Jen Varney
@jenvarney.bsky.social
I’m here! Big fan of school libraries and dual-language education. Past President, MSLA. #asoiaf lurker #Boston #Maine 🏳️🌈 she/her/hers
Reposted by Jen Varney
The depth of the shame of a country this wealthy and abundant allowing its people to go hungry is impossible to measure. The fact that a handful of people could fix this by paying their fair share of taxes while still remaining obscenely wealthy makes it even worse.
October 28, 2025 at 4:09 PM
The depth of the shame of a country this wealthy and abundant allowing its people to go hungry is impossible to measure. The fact that a handful of people could fix this by paying their fair share of taxes while still remaining obscenely wealthy makes it even worse.
This is excellent advice.
10 Real-Talk Tips for Making It Through This School Year Relatively Intact bit.ly/40Zx0he
August 12, 2025 at 6:04 PM
This is excellent advice.
This is a good comprehensive look at Freedom to Read legislation for MA folks wondering why we need our bill.
Several more states passed Anti-Book Ban/Freedom to Read bills in 2025. Here's what they are, what they mean, and things we should be thinking about the future of such bills: bookriot.com/2025-anti-bo...
The Anti-Book Ban Laws Passed in 2025 (& What They Mean): Book Censorship News, August 1, 2025
What does it mean to pass an anti-book ban law in 2025? Here are what states have done it and what these laws mean.
bookriot.com
August 3, 2025 at 1:37 PM
This is a good comprehensive look at Freedom to Read legislation for MA folks wondering why we need our bill.
Reposted by Jen Varney
“Too often, our libraries are the last refuge for some of our most vulnerable in our communities and we have a unique responsibility to make sure we're standing up for them,” said Belchertown State Representative Aaron Saunders - one of dozens to speak at a hearing in Boston Tuesday. (WAMC)
Mass. bills aimed at protecting librarians, preventing book bans get hearing
Massachusetts lawmakers are once again pushing bills to protect books and librarians in the face of ongoing “book challenges.” The bills have previously gone before committees and fell short, but as a...
www.wamc.org
July 25, 2025 at 10:13 PM
“Too often, our libraries are the last refuge for some of our most vulnerable in our communities and we have a unique responsibility to make sure we're standing up for them,” said Belchertown State Representative Aaron Saunders - one of dozens to speak at a hearing in Boston Tuesday. (WAMC)
Reposted by Jen Varney
Hey, Massachusetts! Support your Freedom to Read bill, which says this: “encourage and protect the freedom of public libraries & public library systems to acquire materials without external limitations & to be protected against attempts to ban, remove, or otherwise restrict access to books”
Massachusetts! Freedom to Read legislation is in the legislature & there is a hearing next week! Info you need to submit written testimony here: malegislature.gov/Events/Heari...
You can also sign up to get updates from Mass Freedom to Read here: instagram.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...
You can also sign up to get updates from Mass Freedom to Read here: instagram.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=...
Hearing Details - Joint Committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development
malegislature.gov
July 17, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Hey, Massachusetts! Support your Freedom to Read bill, which says this: “encourage and protect the freedom of public libraries & public library systems to acquire materials without external limitations & to be protected against attempts to ban, remove, or otherwise restrict access to books”
Reposted by Jen Varney
Let's take care, respect and love rivers. Rivers are the life of all living beings.
June 25, 2025 at 5:27 AM
Let's take care, respect and love rivers. Rivers are the life of all living beings.
Reposted by Jen Varney
We, the authors of the nine picture books named in Mahmoud v Taylor, collectively issued this statement in response to today’s SCOTUS decision.
ALL children deserve to see themselves reflected in books.
ALL children deserve to see themselves reflected in books.
June 28, 2025 at 1:43 AM
We, the authors of the nine picture books named in Mahmoud v Taylor, collectively issued this statement in response to today’s SCOTUS decision.
ALL children deserve to see themselves reflected in books.
ALL children deserve to see themselves reflected in books.
Tonight a canvasser came to the door. The minute I saw who it was I was prepared to give money. I admire this national, progressive organization and have supported it in the past. 1/?
June 19, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Tonight a canvasser came to the door. The minute I saw who it was I was prepared to give money. I admire this national, progressive organization and have supported it in the past. 1/?
