Natalia Estrada
@stradadoes.bsky.social
Library worker. Californian. Colombian-American. Too online for my own good.
Reposted by Natalia Estrada
genuine plea for info here - is there an OCR model (open or not) which can recognize accented characters (i.e. ù û) and the characters <ŋ ɛ ə>? it genuinely seems there are no models for the International African Alphabet (link), or just the entire IPA, both of which would solve my problem 🐦🐦
Africa Alphabet - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
October 22, 2025 at 2:06 PM
genuine plea for info here - is there an OCR model (open or not) which can recognize accented characters (i.e. ù û) and the characters <ŋ ɛ ə>? it genuinely seems there are no models for the International African Alphabet (link), or just the entire IPA, both of which would solve my problem 🐦🐦
Has anyone in library world ever received a telemarketing/spam call to their *personal* phones that referenced your specific jobs?
Because I got such a call earlier today, and I am still a little freaked out about it.
Because I got such a call earlier today, and I am still a little freaked out about it.
September 26, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Has anyone in library world ever received a telemarketing/spam call to their *personal* phones that referenced your specific jobs?
Because I got such a call earlier today, and I am still a little freaked out about it.
Because I got such a call earlier today, and I am still a little freaked out about it.
Reposted by Natalia Estrada
The Carpentries (@carpentries.carpentries.org), a nonprofit that has trained over 100,000 researchers in coding and data skills, turned down a $1.5 million NSF grant after being asked to strip diversity-related content from its programming. www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...
Nonprofit Refuses $1.5M Science Grant Due To New Federal DEI Rules
A coding nonprofit turned down a $1.5M NSF grant after new DEI restrictions, highlighting the clash between federal policy and scientific community values.
www.forbes.com
August 12, 2025 at 8:53 PM
The Carpentries (@carpentries.carpentries.org), a nonprofit that has trained over 100,000 researchers in coding and data skills, turned down a $1.5 million NSF grant after being asked to strip diversity-related content from its programming. www.forbes.com/sites/johndr...
Reposted by Natalia Estrada
Every library worker has benefitted in some way from @fobettarh.bsky.social's work, and if you can afford to, please pay it forward: www.gofundme.com/f/support-fo.... If you can't donate, please share.
Donate to Fobazi’s road to recovery: Kidney and liver transplant, organized by Ysabel Gerrard
Hello all, my name is Ysabel and I’m fundraising for my friends … Ysabel Gerrard needs your support for Fobazi’s road to recovery: Kidney and liver transplant
www.gofundme.com
August 7, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Every library worker has benefitted in some way from @fobettarh.bsky.social's work, and if you can afford to, please pay it forward: www.gofundme.com/f/support-fo.... If you can't donate, please share.
I'm test driving a Contour RollerMouse (like this contourdesign.com/products/rol...) to help with nerve pain, and let me tell you it has been a ride so far!
"This rod moves the curser?? Wait, hold on, my thumbs don't know what to do! Should my keyboard shake like that?"
"This rod moves the curser?? Wait, hold on, my thumbs don't know what to do! Should my keyboard shake like that?"
July 30, 2025 at 7:40 PM
I'm test driving a Contour RollerMouse (like this contourdesign.com/products/rol...) to help with nerve pain, and let me tell you it has been a ride so far!
"This rod moves the curser?? Wait, hold on, my thumbs don't know what to do! Should my keyboard shake like that?"
"This rod moves the curser?? Wait, hold on, my thumbs don't know what to do! Should my keyboard shake like that?"
Reposted by Natalia Estrada
[Blogged] The AI powered Library Search That Refused to Search - From Clarivate's Summon to Primo Research Assistant, content‑moderation layers meant mostly for chatbots are "quietly" blocking controversial topics from being searched
aarontay.substack.com/p/the-ai-pow...
aarontay.substack.com/p/the-ai-pow...
The AI powered Library Search That Refused to Search
From Clarivate's Summon to Primo Research Assistant, content‑moderation layers meant mostly for chatbots are "quietly" blocking controversial topics from being searched
aarontay.substack.com
July 29, 2025 at 6:19 PM
[Blogged] The AI powered Library Search That Refused to Search - From Clarivate's Summon to Primo Research Assistant, content‑moderation layers meant mostly for chatbots are "quietly" blocking controversial topics from being searched
aarontay.substack.com/p/the-ai-pow...
aarontay.substack.com/p/the-ai-pow...
Reposted by Natalia Estrada
All library workers, regardless of job title or status, deserve a good wage, academic freedom, and support for any research and publishing they would like to pursue. Library classism is damaging to individual people and to the field collectively.
July 22, 2025 at 10:06 PM
All library workers, regardless of job title or status, deserve a good wage, academic freedom, and support for any research and publishing they would like to pursue. Library classism is damaging to individual people and to the field collectively.
