Karla with a K
@karlarchivist.bsky.social
Archivist in Philly. Library defender. Loves skeeball and soft pretzels. Theater costumer in a previous life. she/her
*I immediately block all engagement farming accounts*
*I immediately block all engagement farming accounts*
Reposted by Karla with a K
And digitization is hardly a mechanically automatic process. Primary source materials can contain so much more information pertaining to the circumstances of their creation than can be gleaned from a scan of the “characters.” Archives contain *artifacts.*
Right, another key thing that historians do is working with important records that have not been digitized.
And the vast majority of the world’s records *have not been digitized* and thus do not exist in any format that LLMs/AI can work with.
And the vast majority of the world’s records *have not been digitized* and thus do not exist in any format that LLMs/AI can work with.
it's literally impossible for an LLM to do a historian's job
it's not even LLMs sucking it's that they need data input to do anything and where's that data supposed to be coming from without historians
never met a computer that can dig through a thousand year old book in a library
it's not even LLMs sucking it's that they need data input to do anything and where's that data supposed to be coming from without historians
never met a computer that can dig through a thousand year old book in a library
February 12, 2026 at 8:46 PM
And digitization is hardly a mechanically automatic process. Primary source materials can contain so much more information pertaining to the circumstances of their creation than can be gleaned from a scan of the “characters.” Archives contain *artifacts.*
Reposted by Karla with a K
"No purity tests"
Nah, if you can't support human rights for all people, and yes that includes trans people, you not only shouldn't get to run for office, you shouldn't be speaking at all until you get your heart fixed
Nah, if you can't support human rights for all people, and yes that includes trans people, you not only shouldn't get to run for office, you shouldn't be speaking at all until you get your heart fixed
February 12, 2026 at 12:55 PM
"No purity tests"
Nah, if you can't support human rights for all people, and yes that includes trans people, you not only shouldn't get to run for office, you shouldn't be speaking at all until you get your heart fixed
Nah, if you can't support human rights for all people, and yes that includes trans people, you not only shouldn't get to run for office, you shouldn't be speaking at all until you get your heart fixed
Reposted by Karla with a K
If it's political to honor war dead, presumably there's an opposing political position, which I suppose is that they do not deserve to be remembered? So if you die in a war rather than some other way, to mourn you is controversial? I really hate this.
The International Olympic Committee has disqualified a Ukrainian sled athlete over his refusal to remove images of war dead from his helmet in competition. n.pr/3Ztg0Pk
Ukrainian Olympian disqualified over images of war dead on his helmet
The International Olympic Committee has disqualified a Ukrainian sled athlete over his refusal to remove images of war dead from his helmet in competition.
n.pr
February 12, 2026 at 11:00 AM
If it's political to honor war dead, presumably there's an opposing political position, which I suppose is that they do not deserve to be remembered? So if you die in a war rather than some other way, to mourn you is controversial? I really hate this.
Reposted by Karla with a K
The Parker administration is failing so many of our most vulnerable neighbors while hanging our overworked, underpaid library workers out to dry www.inquirer.com/news/philade...
Library warming centers strained workers and left people without help for complex issues, staff say
Library workers and volunteers say people in mental-health crises, struggling with substance-abuse issues, and requiring wound care are coming to the warming centers and they have no backup.
www.inquirer.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:06 PM
The Parker administration is failing so many of our most vulnerable neighbors while hanging our overworked, underpaid library workers out to dry www.inquirer.com/news/philade...
Reposted by Karla with a K
We have received numerous credible reports of torture, killing, and inhumane treatment of detained individuals at the Camp East Montana migrant detention facility, located within Fort Bliss. #txlege
February 10, 2026 at 6:47 PM
We have received numerous credible reports of torture, killing, and inhumane treatment of detained individuals at the Camp East Montana migrant detention facility, located within Fort Bliss. #txlege
The current extreme weather is clearly demonstrating that Philadelphia is not climate resilient, nor are we anywhere close to properly funding public services in this city. Our infrastructure, our libraries, our schools….All desperately need more attention and help from city leaders. Gift link:
Library warming centers strained workers and left people without help for complex issues, staff say
Library workers and volunteers say people in mental-health crises, struggling with substance-abuse issues, and requiring wound care are coming to the warming centers and they have no backup.
share.inquirer.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:15 PM
The current extreme weather is clearly demonstrating that Philadelphia is not climate resilient, nor are we anywhere close to properly funding public services in this city. Our infrastructure, our libraries, our schools….All desperately need more attention and help from city leaders. Gift link:
I was terrible at all the maths and felt so dumb when I was a high schooler in the 90s! I'm a visual learner and geometry did not click for me until I took patternmaking in undergrad as part of my fashion degree.
