Texas Librarians Show Skin, Tattoos In Calendar

AUSTIN, Texas — So much for the stereotype. Texas librarians are baring their skin and revealing their tattoos – all to raise disaster relief money to help damaged libraries. Photos of the librarians and their body art appear in a new calendar sold by the Texas Library Association.

Librarian Shawne Miksa says it's a way to get people to notice library issues. As the model for November 2010, she shows off Chinese characters on her lower back that mean "wisdom" and "desire."

The "Tattooed Ladies of TLA" 18-month calendar is a follow-up to the successful "Men of Texas Libraries" calendar, which raised $9,000 to help libraries damaged by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The TLA says libraries thrive on promoting diversity and free expression and the calendar exhibits that spirit.

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Texas Library Association: http://www.txla.org

(This version CORRECTS Corrects Web link.)

Comments

[larry278]

Lyeberryuns always bin wierd. Dey kip tew demselfs all da tyme. Peupl who talk in wispurs r lik dat. Ask 1 a cuestin n dey gib u da anser rat quik-in a wispur.

[Texas Aggie]

Actually Texas has (had) some really good libraries. I am acquainted with the one in Laredo and it is super. Texas has a program where if you are a member for a year in good standing (no late book fines), you get a card that authorizes you to borrow from every library in the state.

[LMPE]

Texas has libraries?

[texastrixie]

Yes we do, although we don't always fund them properly. Libraries in Texas get extensive use because we the majority of people in the state could not afford to buy books. Even the half-price book stores are too expensive for many of us. I just got over double eye surgeries. I haven't been able to read except for short periods for almost six months. If I had not had audiobooks from the library, I would have gone stir-crazy. Since the job market is so bad, I hope to volunteer fulltime at our library once I get glasses.

[louiexiii]

Wow. the samples of the calendar were terrible. I wouldnt want to gaze at those "beauties" for a whole month at a time.

[Destin]

I have no problem with it. Women look good and it's going to a worthy cause.

[KIVPossum]

I'm at a loss as to how tattoos on librarians raise awareness of library issues.

[gorgol]

Its great that Texas Lesbians have taken up a cause for Libraries.­...but I don't see the connection.

[gorgol]

Oh..I read it again..."N­EVERMIND".­..

[Knowbetter]

HAR HAR!! You're a riot.

[gremlin1]

Good for them! I'm only sorry that libraries have to resort to selling calendars to raise funds. I'd be lost without my local library.

[Katie5]

Laura Bush?Which Laura Bush?I think not.Thank you very much.

[larry278]

Laura Bush, W's wife, was a school librarian. Some states don't require school librarians to earn a masters degree. Though librarians who work year round at public libraries often earn less than school librarians, public libraries won't hire anyone as a librarian unless he/she has a masters degree in library science. Often school librarians are seen as ancillaries(sp?) to teachers, professional educators but elect to be represented by the same bargaining unit which represents teachers.

[larry278]

How about Laura, Jen, young Barbra & Grandmother Barbra on a calender to benefit Poppy & W's Libraries? That would be real neat.

[PatA]

Lockhart feels left out~

[isaidit]

This is big news for Texas. But they would really score big if they had a cover foldout with Laura Bush. Hehehe. Wicked!