Sam Helmick
@samhelmick.bsky.social
5k-er. American Library Association President. Author. Baker. Christian. #FreePeopleReadFreely. LEGO lover. #Library Worker. Policy Wonk. #ThoughtBunny Wrangler. 🐇
Rocking ALA Executive Board meetings from the comfort of my couch.
Sad health required me to be virtual but grateful to connect & collaborate with my incredible colleagues in this important #workingweekend toward a stronger future for our members & profession.
#SaturdayLibrarian
#ForOurLibraries
Sad health required me to be virtual but grateful to connect & collaborate with my incredible colleagues in this important #workingweekend toward a stronger future for our members & profession.
#SaturdayLibrarian
#ForOurLibraries
September 26, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Rocking ALA Executive Board meetings from the comfort of my couch.
Sad health required me to be virtual but grateful to connect & collaborate with my incredible colleagues in this important #workingweekend toward a stronger future for our members & profession.
#SaturdayLibrarian
#ForOurLibraries
Sad health required me to be virtual but grateful to connect & collaborate with my incredible colleagues in this important #workingweekend toward a stronger future for our members & profession.
#SaturdayLibrarian
#ForOurLibraries
It’s Taco 🌮 Day in the PR & Marketing Department!
I’m bringing cookies that match my sweater.
🍪 🍂 🍁
#happymaking
#librarylife
#workculturematters
I’m bringing cookies that match my sweater.
🍪 🍂 🍁
#happymaking
#librarylife
#workculturematters
September 24, 2026 at 7:39 PM
It’s Taco 🌮 Day in the PR & Marketing Department!
I’m bringing cookies that match my sweater.
🍪 🍂 🍁
#happymaking
#librarylife
#workculturematters
I’m bringing cookies that match my sweater.
🍪 🍂 🍁
#happymaking
#librarylife
#workculturematters
Reposted by Sam Helmick
Circulating Ideas 322: The Case for a Professional Foundation in Librarianship, with @librarianbyday.bsky.social and @samhelmick.bsky.social
circulatingideas.com/2026/09/16/3...
circulatingideas.com/2026/09/16/3...
September 16, 2026 at 11:57 PM
Circulating Ideas 322: The Case for a Professional Foundation in Librarianship, with @librarianbyday.bsky.social and @samhelmick.bsky.social
circulatingideas.com/2026/09/16/3...
circulatingideas.com/2026/09/16/3...
Headed to #ARSL2026 to connect with amazing colleagues and present “Law for Librarians Presents Privacy, Patron Policies, and the Limited Public Forum” with Sarah, Summer and Tyler!
Excited to see old friends, make new ones, and fill my mind with more wonderful things!
#LibraryLife
✈️ 📚
Excited to see old friends, make new ones, and fill my mind with more wonderful things!
#LibraryLife
✈️ 📚
September 16, 2026 at 10:38 AM
Headed to #ARSL2026 to connect with amazing colleagues and present “Law for Librarians Presents Privacy, Patron Policies, and the Limited Public Forum” with Sarah, Summer and Tyler!
Excited to see old friends, make new ones, and fill my mind with more wonderful things!
#LibraryLife
✈️ 📚
Excited to see old friends, make new ones, and fill my mind with more wonderful things!
#LibraryLife
✈️ 📚
My last regular youth programming was about 15 years ago.
I can hardly share how excited and honored I am to temporarily step into this program series for the Iowa City Public Library Childrens Department!
Wish me well please!
#LibraryLife ✍️ 🖼️ 💜 📚
I can hardly share how excited and honored I am to temporarily step into this program series for the Iowa City Public Library Childrens Department!
Wish me well please!
#LibraryLife ✍️ 🖼️ 💜 📚
August 27, 2026 at 8:17 PM
My last regular youth programming was about 15 years ago.
I can hardly share how excited and honored I am to temporarily step into this program series for the Iowa City Public Library Childrens Department!
Wish me well please!
#LibraryLife ✍️ 🖼️ 💜 📚
I can hardly share how excited and honored I am to temporarily step into this program series for the Iowa City Public Library Childrens Department!
Wish me well please!