A 3rd grader, who was new to the US 2 years ago, just rickrolled his whole class in the library and I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard. #SometimesTheyreWickedCute
June 4, 2025 at 5:49 PM
A 3rd grader, who was new to the US 2 years ago, just rickrolled his whole class in the library and I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard. #SometimesTheyreWickedCute
Reposted by Jen Varney
I was supposed to give a keynote speech at a Maine library conference in 2026 but because the administration has cut so much of their funding, they’ve now cut my appearance. It didn’t occur to me this stuff would trickle down, but clearly it does. This was a significant engagement for me to lose.
May 27, 2025 at 7:30 PM
I was supposed to give a keynote speech at a Maine library conference in 2026 but because the administration has cut so much of their funding, they’ve now cut my appearance. It didn’t occur to me this stuff would trickle down, but clearly it does. This was a significant engagement for me to lose.
Reposted by Jen Varney
So if I am getting this right:
Thursday the librarian of Congress was fired.
Friday the copyright office rushed out a draft report suggesting genAI training on copyrighted works shouldn’t be legal.
Saturday the head of the copyright office is fired.
Thursday the librarian of Congress was fired.
Friday the copyright office rushed out a draft report suggesting genAI training on copyrighted works shouldn’t be legal.
Saturday the head of the copyright office is fired.
“President Donald Trump continued a firing spree at the Library of Congress on Saturday when he dismissed the top copyright official in the nation” bit.ly/43amMei
Trump fires top U.S. copyright official
Democrats are alleging foul play.
bit.ly
May 11, 2025 at 1:35 AM
So if I am getting this right:
Thursday the librarian of Congress was fired.
Friday the copyright office rushed out a draft report suggesting genAI training on copyrighted works shouldn’t be legal.
Saturday the head of the copyright office is fired.
Thursday the librarian of Congress was fired.
Friday the copyright office rushed out a draft report suggesting genAI training on copyrighted works shouldn’t be legal.
Saturday the head of the copyright office is fired.
Last Tuesday I experienced a career highlight when I was invited to go to the GBH studios and participate in taping an episode of “Under the Radar with Callie Crossley.” It airs Sunday but you can listen to it now www.wgbh.org/culture/book...
And yes, MA, we need Freedom to Read legislation!
And yes, MA, we need Freedom to Read legislation!
April 19, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Last Tuesday I experienced a career highlight when I was invited to go to the GBH studios and participate in taping an episode of “Under the Radar with Callie Crossley.” It airs Sunday but you can listen to it now www.wgbh.org/culture/book...
And yes, MA, we need Freedom to Read legislation!
And yes, MA, we need Freedom to Read legislation!
Reposted by Jen Varney
Due to the destruction of IMLS, the Maine State Library just laid off 13 employees and will be restructuring.
The dominos are all going to fall very fast, folks.
www.pressherald.com/2025/04/09/s...
The dominos are all going to fall very fast, folks.
www.pressherald.com/2025/04/09/s...
Maine State Library lays off 13 workers, will restructure after losing federal funds
The library last received funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services on March 24 and has not gotten any updates on when — or whether — payments may resume.
www.pressherald.com
April 9, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Due to the destruction of IMLS, the Maine State Library just laid off 13 employees and will be restructuring.
The dominos are all going to fall very fast, folks.
www.pressherald.com/2025/04/09/s...
The dominos are all going to fall very fast, folks.
www.pressherald.com/2025/04/09/s...
Reposted by Jen Varney
Speech pathologists offer parents real-world advice on how to incorporate a second language with their kids at home — and demystify a misconception about bilingualism.
Want to raise bilingual kids? First, let go of a common myth
Speech pathologists offer parents real-world advice on how to incorporate a second language with their kids at home — and demystify a misconception about bilingualism.
www.npr.org
April 5, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Speech pathologists offer parents real-world advice on how to incorporate a second language with their kids at home — and demystify a misconception about bilingualism.
Not good. www.npr.org/2025/03/31/n...
Entire staff at federal agency that funds libraries and museums put on leave
The staff of the Institute of Museum and Library Services was placed on administrative leave Monday morning, following a meeting between IMLS leadership and DOGE staff.
www.npr.org
March 31, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Not good. www.npr.org/2025/03/31/n...
Reposted by Jen Varney
"Teacher demoralization was growing before the pandemic, it metastasized during it, and now, according to new survey data from the Pew Research Center, 30% of the K-12 public school teachers are considering leaving the field in the coming year."
(2024)
annehelen.substack.com/p/when-your-...
(2024)
annehelen.substack.com/p/when-your-...
