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Western New York Library Resources Council

@wnylrc.bsky.social
232 followers 76 following 15 posts

We are a not-for-profit consortium of libraries and library systems serving six counties: Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, & Orleans.

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Western New York Library Resources Council @wnylrc.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
We are absolutely thrilled to be a part of this important project, benefiting libraries and their communities around Western New York! www.wkbw.com/news/local-n...
wkbw.com
Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation invests $1.5 million to strengthen rural libraries across WNY
The Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation announced a $1.5 million investment in WNY libraries over the next three years, with more than 20 rural libraries already approved for grants this year.
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Western New York Library Resources Council @wnylrc.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Local architecture firm, Trautman Associates, recently made comments indicating that they believe academic libraries are outdated, dusty spaces. Here is a gift link to our response - thank you to @buffalonews.com for giving us the space to express our displeasure. buffalonews.com/opinion/arti...
buffalonews.com
Another Voice: Campus libraries are vibrant resources for students
The nearly two dozen college and university libraries in Western New York are well-used spaces full of collaboration, lively discussion, and creativity, guided by trained and technologically savvy lib...
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Reposted by Western New York Library Resources Council
kelly jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
If you're seeing Pride censorship in U.S. libraries–whether it's from inside the library or from pressure outside–please report it for the annual roundup. You can be anonymous. There are already *several* this year. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Image of several Pride flags in the background. The foreground has black text reading "Report censorship, destruction, or other attacks on library programs or books in 2026: https://tinyurl.com/pride-in-libraries-2026"
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Marc Fischer @marc-fischer.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Last month two library workers reached out to Public Collectors to ask about making a booklet version of Fobazi Ettarh's essay "Vocational Awe and Librarianship: The Lies We Tell Ourselves" for a Celebration of Life event. We did, and it is now available for all: halfletterpress.com/vocational-a...
This booklet is a standalone print publication of Fobazi Ettarh’s essay, in which she defined vocational awe as the ideas, values, and assumptions librarians have about themselves and the profession that result in notions that libraries are inherently good and sacred, and therefore beyond critique. Fobazi first presented on vocational awe at the Identity, Agency, and Culture in Academic Libraries Conference in 2017. Later on, she fleshed out the idea into this essay, which first appeared in the journal In the Library with the Lead Pipe on January 10, 2018. It sparked immediate rippling conversations about dynamics of systemic underresourcing, undercompensation, job creep, and exploitation across the library profession. It was cited more than 500 times in her lifetime, and she presented dozens of invited presentations and keynotes on it. In 2020, she was named a Library Journal Mover & Shaker; true to her own values, she voluntarily revoked the award to protest Library Journal’s awarding of a Library of the Year that had been widely protested for hosting an event with a virulently anti-trans organization earlier in the year. In this time, public scholars and intellectuals in fields such as social work, teaching, nursing, and technology began to engage with vocational awe, including Cory Doctorow in Enshittification, Anne Helen Petersen in Culture Study, Simone Stolzoff in The Good Enough Job, and more. At the time of her passing in January 2026, Fobazi was a PhD student at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, furthering her research on vocational awe across domains, with a specific focus on tech work. May her memory politicize us all.