Reposted by Natalia Estrada
ICE has been kidnapping people from the Buffalo immigration court, as they have been doing in many other cities. For the past few weeks, I have been doing court support there. I'm still processing everything I've seen, but I want to say a few things. 1/
July 17, 2025 at 11:03 AM
ICE has been kidnapping people from the Buffalo immigration court, as they have been doing in many other cities. For the past few weeks, I have been doing court support there. I'm still processing everything I've seen, but I want to say a few things. 1/
Reposted by Natalia Estrada
Notably universities and most faculty will ignore the *entire group of people* already charged with teaching information literacy on their campuses. I bet you have at least one librarian who has a lesson plan ready to go.
Critical AI Literacy: Beyond hegemonic perspectives on sustainability
open.substack.com/pub/rcsc/p/c...
open.substack.com/pub/rcsc/p/c...
Critical AI Literacy: Beyond hegemonic perspectives on sustainability
How can universities resist being coopted and corrupted by the AI industries’ agendas?
open.substack.com
June 18, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Notably universities and most faculty will ignore the *entire group of people* already charged with teaching information literacy on their campuses. I bet you have at least one librarian who has a lesson plan ready to go.
Reposted by Natalia Estrada
Kristi Noem took ICE and weapons to Huntington Park to terrorize a family this morning. But apparently a Latino sitting senator asking a question is too scary for her, so she needed some big guys to throw him to the ground and arrest him.
I hope people see how ridiculous that is and be angry.
I hope people see how ridiculous that is and be angry.
June 12, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Kristi Noem took ICE and weapons to Huntington Park to terrorize a family this morning. But apparently a Latino sitting senator asking a question is too scary for her, so she needed some big guys to throw him to the ground and arrest him.
I hope people see how ridiculous that is and be angry.
I hope people see how ridiculous that is and be angry.
Reposted by Natalia Estrada
Padilla: If this is how DHS responds to a senator with a question you can only imagine what they're doing to farm workers, to cooks, to day laborers out in the Los Angeles community and throughout California.
June 12, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Padilla: If this is how DHS responds to a senator with a question you can only imagine what they're doing to farm workers, to cooks, to day laborers out in the Los Angeles community and throughout California.
Hold the line and stay safe, LA! Show them that we can't stop/ won't stop protecting people from kidnappings!
This Southeast LA County kid's hometown pride keeps growing and growing the more I see folks fighting for our families, friends, and neighbors.
This Southeast LA County kid's hometown pride keeps growing and growing the more I see folks fighting for our families, friends, and neighbors.
June 9, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Hold the line and stay safe, LA! Show them that we can't stop/ won't stop protecting people from kidnappings!
This Southeast LA County kid's hometown pride keeps growing and growing the more I see folks fighting for our families, friends, and neighbors.
This Southeast LA County kid's hometown pride keeps growing and growing the more I see folks fighting for our families, friends, and neighbors.
Reposted by Natalia Estrada
It is very much in the self interest of academics to stand against professional services cuts because you really do not want to be doing our jobs in addition to your jobs
“we used to have a person who was paid to do this but now we have an online system which doesn’t work so every single employee of the university does this on top of their actual job”
May 23, 2025 at 11:50 AM
It is very much in the self interest of academics to stand against professional services cuts because you really do not want to be doing our jobs in addition to your jobs
Reposted by Natalia Estrada
Just because I am not surprised does not mean I'm not angry. Carla Hayden, like every other *actually qualified federal worker* that has been shamefully treated in this unconscionable manner deserves better. www.npr.org/2025/05/09/g...
President Trump fires Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden
Hayden, who became the first woman and the first African American to serve as the Librarian of Congress when she was appointed in 2016, was abruptly fired via email late Thursday.
www.npr.org
May 9, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Just because I am not surprised does not mean I'm not angry. Carla Hayden, like every other *actually qualified federal worker* that has been shamefully treated in this unconscionable manner deserves better. www.npr.org/2025/05/09/g...
Me: Now when you use a steak sauce like A1, you have to think about what kind of steak you're making, your taste preferences, is A1 the best for your steak...
Them: I thought you were here to talk about AI literacy...
Me:...
Them:...
Me: Who wants to try Bone Suckin' Sauce?!
Them: I thought you were here to talk about AI literacy...
Me:...
Them:...
Me: Who wants to try Bone Suckin' Sauce?!
For your enjoyment: here is Secretary of Education Linda McMahon talking about implementing AI in schools, but pronouncing it "A1," as in "A1 Steak Sauce"
www.youtube.com/live/lxrg28z...
www.youtube.com/live/lxrg28z...
April 9, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Me: Now when you use a steak sauce like A1, you have to think about what kind of steak you're making, your taste preferences, is A1 the best for your steak...
Them: I thought you were here to talk about AI literacy...
Me:...
Them:...
Me: Who wants to try Bone Suckin' Sauce?!
