Joanna M
@jlmesser.bsky.social
Mostly libraries, social justice, and the academy. Community college librarian and administrator. UU. Opinions mine, not my employer’s. 🏳️🌈, 🐈⬛: Vantablack & 🐈⬛: Penumbra.
Reposted by Joanna M
Some people in Jamelle's comments are reading "political ambition" as an insult, but ambition can dovetail with courage and leadership—it's what makes some politicians take worthwhile risks
April 18, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Some people in Jamelle's comments are reading "political ambition" as an insult, but ambition can dovetail with courage and leadership—it's what makes some politicians take worthwhile risks
Reposted by Joanna M
Libraries aren’t failing businesses. Government isn’t a product. This piece cuts through decades of platform logic and reminds us what public systems are actually for.
My new paper describes why the “business ontology” is a fallacy, and how the business-centered technocratic approach to digital service delivery made agencies like USDS uniquely vulnerable to takeover under a malicious regime. journals.library.wustl.edu/pollib/artic...
April 17, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Libraries aren’t failing businesses. Government isn’t a product. This piece cuts through decades of platform logic and reminds us what public systems are actually for.
Reposted by Joanna M
Four of the Big Five Publishers Sign Letter Urging Congress to Restore IMLS 📚
www.wordsandmoney.com/four-of-the-...
www.wordsandmoney.com/four-of-the-...
Four of the Big Five Publishers Sign Letter Urging Congress to Restore IMLS
Shuttering IMLS would be "an act of monumental neglect, violating the very foundation of America and what it stands for as a country," the publishers assert.
www.wordsandmoney.com
April 5, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Four of the Big Five Publishers Sign Letter Urging Congress to Restore IMLS 📚
www.wordsandmoney.com/four-of-the-...
www.wordsandmoney.com/four-of-the-...
Reposted by Joanna M
Libraries Hit by IMLS Defunding
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Libraries Hit by IMLS Defunding
Libraries across the country have started feeling the effects of the IMLS being effectively shut down and having grants cancelled. If you search for IMLS on any social media site you will see disma…
teenlibrarian.co.uk
April 3, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Libraries Hit by IMLS Defunding
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Reposted by Joanna M
Here’s an explainer re possible impacts to the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS). It “enumerates which programs are "shall" programs and duties, meaning that they are mandated by Congress, and which programs are "may" programs, meaning that they are discretionary for IMLS”
Understanding IMLS's “Shall” and “May” Language
EveryLibrary Institute is a 501c3 organization that supports library funding in the United States.
www.everylibraryinstitute.org
March 15, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Here’s an explainer re possible impacts to the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS). It “enumerates which programs are "shall" programs and duties, meaning that they are mandated by Congress, and which programs are "may" programs, meaning that they are discretionary for IMLS”
Reposted by Joanna M
"Thus far, academic librarians have been privileged to be sheltered from these attacks. It is our responsibility to educate ourselves, advocate for our public and school library colleagues, and partner against book-banning practices."
Read this. Then read it again. 📚
crln.acrl.org/index.php/cr...
Read this. Then read it again. 📚
crln.acrl.org/index.php/cr...
Manufactured Panic, Real Consequences: Why Academic Librarians Must Stand with Public and School Libraries | Burkholder | College & Research Libraries News04_TWISI
Manufactured Panic, Real Consequences: Why Academic Librarians Must Stand with Public and School Libraries
crln.acrl.org
March 13, 2025 at 6:49 PM
"Thus far, academic librarians have been privileged to be sheltered from these attacks. It is our responsibility to educate ourselves, advocate for our public and school library colleagues, and partner against book-banning practices."
Read this. Then read it again. 📚
crln.acrl.org/index.php/cr...
Read this. Then read it again. 📚
crln.acrl.org/index.php/cr...
Reposted by Joanna M
these people swore an oath to defend the constitution but i guess that’s just too hard
Schumer tells me Republicans might try to jam Democrats again in September, but thinks Trump will be less popular then and Republican appropriators might be more willing to stand up to him. He said they refused to do so now.