Those who weren’t resigned to the Math Idiot Garbage Bin as kids may not grasp how much “if you’re bad at math, you’ll die in a ditch and all will be better off for it” sentiment was floating around in the 90s and 2000s, but it sure felt real to me.
(my parents are great! It didn’t come from them!)
(my parents are great! It didn’t come from them!)
February 11, 2026 at 2:31 PM
I was terrible at all the maths and felt so dumb when I was a high schooler in the 90s! I'm a visual learner and geometry did not click for me until I took patternmaking in undergrad as part of my fashion degree.
Reposted by Karla with a K
Friends from Minneapolis reporting to me that things are at the point where folks are being hidden in other people's houses and we are in the "again" part of "never again" which the "never" was supposed to preclude
February 10, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Friends from Minneapolis reporting to me that things are at the point where folks are being hidden in other people's houses and we are in the "again" part of "never again" which the "never" was supposed to preclude
Reposted by Karla with a K
Reposted by Karla with a K
This is an unbelievable breakdown of the halftime show
First shot: sugarcane
The backbone of Puerto Rico's agricultural economy since colonial times
Still used to make rum of course!
The backbone of Puerto Rico's agricultural economy since colonial times
Still used to make rum of course!
February 9, 2026 at 8:13 AM
This is an unbelievable breakdown of the halftime show
Reposted by Karla with a K
It does really hit you that American artists of color continue to make these aesthetically incredible, thematically rich works of art and the white supremacists that rule this country are just complete dullards
February 9, 2026 at 3:55 AM
It does really hit you that American artists of color continue to make these aesthetically incredible, thematically rich works of art and the white supremacists that rule this country are just complete dullards
Reposted by Karla with a K
This isn’t the first time the Philadelphia region’s craftivist movement has brought its knitting needles and crochet hooks to bear on national politics.
In ‘Melt the ICE’ wool caps, a red tasseled symbol of resistance comes from Minneapolis to Philadelphia
www.inquirer.com
February 8, 2026 at 11:31 AM
This isn’t the first time the Philadelphia region’s craftivist movement has brought its knitting needles and crochet hooks to bear on national politics.
Reposted by Karla with a K
Grant Guidelines for Libraries and Museums Take “Chilling” Political Turn Under Trump
Thank GOD some other outlets are finally talking about this.
www.propublica.org/article/inst...
Thank GOD some other outlets are finally talking about this.
www.propublica.org/article/inst...
Grant Guidelines for Libraries and Museums Take “Chilling” Political Turn Under Trump
Former Institute of Museum and Library Services leaders from both political parties expressed concern that the new funding guidelines could encourage a more constrained or distorted view of American h...
www.propublica.org
February 6, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Grant Guidelines for Libraries and Museums Take “Chilling” Political Turn Under Trump
Thank GOD some other outlets are finally talking about this.
www.propublica.org/article/inst...
Thank GOD some other outlets are finally talking about this.
www.propublica.org/article/inst...
Reposted by Karla with a K
If you RTd the news of Fobazi's passing, work in LIS, or have ever uttered the phrase "vocational awe", it's time to put your money where your mouth is. We owe her that much at least. Please donate.
February 6, 2026 at 2:34 PM
If you RTd the news of Fobazi's passing, work in LIS, or have ever uttered the phrase "vocational awe", it's time to put your money where your mouth is. We owe her that much at least. Please donate.
I am not typically a parade person but this one sounds like a good time!
Not gonna lie, Philly's 250 parade featuring every U.S. state and territory, dancing grannies, the Philly Drag Mafia and a group of Mrs. Ropers (among other things) sounds pretty epic.
www.inquirer.com/news/america...
www.inquirer.com/news/america...
Philly’s 250th celebration will feature the biggest parade anywhere, six days of fireworks, and Floridian Segway riders
Among those performing in the parade will be a group of Mrs. Ropers, Floridian Segway riders, and the Philly Drag Mafia.
www.inquirer.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:51 PM
I am not typically a parade person but this one sounds like a good time!
