Libraries are safe but also exciting. Libraries are where nerds like me go to refuel. They are safe-havens where the polluted noise of the outside world, with all the bullies and bro-dudes and anti-feminist rhetoric, is shut out. Libraries have zero tolerance for bullshit. Their walls protect us and keep us safe from all the bastards that have never read a book for fun.
Juliet Takes A Breath by Gabby Rivera (via stefunny)
Several library organizations and advocacy groups, including the American Library Association and ReadersFirst, have come out against Tor’s embargo. In a phone interview with io9, ALA president Loida Garcia Febo expressed her concerns that it could mean more trouble for libraries and their relationships with publishers, taking into account how hard they had to fight to get e-book access in the first place. She also said how unfortunate it is that the embargo is targeting sci-fi and fantasy readers, given how dedicated and passionate they are about the written word.
Tor. Y’all are a bunch of idiots. Don’t do this. If I can’t get your books at the library, the I just… won’t read them at all. Unless it’s an author I already follow. I only buy books if I know I’m going to love them, which means that I have to have already read them before, or be very familiar with the author. There are TWO authors I will buy without reading first. TWO. That’s not two authors published by Tor, that’s two total.
I don’t actually know anyone, at all, that buys books without having read them first or without having read a enough books by the author to take a chance. Don’t be stupid. This will hurt your sales way more than libraries would.
Also, congrats! You just guaranteed jump in the number of people pirating your books! Way to go, that’s totally what you were aiming for, right?
That was MY first thought upon reading this.
Authors urge readers to use the library rather than pirate books if they can’t afford to buy them.
If they’re not available at the library … what’s the logic here? Does Tor REALLY think people will just go “Ah, yes, I didn’t buy these books before because the library had them. Now that’s not an option, so I’ll definitely buy them.”?
People who were going to buy the books ANYWAY will just buy them the same as before.
People who wanted them from the library will either a) not read them or b) pirate them. Or c) just decide to wait the four months and be Really Annoyed about it.
Regardless, it’s not going to generate more sales, and it’s going to hurt authors.
It’s going to hurt libraries. If people can’t get books they want from the library because the library can’t afford the license for the book, patrons will use their libraries less, because they’ll feel like they can’t rely on their libraires to have new books or books they want to read. At a time when libraires are getting their funding slashed everywhere, when people are raising ridiculous alternatives like Amazon taking over from libraries, this will do nothing but hurt.
Tor needs to look at things like the Baen Free Library and realise that restricting access is not going to drive up sales, it’s going to drive people away. Whereas making books available in as many mediums as possible, for affordable prices, will increase visibility and profits. I can’t tell you how many new books/authors I’ve found through libraries over my lifetime, but it’s been hundreds, and the ones I really love? I BUY. And without libraries, I wouldn’t have known they existed.
Hey Tumblr, if you are still mad about the Library of Alexandria, Stop! You can SAVE one ancient library right now. The Villa of the Papyri in Herculaneum was buried when Mount Vesuvius erupted in AD 79, Some nearly 2000 carbonized scrolls were discovered along with the villa in the 1700s. Over the past couple centuries the scrolls have been a major source of study and today we are finally reaching ways of reading their contents without destroying the scrolls in the process.
The villa itself is largely underground and was explored via tunneling and as such it’s full extent still hasn’t been made clear, and it has long been suspected that additional libraries could exist within the site, not to mention other as of yet undiscovered villas. However, Italy as with many European countries simply has so many archaeological sites and new things being found all the time and not enough money to go around. Additionally the Villa of the Papyri is threatened with constant flooding issues. Library aside Sites like Herculaneum and Pompeii and all Archaeological sites around the world tell us so much about ancient peoples and cultures where we don’t have their literature to call on.
So how can you save the last ancient library? Donate to various archaeological and conservation/preservation groups, or even volunteer!
There are libraries in Los Angeles that
let kids read to pay off their late fees.
Each hour a child spends reading at
county-run libraries knocks $5 off their
account. Library staff say at least 100
kids each week read away their debt,
and 3,500 suspended accounts were
cleared during the first 6 months
of the program. SourceSource 2
I love my library.
