Invisible Ink - Vol. 1
Welcome!
Welcome to the very first issue of Invisible Ink, your semi-regular newsletter from the Society of Secret Library Friends. We're a group of library workers and allies joining together to support libraries in Idaho.
We believe libraries are a public good that better our communities through education and access to resources. We seek to share talking points in support of the work libraries do, develop systems and tools to support library workers, and create paths for library friends to speak in support of libraries.
We'll be popping into your email periodically with updates on the Idaho Legislature and how proposed bills may affect libraries and the communities they serve. We'll share articles, toolkits, and data about the impact libraries make in Idaho and give you ways to share and act on that data. We'll also send you invitations to support library workers through a variety of collaborative projects and initiatives. Ready to get started?
Here's one way to make a difference right now. Make a copy of the letter template from our website and write to your legislators today to share the impact and value of the libraries in your community.
What's coming...
We're keeping a close eye on the Idaho Legislature and how proposed legislation may impact libraries.
Save the Date: The Idaho Commission for Libraries is slated to present to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Monday, Feb. 6 at 10:05 a.m. This is just the first hearing and not when the budget will be set. You can view livestreams of sessions via Idaho Public Television and access agendas and recordings on the Idaho Legislature site.
While we wait for news on that front, we recommend taking a look at Confronting White Nationalism in Libraries: A Toolkit from Western States Center:
"Libraries are increasingly on the frontlines of defending democracy, and resisting growing efforts to disrupt LGBTQ+ programming, ban books focused on inclusivity, and attack critical race theory. Western States Center’s toolkit gives librarians, administrators and communities the tools needed to effectively push back against these efforts."
Link Round-up
What Book Bans Are Doing to School Library Purchases - by Eesha Pendharkar - EdWeek - 1/6/23
Here Are 5 Book Ban Trends to Watch in 2023 - by Jonathan Friedman - The Daily Beast - 1/4/23
"I strive to make this library the safest place I can for kids, so that they feel that they can come here, be who they are and feel safe and valued. But I don’t feel safe here anymore,” librarian Martha Hickson said in America's Culture Warriors Are Going After Librarians - by Erica Hellerstein - Coda Story - 12/21/22
MisinfoDay 2023 is coming in March. Get ready by reviewing ways to recognize and talk about misinformation with Important Lessons and Key Highlights from MisinfoDay 2022 - by Michael Grass - Center for an Informed Public - 4/4/22
Security Ink - Stay safe out there
Are you planning to advocate for libraries this year? Be sure to know your organization's policies about political activities. When in doubt, consider performing political activities outside of working hours using personal email.
Sympathetic Ink - #CirculateJoy
To date, we've shipped out nearly 100 postcards to libraries all across Idaho, and we could use your help reaching our goal of a postcard to every library in Idaho.
Consider this your invitation to throw a life preserver to a library in the form of a postcard. We’re asking people to send an encouraging word or two to a library so they know they have the support of their community. Here’s how it works:
Add your encouraging words to a postcard. This can be one you purchase, make from scratch, or find in the templates on our website
Sign it, or leave it anonymous
Send it (one of two ways):
We’ll send it - Snap a picture or scan it. Email it to societysecretlibraryfriends@gmail.com. Let us know if we can share an anonymous picture of your postcard. We’ll print and mail it to a randomly selected library for you.
You send it - Print it on cardstock. Cut it out. Choose a library to mail it to. Consider letting us know you sent it by emailing us, tagging us on Twitter, or using the hashtag #CirculateJoy.
We don’t know what the future holds, but we know we could all use some words of encouragement from time to time!
Thanks for being here with us. Want to get more involved? Drop us a line, and we'll be in touch. Want to share the word? Forward this email to a friend and encourage them to sign up.