— Anastasia Chiu 

The proposal to publish this text as a booklet came from library workers Mimosa Shah and Jorge López-McKnight. With the cooperation of Fobazi’s widow Elena Maris, Public Collectors has designed, printed and published this essay for that celebration, as well as more widespread readership.
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Buffalo & Erie County Public Library @buffalolibrary.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Join us this Friday, June 26 at 2:30 pm at Central Library as artist AP Gorny talks about his giant, hand-made book of prints and trial proofs. Measuring 2 x 3 feet, this massive book documents AP’s experiments with his printmaking processes in the 1970s and 1980s.
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kelly jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Library Cards–The New Landscape of Public Library Censorship. A deep-dive into the policies and procedures that accompany getting library cards, with a focus on the impact to young people. This is an amazing piece from Amy Mikel. bookriot.com/library-card...
bookriot.com
Library Cards–The New Landscape of Public Library Censorship: Book Censorship News, June 19, 2026
The rules defining the issuance and use of library cards are important for protecting the freedom to read. Libraries should be taking a second look.
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Reposted by Western New York Library Resources Council
ALA Public Policy & Advocacy @librarypolicy.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
New: The proposed budget released in the House would *increase* federal library funding through the Institute of Museum and Library Services! As the Administration has sought to dismantle IMLS, Congress is choosing to #FundLibraries, all because of library advocates. Stay tuned for more from ALA.
Fund Libraries - Tell Congress to invest in libraries
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Maris Kreizman @maris.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
I could not even fathom a reason why a governor of a very blue state with pockets of red would be against measures to combat book bans. www.nyclu.org/press-releas...
nyclu.org
Gov. Hochul Vetoes Freedom to Read Act - NYCLU
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Western New York Library Resources Council @wnylrc.bsky.social · 29/12/2025
We are disappointed that Governor Hochul has vetoed the Freedom to Read Act www.thedailynewsonline.com/news/may-cri...
thedailynewsonline.com
May criticizes Hochul's 'misguided' veto of bill to prevent book bans in NY libraries
State Sen. Rachel May criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul’s veto of her bill, the Freedom to Read Act, which aimed to prevent book bans in New York libraries.
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Western New York Library Resources Council @wnylrc.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
Calling all New Yorkers who love libraries! The Governor has received the Freedom To Read bill as of 12/9/2025. She has ten days to sign it into law. Drop her a line and ask her to sign the bill with this link from New York Library Association app.oneclickpolitics.com/campaign-pag...
app.oneclickpolitics.com
Tell Governor Hochul to Sign the Freedom to Read Act (S.1099/A.7777)!
Join the Sign the Freedom to Read Act (S.1099/A.7777)! campaign and make your voice heard.
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Western New York Library Resources Council @wnylrc.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
We have a new mission for New York library advocates. The Freedom to Read Act is on the cusp of becoming law - this crucial bill will protect intellectual freedom in school libraries statewide. We need to you to tell the Governor to sign this bill today! app.oneclickpolitics.com/campaign-pag...
Take Action for Libraries. Are you a Library Advocate? Tell Governor Hochul to sign the Freedom to Read Act!What Is the Freedom To Read Act? 
“Requires the commissioner of education and school library systems to develop policies to ensure that school libraries and library staff are empowered to curate and develop collections that provide students with access to the widest array of developmentally appropriate materials available.”
This bill is a powerful stand against the wave of book challenges sweeping the nation, affirming that school libraries are able to maintain diverse and inclusive materials in their library collections available to every student. Why This Is Important: The rate of book bans and challenges have been increasing over the past decade. 
In New York, 21 school districts have banned books, with 65 instances of books being removed.
Most books being challenged are titles with themes about race and/or LGBT+ topics.
Students have a right to read and learn, free from censorship or discrimination.What’s Next: 
The bill passed the New York State Legislature in June 2025.
In order to become law, the bill needs to be signed by the Governor of New York.
The bill has not made it to the Governor’s office for signature, so we need to let her know how important this is!
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Western New York Library Resources Council @wnylrc.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
Attorney General Letitia James is leading a coalition of about 20 attorneys in suing the Trump Administration over the dismantling of three federal agencies including IMLS. ag.ny.gov/press-releas...
ag.ny.gov
Attorney General James Sues Trump Administration to Protect Libraries and Museums
NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today co-led a coalition of 20 other attorneys general in suing the Trump administration to stop the
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Words & Money @wordsandmoney.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Today, IMLS’s advisory body said the lack of communication has created "an information vacuum in which speculation and uncertainty replace transparency and confidence." Read more here: www.wordsandmoney.com/letter-imls-...
wordsandmoney.com
Letter: IMLS Advisory Board Was Not Consulted on Employee Leave, Wants Clarity
In an April 3 letter, the IMLS's advisory body said the lack of communication has created "an information vacuum in which speculation and uncertainty replace transparency and confidence."
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Brittany Wong @brittanywong.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
Wrote about the Trump administration’s attacks on federal funding for libraries “Make no mistake about it, the elimination of funding for libraries is a political assault on First Amendment rights, access to information, and the freedom to read,” one librarian said www.huffpost.com/entry/librar...
huffpost.com
Librarians Are Mad As Hell At The Trump Administration. They Think You Should Be, Too.
"The public needs to wake up before our libraries are gone," one "livid" librarian said.
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Western New York Library Resources Council @wnylrc.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
Hi all! We have an action item for our library advocates. As you may already know, there was a letter supporting IMLS circulated in the House of Representatives. We want you to see if your representative signed the letter and CALL! Here's the letter: titus.house.gov/uploadedfile...
127 members of the House of Representatives signed a letter urging President Trump to reconsider his decision to eliminate IMLS. Is yours one of them?
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Western New York Library Resources Council @wnylrc.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
We're looking forward to connecting with our members and other library advocates on Bluesky! Say hi!
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