Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sara Smith

@smwordsmith.bsky.social

2.1K followers 1K following 790 posts

District Librarian in CA, Graphic Novel reviewer & owner of The Graphic Library. Co-author of Manga Goes to School. Reviewer @ Booklist & School Library Journal. Esports coach. #GraphicLibrary, #EduSky #LibrarySky, #TLSky She/her. www.graphiclibrary.org

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · Dec 10

Our book is out and in the world!

I’m so proud of this project from @mangalibrarian.bsky.social, @bespokelib.bsky.social, @st741.bsky.social, Emily Ratica, and myself! Get yours today!

#TLSky #LibSky #SchoolLibraries #Manga #MangaGTS

www.ala.org/news/2024/12...

Press release for Manga Goes to School from ALA Editions, AASL Standards-Based Learning Series.

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 5h

I have heard almost all of these pro-AI arguments at one point or another. I love these well-reasoned, thoughtful possible responses to each and every one of them. A much more academic way of saying, Kindly, Fuck Off.

Iris van Rooij 💭 @irisvanrooij.bsky.social · 4d

🌟 New preprint 🌟, by @olivia.science and me:

📝 Guest, O., & van Rooij, I. (2025). *Critical Artificial Intelligence Literacy for Psychologists*. doi.org/10.31234/osf...

🧪

Table 1

Core reasoning issues (first column), which we name after the relevant numbered section, are characterised using a plausible quote. In the second column are responses per row; also see the named section for further reading, context, and explanations.

See paper for full details: ** Guest, O., & van Rooij, I. (2025, October 4). Critical Artificial Intelligence Literacy for Psychologists. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/dkrgj_v1

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 6h

They had me going for a second. Well played, Merriam-Webster.

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 16h

Check out the full review here:

www.graphiclibrary.org/reviews/red-...

Book review: Red Flower vol 1 by Loui

Kelí is ready to face the trial and prove he is a man, but his impatience and stubbornness create problems.

www.graphiclibrary.org

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 16h

FairSquare is currently having to weather the Diamond bankruptcy storm. If they receive enough support, they might be able to print more vol 1s and start printing vol 2!

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 16h

Red Flower from FairSquare Graphics is beautifully illustrated and has a fascinating story about a young prince trying to prove himself and often failing miserably because of his impatience. This manga would be great for Elementary+ libraries.
#GraphicLibrary

Graphic for The Graphic Library with the cover of Red Flower volume 1

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 1d

Awesome! Thank you!

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 1d

We did a thing! @katiejmcnamara.bsky.social made a podcast! Welcome to Beyond Books & Bonbons, the show where we’re gonna talk about the ins and outs of being a teacher librarian, and we can’t promise to be proper about it. Join us!

rss.com/podcasts/bey...

Graphic for Beyond Books & Bonbons with Katie & Sara, including a picture of the two of us smiling in our sun glasses. Below, it says “teacher librarians unfiltered, real talk”

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 1d

And no need to start from scratch - if you dm me your email I can send what I have and you can modify for your school or ditch it entirely if you don’t like it when you start to write yours

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 1d

Not a problem! I’ve also seen plenty of policies where reviews are the end all be all and, like you, I start defending those books that don’t get seen by traditional review mags.

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 1d

Having a review, an award, being included on a prestigious list, etc. means you don’t HAVE to review it yourself.

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 1d

But also, pro review isn’t REQUIRED. It’s one of the options. There’s a bunch of things in there that a book could get to qualify. At the end of the list, if it was reviewed by in house credentialed person and deemed worthy, it can still be purchased, so all this research your doing counts.

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 1d

It’s your policy — if you trust the source, trust it. I also wrote to be loose to future-proof it and didn’t list the sources specifically so that “professional” is up to interpretation.

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 1d

Agreed, but we have also a looser term for pro review than others. If the source is a verified credentialed librarian it counts. Amanda Hunt’s reviews, my website, etc. not just mags. I think including Reactor & Locus would also be fine if that’s their specialty.

