Shane MacDonald
@smacdonaa.bsky.social
Archivist, medievalist, and kaiju movie lover.
Find me on the bus or at the bookstore.
Find me on the bus or at the bookstore.
Reposted by Shane MacDonald
Parents, please check your kids’ candy this Halloween. I’ve just found an ancient metal whistle with the inscription “QUIS EST ISTE QUI VENIT" inside a Snickers bar. I blew it and heard a note of infinite distance, and now I’m haunted by a figure in pale, fluttering draperies. Be safe.
October 22, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Parents, please check your kids’ candy this Halloween. I’ve just found an ancient metal whistle with the inscription “QUIS EST ISTE QUI VENIT" inside a Snickers bar. I blew it and heard a note of infinite distance, and now I’m haunted by a figure in pale, fluttering draperies. Be safe.
Reposted by Shane MacDonald
While Republicans celebrate the passage of the largest Medicaid cut in history, the Curtis Medical Center in Nebraska announced it will shut down as a result of these horrific cuts — the first of many hospitals to close.
This is a dark day for rural America and for our country.
This is a dark day for rural America and for our country.
July 3, 2025 at 7:37 PM
While Republicans celebrate the passage of the largest Medicaid cut in history, the Curtis Medical Center in Nebraska announced it will shut down as a result of these horrific cuts — the first of many hospitals to close.
This is a dark day for rural America and for our country.
This is a dark day for rural America and for our country.
Reposted by Shane MacDonald
"i asked grok" "i asked chagpt" yeah well I asked a rare books librarian and they found things I didn’t even know I was looking for, while answering questions about provenance
June 15, 2025 at 7:09 PM
"i asked grok" "i asked chagpt" yeah well I asked a rare books librarian and they found things I didn’t even know I was looking for, while answering questions about provenance
Reposted by Shane MacDonald
Some thoughts about the military parade in my hometown of Washington DC today -- specifically, the route. Military parades in DC are quite rare. But when they happen, they have always begun, symbolically and geographically, at the Capitol and moved outward. 1/
June 14, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Some thoughts about the military parade in my hometown of Washington DC today -- specifically, the route. Military parades in DC are quite rare. But when they happen, they have always begun, symbolically and geographically, at the Capitol and moved outward. 1/
Reposted by Shane MacDonald
Habemus Papam! Beyond our excitement at the election of the first American-born pope, our staff were excited to see his selection of the name Leo XIV!
Our latest blog considers the choice of "Leo" and its connections with Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum. lib.cua.edu/wordpress/ne...
Our latest blog considers the choice of "Leo" and its connections with Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum. lib.cua.edu/wordpress/ne...
May 22, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Habemus Papam! Beyond our excitement at the election of the first American-born pope, our staff were excited to see his selection of the name Leo XIV!
Our latest blog considers the choice of "Leo" and its connections with Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum. lib.cua.edu/wordpress/ne...
Our latest blog considers the choice of "Leo" and its connections with Pope Leo XIII's 1891 encyclical Rerum Novarum. lib.cua.edu/wordpress/ne...
Reposted by Shane MacDonald
May 12, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Reposted by Shane MacDonald
Praise God for the life & ministry of Francis.
When he was announced in 2013 then-Abp Wilton Gregory, giving analysis on ABC, wept at hearing "Bergoglio." The anchor said, you seem to know something we don't.
Abp Gregory said, "You don't know what you just got."
We do now. Rest, Holy Father.
When he was announced in 2013 then-Abp Wilton Gregory, giving analysis on ABC, wept at hearing "Bergoglio." The anchor said, you seem to know something we don't.
Abp Gregory said, "You don't know what you just got."
We do now. Rest, Holy Father.
April 21, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Praise God for the life & ministry of Francis.
When he was announced in 2013 then-Abp Wilton Gregory, giving analysis on ABC, wept at hearing "Bergoglio." The anchor said, you seem to know something we don't.
Abp Gregory said, "You don't know what you just got."
We do now. Rest, Holy Father.
When he was announced in 2013 then-Abp Wilton Gregory, giving analysis on ABC, wept at hearing "Bergoglio." The anchor said, you seem to know something we don't.
Abp Gregory said, "You don't know what you just got."
We do now. Rest, Holy Father.
Reposted by Shane MacDonald
I honestly can’t stop thinking about this RFK speech. A lot of the outrage around it is focused on pointing out that it’s not true.
But so fucking what if it was? Do people whose bodies don’t work not deserve to exist in society? If all these things were true for a person are they less worthy?
