Gavin Downing
@gavindowning.bsky.social
Librarian. Teacher. Nerd. Defender of Intellectual Freedom.
Personal account. My opinions are my own.
Personal account. My opinions are my own.
DOGE is shutting down the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
This makes up 0.004% of the federal budget, and provides profound value to people in every corner of the country.
This makes up 0.004% of the federal budget, and provides profound value to people in every corner of the country.
March 20, 2025 at 6:00 PM
DOGE is shutting down the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
This makes up 0.004% of the federal budget, and provides profound value to people in every corner of the country.
This makes up 0.004% of the federal budget, and provides profound value to people in every corner of the country.
I simply am baffled by so many people interested in harming others just to harm them.
February 27, 2025 at 3:57 AM
I simply am baffled by so many people interested in harming others just to harm them.
FOR MY WASHINGTON STATE RESIDENT FOLLOWERS:
Senate Bill 5551 is coming up for a hearing NEXT TUESDAY. And it's asking the legislature to assure that every student has access to a certificated Teacher-Librarian. The funding is already there. but not all districts use the funding in that way.
Senate Bill 5551 is coming up for a hearing NEXT TUESDAY. And it's asking the legislature to assure that every student has access to a certificated Teacher-Librarian. The funding is already there. but not all districts use the funding in that way.
February 7, 2025 at 3:01 AM
FOR MY WASHINGTON STATE RESIDENT FOLLOWERS:
Senate Bill 5551 is coming up for a hearing NEXT TUESDAY. And it's asking the legislature to assure that every student has access to a certificated Teacher-Librarian. The funding is already there. but not all districts use the funding in that way.
Senate Bill 5551 is coming up for a hearing NEXT TUESDAY. And it's asking the legislature to assure that every student has access to a certificated Teacher-Librarian. The funding is already there. but not all districts use the funding in that way.
Reposted by Gavin Downing
There is still hope. If there were not, there would be no reason to get up in the morning. There is hope. Sometimes you need to be jarred into finding it, jarred into sharing it.
MAYA ANGELOU
Poet
#BlackHistoryMonth
MAYA ANGELOU
Poet
#BlackHistoryMonth
February 5, 2025 at 2:47 PM
There is still hope. If there were not, there would be no reason to get up in the morning. There is hope. Sometimes you need to be jarred into finding it, jarred into sharing it.
MAYA ANGELOU
Poet
#BlackHistoryMonth
MAYA ANGELOU
Poet
#BlackHistoryMonth
Reposted by Gavin Downing
“The Democrats didn’t do enough on Gaza, so I withheld my vote to make a statement.”
“Well, Trump won and now he’s gonna destroy Gaza.”
“Yep. We’re paying the price for the Democrats’ incompetence.”
“‘We?’ The Gazans are paying the price, not us”
Pause.
“I needed to make a statement.”
“Well, Trump won and now he’s gonna destroy Gaza.”
“Yep. We’re paying the price for the Democrats’ incompetence.”
“‘We?’ The Gazans are paying the price, not us”
Pause.
“I needed to make a statement.”
January 26, 2025 at 4:18 PM
“The Democrats didn’t do enough on Gaza, so I withheld my vote to make a statement.”
“Well, Trump won and now he’s gonna destroy Gaza.”
“Yep. We’re paying the price for the Democrats’ incompetence.”
“‘We?’ The Gazans are paying the price, not us”
Pause.
“I needed to make a statement.”
“Well, Trump won and now he’s gonna destroy Gaza.”
“Yep. We’re paying the price for the Democrats’ incompetence.”
“‘We?’ The Gazans are paying the price, not us”
Pause.
“I needed to make a statement.”
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) told NOTUS that even though what Elon Musk is doing is unconstitutional — “nobody should bellyache about that.”
He added: “That runs afoul of the Constitution in the strictest sense. But it’s not uncommon for presidents to flex a little bit...”
www.notus.org/congress/tru...
He added: “That runs afoul of the Constitution in the strictest sense. But it’s not uncommon for presidents to flex a little bit...”
www.notus.org/congress/tru...
Republican Senators Say They’re Fine Handing Their Power to Elon Musk
Musk's actions may be unconstitutional but “nobody should bellyache about that,” Sen. Thom Tillis said.
www.notus.org
February 5, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) told NOTUS that even though what Elon Musk is doing is unconstitutional — “nobody should bellyache about that.”
