American Library Association Online Event ~ Banned Books Week ~ Spotlight on Tony Weaver, Jr.

 

This afternoon, from 3pm to 4pm Pacific DST, I attended the Spotlight on Tony Weaver, Jr., which was host by the American Library Association during Banned Books Week.

The description for this event is as follows:

This program will shine a light on banned author, immensely popular educator, and Banned Books Week Honorary Chair Tony Weaver, Jr!

Tony Weaver, Jr., is the author of Weirdo (with illustrators Jes and Cin Wibowo), a middle-grade memoir about being Black and nerdy among classmates who won’t accept him. The graphic novel takes on heady topics like bullying, racism, and self-harm as 11-year-old Tony ultimately finds help and self-acceptance. Despite appearing on multiple “best of” lists and receiving multiple starred reviews from publications like Publishers Weekly and Kirkus, Weirdo was removed from a Minnesota school after an administrator objected to images and LGBTQIA+ representation in the graphic novel. Weaver has used his robust social media platform and in-person events to educate audiences about advocacy issues such as censorship and racism and to promote the importance of diverse reading materials and representation.

Youth honorary chairs Marshall Romero and Azeemah Sadiq will moderate the discussion.

I enjoyed attending this online event and learned a lot about Tony Weaver Jr.  One of the things Mr. Weaver mentioned was that the best books create a new perspective and I agree!

Tony Weaver Jr. is also the founder of Nerds For Literacy, which has a mission statement as follows: "to provide students access to literacy and mental health tools to help them reach the next level of their academic and emotional journeys."

Tony Weaver Jr. will be a participating speaker at the Las Vegas Book Festival occurring on October  17th from 11am to 12pm. So if you live in Las Vegas or happen to be visiting Las Vegas during this time frame, then you may want to attend the Las Vegas Book Festival.

ALA statement on White House assault on the Institute of Museum and Library Services

Over the weekend, I read the following information on the American Library Association website:

Americans have loved and relied on public, school and academic libraries for generations. By eliminating the only federal agency dedicated to funding library services, the Trump administration’s executive order is cutting off at the knees the most beloved and trusted of American institutions and the staff and services they offer: 

• Early literacy development and grade-level reading programs
• Summer reading programs for kids 
• High-speed internet access
• Employment assistance for job seekers 
• Braille and talking books for people with visual impairments
• Homework and research resources for students and faculty
• Veterans’ telehealth spaces equipped with technology and staff support
• STEM programs, simulation equipment and training for workforce development
• Small business support for budding entrepreneurs

To dismiss some 75 committed workers and mission of an agency that advances opportunity and learning is to dismiss the aspirations and everyday needs of millions of Americans. And those who will feel that loss most keenly live in rural communities. 

As seedbeds of literacy and innovation, our nation’s 125,000 public, school, academic and special libraries deserve more, not less support. Libraries of all types translate 0.003% of the federal budget into programs and services used in more than 1.2 billion in-person patron visits every year, and many more virtual visits.

This news is tragic!! We need the above library services for everyone here in the USA. And, especially, for marginalized and poverty stricken regions that have less access to educational resources. 

I am a US taxpayer and I want my tax dollars to fund public libraries and the programs they offer!! #showupforourlibraries