Bernadette A. Lear
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balibra76.bsky.social
Bernadette A. Lear
@balibra76.bsky.social
110 followers 120 following 170 posts
Librarian in PA, USA. Wide interests, esp. books, coins, American Indian culture/lit, children's/YA lit, history, music, travel, Lego, cats.
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balibra76.bsky.social
Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · 3d
In the past 20 years, 1/3 of the local #newspapers in the U.S. have disappeared. Here in #Pennsylvania, there are some entire counties that only have 1 paper. Here's a helpful site for exploring the data: localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/projects/sta...
The State of Local News 2025
The latest insights and trends on the local news landscape across the country. Through data and graphics, explore the state of local news outlets and learn about news deserts, network sites and pathwa...
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu
balibra76.bsky.social
Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · 17d
Thank you!
balibra76.bsky.social
Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · 18d
49!
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Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · Oct 6
My reads for September. #books
Spines of 4 books: Milk! by Mark Kurlansky, The Four Paths of Assertiveness by Scott Cooper and Naoki Yoshinaga, The Blue Fairy Book by Andrew Lang, and The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride.
balibra76.bsky.social
Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · Sep 24
This article provides helpful backstory on why #Pennsylvania is so far behind in terms of producing #renewable #energy. www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/09...
How PA’s renewable energy push lost momentum
Natural gas was pitched as a bridge from coal to renewables. Fifteen years later, the bridge seems to extend endlessly into Pennsylvania’s future.
www.spotlightpa.org
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balibra76.bsky.social
Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · Sep 24
A helpful report showing how #immigration has been helpful to #Philadelphia and southeastern #Pennsylvania . whyy.org/articles/imm...
Greater Philadelphia immigrants fuel population, economic growth, report says
Here are six key takeaways from the report and a panel discussion hosted by The Welcoming Center and WHYY on Thursday.
whyy.org
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balibra76.bsky.social
Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · Sep 8
Fall photo!
balibra76.bsky.social
Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · Aug 27
Hat tip to @JohnsHopkins University Press for keeping its e-books affordable. Many of its #ebooks with multiuser licenses are still under $100, which is super for #libraries like mine that serve multicampus #universities. So many other UP's are now charging $200, $300, even $500, which is crushing.
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balibra76.bsky.social
Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · Aug 26
Just learned that #McGrawHill is pressuring textbook #authors to remove references to #gender equity and #DEI. For *college* books, on *social science* subjects where gender, race, etc. are central. I'd love to see every #college prof use and develop #OER instead of overpriced corporate #textbooks.
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balibra76.bsky.social
Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · Aug 25
#SHARP just published a new #bibliography of #LGBTQIA #BookHistory. Hundreds of books and articles about #queer authors, readers, and publishing, as wells as some material about #libraries and allied fields. I am proud to be one of the contributors. #LGBTQ sharpweb.org/sharpnews/20...
LGBTQIA+ Book History Bibliography – SHARP NEWS
sharpweb.org
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balibra76.bsky.social
Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · Aug 17
More proof that stricter #voting ID is a solution in search of a problem: in #Pennsylvania, it would have prevented only 2 fraudulent votes among 62 million cast in the past 10 years. #politics www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/08...
www.spotlightpa.org
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balibra76.bsky.social
Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · Aug 13
#Children's #Literature on postage stamps! Squeeeee! #childlit #kids #books #goodnightmoon
balibra76.bsky.social
Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · Aug 12
#Trump has ordered review of #Smithsonian #museums toward "replacing divisive or ideologically driven language with unifying, historically accurate, and constructive descriptions across ... public-facing materials." In other words, WHITEWASH. #history #politics www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-st...
Letter to the Smithsonian: Internal Review of Smithsonian Exhibitions and Materials
The Honorable Lonnie G. Bunch III Secretary, Smithsonian Institution 1000 Jefferson Dr SW Washington, DC 20560 Subject: Internal Review of Smithsonian
www.whitehouse.gov
balibra76.bsky.social
Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · Aug 4
Just learned about #Homosaurus (homosaurus.org/v4) and #Gender #Sexuality and #Sexual Orientation Ontology (www.ebi.ac.uk/ols4/ontolog...), 2 resources for #librarians cataloging/describing #LGBTQ #books and other materials. Since I purchase these topics, these lists are very helpful!