Them: I thought you were here to talk about AI literacy...
Me:...
Them:...
Me: Who wants to try Bone Suckin' Sauce?!
This is the only thing I got going for me today.
Turns out, spending 2+ hours sculpting petals by hand can keep me from laying down and giving up on everything.
Turns out, spending 2+ hours sculpting petals by hand can keep me from laying down and giving up on everything.
April 4, 2025 at 10:46 PM
This is the only thing I got going for me today.
Turns out, spending 2+ hours sculpting petals by hand can keep me from laying down and giving up on everything.
Turns out, spending 2+ hours sculpting petals by hand can keep me from laying down and giving up on everything.
Reposted by Natalia Estrada
Like many others I am dismayed by the effort to end IMLS. I know IMLS matters to so many people. I put together the following site to collect and share stories of how "IMLS matters" to people. Please consider submitting a story.
forms.gle/MAocZZMsoUu7...
imls-matters.github.io/imlsmatters/
forms.gle/MAocZZMsoUu7...
imls-matters.github.io/imlsmatters/
IMLS Matters
Responses to this form will be published at https://imls-matters.github.io/imlsmatters/
forms.gle
April 1, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Like many others I am dismayed by the effort to end IMLS. I know IMLS matters to so many people. I put together the following site to collect and share stories of how "IMLS matters" to people. Please consider submitting a story.
forms.gle/MAocZZMsoUu7...
imls-matters.github.io/imlsmatters/
forms.gle/MAocZZMsoUu7...
imls-matters.github.io/imlsmatters/
Reposted by Natalia Estrada
I helped build a government AI system. DOGE fired me, rolled the AI out to the whole agency, and implied the AI can do my job and the jobs of the others they've fired.
It can't. But, what DOGE accidentally revealed about themselves in the process is fascinating. 🧵
It can't. But, what DOGE accidentally revealed about themselves in the process is fascinating. 🧵
March 21, 2025 at 10:41 PM
I helped build a government AI system. DOGE fired me, rolled the AI out to the whole agency, and implied the AI can do my job and the jobs of the others they've fired.
It can't. But, what DOGE accidentally revealed about themselves in the process is fascinating. 🧵
It can't. But, what DOGE accidentally revealed about themselves in the process is fascinating. 🧵
Reposted by Natalia Estrada
This, by the by, is an effing disaster if it holds up. The number of public libraries that will go under if IMLS is shuttered is mind-boggling. www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose.
www.whitehouse.gov
March 15, 2025 at 12:47 PM
This, by the by, is an effing disaster if it holds up. The number of public libraries that will go under if IMLS is shuttered is mind-boggling. www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Reposted by Natalia Estrada
ACH has confirmed reports that DOGE is at the NEH. Chair Shelly C. Lowe has been replaced by Acting Chair Michael McDonald. ACH remains committed to a diverse, inclusive, and supportive DH. To engage in advocacy efforts: secretary@ach.org. Read our statement of support for NEH: buff.ly/bQeRaGw
March 12, 2025 at 4:31 PM
ACH has confirmed reports that DOGE is at the NEH. Chair Shelly C. Lowe has been replaced by Acting Chair Michael McDonald. ACH remains committed to a diverse, inclusive, and supportive DH. To engage in advocacy efforts: secretary@ach.org. Read our statement of support for NEH: buff.ly/bQeRaGw
Has the nerve pain in my arms made doing my job and enjoying hobbies difficult during the past couple of months? Yes. Has it also distracted me from the chaos of everything, including everything academia related?
No, actually, it has not; the pain killers and news minimizing do nothing.
No, actually, it has not; the pain killers and news minimizing do nothing.
February 22, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Has the nerve pain in my arms made doing my job and enjoying hobbies difficult during the past couple of months? Yes. Has it also distracted me from the chaos of everything, including everything academia related?
No, actually, it has not; the pain killers and news minimizing do nothing.
No, actually, it has not; the pain killers and news minimizing do nothing.
Reposted by Natalia Estrada
Kind of like when the tenure track job market started collapsing and everyone started saying “oh they could all just get jobs as librarians” and the librarians had to inform them that unfortunately the libraries already didn’t have enough openings for all the people who trained to be librarians.
There are also not actually enough *other jobs* out there to accommodate all of the people in government, academia, aid, and NGO jobs that the Musk/Trump junta are currently rendering unemployed.
Just because many will want to make a career pivot out doesn’t mean they’ll be able to.
Just because many will want to make a career pivot out doesn’t mean they’ll be able to.
making the educated bourgeois class and the CIA and the FBI and the military mad at you within a month of seizing power is certainly a choice that the Musk/Trump junta is making
February 13, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Kind of like when the tenure track job market started collapsing and everyone started saying “oh they could all just get jobs as librarians” and the librarians had to inform them that unfortunately the libraries already didn’t have enough openings for all the people who trained to be librarians.