Speak Up for Library Funding!

March 13, 2023March 14, 2023 ~ Becky Ross Michael ~ 28 Comments

From the ALA:

“Each year, the library community makes our voice heard for federal funding, which libraries across the country rely on to sustain crucial programs. Congress is crafting next year’s federal budget on a truncated timeline – with only one week for House members to show their support.

It’s time to take action. It’s time to #FundLibraries.

Tell Congress to Fund Libraries!

The federal appropriations process began with the President’s proposed budget, before moving on to the House and Senate. Library champions in both chambers are leading our budget request letters and working hard to make the case for increased library funding through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and the Innovative Approaches to Literacy program (IAL):

In the House, Reps. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Don Bacon (R-NE) are leading the LSTA letter, and Reps. Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Bacon are leading the IAL letter.
In the Senate, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) is leading both letters!

We are requesting funding of at least $232 for LSTA and $50 million for IAL. Learn more about the campaign – and find tools to share this action – at ALA’s #FundLibraries homepage!

We are incredibly grateful for the time, work, and dedication you have put in to support libraries. Your efforts as advocates are responsible for some of the most consequential wins for libraries in decades. Now stand with libraries, library workers, and the communities they serve: take action to #FundLibraries!

Speak Up for Library Funding!

Thank you for all you do for libraries!

ALA Public Policy & Advocacy”

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Thanks so much for speaking up for libraries! What would we do without them?

If you love books and libraries, you might enjoy this book by Sara Nisha Adams that so clearly shows their transformational powers. I read this one for library book club and absolutely loved it. I hope you will, too! ~Becky

Help to Mobilize Climate Voters!

July 31, 2022July 31, 2022 ~ Becky Ross Michael ~ 12 Comments

Write postcards to make sure people who care about climate vote in the Tuesday, November 8th elections. Choose from state and local races with elections this November where progress on climate is possible, but only if climate voters show up. They mail you free postcards, so you just need postcard stamps and a pen! Please sign up today! Without a healthy planet, nothing else really matters.

Please note: although the drop-down menu for the number of cards to order begins with 200, I found that you can add a message in the “Drop us a note” field near the bottom to request a lower number, if you wish!

Becky

Connect with Your Library!

April 7, 2022 ~ Becky Ross Michael ~ 22 Comments

“The theme for National Library Week 2022, ‘Connect with Your Library,’ promotes the idea that libraries are places to get connected to technology by using broadband, computers, and other resources. Libraries also offer opportunities to connect with media, programs, ideas, and classes—in addition to books. Most importantly libraries also connect communities to each other. Overall, the theme is an explicit call to action—an invitation for communities to join, visit, or advocate for their local libraries.”

How can you celebrate this week and EVERY week?

Visit your library!
#UniteAgainstBookBans.
Participate in the #MyLibrary promotion on social media.
Follow your library, ALA, and I Love Libraries on social media.

No matter where you live, show your library some love! ~Becky

Emergency Appeal for Climate Action!

October 31, 2021October 31, 2021 ~ Becky Ross Michael ~ 31 Comments

We are all citizens of this planet, and time is running out to face the climate crisis and make real changes. Please read, sign, and pass this on!

Zapping Manure with Lightning to Fight Pollution?

October 10, 2021 ~ Becky Ross Michael ~ 53 Comments

One of my recurring freelance projects is to write monthly about good news for kids. Recently, I read an article that adults could be very interested in, as well! You’ve probably read that the methane from cow poo, farts, and burps is more than 20 times as destructive for our environment than the carbon dioxide from our cars.

Short of ending or cutting back on the raising of cattle, what’s to be done? A Nordic company has come up with an idea that is now being tested in the UK. By producing artificial lightning bolts as plasma to zap manure, they are turning most of the ammonia to a usable form of natural fertilizer AND reducing almost all the methane emissions!

Truly great and promising news. Now we need to see how much governments are willing to chip in to help the farmers shoulder the costs of the electricity needed for the process. One thing is certain, we cannot just keep doing things the same.

Air pollution and climate change are real. What can you do today to help? Here are some “greener living” ideas from the EPA!

Uncovering the Asian American Old West – YES! Magazine

May 26, 2021May 26, 2021 ~ Becky Ross Michael ~ 39 Comments

I was fascinated to read how Linda Sue Park uses her childhood love of Laura Ingalls Wilder‘s “Little House” books to bring Asian American characters alive in this setting! ~Becky

“Asian Americans were conveniently written out of history about the Old West. But they were present—and prolific.”

Source: Uncovering the Asian American Old West – YES! Magazine

Natural Egg Dyes and Seasonal Children’s Books: Secular and Spiritual

March 25, 2021March 25, 2021 ~ Becky Ross Michael ~ 70 Comments

Imperfect Foods is my new favorite source to buy produce that is less-than-perfect or in surplus at a reasonable cost, in efforts to help reduce food waste. Boxes are delivered to the door according to the schedule you choose. On the company site, I found this article about natural egg dyes. I’ve used the turmeric and red cabbage methods in the past and know they work! ~Becky

And from Publishers Weekly,

One year into the pandemic, the holidays have not yet returned to their full festive scope, but there’s still cause to celebrate the coming season. The arrival of spring brings a parade of Easter and Passover titles, as well as books on baby animals. In addition, Margaret Wise Brown’s classic Runaway Bunny, illustrated by Clement Hurd, is hopping over to HBO Max in a musical adaptation. We’ve gathered a selection of new and noteworthy springtime picture books for young readers, both secular and spiritual.

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