But so fucking what if it was? Do people whose bodies don’t work not deserve to exist in society? If all these things were true for a person are they less worthy?
April 17, 2025 at 7:32 PM
I honestly can’t stop thinking about this RFK speech. A lot of the outrage around it is focused on pointing out that it’s not true.
But so fucking what if it was? Do people whose bodies don’t work not deserve to exist in society? If all these things were true for a person are they less worthy?
But so fucking what if it was? Do people whose bodies don’t work not deserve to exist in society? If all these things were true for a person are they less worthy?
Reposted by Shane MacDonald
It's not relevant whether Abrego Garcia has committed thousands of crimes. Disappearing him off to an El Salvadorean maximum security prison *without due process* is wholly illegal totalitarian bullshit. Everyone who has been sent there by this administration should be brought back, not just him.
April 15, 2025 at 2:14 PM
It's not relevant whether Abrego Garcia has committed thousands of crimes. Disappearing him off to an El Salvadorean maximum security prison *without due process* is wholly illegal totalitarian bullshit. Everyone who has been sent there by this administration should be brought back, not just him.
Reposted by Shane MacDonald
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
April 14, 2025 at 4:42 PM
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
Reposted by Shane MacDonald
...Any significant reductions the I.M.L.S.’ small & talented work force would undermine the agency’s ability to carry out that law, which provides crucial supports to help libraries across America serve their communities.”
Tell Congress to protect library funding: bit.ly/CallCongressForLibraries
Tell Congress to protect library funding: bit.ly/CallCongressForLibraries
Call on Congress to Protect Federal Library Funding
Call on Congress to Protect Federal Library Funding
bit.ly
March 31, 2025 at 9:30 PM
...Any significant reductions the I.M.L.S.’ small & talented work force would undermine the agency’s ability to carry out that law, which provides crucial supports to help libraries across America serve their communities.”
Tell Congress to protect library funding: bit.ly/CallCongressForLibraries
Tell Congress to protect library funding: bit.ly/CallCongressForLibraries
Look at that fresh-faced archivist on the far left. Where has the time gone?
What a blast from the (recent) past!
One of our donor organizations, the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) shared this photo with us from a visit to the archival stacks back in 2015.
One of our donor organizations, the National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) shared this photo with us from a visit to the archival stacks back in 2015.
March 26, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Look at that fresh-faced archivist on the far left. Where has the time gone?
Reposted by Shane MacDonald
It's telling that DOGE feels they need a security detail to go shut down librarians.
NEW — Keith Sonderling, Trump’s Deputy Secretary of Labor, has been named the Acting Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), an agency source tells me. He’ll arrive tomorrow at their office with DOGE and their security detail.
March 19, 2025 at 10:24 PM
It's telling that DOGE feels they need a security detail to go shut down librarians.
Proud of my home state!
NEBRASKA CROWD: “TAX THE RICH! TAX THE RICH!”
@USRepMikeFlood: “So your proposal to solve (the debt) is tax the rich?”
NEBRASKA CROWD: *CHEERS WILDLY*
(not sure this went quite as he planned 😬)
@USRepMikeFlood: “So your proposal to solve (the debt) is tax the rich?”
NEBRASKA CROWD: *CHEERS WILDLY*
(not sure this went quite as he planned 😬)
March 19, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Proud of my home state!
Reposted by Shane MacDonald
The latest #ArchivistsNook is a big little blog on the Big Little Book (BLB) series!
A miniature children's book series, our collections include the 1934 Laughing Dragon of Oz wherein copyright law, film history, and children's literature intersect!
Learn more:
www.lib.cua.edu/wordpress/ne...
A miniature children's book series, our collections include the 1934 Laughing Dragon of Oz wherein copyright law, film history, and children's literature intersect!
Learn more:
www.lib.cua.edu/wordpress/ne...
March 18, 2025 at 1:26 PM
The latest #ArchivistsNook is a big little blog on the Big Little Book (BLB) series!
A miniature children's book series, our collections include the 1934 Laughing Dragon of Oz wherein copyright law, film history, and children's literature intersect!
Learn more:
www.lib.cua.edu/wordpress/ne...
A miniature children's book series, our collections include the 1934 Laughing Dragon of Oz wherein copyright law, film history, and children's literature intersect!
Learn more:
www.lib.cua.edu/wordpress/ne...
