Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 01/10/2026WHY ARE ALL THE BLACK LIBRARIANS GATHERING IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY? is out today. 🎉 Release day looks nothing like I thought it would. And the days leading up to it didn’t feel like I thought they would. It’s a bittersweet day. But I’m honest enough to acknowledge that two things can be true. 🥹 273
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 01/10/2026I can’t wait for this one to drop. S. Michele Echols introduced me to counterstorytelling through her chapter. I feel like it’s imperative in order to maintain your sanity and preserve your emotional health in certain environments. 🖤 100
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 30/09/2026O N E Uno Un Eins ☝🏽 day ‘til pub day Tomorrow is the day. WHY ARE ALL THE BLACK LIBRARIANS GATHERING IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY? • 10.01.26 • 🔗 in bio Last opportunity to pre-order. 20% off with code GLR BD8. #blacklibrariansgathering #librarianslooklikemetoo #blacklibrarianslead #schoollibrarian 021
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 30/09/2026Did you know episode 2 of Gathering in the Library went live on Friday? 🤗 Here’s a clip of @leeathelibrarian sharing with Dr. Cearra Harris the responsibility and pride she feels as a Black school librarian after not having educators who looked like her growing up. 122
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 28/09/2026And the winner is . . . @phelixthelibrarian Congrats!!🎉 000
Reposted by Erika LongBecky Calzada @becalzada.bsky.social · 27/09/2026📣 An important podcast & candid conversation for all school library leaders to listen to! 🎧 @erikaslong.bsky.social @slupodcast.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...podcasts.apple.comWhy Are All The Black Librarians Gathering In The School Library?Podcast Episode · School Librarians United with Amy Hermon · September 25 · 1h 3m 1105
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 27/09/2026Why does representation matter? Kat Baxter shares her answer. WHY ARE ALL THE BLACK LIBRARIANS GATHERING IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY? • 10.01.26 • 🔗 in bio 011
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 25/09/2026It’s 9/25 aka Give Like Dolly Day. So in the spirit of generosity and good books, I'm giving away 1 copy of Why Are All the Black Librarians Gathering in the School Library? and a ‘this is what a librarian looks like’ enamel pin. B/c Dolly would want you to have it. And honestly, Darlin’? So do I. 🩷 161
Reposted by Erika LongAmy Hermon @slupodcast.bsky.social · 25/09/2026Never underestimate the potential a single idea 💡 has in the hands of a #librarian! apple.co/3VvKMIsapple.coWhy Are All The Black Librarians Gathering In The School Library?Podcast Episode · School Librarians United with Amy Hermon · September 25 · 1h 3m 074
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 25/09/2026I recently chatted with @slupodcast.bsky.social about the journey of creating a book which amplifies Black librarians' voices, the importance of community and how conferences inspire action and advocacy. Our convo is live on episode 377. The book is out next wk.🥹 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...podcasts.apple.comWhy Are All The Black Librarians Gathering In The School Library?Podcast Episode · School Librarians United with Amy Hermon · September 25 · 1h 3m 173
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Why Are All the Black Librarians Gathering in the School Library❓ Gotta read the book to find out. 🙃 7️⃣ days until pub day‼️ #blacklibrariansgathering #librarianslooklikemetoo #blacklibrarianslead #librarians #schoollibrarians 021
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 24/09/2026🎧 Are you ready for episode 2?! @leeathelibrarian joins Dr. @cearraharris for a conversation about how she brings creativity into everything she does in the library. 182
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 22/09/2026We’re still in September which means ✌🏽things. 1. It’s still #librarycardsignupmonth. Got yours? Requested your library add WHY ARE ALL THE BLACK LIBRARIANS GATHERING IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY? yet? 🤔 100
Reposted by Erika LongLBYR School & Library @lbschool.bsky.social · 18/09/2026Get ready for BRAINBOW by debut author @bymayahen.bsky.social, on shelves next Tuesday! ⭐ "An excellent, modern contribution to the small but mighty world of middle grade literature about synesthesia and other lesser-explored forms of neurodivergence." —SLJ, starred review vimeo.com/1201451364vimeo.comComing a Shelf Near You: Maya Henderson on BRAINBOWAuthor/illustrator Maya Henderson introduces her middle grade graphic novel, BRAINBOW. Available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook. 012
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 13/09/2026Back to make sure librarians who can only purchase from @mackinlibrary.bsky.social know that WHY ARE ALL THE BLACK LIBRARIANS GATHERING IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY? is in their catalog, too. 15 voices 1 collection 📸 @mobleyinthemix.bsky.social #BlackLibrariansGathering #LibrariansLookLikeMeToo 020
