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On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress formally approved the final draft of the Declaration of Independence, endorsing Thomas Jefferson’s word, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” However, only after a long bloody war, would Great Britain recognize American independence on September 3, 1783, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.

On January 1, 1863, President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation declaring all people held as slaves in any part of the Confederacy “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” This did not end slavery in areas that remained loyal to the United States, nor were many slaves made aware of this proclamation. It was not until on June 19, 1865, that the last remaining slaves learned of the end of slavery when General Gordon Granger entered Galveston, Texas, with a full complement of African American U.S. soldiers to enforce General Order No. 3. This declared: “The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection therefore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer.”

For the next two weeks the United States will commemorate these events with two federal holidays celebrating freedom and independence. The first is June 19, officially named Juneteenth National Independence Day, but also called Juneteenth, Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Black Independence Day. This officially became a federal holiday in 2021, and recognizes the end of slavery. July 4, Independence Day, two weeks later, celebrates the approval of the Declaration of Independence.

The events these holidays commemorate were both actual and aspirational and they continue to be so today. Real changes have occurred, but the promise of freedom and equality for all that is at the heart of these celebrations is something we continue to strive toward as a nation. The Library has great resources can aid in these efforts. Check out some of our books on antiracism, inclusion, and equity.

For decades June has been recognized as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. The month is celebrated today in many ways: parades, parties, memorials for those who have died due to hate crimes or HIV/AIDS, as well as recognizing the influence LGBTQ+ individuals have had throughout history. Libraries and librarians naturally think reading is another important way to celebrate.

If you are not sure where to begin, the Stonewall Book Awards, sponsored by the American Library Association's Rainbow Round Table provides both fiction and nonfiction as well as children’s and young adult literature options. You can also check out the book display on the first floor of the Library.

The Stonewall Book Awards were the first awards for LGBTQ+ books, although the name has changed over the years. They began in 1971, known then as the Gay Book Award, when Isabel Miller's Patience and Sarah was recognized. While initially a grassroots effort, this became an official American Library Association award in 1986. In 2002, the awards were named after the site of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. Today the specific awards granted are the Stonewall Book Award-Barbara Gittings Literature Award, the Stonewall Book Award-Israel Fishman Non-Fiction Award, and the Stonewall Book Award-Mike Morgan and Larry Romans Children’s and Young Adult Literature Award.

Ah, school is out and you don’t have to pick up again for a while. Reading is no longer required. Wait, there are plenty of reasons to keep reading! Don’t believe me? Look!

“Avid readers of all backgrounds are higher achievers than students who seldom read” (Swan et al. 2010).

“Skillful, critical, and voluminous reading is one of the most important personal habits that lead to a successful academic career and a happy, productive life” (Stanovich and Cunningham 2000).

Those already-avid readers may need no convincing to read this summer, but those of you who can’t imagine picking up a book outside of school should definitely give it a go. Reading stimulates your imagination, strengthens connections in your brain, and helps improve your memory and cognition. Sure, you may think, “I know it’s good for me, but I’d rather do you know, like, fun things instead.” My reply might be “you haven’t found the right book yet” or “you just need to try it!”. I guarantee if you find a title that interests you and commit to reading it, you will start to witness your mind open up and potentially, see yourself having fun while reading.

Still not convinced? The librarians at Loras can help you! Check out our display of summer reads to get you started. None of those look intriguing? Wow, thanks. Stop in, send us an e-mail askalibrarian@loras.edu, or book an appointment https://loras.libcal.com/appointments. Tell us what kind of things you’re into or looking for and we can find you the right book to get you into a good habit. You may find yourself a bit more interested in the world, connecting with a character like you never have, or seeing how the story fits into your own life.