March 14, 2025 at 12:02 AM
these people swore an oath to defend the constitution but i guess that’s just too hard
Reposted by Joanna M
*Jon Ossoff* just announced he's voting no. You think that happened out of nowhere? CALL YOUR SENATORS. 👇
Schumer (202) 224-6542 no vm
Hassan (202) 224-3324
Peters (202) 224-6221
Durbin (202)224-2152 no vm
Schatz (202) 224-3934
King (202) 224-5344
Shaheen (202) 224-2841 vm full
Fetterman (202) 224-4254
Cortez Masto (202) 224-3542
Gillibrand (202) 224-4451
Hassan (202) 224-3324
Peters (202) 224-6221
Durbin (202)224-2152 no vm
Schatz (202) 224-3934
King (202) 224-5344
Shaheen (202) 224-2841 vm full
Fetterman (202) 224-4254
Cortez Masto (202) 224-3542
Gillibrand (202) 224-4451
March 14, 2025 at 2:27 AM
*Jon Ossoff* just announced he's voting no. You think that happened out of nowhere? CALL YOUR SENATORS. 👇
Reposted by Joanna M
Josh is obviously far more plugged in than I and he also thinks it’s worth trying
Too much is at stake not to keep up the pressure on the Senate Democrats up to the very moment of the vote.
March 14, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Josh is obviously far more plugged in than I and he also thinks it’s worth trying
Reposted by Joanna M
Can’t stop thinking about all the people who’ve lost their jobs. Losing your job in this country, it’s like annihilation—not least because it usually means losing health care, too. And for so many people, their entire sector has been eviscerated. I wouldn’t be able to feed my kids. It’s terrifying.
March 12, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Can’t stop thinking about all the people who’ve lost their jobs. Losing your job in this country, it’s like annihilation—not least because it usually means losing health care, too. And for so many people, their entire sector has been eviscerated. I wouldn’t be able to feed my kids. It’s terrifying.
Reposted by Joanna M
Yesssss, please support your local library! I joined our library's advisory board a while back and now chair it.
And, uh, I dunno what others are like but we desperately need more participation from people Gen X and younger. Even Boomers!
And, uh, I dunno what others are like but we desperately need more participation from people Gen X and younger. Even Boomers!
March 9, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Yesssss, please support your local library! I joined our library's advisory board a while back and now chair it.
And, uh, I dunno what others are like but we desperately need more participation from people Gen X and younger. Even Boomers!
And, uh, I dunno what others are like but we desperately need more participation from people Gen X and younger. Even Boomers!
Reposted by Joanna M
My latest for @truthout.org reports on librarians who are running for office and taking power. As Ilana Stonebraker says, we need to imagine ourselves as the deciders.
Librarians are growing sick of censoring and defunding — so they’re running for office.
What Would It Look Like If Librarians Ran the Government Instead of These Fools?
Librarians are growing sick of censoring and defunding — so they’re running for office.
buff.ly
March 2, 2025 at 6:03 PM
My latest for @truthout.org reports on librarians who are running for office and taking power. As Ilana Stonebraker says, we need to imagine ourselves as the deciders.
Reposted by Joanna M
📣 New zine! "Radical Books That Aren't a Slog : Leftist Book Recommendations for Newly Radical Folks." If you're a baby leftist looking for a place to start imagining new possibilities, here's 17 books to get you started! violetbfox.info/radicalbooks/ 📚
February 27, 2025 at 3:03 PM
📣 New zine! "Radical Books That Aren't a Slog : Leftist Book Recommendations for Newly Radical Folks." If you're a baby leftist looking for a place to start imagining new possibilities, here's 17 books to get you started! violetbfox.info/radicalbooks/ 📚
Reposted by Joanna M
Reposted by Joanna M
Reposted by Joanna M
While I wait for the email that tells me whether I’ve been fired or spared, here’s a thread of things I’ve had the privilege of working on, experiencing, and accomplishing in my 10 months as a federal employee at the Storm Prediction Center.
1/?
1/?
February 14, 2025 at 10:30 PM
While I wait for the email that tells me whether I’ve been fired or spared, here’s a thread of things I’ve had the privilege of working on, experiencing, and accomplishing in my 10 months as a federal employee at the Storm Prediction Center.
1/?
1/?
Reposted by Joanna M
It is perfectly legal to know your rights and to educate others about them, too.
EVERYONE in the United States, citizen or not, has rights. I will not allow this administration to intimidate us from helping you know about them.
Here’s our shareable guide ⬇️: (pt. 1/2)
EVERYONE in the United States, citizen or not, has rights. I will not allow this administration to intimidate us from helping you know about them.
Here’s our shareable guide ⬇️: (pt. 1/2)
February 14, 2025 at 11:47 PM
It is perfectly legal to know your rights and to educate others about them, too.
EVERYONE in the United States, citizen or not, has rights. I will not allow this administration to intimidate us from helping you know about them.
Here’s our shareable guide ⬇️: (pt. 1/2)
EVERYONE in the United States, citizen or not, has rights. I will not allow this administration to intimidate us from helping you know about them.
