians fewer rights than Eichmann received"
jewishcurrents.org/giving-pales...
Maya Rosen speaks to sociologist Ron Dudai about Israel's death penalty bill, which is set to "give Palestinians fewer rights than Eichmann received"
jewishcurrents.org/giving-pales...
Reposted by Sarah Werner
I will share more of our findings as we get into data analysis, but we're reviewing energy usage & climate impact metrics for our cloud-hosted digital collections at MPOW, and the results have been really misaligned with what our expectations were. I strongly encourage other folks to do this.
February 16, 2026 at 3:10 PM
I will share more of our findings as we get into data analysis, but we're reviewing energy usage & climate impact metrics for our cloud-hosted digital collections at MPOW, and the results have been really misaligned with what our expectations were. I strongly encourage other folks to do this.
Reposted by Sarah Werner
✨John Garcia @jgarc.bsky.social speaks tomorrow at 5:15pm EST - hope that you can make it!
Attend in-person on the sixth floor of Penn's Van Pelt Library or remotely via Zoom.
Feb 16 • 🕔 5:15 PM EST
Full details at: pennmaterialtexts.org
(Pic: Indenture form, Historical Society of Pennsylvania)
Attend in-person on the sixth floor of Penn's Van Pelt Library or remotely via Zoom.
Feb 16 • 🕔 5:15 PM EST
Full details at: pennmaterialtexts.org
(Pic: Indenture form, Historical Society of Pennsylvania)
February 16, 2026 at 2:57 AM
✨John Garcia @jgarc.bsky.social speaks tomorrow at 5:15pm EST - hope that you can make it!
Attend in-person on the sixth floor of Penn's Van Pelt Library or remotely via Zoom.
Feb 16 • 🕔 5:15 PM EST
Full details at: pennmaterialtexts.org
(Pic: Indenture form, Historical Society of Pennsylvania)
Attend in-person on the sixth floor of Penn's Van Pelt Library or remotely via Zoom.
Feb 16 • 🕔 5:15 PM EST
Full details at: pennmaterialtexts.org
(Pic: Indenture form, Historical Society of Pennsylvania)
Reposted by Sarah Werner
There is an idiom in my native language for people who present themselves as fixing what they played a hand in destroying: water in one hand, FIRE in the other.
February 16, 2026 at 2:55 PM
There is an idiom in my native language for people who present themselves as fixing what they played a hand in destroying: water in one hand, FIRE in the other.
Reposted by Sarah Werner
I guess what I'm saying is that crappy "AI" search layers & reference chatbots alienate humans not just from other humans today but also from humans who have produced knowledge in the past.
I was thinking about Allen Smith recently, @jbd1.bsky.social, how despite years of being a curious person I finally understood systems of info organization thanks to his reference class. It was such a pro-human exercise, learning how much work individuals have done to collect info for other humans.
February 16, 2026 at 3:04 PM
I guess what I'm saying is that crappy "AI" search layers & reference chatbots alienate humans not just from other humans today but also from humans who have produced knowledge in the past.
This is such a minor point, but it's weird that that Inky piece repeatedly points out that FIRE's legal director William Creeley is the son of a poet but never actually names the poet: Robert Creeley. 🤷♀️
February 16, 2026 at 3:07 PM
This is such a minor point, but it's weird that that Inky piece repeatedly points out that FIRE's legal director William Creeley is the son of a poet but never actually names the poet: Robert Creeley. 🤷♀️
Reposted by Sarah Werner
This is a long and infuriating read. share.inquirer.com/4Pt2vm [gift link]
How FIRE, a Philly-based free-speech group, went from ‘cancel culture’ watchdog to Trump antagonist
FIRE built its reputation policing cancel culture. Now the free-speech group is confronting the Trump administration.
share.inquirer.com
February 16, 2026 at 2:50 PM
This is a long and infuriating read. share.inquirer.com/4Pt2vm [gift link]
