Today we begin a new month and I wanted to share with you an article that can help you understand and recognize some of the feelings you may be experiencing: The Librarians Are Not Okay. I hope you are all taking the time you need for self-care and healing. Please keep in mind we are all on a spectrum of fine, and we all process stress and trauma differently and at different times. Let me know if there is any way I can help you; I’d be happy to! 
~Sherry

Celebrate Pride Month with BadgerLink Resources: June is Pride Month in the United States, a time to honor the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) individuals have had on history. Check out these BadgerLink resources to learn more about that history and share with your library users and students this month and all year long.

Imi, a resource for LGBTQ+ Teens: imi helps address elements contributing to the growing mental health crisis affecting LGBTQ+ youth by providing them with free, accessible, and research-backed support, built in a safe digital space. imi is rooted in science and research, helping to make sure that it’s safe, supportive, and impactful for LGBTQ+ teens. All of the content has been created, vetted, and tested by scientists, therapists and other professionals.

Resources:

  • Light Novel Vs Manga: We Can Have Both As publication formats, light novels and manga have garnered an avid international reader base. Light novels, as well as their cousins – web novels, are just as popular and available online as many manga series.

  • Free Digital Accessibility Resources from the U.S. Department of Education and the ADA National Network: The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is proud to announce a video series covering a variety of topics on digital access in education, including how people with disabilities use technology, applicable Federal regulations, and identifying and remediating barriers to access.  Whether you are in the educational field or not, these videos have wide-ranging coverage for those who want to know: What makes technology accessible for individuals with disabilities? And how can I make my site or platform more accessible?

Continuing Education:

Consumables:

Diverse Holidays in June:

June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month: established to recognize the impact that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on the world. LGBT groups celebrate this special time with pride parades, picnics, parties, memorials for those lost to hate crimes and HIV/AIDS, and other group gatherings. The last Sunday in June is Gay Pride Day.

June is Immigrant Heritage Month: established in June 2014, gives people across the United States an opportunity to annually explore their own heritage and celebrate the shared diversity that forms the unique story of America. It celebrates immigrants across the United States and their contributions to their local communities and economy.

June is Black Music Appreciation Month: On June 7, 1979, President Jimmy Carter decreed June to be Black Music Month. Since 1979, the United States has set aside the month of June to appreciate the musical contributions of its African-American musicians, composers, singers, and songwriters.

June is National PTSD Awareness Month: established by the US Senate in 2014, is designed to help raise awareness about the many different PTSD treatment options available and how you can make a difference in the lives of veterans and others who have experienced trauma. It is believed that as many as 8 percent of Americans are suffering from PTSD at any given time.

Caribbean American Heritage Month: The month is an opportunity to celebrate the heritage, history, and cultural diversity and a time to explore the traditions Caribbean-Americans carry with them. In 2006, President George W. Bush declared June as National Caribbean-American Heritage Month to recognize the significant contributions Caribbean-Americans to the United States throughout history.

June 2: Native American Citizenship Day. It was on this day in 1924 that the Indian Citizenship Act by Congress granted citizenship to all American Indians born in the U.S. The day celebrates the history, heritage, and culture of American Indian tribes across the country.

June 4: Shavuot. A two-day holiday celebrated from sunset on June 4, 2022, until nightfall on June 6, 2022.

June 12: Race Unity Day. Also known as Race Amity Day, is observed on the second Sunday in June. The day was started by the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly in the United States in 1957, but it was known as Race Amity Day until 1965. The goal is to raise awareness of the importance of racial harmony and understanding.

June 12: Loving Day. An annual celebration that commemorates the anniversary of the 1967 United States Supreme Court decision Loving v. Virginia which struck down the remaining anti-miscegenation laws in the United States.

June 14: Flag Day in the United States, observed to celebrate the history and symbolism of the American flag.

June 15: Native American Citizenship Day, commemorating the day in 1924 when the U.S. Congress passed legislation recognizing the citizenship of Native Americans.

June 18: Autistic Pride Day was first celebrated in 2005 by the organization Aspies For Freedom (AFF) so that the people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) could have one day where they could celebrate their neurodiversity and differences.

June 19: Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. It is observed as a public holiday in 14 U.S. states. This celebration honors the day in 1865 when slaves in Texas and Louisiana finally heard they were free, two months after the end of the Civil War. June 19, therefore, became the day of emancipation for thousands of African-Americans.

June 20: World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honor refugees around the globe. It falls each year on June 20 and celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding for their plight and to recognize their resilience in rebuilding their lives.

June 21: National Indigenous Peoples Day or First Nations Day, a day that gives recognition to the indigenous populations affected by colonization in Canada.

June 21: The summer solstice is celebrated by the Wiccans and Pagans. It is the longest day of the year, representing the sun’s “annual retreat.”

June 25: Dragon Boat Festival, commemorating the death of Qu Yuan, a Chinese poet and minister known for his patriotism and contributions to classical poetry.

June 27:  National PTSD Awareness Day. The United States Senate established PTSD Awareness Day in 2010 following then Sen. Kent Conrad’s efforts to designate a day of awareness as a tribute to Army Staff Sgt. Joe Biel of the North Dakota National Guard. Biel suffered from PTSD and took his life in April 2007 after returning to North Dakota following his second tour of duty in the Iraq War. Biel’s birthday, June 27th, was chosen to mark PTSD Awareness Day and honor his memory.

Last Sunday in June: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Pride Day in the United States. It honors the Stonewall Riots on June 28, 1969.

Sherry Machones
Pronouns: she, her, hers
Director – Northern Waters Library Service