“the wider experiences of economic struggles ascribed to “millennials” were long lived by Black x-ers.”
This point cannot be emphasized enough and I would very much like to see some deep dives to explore it
Did you know Buttondown will migrate your newsletter *for you*? It's amazing.
Library Futures Vendors and Libraries Survey / people approaching a library from the mountains and a city
Vendors and libraries survey! Dr. Barbara Alvarez (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) and Dr. Eleanor "Nora" Mattern (University of Pittsburgh) invite you to participate as part of their work with the Library Futures Research Network.
pitt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Books I read, games I played, things I watched in March 2026.
Do we have similar tastes, or will you be questioning how we ever got connected? Let's find out!
loudpoet.com/2026/04/01/m...
Last myth pairing: Adding friction to library borrowing is economically necessary to protect book sales/There's already too much friction and it's contributing to the decline in reading in the United States
We need more concrete, reliable data about this.
#indielib26
Library sales and royalties remain one of the most annoying industry mysteries that no one seems to want (or know how) to solve. Most authors have no idea how much libraries contribute to their discovery and revenue, but the widespread belief in cannibalization persists.
"It was 15 years ago, in March 2011, that HarperCollins first instituted its 26-lend 'metered' access model for library ebooks." @wordsandmoney.bsky.social
This is the thorough recap of the library ebook problem I've been waiting for!
www.wordsandmoney.com/librarians-s...
"A different kind of weird."
On AI FAQs, organic emergent narratives, corporate BS, Absolute comics, and getting weird on main.
loudpoet.com/2026/03/26/f...
So do I! 😅
tl;dr: Almost six years to the day since I first started freelancing for LibraryPass, I’m returning to a freelance role to support the transition to its new owners over the next few months, while figuring out the next step in my own journey.
loudpoet.com/2026/03/17/p...
The short version: I feel conflicted about certifications that a work is human authored. It's not something I'd obtain for my own work.
Ah, it seems to be back to normal. Funny that I'd catch it on one of the rare days I'm actually on here. Hope you're doing well!
Did something happen between Blacksky and Bluesky?
It's certainly possible that 800+ people suddenly decided to unfollow me all at once, and I'm not here often enough to be sure when it might have happened, but something definitely happened. 🤔
Imagine if comics shops were actually treated like indie bookstores by the broader industry? It would completely disrupt lazy narratives and bestseller lists.
Just @ me next time. Damn. 😅
Books I read, games I played, things I watched in January and February 2026.
Do we have similar tastes, or will you be questioning how we ever got connected? Let's find out!
loudpoet.com/2026/03/01/m...
Yes, there's a theme here...
So many of y'all think you're becoming Cyborgs when you're actually just batteries.
#cluetrain #cmonson
loudpoet.com/2026/02/27/f...
Must have been trained on the Civilization games.
Got book challenges? Need informative, interactive, level-headed, and fun advice on how to handle them? We've got you.
Imagine IF: The Game is out now from Library Futures! See where you intellectual freedom adventure takes you!
www.libraryfutures.net/post/library...
"Where there's light, there's also shade."
2026 is kicking my ass, so this newsletter is a little different; a look back at five key articles I've written about libraries and ebooks over the years.
loudpoet.com/2026/01/29/f...
Rob has a great eye and love for comics, and his recommendations over the years have grown my TBR pile, so I always enjoy his annual reviews. #ReadAllTheComics
Words to live by in 2026, if I've ever heard any--
"Scare off people who aren't your audience."
OOTP26 fully and completely scratched that Football Manager itch, delivering a similarly immersive experience with its own unique flavor.
#gaming #LGM
loudpoet.com/2026/01/18/m...
Sadly, they probably know writers are one of the most gullible and easy to flatter groups there is! 😬
They're casting a VERY wide net, too, because even I've been getting a lot of them the past few weeks for a book I co-authored in 2000.
“Backlist is frontlist” isn’t just a clever phrase, it’s also a perfect description of what circulated the most in 2025 on Comics Plus.
See what made the list and get some inspiration for your own TBR!
#ReadAllTheComics #LibComix
librarypass.com/2026/01/15/c...
"Even the most avid readers have to be selective at some point."
On backlist reading, comics in libraries, congestion pricing, the MetroCard, and films not meeting the moment.
loudpoet.com/2026/01/15/f...
H-Mart Essentials would be a Buy Now for my wife and daughter; one of their favorite stores!
Louisville Free Public Library sets record for digital checkouts / WDRB Digital Staff Dec 29, 20205
We Reached 6 Million Libby Checkouts for 2025! by Library StaffDecember 31, 2025 / Written by Mackenzie Manley, Content Specialist, Downtown Main Library
From shelves to screens: Suffolk readers check out 4 million digital titles in 2025 / January 02, 2026
As libraries wrap up their year and celebrate new records in digital checkouts, it's time for a few reminders for the new year. /1
A long but interesting read on B&T's impact on comics in libraries from @ginagagliano.bsky.social.
Oddly, Brodart once again goes unmentioned as an option for libraries, especially considering their solid history with comics, in particular. 🤔
#libcomix
www.tcj.com/books-are-go...