A Story of Resilience: An Exciting Update from Reshelving Alexandria
Turning Adversity into Inspiration: The Revival of Our Living Books Collection!
Embodying Reshelving Alexandria 2.0, our journey unfolds with renewed vigor. In 2021, life took an unexpected turn that shook the very foundation of our passion project. A partnership that once fueled our vision for a thriving searchable database of living books for our vibrant community came to an abrupt and disappointing end. The sudden loss left many of us with shattered hopes and a daunting challenge ahead of.
But out of adversity emerged an opportunity—a chance to rewrite our story on our terms. What initially seemed like an insurmountable setback led us down a path of determination, innovation, and rebirth.
The data we received from the previous database was like a puzzle without a picture—locked, fragmented, and seemingly impossible to restore. However, my husband Erik took it upon himself, with unwavering commitment, to breathe life back into our beloved project. Nights and weekends became devoted to unlocking the puzzle, piece by intricate piece.
As our new website takes form, it signifies more than mere lines of code; it stands as a testament to resilience and the strength of a united vision. Every line typed, every layout meticulously crafted, marks a stride towards a new thing— a collection of rebuilt resources and a renewal of our dedication to serving passionate home library enthusiasts like you!
In the interim, we’re thrilled to share our curated collection of living books with you on LibraryThing—a collection that was initially shaped by the passion of eight women, each with their unique perspectives on the balance between quality and quantity. Though only two of the eight of us now remain in Reshelving Alexandria, the spirit of our original vision persists. The 2021 version of our curated collection of books, complete with over 44,000 unique tags including designated time periods and reading levels, is now available for you to explore- for free! It's an invitation for educators, parents, and learners alike to dive into our literary story vault and find the perfect addition to your shelves or educational journey.
Our story isn't just about overcoming challenges; it's about turning a painful ending into a new beginning. It's the power of collaboration, resilience, and concerted love for books that keeps us moving forward.
As we usher in this new chapter, we invite you to join us on our journey of renewal. Stay tuned as our yet unveiled website continues to take shape. We also have another thrilling announcement coming next month! In the meantime, explore the treasure trove we've released on LibraryThing. Let's build, learn, and grow together as we continue to champion the lasting value of living books!
*Caveat: Exploring Our LibraryThing Collection*
As we share this original database, we want to ensure clarity regarding its content and purpose.
While this collection is predominantly rooted in a conservative ethos, we recognize the nuances inherent in books from various time periods and voices. It's vital to approach these books thoughtfully, understanding that their inclusion in the RA Time Capsule collection doesn't automatically signify endorsement or exhaustive vetting for young readers. We respect the intricacies of literary choices and understand that perspectives on enriching reads may differ. It's important to note that certain books within this collection, while offering a historical lens and having value to collectors, may contain material with racist content and portrayals that may perpetuate negative gender dynamics.
Furthermore, we recognize the absence of "Content Considerations," a tool we consider vital for parents navigating the selection of appropriate books for their children. Content Considerations offer factual insights into themes, content, and potential sensitivities, enabling informed decisions without emotional bias. These objective considerations allow members to determine whether a specific book aligns with their family's preferences. This distinction is important, as it separates objective content details from personal opinions and feelings about the material.
This collection represents a snapshot in our ongoing journey—a journey that sometimes led to additions for their aesthetic appeal or "the look," rather than after thorough vetting. The books we included catered to two distinct groups: vintage collectors and voracious readers. As we continue to mature and progress, my current team and I uphold our commitment to cultivating an environment where literature is embraced with careful consideration, discernment, and an atmosphere of open dialogue
For those seeking a more comprehensive recommendation process based on books read and vetted by our current crew, we're excited to share our Reshelving Alexandria Legacy Library literary catalogue available through our own current website. This new resource reflects our commitment to providing guidance and fostering confidence in the books we recommend by ONLY recommending what we’ve read, ensuring a trusted literary experience for your family. Where overlap between the old and new catalogues exists, we are using the tag “ReshelvingAlexandriaLegacyLibrary” on LibraryThing.
We invite you to embark on this exploration of the RA Time Capsule Library with an understanding of the collection's context and purpose. As we continue to cultivate our literary resources, your input, questions, and feedback are always welcomed and valued.
The Brass Tacks:
A clear and helpful guide, walking you through the process of using the RA Library on LibraryThing, can be found here.
Explore our full yet ever-growing Reshelving Alexandria Legacy Library, with comprehensive Content Considerations, ready for your use.
Every one of our literary databases is offered for free, yet their creation wasn't without cost. If you'd like to contribute to sustaining our efforts, you can support us here.
Hidden Gems in Our Resources:
Our Instagram account with book reviews and videos
Tending Shelves- a FB group dedicated to book care and repair
The Reshelving Alexandria Marketplace- an active FB buy/sell group
Reshelving Alexandria Academy- a FB group for homeschoolers and afterschoolers
Reshelving Alexandria Reads- a FB group for our reading challenges and recommendations for members leading book clubs
Our Reading Challenges and free Daily Reading Tracker- printables
Our Amazon Storefront for great recommendations or just for those looking to support us while shopping.
Your Perseverance is Rewarded! Behold, a Glimpse of Things to Come: Our Upcoming Secret Reshelving Alexandria Project Logo! Share Your Guesses of What It’s for in the Comments!
Thank you for making all of your knowledge and expertise available for all. This is truly priceless. Thank you.
This is an incredible resource! It makes me want to go back and start my kids’ education all over again.
Not sure what the tree logo is for, but is it the White Tree of Gondor?