iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 13h

Oh those desktop wallpapers are definitely being added to the rotation this month for our front desk library computer (the whole room happens to be space themed 🪐)!

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Thank you, Internet, for inspiring me to run a library program where a group of grown men all get together to paint giant autumn leaves to hang from the library ceiling. They had a blast, and I know the final result is going to look so cool! 🍂🍁🍂 📚📜

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

During introductions I asked everyone to include why they signed up for the class. One person said he was a "addicted to books" and I joked, "So would you say you have no *shelf control*?" I feel very satisfied in the round of chuckles and groans that followed my "mom joke" as they called it 😂

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

It's the start of one of my favorite months and the start of a new book club class at work. Today is going to be a good day! 🍂📚🍂 This quarter, we are covering "The Great Divide" by Cristina Henríquez (our first historical fiction pick!).

Book cover for "The Great Divide" by Cristina Henríquez. It is a colorful, tropical design with a red background and mirrored images including frogs, fish, and flowers with two people on a boat in the middle.

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I didn't say anything to my parents about my first tattoo because I was curious how long it would take them to notice. (It was a symbol I had already been writing on my wrist in sharpie for a while.) Turns out my mom suspected immediately and was just waiting for me to mention it 😂

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

I've been in this position (and working with a team of library aides) for over three years now, but this is the first time I've had to deal with conflicting personalities and people having difficulties working together to this degree.

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

This week I've been dealing with an ongoing interpersonal conflict between two of my library aides and feel a bit out of my depth 🙃 If any of you have any words of advice / resources to point me to (especially library and/or prison specific), I'm all ears! 📚📜

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

There is a special kind of joy I get on the first day I can bring out the jean jacket again 🍂😊🍂

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Ben Abrahamse @babrahamse.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

once again: the reason we have libraries is to keep librarians off the streets where they cause trouble

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

I think the part-time status of the librarian job definitely doesn't help with it being undervalued in some co-workers' minds.

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Interaction I've had multiple times at the prison I work at: Them: "Do you think you'd ever go to officer training?" Me: "Oh, no! Have you ever heard of a librarian doing that?" Them: "No. So you don't ever want to do something more than this? You just want to be a librarian? Why?" 📚📜

static.klipy.com

I'm Not Talking, Bite Tongue Reaction

Alt: I'm Not Talking, Bite Tongue Gif Reaction

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

The combination of agreeing to take care of my roommate's three dogs during the week before my work's audit has made for a very tired librarian 🙃 This weekend is solely dedicated to sleeeeep (and maybe a little personal reading). 📚📜

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Prisonculture @prisonculture.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Each of us can do something meaningful to lessen suffering. This is borne out daily.

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kelly jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Your reminder that the midterms are coming, and your votes should include considering pro-library candidates. Ask them their views. Ask them about funding. Ask them about protecting democratic institutions.

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Hey there! I'd be happy to talk about my experiences with that / what I've heard from other colleagues in our state.

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Zillennial here and I got 14 (but at least 2 or 3 are people I only heard of in passing by other creators)

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

We will be hoping the best for you and your colleagues! That sounds so stressful to be dealing with.

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The Whimsical Muse @whimsicalmuse.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Just a friendly reminder that supporting your local library also means supporting your local library ghost.

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Drew Scanlon @drewscanlon.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Hi Internet! I'm Drew and THIS IS MY FACE. If this GIF has ever brought you joy in the past, I humbly ask you to consider making a donation to the National MS Society. It would mean a lot to me and to those I know affected by the disease! Donate at blinkingguy.com

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

I have the office to myself for the next two days while my work-neighbor is on a trip, and I already feel so much more regulated and productive in the quiet 😅

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

I love when I process new books and patrons immediately start checking them out. 😎 📚📜

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Addy Bross 🌈 they/xe @aebrossbooks.com · 13/08/2026

Sharing information matters. Donating, even a small amount, matters. Speaking out matters. Sharing your stories matters. Showing up for your local elections matters. Showing up for your local committee meetings matters. Boycotting where you can matters. Don't let anyone else tell you differently.

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We Need Diverse Books @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

⚠️ Federal Book Banning Bills—both old and new—are advancing through the House and Senate, and your action is needed more than ever. Wondering what H.R. 7661, S.4925, and Arkansas Act 372 are? We have some basic primers for you to learn more about these dangerous proposed bills and law amendments.