Reposted by Shane MacDonald
We need your help TODAY to tell your governors and key members of the House and Senate that federal funding for libraries - the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) - needs to be preserved!
action.everylibrary.org/emaileo2025
action.everylibrary.org/emaileo2025
SEND AN EMAIL: Stop Trump's E.O. Attacking Federal Funding for Libraries
We need your help TODAY to tell your governors and key members of the House and Senate that federal funding for libraries - the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) - needs to be preserved!
action.everylibrary.org
March 17, 2025 at 2:12 PM
We need your help TODAY to tell your governors and key members of the House and Senate that federal funding for libraries - the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) - needs to be preserved!
action.everylibrary.org/emaileo2025
action.everylibrary.org/emaileo2025
Reposted by Shane MacDonald
All right, fine.
The second Trump administration as villains from the Batman TV show.
Let's do this.
The second Trump administration as villains from the Batman TV show.
Let's do this.
March 16, 2025 at 8:05 PM
All right, fine.
The second Trump administration as villains from the Batman TV show.
Let's do this.
The second Trump administration as villains from the Batman TV show.
Let's do this.
Reposted by Shane MacDonald
🚨NEW🚨: Donald Trump is attempting to strip away federal support for libraries. We will NOT let that happen.
Last night the President signed an order to gut the Institute of Museum & Library Services. But together, we know we can show up & defeat it.
Full EO: www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Last night the President signed an order to gut the Institute of Museum & Library Services. But together, we know we can show up & defeat it.
Full EO: www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
March 15, 2025 at 1:41 PM
🚨NEW🚨: Donald Trump is attempting to strip away federal support for libraries. We will NOT let that happen.
Last night the President signed an order to gut the Institute of Museum & Library Services. But together, we know we can show up & defeat it.
Full EO: www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Last night the President signed an order to gut the Institute of Museum & Library Services. But together, we know we can show up & defeat it.
Full EO: www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Reposted by Shane MacDonald
Any Senate Democrat who votes for cloture should have to spend time at schools across D.C. answering questions about why they care so little about the lives of D.C. residents.
March 14, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Any Senate Democrat who votes for cloture should have to spend time at schools across D.C. answering questions about why they care so little about the lives of D.C. residents.
Reposted by Shane MacDonald
Really glad Democrats saved the fucking filibuster so they could NOT USE IT.
Fucking cowards
Fucking cowards
March 14, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Really glad Democrats saved the fucking filibuster so they could NOT USE IT.
Fucking cowards
Fucking cowards
Five years ago today, I received instructions to stay-at-home and transition to online work. Under the current reactionary coup, it is surprising (and oddly encouraging) to revisit a post I made on an institutional account 5 years ago. I still stand by this.
The Archivist’s Nook: Teleworking in the Archives – What’s Up
www.lib.cua.edu
March 13, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Five years ago today, I received instructions to stay-at-home and transition to online work. Under the current reactionary coup, it is surprising (and oddly encouraging) to revisit a post I made on an institutional account 5 years ago. I still stand by this.
Dear Manager,
This week, I was:
1. Hitchin' up the buggy
2. Churnin' lots of butter
3. Raised a barn on Monday
4. Soon, I'll raise another...
5. On my knees day and night scorin' points for the afterlife
Best regards,
Shane
This week, I was:
1. Hitchin' up the buggy
2. Churnin' lots of butter
3. Raised a barn on Monday
4. Soon, I'll raise another...
5. On my knees day and night scorin' points for the afterlife
Best regards,
Shane
February 24, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Dear Manager,
This week, I was:
1. Hitchin' up the buggy
2. Churnin' lots of butter
3. Raised a barn on Monday
4. Soon, I'll raise another...
5. On my knees day and night scorin' points for the afterlife
Best regards,
Shane
This week, I was:
1. Hitchin' up the buggy
2. Churnin' lots of butter
3. Raised a barn on Monday
4. Soon, I'll raise another...
5. On my knees day and night scorin' points for the afterlife
Best regards,
Shane
In these times, it feels good to stop and celebrate the sources of community and stability in our lives. I am proud of the work my colleagues and I did to recognize our little scholarly home.
What is a campus without its library? This year marks the centennial of the cornerstone laying of the #CatholicU John K. Mullen of Denver Library!
In celebration, visitors to campus may view a new exhibit on the history of the Library, both on campus in the Library's May Gallery and online!
In celebration, visitors to campus may view a new exhibit on the history of the Library, both on campus in the Library's May Gallery and online!
February 19, 2025 at 7:53 PM
In these times, it feels good to stop and celebrate the sources of community and stability in our lives. I am proud of the work my colleagues and I did to recognize our little scholarly home.