He added: “That runs afoul of the Constitution in the strictest sense. But it’s not uncommon for presidents to flex a little bit...”
www.notus.org/congress/tru...
He added: “That runs afoul of the Constitution in the strictest sense. But it’s not uncommon for presidents to flex a little bit...”
www.notus.org/congress/tru...
Reposted by Gavin Downing
Please join me in supporting Rhea Young, a Texas librarian fired for protecting the right to read. It's a tough time for her right now. If you can, please consider helping out or sharing. gofund.me/83ab39bc
Donate to Rally for Rhea Young's Library Legacy, organized by Jacque Gonzalez
Hello, my name is Jacque Gonzalez, and I am a library patron fundraising on beha… Jacque Gonzalez needs your support for Rally for Rhea Young's Library Legacy
gofund.me
February 3, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Please join me in supporting Rhea Young, a Texas librarian fired for protecting the right to read. It's a tough time for her right now. If you can, please consider helping out or sharing. gofund.me/83ab39bc
Reposted by Gavin Downing
“The Librarians doesn’t aim to be a page-turner, just that we still have pages to turn. Reminding us that the freedom to read, learn, and think critically is not a guarantee. It must be fought for.” inbetweendrafts.com/the-libraria...
‘The Librarians’ Review — Sundance 2025 - InBetweenDrafts
Directed by Kim A. Snyder, The Librarians uncovers the next chapter of book bans and is an education on how to fight against them.
inbetweendrafts.com
January 26, 2025 at 10:45 AM
“The Librarians doesn’t aim to be a page-turner, just that we still have pages to turn. Reminding us that the freedom to read, learn, and think critically is not a guarantee. It must be fought for.” inbetweendrafts.com/the-libraria...
Reposted by Gavin Downing
Lots of bad takes on the "book ban hoax" article from folks who haven't done a lot over the last four years related to book banning.
The release is purposeful disinformation, with the intent to make folks on the left hate the DOE and agree it should be shut down.
Call it what it is.
The release is purposeful disinformation, with the intent to make folks on the left hate the DOE and agree it should be shut down.
Call it what it is.
January 25, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Lots of bad takes on the "book ban hoax" article from folks who haven't done a lot over the last four years related to book banning.
The release is purposeful disinformation, with the intent to make folks on the left hate the DOE and agree it should be shut down.
Call it what it is.
The release is purposeful disinformation, with the intent to make folks on the left hate the DOE and agree it should be shut down.
Call it what it is.
Book banning is real, and it is terrorizing teachers, librarians, and students. You do NOT get to gaslight us and claim it was a hoax, you rancid mango.
January 25, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Book banning is real, and it is terrorizing teachers, librarians, and students. You do NOT get to gaslight us and claim it was a hoax, you rancid mango.
On my way to Phoenix for American Library Association's LibLearnX! Hope to see some of you there!
January 23, 2025 at 2:10 PM
On my way to Phoenix for American Library Association's LibLearnX! Hope to see some of you there!
You gotta kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight.
This track's been on heavy play the last week.
youtu.be/7IX4gWkFqvU?...
This track's been on heavy play the last week.
youtu.be/7IX4gWkFqvU?...
Bruce Cockburn - Lovers In A Dangerous Time
YouTube video by BruceCockburnVEVO
youtu.be
January 22, 2025 at 2:32 AM
You gotta kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight.
This track's been on heavy play the last week.
youtu.be/7IX4gWkFqvU?...
This track's been on heavy play the last week.
youtu.be/7IX4gWkFqvU?...
Fair winds to a man who did his part to make the world a better place.
Charles Person, who was the youngest of the Freedom Riders in 1961, has passed away at age 82.
With his passing, Hank Thomas is the last remaining of the original Freedom Riders.
www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2...
With his passing, Hank Thomas is the last remaining of the original Freedom Riders.
www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2...
Charles Person, youngest of the Freedom Riders, dies at 82
Bruised and bloodied while traveling through the South in 1961, he challenged segregation on interstate buses and in terminal waiting rooms.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 12, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Fair winds to a man who did his part to make the world a better place.
