Laylat al-Qadr – May 31, 2019 Laylat al-Qadr (also known as Lailat al Qadr or Laylatul Qadr) is the holiest night of the year for Muslims. The name Laylat al-Qadr translates to “Night of Power.” This night commemorates the night Allah (Arabic for God) revealed the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet Muhammad did…
Citizens of Boston! Anti-Slavery Broadsides in Boston
From the early 1830s, to the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation outlawing slavery in 1863, Boston was the center of the American anti-slavery movement. It was the home of many leading abolitionists of the day including: William Lloyd Garrison, Maria Weston Chapman and her sisters, Theodore Parker, Lydia Maria Child, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Charles…
The Origins and Practices of Holidays: Ascension of Bahau’llah & Ascension of Jesus
Ascension of Baha'u'llah - May 29, 2019 From the evening of May 28, 2019 through May 29, 2019, Bahá’ís around the world will celebrate the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh. The holiday commemorates the anniversary of the death of Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í Faith. Baha’u’llah was seventy-five years old when he passed away on May…
Diversity in Sci-Fi: Why Representation Matters
Welcome to Diversity in Sci-Fi! This introduction offers some insight into why I have started this blog, and what you can expect to find in my reviews.
So You Want To Be a Teen Volunteer?
This part is for teens! Did you know that you could be a volunteer at the library? I know that most of you have required service hours for school and almost all of you wait until the last minute to finish those hours. That’s okay. We’ve all been there; I put the “pro” in “procrastination”…
Illustrated Songbooks, Part 1
This post is part of the Illustrated Songbooks series. The second half of the 19th century and early part of the 20th century have been called the “golden age of children’s books." That extends to children’s songbooks, too. These songbooks may have music composed especially for that book, or may be already well-known nursery rhymes or…
The Origins and Practices of Holidays: The Declaration of the Báb
The Declaration of the Báb - May 23, 2019 On May 23, Baha’i's around the world will celebrate the holiday known as the Declaration of the Báb. It commemorates when the Báb announced in 1844 that he was the new messenger of God. The holiday begins two hours and eleven minutes after sunset on May 22, which is…
Bibliocycle Visits Wee Free Black Mamas
Over the weekend, Librarians Akunna and Maija represented the Bibliocycle team at a program put on by Wee the People and MassArt, "Wee Free Black Mamas". "Wee Free Black Mamas" was an event to create postcards for mothers in jail. They hope to raise awareness and to raise money to bail out mothers who are…
Looking Back at Stonewall
The upcoming theme for Boston Pride is “Looking Back, Loving Forward.” In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the theme points to how far the fight for LBGTQ+ rights has come. The theme also highlights the importance of the Stonewall Riots (also sometimes called the Stonewall Uprising or the Stonewall Rebellion) as…
The Origins and Practices of Holidays: Vesak
May 19, 2019 — Vesak Day Vesak, also known as Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, and Buddha Day, is a holiday observed by Buddhists and some Hindus. It commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Siddhartha Gautama, who is commonly known as Buddha. All these important events are said to have happened on the same day throughout his…
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