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John Scalzi @scalzi.com · 06/08/2026

Sending this out to whoever needs to see it: It's okay if you read slowly, there's no great victory in being able to read quickly, everyone kind of has their own reading speed, and that's perfectly fine. I'm just really happy you're reading. I hope it gives you joy at any pace. Thank you!

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Today one of the library aides I brought on earlier this year told me he has learned so much about library work, interacting with people, and random facts through this job. Makes me feel like I am doing my job well as a boss 😊 📜📚

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Martin Paul Eve @eve.gd · 28/07/2026

If you get there quickly, you can get a free PDF of this new book, on an important subject: Berens, Kathi Inman, and Rachel Noorda, How Gen Z Discover and Consume Books, Elements in Publishing and Book Culture (Cambridge University Press, 2026), doi.org/10.1017/9781...

doi.org

How Gen Z Discover and Consume Books

Cambridge Core - Printing and Publishing History - How Gen Z Discover and Consume Books

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Sarah Darer Littman @sarahdarerlittman.com · 28/07/2026

The Federal Government shouldn't decide what your family can read. But that's what they're trying to do! We made it easy to tell Congress to reject the Federal Book Ban Bills. Take action today! #library #libraries #lit via @everylibrary.bsky.social stopfederalbookbans.us

stopfederalbookbans.us

Stop the Federal Book Ban Bills!

We made it easy to take these four actions to fight against HR 7661 and S 4925. Stand up for your right to read!

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kelly jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

NEW! Republican Senators Introduce Nationwide Book Ban Companion Bill, S. 4925 This is their companion bill to HR 7616, indicating how seriously they want to ram this legislation through–and without you knowing it. bookriot.com/senate-bill-...

bookriot.com

Republican Senators Introduce Nationwide Book Ban Companion Bill, S. 4925

Republican Senators have introduced a nationwide book ban bill in the Senate, S. 4925 and it's a warning of their summer plans.

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jessamyn @librarian.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Hidden Barriers: The Experience of Academic Librarians and Archivists with Invisible Illnesses and/or Disabilities. A good article with a good list of resources at the end of it. crl.acrl.org/index.php/cr... Learn about this flag. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disabil... #DisabilityPride

A charcoal grey flag bisected diagonally from the top left corner to the lower right corner by five parallel stripes in red, pale gold, pale grey, light blue, and green.

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Finally getting another quiet day in the office to catch up on filing, book holds, etc. while all my co-workers are gone because if I'm going to have unpaid holidays (PT worker), I'm definitely not taking off for this. Happy Friday!

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Queer Liberation Library @queerliblib.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

As much as we wish it wasn't true… QLL does not run on vibes alone. There is only one day left to support your fav queer library and we would really REALLY love your help. 📚💋 tinyurl.com/qllpride

Wood desk background with a paper fortune teller in a green alien hand. Doodle graphic accents of a space ship, rockets, planets and stars. The outside has yellow face emojis depicting a confused face, a flirty smirk emoji, a lowered lidded emoji with a rose in its teeth, and an evil emoji with templed fingers. The inside says: theory, smut, kink, rom-com, fantasy, sci-fi, yearning, chaos.

Text reads: QLL Pride Fundraiser. Current mission: helping queers find their perfect read. Last chance. Link in bio to support.

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Rath Mercury @rathmercury.com · 25/06/2026

There's still time to donate to the Queer Liberation Library's 2026 Pride Fundraiser: givebutter.com/qqlls-pride-... These books are out here changing lives, and the QLL is lending 'em for free. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️📚 Get a free library card!

givebutter.com

Pride 2026 with Queer Liberation Library!

smut with a side of theory

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We Need Diverse Books @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Here at WNDB, we've curated another reading guide to help you celebrate Juneteenth and continue supporting Black authors—today and all year long! 📚❤️💛💚🖤

Black graphic with curved red, gold, and green stripes at the bottom. The graphic is titled, “A Reading Guide: Books to Celebrate Juneteenth”.

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Matthew Noe @noethematt.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

"First Freedom ... is a must-have for ... libraries." This first #Juneteenth since the release of FIRST FREEDOM: THE STORY OF OPAL LEE AND JUNETEENTH*, is a great time to read it. #libcomix *by Angélique Roché, Alvin Epps, Millicent Monroe, and Bex Glendining / published @oni-press.bsky.social

First Freedom: The Story of Opal Lee and Juneteenth.