#LibraryLife ✍️ 🖼️ 💜 📚
I'm doing a thing. Opening up my #thoughtbunnies substack for subscriptions with the plan to use any proceeds to publish my first book of poetry. #nervous #excited #amwriting
thoughtbunnies.substack.com
thoughtbunnies.substack.com
August 27, 2026 at 6:33 PM
I'm doing a thing. Opening up my #thoughtbunnies substack for subscriptions with the plan to use any proceeds to publish my first book of poetry. #nervous #excited #amwriting
thoughtbunnies.substack.com
thoughtbunnies.substack.com
Turns out one of the perks of being an adult is after your leave the gym, you can have animal crackers for dinner and call it “recovery nutrition.” 🦁🐘🐒
I don’t make the rules, I just abide by them.
#adulting #dinnertime
I don’t make the rules, I just abide by them.
#adulting #dinnertime
August 26, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Turns out one of the perks of being an adult is after your leave the gym, you can have animal crackers for dinner and call it “recovery nutrition.” 🦁🐘🐒
I don’t make the rules, I just abide by them.
#adulting #dinnertime
I don’t make the rules, I just abide by them.
#adulting #dinnertime
This third #SundayLibrarian shift in a row is brought to you by copious amounts of coffee and much Back to School Joy!
#LibraryLife
#LibraryLife
August 23, 2026 at 7:09 PM
This third #SundayLibrarian shift in a row is brought to you by copious amounts of coffee and much Back to School Joy!
#LibraryLife
#LibraryLife
Its little tail swivels back and forth!
Friends, I hope something small and unexpected brings you incalculable joy today too.
#SundayMorning #LEGOlife #buttercow
Friends, I hope something small and unexpected brings you incalculable joy today too.
#SundayMorning #LEGOlife #buttercow
August 23, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Its little tail swivels back and forth!
Friends, I hope something small and unexpected brings you incalculable joy today too.
#SundayMorning #LEGOlife #buttercow
Friends, I hope something small and unexpected brings you incalculable joy today too.
#SundayMorning #LEGOlife #buttercow
Thank you, Carter! I’m excited to assemble this #IowaStateFair exclusive LEGO Butter Cow!!
Appreciate all my lovely friends who offered to grab one of these for me before they sold out!
#HappyMaking #humbled #buttercow
🧱 🧈 🐄 🌽
Appreciate all my lovely friends who offered to grab one of these for me before they sold out!
#HappyMaking #humbled #buttercow
🧱 🧈 🐄 🌽
August 22, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Thank you, Carter! I’m excited to assemble this #IowaStateFair exclusive LEGO Butter Cow!!
Appreciate all my lovely friends who offered to grab one of these for me before they sold out!
#HappyMaking #humbled #buttercow
🧱 🧈 🐄 🌽
Appreciate all my lovely friends who offered to grab one of these for me before they sold out!
#HappyMaking #humbled #buttercow
🧱 🧈 🐄 🌽
Thank you, Lone Tree Community School!
The Iowa City Public Library and Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation loved welcoming your students Back-to-School and supporting their success with homework help and literacy resources!
#BackToSchool #LibraryLife
The Iowa City Public Library and Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation loved welcoming your students Back-to-School and supporting their success with homework help and literacy resources!
#BackToSchool #LibraryLife
August 21, 2026 at 1:26 AM
Thank you, Lone Tree Community School!
The Iowa City Public Library and Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation loved welcoming your students Back-to-School and supporting their success with homework help and literacy resources!
#BackToSchool #LibraryLife
The Iowa City Public Library and Iowa City Public Library Friends Foundation loved welcoming your students Back-to-School and supporting their success with homework help and literacy resources!
#BackToSchool #LibraryLife
While I'll be unable to join my colleagues in Bengaluru, I am beyond humbled and honored to deliver the S. R. Ranganathan Memorial Lecture virtually to the 2026 International Conference on Knowledge Organization and Library Information this year!
#ickolis2026
#ickolis2026
August 20, 2026 at 9:03 PM
While I'll be unable to join my colleagues in Bengaluru, I am beyond humbled and honored to deliver the S. R. Ranganathan Memorial Lecture virtually to the 2026 International Conference on Knowledge Organization and Library Information this year!
#ickolis2026
#ickolis2026
This! Tyranny is often disguised as protection.
Listening to Lois Lowry’s “The Giver” on audiobook. Was struck this morning by this exchange, less than 24 hours after our lieutenant governor’s press conference demanding book censorship.
“We really have to protect people from wrong choices.”
“Yes, safer that way,” said the Giver.
“We really have to protect people from wrong choices.”
“Yes, safer that way,” said the Giver.
August 20, 2026 at 2:08 PM
This! Tyranny is often disguised as protection.
