Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 1d

Yeah! I think they found it very helpful! I work at a state prison and my group was mostly people who came to my facility in the last six months or so who signed up to attend this session.

Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 1d

I am genuinely proud of how much we've been able to develop this little library in the 2.5 years I've worked here.

It gives me a bit of hope that I'm able to try to make a difference in my little corner of the universe and see the results of my efforts in real time.

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 1d

This morning I hosted our first information session on library services / resources offered (something I've been meaning to add to our schedule for a while now) and wow!

You don't realize just how much you're doing till you have to write it all down.

📚📜

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 1d

I have a specific email address for newsletters which includes a few independent / mainstream news sources. I will admit that there are times when it gets overwhelming and I just won't read them for a little bit. Often the most pressing things will still be in newer emails when I return though.

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 6d

The proliferation of part time jobs that really should be full time jobs is killing me 😓 I really think that is a major factor for half of the prisons in my state not having librarians (and I see it be an issue in local public libraries too). It’s just not sustainable for most.

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 8d

For folks who can pull that off, I think it’s great! It just confused me when that person thought it was the norm. Out of curiosity, what type of librarianship do you do?

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Reposted by Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward)

Ada Palmer @adapalmer.bsky.social · 9d

I see pieces like this a lot, often w/ a spin of lamenting cultural degeneration, but reading is a LABOR issue, it’s declined because so many people are working overtime or two jobs & employers expect after hours work. France has Earth’s highest reading rate b/c long lunch breaks & labor protections

After Dinner Conversation® @afterdinnerconversation.com · 9d

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Reposted by Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward)

Cyberpunk Librarian @cyberpunklibrarian.bsky.social · 9d

Baker & Taylor appears to be shutting down. A post on the r/libraries subreddit from an employee of B&T breaks the news and there appear to be other employees in the comments confirming the situation.

From the Libraries community on Reddit

Explore this post and more from the Libraries community

www.reddit.com

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Reposted by Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward)

Haymarket Books @haymarketbooks.org · 9d

For #BannedBooksWeek, we’re highlighting the unjust censorship of political books which impacts countless incarcerated readers each year.

For every book purchased from this reading list, we will be sending a book to someone who is incarcerated.

Books Are For Everyone: A Banned Books Week Reading List

Banned Books Week—October 5th to 11th—is an annual celebration of the freedom to read, and the aspiration that books should be accessible to all. In recognition of Banned Books Week 2025, Haymarket is...

www.haymarketbooks.org

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Reposted by Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward)

Appalachian Prison Book Project (APBP) @appalachianpbp.bsky.social · 9d

We’re out of 2025 world almanacs and low on dictionaries—two of our most popular requests. Can you help us stock up?

It’s #BannedBooksWeek, too, which means that if you purchase a book from our indie bookstore partner wish lists and donate it to APBP, your gift will be matched.

A maroon and gray flyer with a photo of books on shelves in the background. The text reads: “Banned Books Week. Appalachian Prison Book Project. Support the freedom to READ. October 5-11, 2025. Purchase a book from our indie bookstore wish lists and your donation will be matched! @AppalachianPBP.”

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 11d

No, you're definitely right on there being a level of privilege in being able to afford to pursue this work. The person saying this was also white and likely not thinking in this direction, but it is an important thing to acknowledge!

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 11d

100% on it being essential work!

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 11d

You're right this is a key difference! When I was a library assistant, I definitely needed a second job even with the privilege I had as someone who still lived with their parents. Even now, if my current job doesn't go FT soon, I'll need to look into a second job after graduating in December.

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 11d

I think you are definitely right on it depending on the area! I live in the southeastern United States and especially at my level of experience it seems to be difficult to find library positions in any sector that are even fulltime, let alone pay a living wage for the area.

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 11d

Yeah, I will definitely admit there is a level of privilege involved in being able to pursue librarianship in the first place (even though that shouldn't be the case!). For me, it was thanks to a college fund and being able to still live with my parents that made it possible.

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 11d

I can't speak for what the salaries look like in Canada (as I'm based in the United States) but it sounds like I make about the same as you working as a librarian (perhaps slightly less). It really does seem to depend on the geographical region to a degree!

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 12d

I’m not sure of the economic background of this particular person, but that is a really good point to bring up!

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 12d

They really do think we’re living in luxury somehow 😂

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 12d

Exactly! That’s why I was so caught off guard when she said, “Oh you must be loaded!” (Also a wild thing to say generally, in my opinion. 😅)

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 12d

Wearing my "Library Lady" shirt lead to a weird conversation today, so now I have to ask:

Is there a rumor out there making some people think librarians make a ton of money? I always thought it was a notoriously underpaid job, but maybe that's because I'm actually in the field. 🤷

📚📜

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 13d

Just started a new quarter of the book club elective class I teach, and during introductions two students said this was their second class with me and one student said it was his third.

Sometimes I question how well I do these, but these students help affirm that I must be doing something right 😊

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 16d

My workplace loves putting together potlucks for different celebrations, and today's was for the retirement of a dear coworker.

I'm always bringing new things I see on Pinterest (or elsewhere on the Internet), and today's dish, Cowboy Caviar with "hint of lime" tortilla chips, was a big hit! 😋

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Reposted by Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward)

Mychal Threets @mychal3ts.bsky.social · 16d

🎶 Take a look, it's in a book 🎶

🥹 After nearly 20 years... Reading Rainbow is returning to motivate, help, and encourage kids to become avid readers with new episodes, new friends, new projects, and of course... new books! Make sure to follow the rainbow 📚🌈

#FollowTheRainbow

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 19d

My job has me explaining the most random things to my patrons to help them better connect with loved ones on the outside. This week’s questions included Darry Ring, Roblox, and different ways online content creators might make money.

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · Sep 10

My current journal is just a composition notebook, but I prepped it by glueing sheets together for thickness (and also removing some sheets to keep the book itself from getting too thick with everything added). Besides a good adhesive (like UHU), I've also had a lot of fun incorporating paint pens!

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