By Angélique Roché. Illus. by Alvin Epps and others.
Feb. 2026. 208p. Oni, paper, $19.99 (9781637157770). 741.5.
REVIEW. First published February 1, 2026 (Booklist).

In this latest example of the now-well-established tradition of comics that blend biography, history, and creative nonfiction, readers are guided through the journey toward establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday, jumping between Opal Lee’s life, the day she joined President Biden at the White House, and vignettes of key moments in U.S. history. Written and deeply researched by Roché, the text is brought to life by three artists—Alvin Epps, Millicent Monroe, and Bex Glendining—who each add vibrancy and life to the page. With detailed backgrounds, clothing, and settings that pull the reader into each decade and brilliant use of panel placement for additional information, the artwork is a vital component for reader understanding, as comics should be. It is important to acknowledge that the creators pull no punches on language or hateful imagery: racial slurs, hate-group costumes, flags and iconography, and physical violence are honestly depicted throughout. First Freedom opens with a preface that offers important context (which will grow in importance as time passes) and includes a detailed timeline of events, a full listing of sources, and suggested further reading/watching. These features, combined with this book being one of the only recent titles to tell this story not intended for young children, make this a must-have book for high schools and public libraries.

— Matthew Noe

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Ida B Wells' Winchester Rifle @dytsras.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

Happy Opal Lee Day. She'll be 100 years old in October #GrandmotherOfJuneteeth

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

I love when my job leads me to introduce the most random concepts to my patrons. Recently, this has included dad rock, the definition of cisgender, stationary festivals, how El Niño got its name, and resistant starches. 📚📜

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U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission @cpsc.gov · 15/06/2026

Is it carbon monoxide

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Going through the classroom books from a closed GED room (There are still classes, just held elsewhere for now.). I have so many questions for this person I'll never meet, including, "Why did you dedicate a 1/4 of your space to the Left Behind Series (with multiple copies)?"

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David Forbes @davidforbes.bsky.social · 02/06/2026

It's Pride Month, so once again here's Sappho's Reply, one of the most powerful queer poems ever. Written by Rita Mae Brown at the height of the post-Stonewall struggles, it's the origin of "an army of lovers shall not fail/cannot lose." Y'all, we are going to win.

A photo of Rita Mae Brown's poem "Sappho's Reply"

"My voice rings down through thousands of years
To coil around your body and give you strength,
You who have wept in direct sunlight,
Who have hungered in invisible chains,
Tremble to the cadence of my legacy:
An army of lovers shall not fail."

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jessamyn @librarian.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Happy Pride Month. If you know a young person (age 13-26) in the US who is getting their access to queer library books restricted because of local small-minded folks, please refer them to the Books Unbanned program. More people should know about it. #pride booksunbanned.com/card

booksunbanned.com

Books Unbanned - Get a Card

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Queer Liberation Library @queerliblib.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

🌈🛸💸📚

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kelly jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

This is such a great question to ask city council members whenever something about the library comes up. Or, fuck, ask the LIBRARY BOARD members because many do not have 'em when they're making decisions about 'em. "So show of hands, how many of you sitting up there actually have a library card?"

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

I missed the window to try to push again for a fan to be installed in the library so now I'm facing another humid, southeastern summer till budgets open back up in July 🙃 📚📜

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 16/05/2026

Today marks three years since I started working as a librarian for a state prison. It’s a job I never would have imagined doing prior, but I very quickly grew to love it and the opportunities it gives me to help others. You’ll never find more voracious readers than my patrons! 📚🥰📚 📜

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

I also get the opposite where a patron is telling me about a piece of media, I tell them I plan on reading/watching it but would still love to hear their spoiler-free reaction to it, and they proceed to tell me the whole plot anyways 🙃

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

I have a new library aide who speaks English as a second language and he’s given me new perspective on how silly some of the sayings are that I use (in the best way!). The other day he started laughing when I said “If _ happened, I’d be in a pickle.” 😂 📚📜

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Just Beyond the Pages (Sam Ward) @justbeyondthepages.bsky.social · 25/04/2026

It’s indie bookstore day which is that special time of year where I blow past my book buying budget and don’t feel guilty at all about it 📚🥳📚

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