Starting the week with an #IntellectualFreedom presentation with @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social and @libraryfutures.bsky.social
LibraryFutures dropped a third scenario TODAY!!! Check out The Pickle of the Persistent Press Hound at:
imagineif.libraryfutures.net
LibraryFutures dropped a third scenario TODAY!!! Check out The Pickle of the Persistent Press Hound at:
imagineif.libraryfutures.net
August 17, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Starting the week with an #IntellectualFreedom presentation with @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social and @libraryfutures.bsky.social
LibraryFutures dropped a third scenario TODAY!!! Check out The Pickle of the Persistent Press Hound at:
imagineif.libraryfutures.net
LibraryFutures dropped a third scenario TODAY!!! Check out The Pickle of the Persistent Press Hound at:
imagineif.libraryfutures.net
Friends!
*jumps up and down giddily*
There are some many incredible local poets!
I heard so much amazing art tonight and my heart is cracked open to the world in a new and exciting way tonight.
Oh, and I read three poems and everyone was so welcoming and kind!!
🫰🫰🫰🫰🫰
#poetry #art #humbled
*jumps up and down giddily*
There are some many incredible local poets!
I heard so much amazing art tonight and my heart is cracked open to the world in a new and exciting way tonight.
Oh, and I read three poems and everyone was so welcoming and kind!!
🫰🫰🫰🫰🫰
#poetry #art #humbled
August 17, 2026 at 12:42 AM
Super jazzed to be trying this tonight.
Not sure which of my poems to read yet but thinking 2-3 covering different topics and forms.
#poetry #TheSpokenPint #amreading
Not sure which of my poems to read yet but thinking 2-3 covering different topics and forms.
#poetry #TheSpokenPint #amreading
August 16, 2026 at 3:17 PM
Super jazzed to be trying this tonight.
Not sure which of my poems to read yet but thinking 2-3 covering different topics and forms.
#poetry #TheSpokenPint #amreading
Not sure which of my poems to read yet but thinking 2-3 covering different topics and forms.
#poetry #TheSpokenPint #amreading
Des Moines/Iowa Friends!
I work through the 10 days of the Iowa State Fair this year but am hoping one of you might grab a LEGO Butter Cow for me?
It’s my mission to obtain one of these glorious exclusives! I’d be delighted to provide escrow/finder fees for anyone who could hook me up.
🧈 🧱 🐄 🌽
I work through the 10 days of the Iowa State Fair this year but am hoping one of you might grab a LEGO Butter Cow for me?
It’s my mission to obtain one of these glorious exclusives! I’d be delighted to provide escrow/finder fees for anyone who could hook me up.
🧈 🧱 🐄 🌽
August 14, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Des Moines/Iowa Friends!
I work through the 10 days of the Iowa State Fair this year but am hoping one of you might grab a LEGO Butter Cow for me?
It’s my mission to obtain one of these glorious exclusives! I’d be delighted to provide escrow/finder fees for anyone who could hook me up.
🧈 🧱 🐄 🌽
I work through the 10 days of the Iowa State Fair this year but am hoping one of you might grab a LEGO Butter Cow for me?
It’s my mission to obtain one of these glorious exclusives! I’d be delighted to provide escrow/finder fees for anyone who could hook me up.
🧈 🧱 🐄 🌽
Reposted by Sam Helmick
There's still time to register for Tools for Intellectual Freedom Training (Monday 8/17). Learn some stuff AND play a bit of the Pickle of the Persistent Press Hound with our own @librariansreed.bsky.social, @littlewow.online, and
@samhelmick.bsky.social!
elearning.ala.org/local/catalo...
@samhelmick.bsky.social!
elearning.ala.org/local/catalo...
August 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM
There's still time to register for Tools for Intellectual Freedom Training (Monday 8/17). Learn some stuff AND play a bit of the Pickle of the Persistent Press Hound with our own @librariansreed.bsky.social, @littlewow.online, and
@samhelmick.bsky.social!
elearning.ala.org/local/catalo...
@samhelmick.bsky.social!
elearning.ala.org/local/catalo...
Rocking a #nightbrarian shift on the Iowa City Public Library Help Desk with a shiny, new RFID pad!
Let’s answer some questions, make some community connections, and check out some stories and knowledge!
#LibraryLife
Let’s answer some questions, make some community connections, and check out some stories and knowledge!
#LibraryLife
August 14, 2026 at 12:38 AM
Rocking a #nightbrarian shift on the Iowa City Public Library Help Desk with a shiny, new RFID pad!