When Your Profession is On Fire
On Industrial Burnout Machines
annehelen.substack.com
March 31, 2025 at 7:47 PM
"Teacher demoralization was growing before the pandemic, it metastasized during it, and now, according to new survey data from the Pew Research Center, 30% of the K-12 public school teachers are considering leaving the field in the coming year."
(2024)
annehelen.substack.com/p/when-your-...
(2024)
annehelen.substack.com/p/when-your-...
Ah yes, the morning after Daylight Saving - when it’s still pitch black out at 6:30 am. Why do we still mess with the clocks like this? No one wants this.
March 10, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Ah yes, the morning after Daylight Saving - when it’s still pitch black out at 6:30 am. Why do we still mess with the clocks like this? No one wants this.
Reposted by Jen Varney
Dear Manager, this week:
1. I went to the doctor
2. I went to the mountains
3. I looked to the children
4. I drank from the fountains
5. I sailed my ship of safety till I sank it
1. I went to the doctor
2. I went to the mountains
3. I looked to the children
4. I drank from the fountains
5. I sailed my ship of safety till I sank it
Dear Manager, this week:
I took
1. cause you left me
2. for my family
3. for my heartache
4. for my headaches
5. for my lonely
I took
1. cause you left me
2. for my family
3. for my heartache
4. for my headaches
5. for my lonely
Dear manager, this week:
1. I have run
2. have crawled
3. I have scaled these city walls
only to be with you
4. But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
5. But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
1. I have run
2. have crawled
3. I have scaled these city walls
only to be with you
4. But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
5. But I still haven't found what I'm looking for
February 23, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Dear Manager, this week:
1. I went to the doctor
2. I went to the mountains
3. I looked to the children
4. I drank from the fountains
5. I sailed my ship of safety till I sank it
1. I went to the doctor
2. I went to the mountains
3. I looked to the children
4. I drank from the fountains
5. I sailed my ship of safety till I sank it
Not me just adding my pronouns to all the things
February 1, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Not me just adding my pronouns to all the things
Reposted by Jen Varney
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has announced that it is arbitrarily dismissing student and parent complaints arising out of public schools’ documented acts of censorship and discrimination.
Our response: Book bans are real.
Full statement ➡️ www.ala.org/news/2025/01...
Our response: Book bans are real.
Full statement ➡️ www.ala.org/news/2025/01...
January 26, 2025 at 10:10 PM
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has announced that it is arbitrarily dismissing student and parent complaints arising out of public schools’ documented acts of censorship and discrimination.
Our response: Book bans are real.
Full statement ➡️ www.ala.org/news/2025/01...
Our response: Book bans are real.
Full statement ➡️ www.ala.org/news/2025/01...
Reposted by Jen Varney
This is a DOCUMENTARY, not a hoax
“Snyder’s film delves into the heart of the culture war waged on school libraries. Book bans — targeting works by and about people of color, LGBTQ+ communities, and topics like sex education — have swept across the country, fueled by political agendas.”
“Snyder’s film delves into the heart of the culture war waged on school libraries. Book bans — targeting works by and about people of color, LGBTQ+ communities, and topics like sex education — have swept across the country, fueled by political agendas.”
“Snyder takes viewers inside problematic school board meetings where fiery debates reveal the divide over which stories children should be allowed to read. At the center of it all are the librarians, adhering to their ethical code to uphold representation, diversity, and access to knowledge.”
With Intellectual Freedom Under Fire, “The Librarians” Sounds the Alarm | Sundance Film Festival
The cast and crew of “The Librarians” attend the film’s 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere at The Ray Theatre. (Photo by Robin Marshall/Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival)By Jessica HerndonWho ...
festival.sundance.org
January 26, 2025 at 12:29 PM
This is a DOCUMENTARY, not a hoax
“Snyder’s film delves into the heart of the culture war waged on school libraries. Book bans — targeting works by and about people of color, LGBTQ+ communities, and topics like sex education — have swept across the country, fueled by political agendas.”
“Snyder’s film delves into the heart of the culture war waged on school libraries. Book bans — targeting works by and about people of color, LGBTQ+ communities, and topics like sex education — have swept across the country, fueled by political agendas.”
Just sending some good vibes out into the world this morning.
a person is making a heart shape with their hands with the sun shining through them .
ALT: a person is making a heart shape with their hands with the sun shining through them .
media.tenor.com
January 23, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Just sending some good vibes out into the world this morning.
Massachusetts Road Signs www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/mas...
Massachusetts Road Signs
Massachusetts<br> Road Signs
www.mcsweeneys.net
January 14, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Massachusetts Road Signs www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/mas...