Lydia Mae Welker
@lydiamaewelker.bsky.social
she/her. digital communications @appalachianpbp.bsky.social. tech writing elsewhere. http://lydiawelker.com.
Pinned
Reminder: If you know someone incarcerated in Appalachia (WV, VA, KY, TN, OH, MD), let them know that @appalachianpbp.bsky.social will send them books for FREE. 📖 Contact APBP to find out how.
Reposted by Lydia Mae Welker
I need y'alls help with another toy drive. This one is for the children of incarcerated parents. Can we bring some joy to these families?
We're about 75 toys & teen gifts to our goal for parents at Cook County Jail. Thank you! Info & ways to donate:
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com/document/d/1...
December 10, 2025 at 12:24 AM
I need y'alls help with another toy drive. This one is for the children of incarcerated parents. Can we bring some joy to these families?
Week 49: All 4 Nothing by Lauv open.spotify.com/album/3edu0v...
December 8, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Week 49: All 4 Nothing by Lauv open.spotify.com/album/3edu0v...
Just a $10 donation makes a tangible difference in the life of an incarcerated reader.
It’s tough out there. We all need to spread a little joy. I hope you’ll consider donating. ❤️
It’s tough out there. We all need to spread a little joy. I hope you’ll consider donating. ❤️
It’s #GivingTuesday! From now until December 6, take part in our Sponsor an Incarcerated Reader fundraiser. With every $10 donation, we'll send a book to someone imprisoned in Appalachia and include a note of your choice.
Learn more: appalachianprisonbookproject.org/sponsor-an-i...
Learn more: appalachianprisonbookproject.org/sponsor-an-i...
Sponsor an Incarcerated Reader
Help us send books to people in prison.
appalachianprisonbookproject.org
December 2, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Just a $10 donation makes a tangible difference in the life of an incarcerated reader.
It’s tough out there. We all need to spread a little joy. I hope you’ll consider donating. ❤️
It’s tough out there. We all need to spread a little joy. I hope you’ll consider donating. ❤️
Week 48: Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever) by Noah Kahan
December 1, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Week 48: Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever) by Noah Kahan
Reposted by Lydia Mae Welker
Let's talk turkey: After months of targeting incarcerated people who received commutations from Biden, Pres. Trump pardoned 2 turkeys today.
Sparing a turkey while supporting the death penalty and punishing people for no longer being on death row is no act of festive goodwill.
Sparing a turkey while supporting the death penalty and punishing people for no longer being on death row is no act of festive goodwill.
November 25, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Let's talk turkey: After months of targeting incarcerated people who received commutations from Biden, Pres. Trump pardoned 2 turkeys today.
Sparing a turkey while supporting the death penalty and punishing people for no longer being on death row is no act of festive goodwill.
Sparing a turkey while supporting the death penalty and punishing people for no longer being on death row is no act of festive goodwill.
Week 47: Signed, Sealed & Delivered by Stevie Wonder
November 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Week 47: Signed, Sealed & Delivered by Stevie Wonder
Books change lives. ❤️
We received a stunning letter (with something special attached) this week from a man incarcerated in Virginia. We want to share it with you all.
Tldr: Books change lives. BOOKS CHANGE LIVES. And we couldn’t have helped this scholar without you. Thank you for your support.
Tldr: Books change lives. BOOKS CHANGE LIVES. And we couldn’t have helped this scholar without you. Thank you for your support.
November 22, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Books change lives. ❤️
Week 46: MUNA by MUNA
November 18, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Week 46: MUNA by MUNA
Reposted by Lydia Mae Welker
And with that, this thread has been updated!
When you are tempted to ask "what can I do," the answer is probably in here.
When you are tempted to ask me what *I* am doing, the answer is in here.
This is nearly five years of work. It's all free to you.
When you are tempted to ask "what can I do," the answer is probably in here.
When you are tempted to ask me what *I* am doing, the answer is in here.
This is nearly five years of work. It's all free to you.
A massive thread of resources, history, information, and material to help you not only fight and understand book censorship but protect the incredible democratic institutions of public libraries and public education.
This is updated regularly!
This is updated regularly!
November 16, 2025 at 2:06 PM
And with that, this thread has been updated!
When you are tempted to ask "what can I do," the answer is probably in here.
When you are tempted to ask me what *I* am doing, the answer is in here.
This is nearly five years of work. It's all free to you.
When you are tempted to ask "what can I do," the answer is probably in here.
When you are tempted to ask me what *I* am doing, the answer is in here.
This is nearly five years of work. It's all free to you.