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 10/09/2026www.tiktok.com/t/ZP83LdtNs/tiktok.com⭐️STUNNING⭐️ 🤩BREATHTAKING🤩 💡VISIONARY💡 I’ve read #NightRide three times and it’s not even on shelves yet. #humblebrag Every time I read it, I get nostalgic. I keep reminiscing the many childhood week...TikTok video by notyomamaslibrarian 011
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 08/09/2026“Sometimes I wonder if people think 6 percent is an appropriate representation of Blacks in librarianship because we haven’t seen a major shift in the demographic. I’m convinced it’s not.” —Erika Long #BlackLibrariansGathering #LibrariansLookLikeMeToo #BlackLibrariansLead 212
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 05/09/2026Late sharing this pic from #ALA26 but always on time with pubbing this book. Had to stop by the Bloomsbury booth during the ALA Conference this summer to see my editor even though our book isn’t out until next month. Did you know I co-wrote the first chapter of CORE VALUES IN SCHOOL LIBRARIANSHIP? 233
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 01/09/2026T H I R T Y | D A Y S 3️⃣0️⃣ We’re counting down the days until pub day. WHY ARE ALL THE BLACK LIBRARIANS GATHERING IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY? hits shelves October 1st! 20% off the paperback using discount code GLR BD8 🔗 in bio #BlackLibrariansGathering #LibrariansLookLikeMeToo #BlackLibrariansLead 022
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 26/08/2026Your next book is waiting for you. Why Are All the Black Librarians Gathering in the School Library? (paperback) is now available at 20% off on the Bloomsbury website — use code GLR BD8 at checkout. 142
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 23/08/2026📣 #SXSWEDU wants to hear from you. 🗣️ Don’t miss your chance to let them know “Why Are All the Black Librarians Gathering? Let’s Talk.” should be on the schedule. 🗳️ Today’s the last day for PanelPicker votes!🔗 in bio. To find my proposal, search Why Are All the Black Librarians Gathering? Let’s Talk. 011
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 20/08/2026SXSW EDU x Me? Why not?! 🙋🏽♀️ I would love to share how Black school librarians are leading and innovating in a profession that fails to mirror the demographics of the learners being served. Even more, I hope to move people to help shift what representation looks like in school librarianship. 100
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 06/08/2026💭 For years, I dreamed of attending #sxswedu, but it was never within reach. Now, it’s in my backyard. And it’s happening just a few months after WHY ARE ALL THE BLACK LIBRARIANS GATHERING IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY? is released into the wild. 110
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 21/07/2026👂🏽You can only order from Follett for your collection development? 🤔Wait a minute . . . They’ve got you covered. 🎉You can now find WHY ARE ALL THE BLACK LIBRARIANS GATHERING IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY? on titlewave.com It’s out 10.01.26, but you can add it to that fall list you’re building now. 152
Reposted by Erika LongBoss_Librarian @kcboyd.bsky.social · 26/06/2026“If you don’t have access to the truth and the real world in real time, you cannot make rational democratic decisions in our society.” - Rachel Maddow #ALAAC26 0135
Reposted by Erika LongT. Green, MLS 💻🧑🏽💻📚🇵🇭🇺🇲 @flipinthestacks.bsky.social · 26/06/2026Maddow: If you lose access to knowledge. You cannot make informed decisions as a citizen. #ALAAC26 054
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 22/06/2026🌟 One Final Review 🌟 Closing out the review series with one more generous endorsement. ⬇️ Read the review below. #BlackLibrariansGathering #LibrariansLookLikeMeToo #BlackLibrariansLead 110
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 19/06/2026On Juneteenth, we celebrate the power of Black stories. 🧵 💙❤️🤍 Happy Juneteenth ❤️🖤💚 #Juneteenth #Librarians #schoollibrarian #RepresentationMatters #blacklibrariansgathering 100
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 18/06/2026Another Voice. Another Powerful Endorsement. 🖤 “Why Are All the Black Librarians Gathering in the School Library?: Stories and Lessons is a powerful tribute to Black school librarians. Through firsthand narratives, it highlights their role in fostering curiosity, preserving culture, and… 131
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 16/06/2026❤️ R E V I E W ❤️ T W O ❤️ @becalzada.bsky.social “This book offers a powerful look into the personal and professional lives of Black librarians, highlighting how they center student voice and create inclusive spaces where learners feel valued… 110
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 13/06/2026✨The reviews are in and I’m honored by the response.✨ #BlackLibrariansGathering 021
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 10/06/2026www.bloomsbury.com/us/why-are-a...bloomsbury.comWhy Are All the Black Librarians Gathering in the School Library?Black school librarians share personal narratives at the intersections of race, education, and librarianship.While roughly fifty percent of students enrolled in… 000
