in MA there are 7 regional library networks, but also a state-wide network called "Commonwealth Catalog" and it gets shortened to "ComCat". so, many libraries have cat stamps to include on the ComCat slips. a few libraries collected them this year to make displays of all the different stamps!

I had Halloween storytime at the library yesterday and if this isn't the most iconic picture of me 🥰

Introducing the new Slumber Island feature in Animal Crossing: New Horizons Version 3.0! 💤 Decorate up to 3 fresh islands with advanced customization tools to instantly plant trees, build buildings, construct bridges + inclines, and even collaborate online with friends!

an animal crossing update?!? just when I thought there was no hope for 2025

(tw pet death) Ginny died today, two months shy of her 19th birthday. I knew it was coming, and spent the past few days spoiling her extra (even if I didn't want to believe it). this morning, I knew it was time, so I called the vet and made an appointment for tonight. (1/2)

I found a great argument for using the Oxford comma in the wild. (courtesy of bookpage)

now that i don't have to work saturdays anymore (big tournament days), what if i came back to the splatoon comp scene... as a commentator????

People who appreciate the intoxicating euphoria of reading from a real dictionary expertly hand-crafted by diligent human lexicographers. Also. people who love the Oxford Comma more than some family members.

i finally finished the dress i've been making all summer!

can we go back to the era when, on streaming services, clicking on the title brought you to the info page about the show/movie, instead of immediately playing it? PLEASE.

Reminder that September is National library card month, so you should totally go get a library card! Yes, they have books, but many also have dvds, cds, video games, game systems, hot spots, streaming services, ebooks, audio books, park passes, museum passes, and more! Maybe it's time for a visit!

genuine question-- i've always loved how splatoon is (generally) VERY welcoming of the lgbtqia+ community, but has anyone ever looked into WHY the splatoon population tends to skew/attract this community more than a lot of other comp scenes?

today I got my own debit card for the library and got to do one of my favorite hobbies (shopping for craft supplies at Michaels) while on company time AND spending money that's not my own! I really do have my dream job.

I've lived by and worked in fine fee libraries for so long that I forget other places still charge late fees. it's an antiquated policy that restricts the most vulnerable from accessing things they need, and it severely limits circulation stats. more libraries should be fine free!

I finally cleaned my vanity, which I'd been putting off cleaning for way too long, and broke a wine glass in the process. That'll teach me to never clean again.

stopped by my old library yesterday to see former coworkers, and got an idea for my new library that I'm VERY excited to work on, so now I can't wait to go in tomorrow. I guess that's a good sign that I love my job, that I'm impatient to go back to work after the weekend...

The President of the United States just essentially declared a war on Chicago because — wait for it! — Black and Brown people live here. This is not normal. This is not okay. And we are going to fucking fight back.

If you're protesting ICE in Chicago, let me know at [email protected] if you need free legal training or legal support. If you're arrested protesting ICE, I can represent you pro bono. Email me at [email protected]. As always, I will take as many cases as I can.

ICE has just ramped up its presence in the BOSTON area. If you see something -- a raid, cars with masked agents, etc. -- call LUCE right away and record everything you can. Support your neighbors!

I posted this two weeks ago and Morwen is already pushing 7 pounds.

overheard a couple talking at Michaels today girlfriend: "oh, you're back soon." boyfriend: "yeah, I didn't go to target because I didn't think you'd take this long." dude, if you don't expect your girlfriend to take a while in Michaels, maybe you don't know her...

Just a reminder to check for your name in this list of books that OpenAI trained from. If your name is there, they probably owe you several thousand dollars. OpenAI cried that if everyone eligible author files, the company will go bankrupt, so I'm alerting every author I have ever spoken to.

reminder that the 'read & return' lifehack actively harms authors, especially self published authors. Also please consider that 1 Libraries exist and are free 2 Authors will not continue writing books you like if they aren't making any money or think it doesn't sell www.npr.org/2022/06/27/1...

GNU Terry Pratchett

@esmesymessmith.bsky.social are you doing any traveling/events to promote the final Sir Callie book? my tiny library definitely doesn't have the budget to host you but I'd love to see you come to my local indie, @anunlikelystory.bsky.social!