Here’s our shareable guide ⬇️: (pt. 1/2)
Is someone out there capturing documents and information from the ERIC database? I don’t have the personal or professional resources to do so, but it is a critical resource for many educators and students!
February 4, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Is someone out there capturing documents and information from the ERIC database? I don’t have the personal or professional resources to do so, but it is a critical resource for many educators and students!
Reposted by Joanna M
BREAKING: Collective bargaining powers for public workers in Wisconsin have been restored by a judge's ruling.
Judge Jacob Frost ruled that certain sections of Scott Walker's notorious Act 10 are no longer enforceable.
spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee...
Judge Jacob Frost ruled that certain sections of Scott Walker's notorious Act 10 are no longer enforceable.
spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee...
Dane County judge strikes down Act 10
Judge Jacob Frost ruled that certain sections of the law were unconstitutional.
spectrumnews1.com
December 2, 2024 at 8:09 PM
BREAKING: Collective bargaining powers for public workers in Wisconsin have been restored by a judge's ruling.
Judge Jacob Frost ruled that certain sections of Scott Walker's notorious Act 10 are no longer enforceable.
spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee...
Judge Jacob Frost ruled that certain sections of Scott Walker's notorious Act 10 are no longer enforceable.
spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee...
*taptap* this thing on? Sorry, it has been a TIME.
Anyone know how to change a username? That isn’t going to be my last name much longer.
Anyone know how to change a username? That isn’t going to be my last name much longer.
September 28, 2024 at 4:29 PM
*taptap* this thing on? Sorry, it has been a TIME.
Anyone know how to change a username? That isn’t going to be my last name much longer.
Anyone know how to change a username? That isn’t going to be my last name much longer.
Reposted by Joanna M
I think the article on college students and declining reading comprehension calls attention to an important topic. But I also think about how many US college students are living in their cars, can't afford to eat, or have survived a school shooting.
February 11, 2024 at 4:32 PM
I think the article on college students and declining reading comprehension calls attention to an important topic. But I also think about how many US college students are living in their cars, can't afford to eat, or have survived a school shooting.
I just taught a session to a lower-division bio class about how to find and read scientific literature. I spent 45 minutes on reading an article because they desperately needed that information. I didn’t do that in my earliest years of teaching 1st and 2nd year college students.. Something happened.
February 11, 2024 at 5:00 PM
I just taught a session to a lower-division bio class about how to find and read scientific literature. I spent 45 minutes on reading an article because they desperately needed that information. I didn’t do that in my earliest years of teaching 1st and 2nd year college students.. Something happened.
Game changer for many who attended community college!
The Biden Administration has made SAVE retroactive for 10 years, meaning that anyone who took out less than $12k of student loans and has been repaying for 10 years IMMEDIATELY has rest of their students loans cancelled. Community college students will receive most of this relief.
Spread the word!
Spread the word!
Statement from President Joe Biden on Early Student Debt Cancellation for Borrowers Enrolled in SAVE...
From Day One of my Administration, I vowed to fix the student loan system and make sure higher education is a pathway to the middle class – not a barrier to opportunity. Already, my Administration h...
www.whitehouse.gov
January 13, 2024 at 8:28 PM
Game changer for many who attended community college!
Reposted by Joanna M
I tried to talk about it on here the other day but no one noticed. It should be a much bigger conversation than it is. This is a significant escalation, even if expected.
Libraries around my state have been hit with bomb threats, and yet somehow neither our largest newspaper nor our substantial public radio service have seen fit to cover it. I wonder why.
Protect libraries. Sending love and solidarity to my beloved librarians.
Protect libraries. Sending love and solidarity to my beloved librarians.
📚Motherfuckers
January 13, 2024 at 7:18 PM
I tried to talk about it on here the other day but no one noticed. It should be a much bigger conversation than it is. This is a significant escalation, even if expected.
Reposted by Joanna M
Saying "AI" was "trained" on the work of artists and writers is the wrong metaphor. Their work was made into a database to be copied from and reproduced in small chunks.
There is no mind learning or being trained. There is no "intelligence" in that reproduction There's plenty of artificial, tho.
There is no mind learning or being trained. There is no "intelligence" in that reproduction There's plenty of artificial, tho.
January 9, 2024 at 1:46 PM
Saying "AI" was "trained" on the work of artists and writers is the wrong metaphor. Their work was made into a database to be copied from and reproduced in small chunks.
There is no mind learning or being trained. There is no "intelligence" in that reproduction There's plenty of artificial, tho.
There is no mind learning or being trained. There is no "intelligence" in that reproduction There's plenty of artificial, tho.