Week 45: Virgin by Lorde
November 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Week 45: Virgin by Lorde
Week 44: Everybody Scream by Florence + The Machine
November 3, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Week 44: Everybody Scream by Florence + The Machine
Reposted by Lydia Mae Welker
A *LOT* of folks have elections on Tuesday. Here's how to prepare and be a pro-library, pro-public education voter this year (& every year): bookriot.com/library-elec...
Be an Informed Pro-Library, Pro-Literary Voter Now: Book Censorship News, October 10, 2025
Elections in several states will be coming up throughout the months of October and November. Here's how to be a pro-library voter.
bookriot.com
November 1, 2025 at 6:31 PM
A *LOT* of folks have elections on Tuesday. Here's how to prepare and be a pro-library, pro-public education voter this year (& every year): bookriot.com/library-elec...
Please don’t wear a “prisoner” or “inmate” costume this Halloween. It’s dehumanizing.
Happy Halloween! 🎃 Please think of incarcerated folks and their loved ones when putting on your costume tonight.
Stop Dressing as a “Prisoner” for Halloween
Wearing a “prisoner” or “inmate” Halloween costume is dehumanizing, perpetuates racist stereotypes, and trivializes the real lived experiences of incarcerated people.
appalachianprisonbookproject.org
October 31, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Please don’t wear a “prisoner” or “inmate” costume this Halloween. It’s dehumanizing.
Week 43: Essex Honey by Blood Orange
October 27, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Week 43: Essex Honey by Blood Orange
Week 42: Black Messiah by D’Angelo
October 20, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Week 42: Black Messiah by D’Angelo
Reposted by Lydia Mae Welker
“I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other.”—Mary Shelley
October 15, 2025 at 6:35 AM
“I have love in me the likes of which you can scarcely imagine and rage the likes of which you would not believe. If I cannot satisfy the one, I will indulge the other.”—Mary Shelley
Week 41: Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party by Hayley Williams
October 13, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Week 41: Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party by Hayley Williams
Ana and I had THE BEST TIME seeing Djo and Post Animal in KC. One of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. ✨
October 11, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Ana and I had THE BEST TIME seeing Djo and Post Animal in KC. One of the best concerts I’ve ever been to. ✨
Reposted by Lydia Mae Welker
At APBP, we’re dedicated to fighting censorship and book bans in prisons and jails across Appalachia and making sure people behind bars have access to the books. 📚
This #BannedBooksWeek, you can support our mission by donating a book from one of our indie bookstore wish lists.
This #BannedBooksWeek, you can support our mission by donating a book from one of our indie bookstore wish lists.
October 5, 2025 at 1:51 PM
At APBP, we’re dedicated to fighting censorship and book bans in prisons and jails across Appalachia and making sure people behind bars have access to the books. 📚
This #BannedBooksWeek, you can support our mission by donating a book from one of our indie bookstore wish lists.
This #BannedBooksWeek, you can support our mission by donating a book from one of our indie bookstore wish lists.
Week 40: Outrage! Is Now by Death From Above 1979
October 6, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Week 40: Outrage! Is Now by Death From Above 1979
Reposted by Lydia Mae Welker
Pick one or two lanes and keep at it. You are one person and cannot do everything or take 10 actions a day.
October 2, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Pick one or two lanes and keep at it. You are one person and cannot do everything or take 10 actions a day.
Week 39: Promises by Floating Points and Pharoah Sanders
September 29, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Week 39: Promises by Floating Points and Pharoah Sanders
Reposted by Lydia Mae Welker
"I believe in living.
I believe in birth.
I believe in the sweat of love
and in the fire of truth.
And i believe that a lost ship,
steered by tired, seasick sailors,
can still be guided home
to port.”
― Assata Shakur
I believe in birth.
I believe in the sweat of love
and in the fire of truth.
And i believe that a lost ship,
steered by tired, seasick sailors,
can still be guided home
to port.”
― Assata Shakur
September 27, 2025 at 1:21 AM
"I believe in living.
I believe in birth.
I believe in the sweat of love
and in the fire of truth.
And i believe that a lost ship,
steered by tired, seasick sailors,
can still be guided home
to port.”
― Assata Shakur
I believe in birth.
I believe in the sweat of love
and in the fire of truth.
And i believe that a lost ship,
steered by tired, seasick sailors,
can still be guided home
to port.”
― Assata Shakur
also stopped by The Dalí Museum
September 23, 2025 at 12:03 AM
also stopped by The Dalí Museum
It’s the first day of fall. What better time to finally share photos of the trip I took to visit my friend Nat in Florida earlier this summer?
September 23, 2025 at 12:00 AM
It’s the first day of fall. What better time to finally share photos of the trip I took to visit my friend Nat in Florida earlier this summer?