About

Hi, I’m Mindy.  I blog about books and life in Minneapolis with my family. We like music, art, and science.  I am a writer and a zinester. I was born with a limb deficiency. See Fake Arm 101 for more about that.

I’m a librarian. I worked as a Collection Development Librarian at a Book Distributor for a while (is that really a librarian?), and now I’m back in a public library as a Youth Services Librarian.

I primarily blog about family life, which for us includes books and music, but this is an eclectic space where just about anything can come up.  Enjoy.

I also have a photo blog–that I’ve pretty much forgotten about. But I am instagramming book/library related stuff here.

Why “Proper Noun”?  Proper nouns are specific and unique.  Much like I try to be.  Also, I’m a bit of a language geek.

 

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Email me:  lovelymindyreadermaid AT gmail DOT com

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More of my work

Writing:

Book Reviewer, Topics: Health/Disabilities, Education/Parenting, Library Journal, 2006-2015

“Just Like You: Helping Young People Understand Disabilities Through Books” in Book Links Magazine (2011)

Contributing Blogger, Mackin Books in Bloom (2011-2017)

Contributed a guest post to The Artful Parent: Four Picture Books to Inspire Your Young Artist (2012)

Contributed a guest post to The Blogunteer: Don’t Stare, Be Kind Instead (2012)

Contributed two guest posts to Parents Beyond Belief: Books for the Budding Skeptic and Gift Books for Secular Families (2012)

“It’s okay to notice.  It’s okay to ask” in the Minnesota Women’s Press Magazine (2013)

Reviewed One-Handed Catch by Disability in Kidlit (2013)

Reviewed Dangerous for Disability in Kidlit & interviewed Shannon Hale (2014)

Reviewed Centaur Rising for Disability in Kidlit (2015)

“We Need Diverse Books” Voice Of Youth Advocates (2015)

Recreating a Classic for Margins Magazine (2015)

Where Hope Begins for Margins Magazine (2015)

How it Feels to be a Monster for Margins Magazine (2015)

The Stories Behind the Headlines for Margins Magazine (2015)

Using Toon Books in the Classroom for MackinVia Community (2015)

Seeking Diverse Books Under the Radar for MackinVia Community (2015)

My Walter Award Experience for MackinVia Community (2016)

Race in Your Collection for MackinVia Community (2016)

“Reading Outside Your Usual” Voice Of Youth Advocates (2017)

Book reviewer, School Library Journal (2017 – Present)

Telling a Different Amputee Story, Teen Librarian Toolbox YA A to Z (2018)

 

Speaking:

“Books Build Bridges” presentation at the Minnesota Education Media Organization conference (2005)

“Read Around the World” presentation at the Minnesota Education Media Organization conference (2008)

“Booktalk Live” presentations at the  Minnesota Education Media Organization conference w/ colleagues (2011-2016)

 

 

Book & Library Related Volunteer Work:

Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Award (Cybils) YA Fiction Panelist and Middle Grade/YA Nonfiction organizer (2006)

Cybils Middle Grade/YA Nonfiction Judge (2007)

Appeared on Atheist Talk to share Books for Secular Families (2011)

Worked in the Alphabet Forest at the State Fair (2011)

Appeared on Atheist Talk to Discuss The Magic of Reality (2011)

Official Giver, World Book Night (2014)

Volunteer, Twin Cities Teen Lit Con (2014-2016)

Walter Dean Myers Award Committee Judge (2016)

Cybils Middle Grade Fiction Panelist (2016)

 

Other Interesting Activities:

Co-organized a music festival (2002)

Volunteer Classroom Aide, Metropolitan Open School (2005-2006)

Tabled at the Twin Cities Zinefest, contributed to the Zinefest How-to Encyclopedia (2011)

Tabled at the Twin Cities Zine Fest (2013)

Election Day Volunteer with Kids Voting Minneapolis (2014)

 

 

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Disclosures:

This blog is not affiliated with my employer.  My opinions are my own.