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 01/06/2026“. . . without the practice of naming what happened and how it felt, these moments can gaslight us into questioning our own perceptions.”—S. Michele Echols #BlackLibrariansGathering #LibrariansLookLikeMeToo #BlackLibrariansLead 110
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 31/05/2026Our final contributor is Michele Echols 🤎 S. Michele Echols is a high school librarian and associate professor whose expertise lies in interdisciplinary collaboration. #BlackLibrariansGathering #LibrariansLookLikeMeToo #BlackLibrariansLead 111
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 30/05/2026“When I arrived at KIPP Baltimore in 2014, there was no existing school library, and the absence of a dedicated school librarian was a gap I was determined to fill.” -Theresa Bruce In “Designing and Opening a School Library Program,” Theresa shares her dedication to bringing libraries to her school. 110
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 28/05/2026We’re close to the finish line. 🏁 Meet Theresa Bruce. Her story is a rare one and she’s still on the first leg of this marathon. #BlackLibrariansGathering #LibrariansLookLikeMeToo #BlackLibrariansLead 100
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 28/05/2026“I can identify with being at conferences and not seeing other people that look like me for miles around, and it is disparaging.” —Cicely Lewis #BlackLibrariansGathering #LibrariansLookLikeMeToo #BlackLibrariansLead 100
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 26/05/2026Chapter 12 comes to you from 👑🐝 of libraries, Cicely Lewis Cicely Lewis, school librarian and author, was named the 2020 SLJ School Librarian of the Year, a 2019 Library Journal Mover and Shaker, and received the 2019 National Teacher Award for Lifelong Readers by NCTE and Penguin Random House. 111
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 25/05/2026“As Black women are prone to do, they have charged me with not only advancing myself, but finding new Black librarians to mentor and to lead in librarianship wherever I can.” —Kat Baxter #BlackLibrariansGathering #LibrariansLookLikeMeToo #BlackLibrariansLead 122
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 25/05/2026Here comes bestie!! Meet Alabama’s Kat Baxter, contributor #1️⃣1️⃣. Forgive her for rolling tide. 🐘 Kat Baxter is an elementary school librarian in Alabama. She is a Fulbright Educator and was selected to participate in the PBS Digital Innovator All-Star Program. #BlackLibrariansGathering 121
Reposted by Erika LongSchool Library Journal @slj.com · 21/05/2026Meet the School Librarian Movers & Shakers www.slj.com/story/Meet-S...slj.comMeet the School Librarian Movers & ShakersThe 2026 Library Journal–honored school librarians share their best advice and favorite reads. 0135
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 23/05/2026“In retrospect, I either had a principal or coordinator who wanted me to do everything, or those who attempted to place barriers against anything that I tried outside of the basic expectations.” —Stacey Nunn 142
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 22/05/2026Introducing 🎉2026 SLJ School Librarian of the Year Finalist 🎉Stacey Nunn, contributor #10 @bloggerbookie.bsky.social Stacey Nunn is a school librarian in Maryland. She received her MLIS from Syracuse University and has spent over fifteen years in education. 142
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 20/05/2026“We can choose paths that are less traveled, and in doing so, we can create spaces where we and others like us can thrive.” —Sean Brandon Jr. #BlackLibrariansGathering #LibrariansLookLikeMeToo #BlackLibrariansGathering 100
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 19/05/2026I feel like this is flying by, but let’s stay committed to the daily post because there’s more to come. Taking up the chapter 9️⃣ spot is Sean Brandon Jr. aka Coach Brandon @coachbrandonjr 111
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 18/05/2026“Being a Black librarian, with experience from Chicago to California, showcases how libraries have grown and how the librarian is a catalyst of that growth.” —Dionne Howell-Taylor 100
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 16/05/2026“Not only is sisterhood vital within school librarianship, but having mentors and allies provides beneficial support.” —Dr. Cynthia Richardson Johnson 221
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 14/05/2026“The opportunity to be surrounded by not just Black women but Black history was a reset I never knew I needed. I was now a part of a majority in a field that generally does not reflect the same.” —Aleea Daley-Price 121
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 13/05/2026Meet the Contributor: Chapter 6️⃣ Aleea Davey-Price is an elementary school librarian and artist. When she’s not performing her typical librarian duties, she’s decorating her library in new and fun ways. 121
Erika Long @erikaslong.bsky.social · 09/05/20264️⃣th up: Chiquita Toure is an educator-librarian with thirty years of experience and currently serves as a certi!ed school librarian. She blogged for Knowledge Quest, authored multiple peer-reviewed journal articles. 120