Reposted by Sara Smith

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

Has your library banned any displays, events, education, talks, or anything else related to Banned Books Week this year? I want to know about it . . . and emphasize you're not alone.

Please take and share this short, anonymous survey.

tinyurl.com/banning-bbw-25

Black text on a red and black background. It reads "Has your library banned events, displays, talks, or anything else related to banned books week this year? Share your story anonymously." It includes the survey link: https://tinyurl.com/banning-bbw-25

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 2d

My policy requires at least 1 pro review or to be rec’d by credentialed library staff; have award, recognition of some type, an accolade, etc. 1 of the above. Amazon /GR reviews don’t count, jlg/vendor recs alone don’t cut it. Unfortunately leaves out quality self pub unless someone wants to review

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 2d

These books are great if you have readers who are themselves aspiring to draw their own stories in manga format. Both books go into detail about paneling, character creation, detailing, but MAKING MANGA also gives insights on the publishing industry.

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 2d

This month's @ala-booklist.bsky.social features my Crafts & Hobbies article with reviews of TWO @saturdayam.bsky.social manga drawing books - MAKING MANGA: THE SATURDAY AM WAY and SATURDAY AM PRESENTS: HOW TO DRAW DIVERSE MANGA.

www.booklistonline.com/products/981...

manga essentials graphic

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 3d

Yay!!! I’ll totally sign it 😁😁

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 3d

The #MangaGTS team is headed to #AASL25 and presenting ALL OVER THE PLACE!! We’re bringing so much manga content to y’all, it’s gonna be EPIC!

Graphic for AASL 2025 conference session manga goes to school cultivating engagement and inclusion in k-12 settings

Graphic for AASL 2025 conference session manga goes to school authors recommend grades 3-8

Graphic for AASL 2025 conference session manga goes to school authors recommend grades 9-12

Graphic for AASL 2025 conference session myth-busting manga misconceptions

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 5d

Hey #aasl25 - who's got the bitly to the Presenter cards they can DM a girl?

a chimpanzee is standing on a dirt path with its arms outstretched

Alt: a chimpanzee is standing on a dirt path with its arms outstretched

media.tenor.com

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 5d

My "monthly" newsletter is out! I say that because somehow August didn't get sent like I wanted, so this one's a double-dose. Sorry but congrats?
share.sender.net/campaigns/cP...

The Graphic Library September 2025 Reviews graphic. There are 17 covers of books on this graphic and a very opaque picture of a bookshelf behind them.

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 5d

This is beyond sad. The war on librarians and literacy continues, when we all out here just tryna get these babies to enjoy reading or find books that interest them. LIBRARIANS ARE NOT THE VILLAINS! By and large, librarians are some of the most caring, selfless individuals you'll ever meet.

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 5d

"The majority of schools in Seminole County [FL] have no one paid to work in the media centers full-time or part-time; most Seminole County Public School libraries and media centers ran without a designated media specialist or paraprofessional last year"

oviedocommunitynews.org/2025/09/10/f...

‘From a Goosebumps book’ - Seminole County’s skeleton crew libraries – Oviedo Community News

Seminole County school libraries have far fewer paid staff than neighboring Orange County, leaving volunteers to try to pick up the slack a few hours a week.

oviedocommunitynews.org

Reposted by Sara Smith

Jens von Bergmann @jensvb.bsky.social · 6d

Sara Smith @smwordsmith.bsky.social · 6d

I stayed up waaaayyy too late reading Baki: the Grappler vol 1 from new-to-us publisher Nakama Press. It was super dope!! I’ll post more about it obvs but I wanted to shout it out because sleep deprivation deserves to be recognized.

Cover of Baki the grappler vol 1

Reposted by Sara Smith

Amy Hermon @slupodcast.bsky.social · 8d

Flashback to AASL21(!!!) in Salt Lake City with fellow school #librarians @livluvlibrary.bsky.social @smwordsmith.bsky.social and @wpray.bsky.social #aasl25 @aaslala.bsky.social