Homosaurus Vocabulary Site
homosaurus.org
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balibra76.bsky.social
Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · Aug 3
Proud of myself. I started the summer with a goal of submitting 2 #scholarly articles (both original #research) before the start of Fall semester, and I did it! It feels good to move forward on work that I'd put aside when Dad died. Life, love, and #libraryhistory go on.
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Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · Jul 30
For #college #professors and others in #academia who are updating their #syllabi, here is a scale that may help you devise language about use of #AI for assessments/assignments. Just learned about it today! leonfurze.com/2024/08/28/u...
Updating the AI Assessment Scale
Thanks for visiting! Before you read on, please make sure you visit our new website at https://aiassessmentscale.com/. It’s the new home for all of the AIAS related materials, publications, and resour...
leonfurze.com
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balibra76.bsky.social
Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · Jul 25
Feeling energized by a 3-hour lunch I had with a #libraryhistory colleague. Lots of thoughts about how our field can acculturate scholars to be generous and supportive, instead of cut-throat and competitive, all while continuing to generate high-quality and insightful #research.
balibra76.bsky.social
Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · Jul 19
YouTube just served me this 1976 instructional video on #computers. What a hoot! Amazing how much #technology has evolved in my lifetime. I love that a woman is teaching a man about it. #data #information #programming #history youtu.be/q-gpM-KfVng?...
Basic Computer Terms (1976)
YouTube video by A/V Geeks 16mm Films
youtu.be
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Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · Jul 14
Posted without comment
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwWj...
The Wizard of Oz | The Wicked Witch Is Dead | Warner Classics
YouTube video by Warner Bros. Classics
www.youtube.com
Reposted by Bernadette A. Lear
aclu.org
ACLU @aclu.org · Jul 13
Stevie Wonder is a renowned musician and vocal advocate for those with disabilities. He raises funds and awareness for children with disabilities, pushing for greater accessibility for people who are blind and visually impaired.

This Disability Pride Month, we celebrate Stevie’s art and impact.
A graphic featuring a black and white photo of Stevie Wonder on the right. He is wearing sunglasses and headphones and singing into a microphone. On the left, a quote in large blue text reads: “My desire is to – in my lifetime – be a very integral part of getting this country and the world completely accessible to everyone with any disability. There should be nowhere that we can’t go, and there should be nothing that we can’t do. Below the quote, in smaller blue text, is Wonder’s title: “Musician, disability rights activist.” In the bottom right corner is a blue box with the text “Disability Pride Month” in purple. In the bottom left corner is the ACLU logo in blue.
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balibra76.bsky.social
Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · Jul 13
OK, I'll play. 10 #authors whom I have read at least 5 of their #books:
Louise Erdrich
Joy Harjo
David McCullough
James Michener
Edward Burtt Packer
Donald J. Sobol
Steve Sheinkin
Carol Boston Weatherford
Wayne Wiegand
Laura Ingalls Wilder
balibra76.bsky.social
Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · Jul 11
What I look like these days: Summer 2025
Portrait of Bernadette A. Lear
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Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · Jul 9
Proud of myself: it's been tough to get back on my academic feet since my Dad passed away last year. But today, I finished an article manuscript and sent it to an editor. Doesn't mean it'll get published, but it's an important step. Yay me! :)
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Bernadette A. Lear @balibra76.bsky.social · Jul 9
Most of my friends are still on Facebook, so I shared it there. I also signed up and will go if the weather isn't horrible. Thanks for letting me know.
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Reposted by Bernadette A. Lear
bevilacquapalesky.bsky.social
💗💙🤝 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚 🤝💙💗 @bevilacquapalesky.bsky.social · Jul 8
I noticed a post of yours at the No Kings Harrisburg Protest. A good friend of mine is an organizer and leads the 50501 Movement in Harrisburg. She asked me to help spread the word. Would you be willing to share this post, especially if you have local friends? I'm 50501 lead in Mercersburg, PA.💙 TY
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