Let’s answer some questions, make some community connections, and check out some stories and knowledge!
#LibraryLife
Let’s answer some questions, make some community connections, and check out some stories and knowledge!
#LibraryLife
I'm privileged to keynote this year's @ulunyc.bsky.social Conference: Still Standing.
I am looking forward to a deeply relevant and resonant time together.
#resilience #librarylife #alwayslearning
I am looking forward to a deeply relevant and resonant time together.
#resilience #librarylife #alwayslearning
Registration is open for the 2026 Urban Librarians Conference, which will convene in Brooklyn on 9/18! Get your tickets here: urbanlibrariansunite.org/conference/r...
August 14, 2026 at 12:31 AM
I'm privileged to keynote this year's @ulunyc.bsky.social Conference: Still Standing.
I am looking forward to a deeply relevant and resonant time together.
#resilience #librarylife #alwayslearning
I am looking forward to a deeply relevant and resonant time together.
#resilience #librarylife #alwayslearning
Reposted by Sam Helmick
The #alaac26 closing session featured a panel of ALA leaders discussing the current state of intellectual freedom, where it’s headed, and how to connect it to our other freedoms and to democracy. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/joy-as-an-act-of-resistance/
Joy as an Act of Resistance | American Libraries Magazine
With intertwining milestone anniversaries—the nation’s 250th and ALA’s 150th—ALA leaders discussed intellectual freedom and democracy.
americanlibrariesmagazine.org
August 13, 2026 at 11:18 PM
The #alaac26 closing session featured a panel of ALA leaders discussing the current state of intellectual freedom, where it’s headed, and how to connect it to our other freedoms and to democracy. https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/blogs/the-scoop/joy-as-an-act-of-resistance/
Reposted by Sam Helmick
National Voter Registration Day is almost here: Is your library #ReaderVoterReady? Check out our ideas for resources, programming, and more!
Register your library as an NVRD partner: bit.ly/ALA-NVRD26
More resources: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/initiatives/reader-voter-ready
Register your library as an NVRD partner: bit.ly/ALA-NVRD26
More resources: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/initiatives/reader-voter-ready
August 13, 2026 at 11:56 PM
National Voter Registration Day is almost here: Is your library #ReaderVoterReady? Check out our ideas for resources, programming, and more!
Register your library as an NVRD partner: bit.ly/ALA-NVRD26
More resources: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/initiatives/reader-voter-ready
Register your library as an NVRD partner: bit.ly/ALA-NVRD26
More resources: https://www.ala.org/advocacy/initiatives/reader-voter-ready
"People often ask me how we keep going. The truth? We don't stop needing encouragement when we become leaders."
My #thoughtbunnies on The Cost of Caring: Why Leaders Burn Out and How We Stay Whole.
thoughtbunnies.substack.com/p/the-cost-o...
#leadership #selfcare
My #thoughtbunnies on The Cost of Caring: Why Leaders Burn Out and How We Stay Whole.
thoughtbunnies.substack.com/p/the-cost-o...
#leadership #selfcare
August 13, 2026 at 2:06 AM
"People often ask me how we keep going. The truth? We don't stop needing encouragement when we become leaders."
My #thoughtbunnies on The Cost of Caring: Why Leaders Burn Out and How We Stay Whole.
thoughtbunnies.substack.com/p/the-cost-o...
#leadership #selfcare
My #thoughtbunnies on The Cost of Caring: Why Leaders Burn Out and How We Stay Whole.
thoughtbunnies.substack.com/p/the-cost-o...
#leadership #selfcare
Reposted by Sam Helmick
Leisure reading is beneficial because it allows the brain to "decompress" by absorbing information that isn't tied to a particular purpose, said Sam Helmick, president of the American Library Association. https://cnn.it/4ocSwJO
June 6, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Leisure reading is beneficial because it allows the brain to "decompress" by absorbing information that isn't tied to a particular purpose, said Sam Helmick, president of the American Library Association. https://cnn.it/4ocSwJO
Meeting so very many amazing Illinois library workers from the Pinnacle Library Cooperative!
#PinCon26
#LibraryLife
#HappyMaking
#PinCon26
#LibraryLife
#HappyMaking
August 7, 2026 at 7:52 PM
Meeting so very many amazing Illinois library workers from the Pinnacle Library Cooperative!
#PinCon26
#LibraryLife
#HappyMaking
#PinCon26
#LibraryLife
#HappyMaking