Friday's things: Havens and truth-tellers

Julia Smith

16 May 2025 — 2 min read

Item 1. 💔

The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) established two libraries in Gaza in 2008. Now they're getting food, water, and essential supplies to the librarians and children who've lost everything. ➡️ Help raise $10k by June 1 (via Naomi Shihab Nye).

From the IBBY website:

Before and after images of the cheerful libraries full of crafts, books, and kids on the left, and three photos of rubble on the right.

Give to children and librarians of Rafah and Beit Hanout

Item 2. 3-2-1 Contact [your reps]

Check out any of these pieces about PBS:

W. Kamau Bell takes us back to the crayon factory with Mr. Rogers (Substack)
Sally Pyrie drew us a can't-look-away cartoon starring your favorite muppets (Look for the Helpers)
Danielle Coke Balfour and her mom made a reel about when Jamaican music showed up on Sesame Street (IG)

And then please read: this piece about Congress pushing back against Trump's removal of Dr. Carla Hayden from the Librarian of Congress post, and/or these appreciations of her work from:

Former poet laureate Ada Limón (IG)
The American Library Association (ala.org)
The U.S. Capitol Historical Society (capitolhistory.org)

And whether you peruse all those links or not, pretty please➡️ Protect My Public Media AND call on Congress to fund libraries.

Bonus ideas:

Share the Arthur podcast with a kid you know – specifically Season 1, Episode 2: Scare-Your-Pants-Off. Arthur and his classmates band together when a group of parents try to their favorite books banned from the library. (Link is to PBS, but the episode should be on any podcast listening platform.)
Read Mariama Kaba's new resource, Criminalizing Librarians: Threats and Realities. Overview on Instagram, full essay at Interrupting Criminalization.

Under a blue sky, protesters hold up signs with anti-ICE logos, such as NJ SAYS NO DICE TO ICE!

Friday's two things: Protective steps, collective glimmers

Item 1. Weekend wish That in our gatherings–in-person, virtual, whatever they may be–we access glimmers like this. (J. Wortham's newsletter) Item 2. Safety at protests If you're taking your phone ➡️ consider these tips from Electronic Frontier Foundation or this guide via @imperfectactivista on Instagram.

Thursday's two things we love

Item 1. We love a checklist Here's a new list with some key ways to care for yourself and others, from Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg and Zack Teutsch: Care for yourself and others!Checklist 2.0Life is a Sacred TextRabbi Danya Ruttenberg Item 2. We love situating ourselves in

It's a sign! Wednesday's three things

Here's this week's art fix, since I was out canvassing yesterday and didn't make it. Item 1. Suggestion Are you making a protest sign this week? Monica Trinidad has advice (starting around the 14:15 mark in How to Make Art for Social Change

Monday's things

Item 1: What do we mean by "mutual aid"? Here is a chart from Dean Spade (and he expands on the concept a lot in this book), and here is a quick explainer from Moms Clean Air Force. It might mean starting or joining an ICE Watch program