I need a site that's like storygraph but just children's librarians reviewing picture books, etc from a librarian perspective

it's been a bit since i posted pictures of the kittens, so! they are growing exponentially (morwen: 5lb13oz; esme: 4lb12oz), they're in the "lanky teenager" stage, and they're still HUGE cuddlebugs. they're also exploring more & getting into more trouble, and i love them even more 💜

so today at work, a woman i'd never met came in. she looked at me and was like, "fuchsia?" "yes," i responded, knowing that a lot of people in town knew there was a new youth services librarian starting. "monkees fan?" was her next question LMAO

One of the biggest player requests for ESO has been confirmed to be the current plan going forward: No more time stasis. They stated, contingent on player enjoyment, they intend for future stories to advance the timeline, taking place after previous events. So long 2E 582!

i've been running lans since 2016, i built the foundations of the entire midwest scene via @squidwest.bsky.social, and the lack of thanks (and abundance of bullshit) i got for YEARS was astounding things *are* changing on an individual basis, but overall, it's... still disheartening, as a local TO.

And on the subject of #realartatters: AI poisoning tool NIGHTSHADE is now free for artists to use: venturebeat.com/ai/nightshad...

I made an appointment with a psychiatrist finally (new health insurance!) and had to fill out a bunch of questionnaires, including one for ADHD, and now I shall take a nap because staying on task for that was exhausting.

He was very good in person with his trans fans too. Growing up going to SF cons, I met many trans people before I even knew what trans meant. I gave my parents very little they needed to accept in their child, so they had lots left over for everyone else. 😉 www.thepinknews.com/2021/08/06/t...

there are people who claim that Terry Pratchett would have been a TERF if he was still alive to them I say two things: 1. are you fucking serious 2. go fuck yourselves

two people from the Turtle Rescue League randomly came by my library with a two week old turtle they had just rescued nearby!! (for those who have read "Of Time and Turtles" by Sy Montgomery, one of the people was Natasha, and it was so great to unexpectedly pick her brain a little!)

today was going to be a beach day but the weather changed overnight 😔

Drumroll please!!!!! New InkLAN 5 is coming to a Balance Patch near you on October 25th! Early bird registration is now live and will run through 9/13, aka your favorite TO Avrel's 30th birthday! Wouldn't that be a great birthday gift? Links below!

every time I rewatch a treasured TV show/movie from the aughts, it's just life, "FATPHOBIA! RACISM! FAT PEOPLE ARE FAILURES!" but on the other hand, damn if Ben Wyatt and Leslie Knope slowly falling for each other isn't cute as fuck and what I want.

Hey, as a librarian I need to tell you: Our funding depends on usage. So go ahead and check out that book even if you don't think you'll finish it. No one will know. Check out that DVD even though you might not like it. Get ambitious in your quest for knowledge.

I've been listening to the fellowship of the ring on my commute. the new narration by Andy Serkis is WONDERFUL. I'm 74% of the way through with just under 6 hours left. it gets returned automatically halfway through my commute on Friday morning; I've got six 45 minute drives between now and then. 🤞

now that i've been taking sewing classes and am making my own clothes and various other things, i can't help but notice how absolutely TERRIBLY mass produced things are constructed! not just "fast fashion" but really anything that's not sold 1:1. it's fucking frustrating how bad the quality is.

This is such a great look into the work that often gets glossed over in history. womenshistory.si.edu/blog/hazel-f...

A couple more bookmarks! 🌅☕

librarians everywhere

I have an FSA that gives me $3,000 on September 1st, and my health insurance gives me a $1,100 on LASIK, so... guess who might have 20/20 vision for the first time since she was six! maybe. if my astigmatisms aren't too severe. 🫣

squidstorm 2016. it was chaos (gamepad interference 😂), I didn't talk to anyone except my team and Resb1t, and we didn't win a single game, but it was my start in competitive, I made lifelong friends, and I wouldn't have changed it for the world. (plus, I learned that battle dojo is hilarious drunk)

I also borrowed their power drill and they got to meet Esme during this interaction, so overall I'd say it was very neighborly and successful.

achievement unlocked: going over to my neighbors' house and announcing my presence with a "hidey ho, neighbor!" through the kitchen door 😂

i have officially finished my first week as a children's librarian. now, if you'll excuse me, i'm going to nap and then soak my feet for the next ten hours. (i love it though)

It feels like we should be making a bigger deal of “we actually did in fact find a cure for AIDS”