Reposted by Karla with a K
We put on an all-Yiddish community production of fiddler on the roof in Philadelphia and cast member and local artist Sofie Rose Seymour created the most amazing show poster that ever was
February 6, 2026 at 5:10 AM
We put on an all-Yiddish community production of fiddler on the roof in Philadelphia and cast member and local artist Sofie Rose Seymour created the most amazing show poster that ever was
Reposted by Karla with a K
I just generally think the antidote to dooming and feelings of helplessness is getting involved in any way. It can be as a poll worker, doing ICE watch, running for local office, helping with mutual aid, whatever.
You can get so much accomplished in your town or city if you just get involved.
You can get so much accomplished in your town or city if you just get involved.
anyway i know how many of you hate that i’m so vocal about this and think it makes me a naive shitlib or whatever. but again, i think the best thing you could do for yourself here is to get involved in election administration where you live.
February 5, 2026 at 2:02 PM
I just generally think the antidote to dooming and feelings of helplessness is getting involved in any way. It can be as a poll worker, doing ICE watch, running for local office, helping with mutual aid, whatever.
You can get so much accomplished in your town or city if you just get involved.
You can get so much accomplished in your town or city if you just get involved.
Reposted by Karla with a K
Normal people are out there doing extraordinary things. My mom's health aide emailed me: ICE took 2 of her neighbors; when she told them they weren't welcome, she was met w/a rifle. Now she's driving a neighbor to work hidden in the back of her car & escorting the neighbor's kids to the bus stop.
“If I am killed doing this, throw my body at the White House, martyr the shit out of me & raise hell. Do not be sad. Do not think I would do anything differently. I would do it over & over again — this is too important to sit down & shut up and not do anything.” www.mprnews.org/story/2026/0...
Pursued by federal agents, suburban ICE observers remain resolved
After a frightening pursuit by federal agents, suburban ICE observers say fear hasn’t stopped them from protecting their communities.
www.mprnews.org
February 4, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Normal people are out there doing extraordinary things. My mom's health aide emailed me: ICE took 2 of her neighbors; when she told them they weren't welcome, she was met w/a rifle. Now she's driving a neighbor to work hidden in the back of her car & escorting the neighbor's kids to the bus stop.
Reposted by Karla with a K
In no functioning country is this allowed.
Fucking surreal that people dressed like this and carrying assault rifles are permitted to kidnap people off our streets
February 4, 2026 at 4:16 AM
In no functioning country is this allowed.
Reposted by Karla with a K
This 2017 banger by Caroline Framke remains eternally relevant www.vox.com/culture/2017... @carolineframke.bsky.social
February 3, 2026 at 8:16 PM
This 2017 banger by Caroline Framke remains eternally relevant www.vox.com/culture/2017... @carolineframke.bsky.social
Reposted by Karla with a K
Well, another government shutdown means another day the archives are closed. Plenty of appropriations to terrorize civilians on American streets, but not a dime to pay the librarians, archivists, or keep their lights on.
February 2, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Well, another government shutdown means another day the archives are closed. Plenty of appropriations to terrorize civilians on American streets, but not a dime to pay the librarians, archivists, or keep their lights on.
Finally went to visit the President’s House in Philly over the weekend so I could see the censorship of our history for myself.😡On a hopeful note, two tour groups came through while I was there noting the history of Washington’s slaves and our federal government’s suppression of their stories.
February 2, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Finally went to visit the President’s House in Philly over the weekend so I could see the censorship of our history for myself.😡On a hopeful note, two tour groups came through while I was there noting the history of Washington’s slaves and our federal government’s suppression of their stories.
Reposted by Karla with a K
Ansel Adams took one of his most famous nature photos while documenting the American citizens of Japanese ancestry who were imprisoned at Manzanar during World War II. Our country is both the darkness and the light. We are called to bear witness, and to respond.
Ansel Adams in the age of ICE - High Country News
Ansel Adams took one of his most famous nature photos while documenting the American citizens of Japanese ancestry who were imprisoned at Manzanar during World War II. Our country is both the darkness...
www.hcn.org
February 2, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Ansel Adams took one of his most famous nature photos while documenting the American citizens of Japanese ancestry who were imprisoned at Manzanar during World War II. Our country is both the darkness and the light. We are called to bear witness, and to respond.
Reposted by Karla with a K
The DRP Steering Committee is in Philadelphia for a retreat, so here's a Philadelphia-based #DataRescue meme
January 31, 2026 at 10:01 PM
The DRP Steering Committee is in Philadelphia for a retreat, so here's a Philadelphia-based #DataRescue meme
Reposted by Karla with a K
Do people actually not know what a central role fashion has played in social movements??????
January 31, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Do people actually not know what a central role fashion has played in social movements??????