Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 18m

jesus, no joke.

Reposted by skellyton bones jensen

Maris Kreizman @maris.bsky.social · 4h

This is so damn scary. The book claimed that Jeffrey Epstein was the one who introduced Donald and Melania. Now the CEO of Harper UK is out.

Jay Rayner @jayrayner1.bsky.social · 9h

In other news Charlie Redmayne, the long serving CEO of HC in the UK, resigned yesterday.

44 650 1.6K

Reposted by skellyton bones jensen

Prisonculture @prisonculture.bsky.social · 4h

Every single day I share at least 5 concrete actions people are taking and someone always asks: "but what can I do?"

I don't really know what to tell you at this point. I really don't.

6 21 260

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 2h

Just wow.

3

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 2h

The amount of work done through public records on our own dimes cannot be emphasized enough. The amount of that work you never hear a word about cannot be emphasized enough because the nature of keeping it quiet is necessary to do it right.

Know how many of us are filing big FOIAs right now? ALL.

1 1 6

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 2h

Update: they weren't.

DISAPPOINTING for this to go the opposite way that it should. See who's doing the work and ask to help, vs. share that you want help doing work that's already being done.

Not how to build a coalition or build on the YEARS OF WORK already done. YEARS!!! YEARSSSSSSS.

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 2h

Hoping that some of the longest players in this work are being contacted by 404 for their help and insight.

cc: @flfreedomread.bsky.social @txfreedomread.bsky.social @freadomfighters.bsky.social @tasslyn.bsky.social etc etc

s. eek smith 👻 @sesmith.lol · 2h

If you know about book bans in your community, @404media.co wants to hear from you!

3 4 15

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 2h

I'd be happy to tell you about the thousands of dollars that myself and folks at @txfreedomread.bsky.social are being asked for FOIAs right now related to a vendor helping get books banned statewide–and that's not at the school district level because we're quite beyond that now.

3

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 2h

A lot of the work being done IS public records. Literally. For years, folks like @flfreedomread.bsky.social and @txfreedomread.bsky.social have spent gobs of their own money filing FOIAS/PRRs to get this info.

1 4

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 2h

I send him an email too.....

sounds like folks who've been busting ass on this haven't been contacted. Kind of a backwards way to do this?

1 5

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 2h

I emailed him and asked how can I connect you with the people who've been doing this work for a long time.

It's wild that this wasn't done FIRST before announcing it. It's infuriating that orgs AREN'T COLLABORATING on issues like this that have been dominating our lives for years.

1 3

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 2h

Hoping that some of the longest players in this work are being contacted by 404 for their help and insight.

cc: @flfreedomread.bsky.social @txfreedomread.bsky.social @freadomfighters.bsky.social @tasslyn.bsky.social etc etc

s. eek smith 👻 @sesmith.lol · 2h

If you know about book bans in your community, @404media.co wants to hear from you!

Help Us Investigate Book Bans and Educational Censorship Around America

404 Media has gotten a grant to unearth public records about systematic censorship of books, schools, and libraries in the U.S.

www.404media.co

4 5 24

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 2h

Frank's back at it!

This week's Lit Activism post tomorrow is all about getting educated and prepared for fall school and library elections. Frank's guide is ESSENTIAL READING for Texans and anyone else looking at doing crucial pro-library work for their own community and/or state.

Frank Strong @frankstrong.bsky.social · 15h

It's finally ready! October's most anticipated release, w/ the possible exception of The Life of a Showgirl, is The Book-Loving Texan's Guide to the November School Board Elections. If you hate book bans, read this to know who to vote for and who to campaign against! docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Book-Loving Texan's Guide to the November 2025 School Board Elections

The Book-Loving Texan’s Guide to the November 2025 School Board Elections (This is a mobilization tool. Use it to volunteer, donate, and organize in your community.) Election Day: Tuesday, November 4...

docs.google.com

3 6

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 3h

I didn't get a chance to share this yesterday because it was such a wild day, but....

This is the last episode of the Hey YA Podcast. @erica-eze.bsky.social and I talk about cats, about some YA history, and each share three YA books we think deserve more love.

bookriot.com/listen/our-l...

The Cat’s Out of the Bag: This Is Our Last Episode - BOOK RIOT

Kelly and Erica look back on 8 years of Hey YA, highlighting their favorite (and messy!) YA moments, their most memorable episodes, and some YA books they think deserve more attention.

bookriot.com

3 7

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 3h

This is the second library director this year to win a settlement after being inappropriately fired over not banning books the board insisted be pulled.

