Minte Stara
Bio
Small writer and artist who spends a lot of their time stuck in books, the past, and probably a library.
Currently I'm working on my debut novel What's Normal Here, a historical/fantasy romance.
Stories (68)
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And the Apocalypse Arrived
Today, I attended CAIS2025, which was kindly offered virtually to those around the world. And the keynote speaker, Emily Drabinski, spoke in her talk "Libraries at the End of the World" about a very meaningful notice I wanted to bring to the public.
By Minte Stara7 months ago in The Swamp
Think of the Children
Growing up in a library space, I was taught one very important rule by my mother. If I read something that made me uncomfortable, I would come to her. And through my reading journey, I was given access to spaces within the library by her, first directed to the easy readers, then to larger books, and upwards into the teen section. It was an experience I had to engage with books which was very simple: there were just some books which I shouldn't read. Not because the books themselves were necessarily bad, but that I wasn't ready to read them. I had a relationship with my parents which meant they were constantly in the loop about what I was reading.
By Minte Stara7 months ago in The Swamp
Freedom Behind Bars: Reading and Book Banning in US Prisons. Content Warning.
Last year, I and a group of others started a Reader's Advisory for books banned within the prison system of the United States. Information on finding these books became the main purpose of our goals during that project.
By Minte Stara7 months ago in The Swamp
Reading is for Men, Actually
When I worked in customer service, I had one memorable conversation with my then boss. She told me about how she had followed her daughter's reading progress heavily, but her son she hadn't. Because, to quote her, 'reading wasn't for men.'
By Minte Stara7 months ago in Men
Strange Research: a deep dive into false information
Back in 2020 I started to wholesale research the historical figure Arthur Dee. His exact life and history might be explored further in a later article, but for the purpose of your time here today, he was an alchemist and doctor in the 1600s, employed by Michael I, the tsar in Russia. His father was John Dee, far more well known compared to Arthur Dee, at least in the English history circles.
By Minte Stara7 months ago in FYI
What is a Master's in Library and Information Studies?
Often, I am asked what my degree actually is. It has become a common occurrence that I will get blank looks and glazed eyes from folks who have never heard about the degree. Which is perfectly fine, as there usually is a quick explanation I give “it's to be a librarian” but it is just as often that I'll get a response of “you need a Master's for that?” Which leads to more convoluted and not particularly easy to explain reason behind that. So, to set the record straight, what is an MLIS degree?
By Minte Stara7 months ago in Education
100 Hours to Save America's Forecasts
Earlier this year, I heard shocking news - the desire to cut funding to climate and weather forecasting and studies in the United States. Even from the mere suggestion that this might occur, I knew it was going to be bad. Weather and Climate Scientists do the work of saving lives in America, telling us when a storm is coming and how soon. With hurricane season on the up-and-coming, I became painfully aware the lives of cutting funding and people from weather data centers and more would do.
By Minte Stara8 months ago in The Swamp
American Public Libraries vs. Irish Public Libraries
Friends of the Library or other book sales: It isn't uncommon to go into a library, even if it isn't your local one, and go to the book shelf or even a full book store that is dedicated to Friends of the Library. Friends of the Library is a volunteer group who raises funds for libraries in the states. Often, they sell off book donations that didn't make it into a collection or weeded books from the library itself. The books are often cheep and the proceeds solid go back to the library.
By Minte Stara8 months ago in Wander
Soulmate AUs: A Study of a Fan Fiction Trope
Looking into insular fan fiction tropes can be quite entertaining. Certain tropes or repeating themes have their origin, by and large, in fan fiction or sometimes they're just popularized by it. Other times, particular fan fiction from a certain fandom will have a very common trope that seems to be a favorite - often because a particularly successful fan fiction spawned copy-cat fan fictions that sometimes are even more popular than their original.
By Minte Stara8 months ago in BookClub