[Stack of library books including The Fictional Woman, Too Fat Too Slutty Too Loud, History Is All You Left Me, More Happy Than Not, Drag Teen, The Moonlight Dreamers, Tell It To The Moon, and When We Rise. In the background is another stack of Kerry Greenwood’s Corinna Chapman mysteries without library stickers.]
I’m at my local library and they’ve made a display for autism awareness month. This is a well meant effort, but…
As you can see, they’ve gone with the “autism speaks” motif. This is somewhat distressing for me, especially since I usually come here to de-stress. I’m going to write a letter for the library about why this is offensive to me as an autistic person, but I don’t want them to think it’s just me wigging out about it, so if you all would be so kind I’d appreciate it if you could reblog this post and add your own thoughts on autism speaks and the symbols of their organisation. I’m going to print off as many responses as I can and hand them over to the library along with the letter.
Thanks so much for your time, and I hope you all have a good autism awareness month
QUICK ADDITION TO THE POST
If you want to add your comments but feel uncomfortable posting them publicly, please please feel free to message them on anon. You should not be silenced because you are shy or self conscious. I will absolutely add every anonymous comment to the letter
Hey, thought I’d give an update for those of you wondering how this shook out. After the library didn’t contact me for a few days I decided to head down there to see what was going on and:
they’ve changed the display! I have to say, I wasn’t sure what the expect. I thought if they did anything it would just to be to change the colour and hopefully the puzzle pieces, but they actually changed the books and info that they have on there too, Including:
A notice explicitly debunking autism as an illness, and advocating how autism is different for everyone and always requires individual support
Books written by autistic people
Books about helping your kids with the challenges they might face, rather than guides for coping with having an autistic child
Even THIS book
Which I thought had a very suspect title turned out to have this passage inside:
You can even see that they’ve decided to promote the NAS, a society dedicated to helping autistic people live the lives of their choosing.
I’m very happy with the changes that have been made here. And I think it’s a good reminder that just because someone gets something wrong, doesn’t mean that they’re bad people. The important thing is being willing to listen and learn, and the staff at this library have done just that.
This feels to me like a good way to start autistic pride month. And remember, if you want to support people with autism this season – or throughout the rest of the year – be sure that you are speaking with us, not for us or over us.
This is so wonderful!! There’s a lot of good info there and I’m sure it’ll help a lot of people learn more about what autism really is.
I think you and the community have really made a positive difference here ❤
I’m literally crying this makes me so happy! This is amazing!
Im happy-crying too! bless you and that library!
[Image 1: A library display primarily using blue and puzzle piece motives.
Image 2: A library display with a red sign saying: “Autism Awareness Month”. The shelves are mint-coloured. There are no more puzzle pieces.
Image 3: A note reading:
“What is Autism?
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people see the world and interact with others.
Autistic people see, hear and feel the world differently than other people. If you are autistic, you are autistic for life; autism is not an illness or a disease and cannot be ‘cured’. Often people feel being autistic is a fundamental aspect of their identity.
Autism is a spectrum disorder. All autistic people share certain difficulties, but being autistic will affect them in different ways. Some autistic people also have learning disabilities, mental health issues or other conditions, meaning people need different levels of support. All people on the autism spectrum learn and develop. With the right sort of support, all can be helped to live a more fulfilling life of their choosing.”
Image 4: A book titled “The reason I jump” by Naoki Higashida.
Image 5: A book titled “I’m not naughty – I’m autistic: Jodi’s journey” by Jean Shaw.
Image 6: A book titled “Sleep well on the autism spectrum” by Kenneth J. Aikten.
Image 7: A book titled: “Girls on the autism spectrum: overcoming the challenges and celebrating the gifts”.
Image 8: A book titled: “My child has autism, now what? 10 steps to get you started”.
Image 9: A page of the above book reading:
“Rules of thumb to live by
I know there is a lot to learn, but here are a few rules of thumb to guide you:
1. If something doesn’t work, try something else.
2. The only expert in autism is a person with autism.
3. Every child with autism is different – what works for one may not work for another.
4. You may not know autism, but you know your child and that is enough.”]
knitting in the dark 