That Librarian: Amanda Jones @librarianjones.com · 3h

Congratulations to Terri and Iris!!!
#BannedBooksWeek

www.cbsnews.com/news/wyoming...

Wyoming library director fired amid uproar over books with LGBTQ+ themes wins $700,000 settlement

Terri Lesley was fired amid an uproar over books with sexual content and LGBTQ+ themes that some people complained were inappropriate for youngsters.

www.cbsnews.com

1 24 52

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 6h

Further reducing what library and information science actually is and further reducing the meaning and value of that specific line of training and education.

"Faculty were not consulted" ... of course.

Triangle Blog Blog @triangleblogblog.bsky.social · 18h

Breaking: We’ve talked to multiple individuals who have confirmed that UNC-CH is merging SILS (library and information science) and SDSS (data science and society). Announcement will be tomorrow morning. Faculty were not consulted.

1 18 34

Reposted by skellyton bones jensen

Triangle Blog Blog @triangleblogblog.bsky.social · 18h

Breaking: We’ve talked to multiple individuals who have confirmed that UNC-CH is merging SILS (library and information science) and SDSS (data science and society). Announcement will be tomorrow morning. Faculty were not consulted.

6 44 110

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 6h

Grand Rapids Public Library (MN, and no, that's not wrong) is making major cuts to their hours, including 3 full-time librarians being reduced to 25 hours/week next year. It's a city funding issue.

www.northernnewsnow.com/2025/10/08/g...

Grand Rapids Public Library forced to make cuts amid city budget shortfall

Library staff are still determining what hours and services will look like next year.

www.northernnewsnow.com

2

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 7h

"This is the guiding principle of my novels: that in sharing histories that challenge dominant narratives, I might help readers love the life they’re given"

bookriot.com/abdi-nazemia...

"They Don't Want Us to Have a History": Abdi Nazemian on YA Book Bans and Queer History

Several new YA books explore contemporary book banning and censorship, including Abdi Nazemian's EXQUISITE THINGS.

bookriot.com

2

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 7h

At Book Riot today, Abdi Nazemian talks about how his most recent novel EXQUISITE THINGS was written with the bans on his previous work at the top of his mind. It's a powerful, necessary piece. This book is another recent addition to the YA books about book bans shelf.

bookriot.com/abdi-nazemia...

"They Don't Want Us to Have a History": Abdi Nazemian on YA Book Bans and Queer History

Several new YA books explore contemporary book banning and censorship, including Abdi Nazemian's EXQUISITE THINGS.

bookriot.com

1 6 10

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 7h

"A former Wyoming library director who was fired amid an uproar over books with sexual content and LGBTQ+ themes on youth shelves has reached a $700,000 settlement with her former employer."

Second such settlement this year!!!

abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory...

Wyoming library director fired amid book dispute wins $700,000 settlement

A former Wyoming library director who was fired amid an uproar over books with sexual content and LGBTQ+ themes on youth shelves has reached a $700,000 settlement with her former employer

abcnews.go.com

5 27

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 7h

To be clear this isn't legislation, so don't get too excited. I think they're aware that if they couldn't pass legislation in 2023 or 2024, it ain't happening now.

7

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 7h

"Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced a resolution affirming the fundamental American freedom to read"

Weird to see Tammy Duckworth didn't sign on and neither did my own House Rep (a dem). Guess they're getting letters?

raskin.house.gov/2025/10/rask...

Raskin and Schatz Defend the American Freedom to Read and Call to End Nearly 23,000 MAGA Book Bans in the Nation’s Schools

raskin.house.gov

2 4 17

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 7h

"Neutrality"ing your way out of a career and "neutrality"ing your institution out of existence. Real cool, especially when we know so much about how all of these attacks on publicly funded institutions of democracy work.

It's 2025. You cannot be this way unless you WANT to be this way.

2 14

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 7h

"“The library is a neutral place and that we’re not taking sides in a culture war or political situation,” said Tom Taylor, with the Andover Public Library. "

Embarrassing & a dereliction of duty as a library. You are not & cannot be neutral unless you wanna disappear.

www.kake.com/home/some-ka...

Some Kansas libraries scale back on Banned Books Week amid political tensions

Banned Books Week is not a new concept; in fact, it's been around since 1982. It was created in response to a sudden surge in the number of censorship challenges

www.kake.com

2 3 19

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 16h

Yessss but maybe a bit more “ch” sound too.

1 1