Reposted by Gavin Downing
Do me a kindness! Share this if you love and support your local library & librarians (and remember: that includes your school library & school librarian) 😊📚
Thank you libraries & library workers… for everything ✨💚
Thank you libraries & library workers… for everything ✨💚
January 11, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Do me a kindness! Share this if you love and support your local library & librarians (and remember: that includes your school library & school librarian) 😊📚
Thank you libraries & library workers… for everything ✨💚
Thank you libraries & library workers… for everything ✨💚
To paraphrase Bette Davis, "They say we shouldn't speak ill of the dead, only good. She's dead. Good."
January 10, 2025 at 1:58 AM
To paraphrase Bette Davis, "They say we shouldn't speak ill of the dead, only good. She's dead. Good."
Reposted by Gavin Downing
THIS IS HUGE! Researchers at Stanford Medicine have devised an influenza vaccine that prompts immunity to ALL four major flu subtypes AND shows potential against bird flu, indicating a significant advancement in flu prevention and a potential increase in vaccine efficacy. Let’s talk about that! 🧪🧵⬇️
January 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM
THIS IS HUGE! Researchers at Stanford Medicine have devised an influenza vaccine that prompts immunity to ALL four major flu subtypes AND shows potential against bird flu, indicating a significant advancement in flu prevention and a potential increase in vaccine efficacy. Let’s talk about that! 🧪🧵⬇️
Reposted by Gavin Downing
56 Small Tasks to Be Proactive Against Book Censorship in 2025 and Beyond: Book Censorship News, January 3, 2025 bookriot.com/56-small-tas...
56 Small Tasks to Be Proactive Against Book Censorship in 2025 and Beyond: Book Censorship News, January 3, 2025
Choose one task each week of 2025 for a year full of anti-book censorship activism and advocacy.
bookriot.com
January 3, 2025 at 1:55 PM
56 Small Tasks to Be Proactive Against Book Censorship in 2025 and Beyond: Book Censorship News, January 3, 2025 bookriot.com/56-small-tas...
Reposted by Gavin Downing
“This case is about the fact that words mean things and actions have consequences. Jones explains:
We teach our children to report and speak out against bullying, and that is what I am doing.”
bookriot.com/louisiana-li...
We teach our children to report and speak out against bullying, and that is what I am doing.”
bookriot.com/louisiana-li...
A Legal Victory for the Freedom to Read
Louisiana librarian gets the go-ahead for defamation suit against men who accused her of grooming children. Plus: 2025 adaptations, and more.
bookriot.com
January 3, 2025 at 1:37 PM
“This case is about the fact that words mean things and actions have consequences. Jones explains:
We teach our children to report and speak out against bullying, and that is what I am doing.”
bookriot.com/louisiana-li...
We teach our children to report and speak out against bullying, and that is what I am doing.”
bookriot.com/louisiana-li...
Reposted by Gavin Downing
This is what the incoming admin wants in a nation-wide basis: Remove oversight & monitoring of edu, provide vouchers, and set up for-profit schools to drain public funds into private pockets while simultaneously making the electorate less informed, which perpetuates the cycle of gift & graft.
NEW: Arizona does not vet new voucher schools. Not even if the school or the online school “provider” has already failed, or was founded yesterday, or is operating out of a strip mall, or offers just a half hour of instruction per morning.
propub.li/3PovCyh
propub.li/3PovCyh
Arizona Regulators Closed a Failing Charter School. It Reopened as a Private Religious School Funded by Taxpayers.
Arizona’s acclaimed voucher program provides zero transparency into private schools’ history, academic performance or financial sustainability to help parents make informed school choices.
propub.li
December 31, 2024 at 1:36 PM
This is what the incoming admin wants in a nation-wide basis: Remove oversight & monitoring of edu, provide vouchers, and set up for-profit schools to drain public funds into private pockets while simultaneously making the electorate less informed, which perpetuates the cycle of gift & graft.
Absolutely great news!!
The LA Supreme Court has ruled in Amanda Jones' favor! Her defamation case can now be heard by the 1st Circuit Court - a major victory in her fight to hold the men who defamed her to account, and a great victory for #freadom in #Louisiana. #librarians #protectourlibrarians #saveourlibraries #winning
December 28, 2024 at 6:47 AM
Absolutely great news!!