Hello Libration Nation! This week’s book is Daring Greatly by Dr. Brené Brown, and I’m talking about it with my fellow librarian and library advocacy rockstar - Sonya Durney! Sonya is a passionate advocate for libraries and open education. Sonya is the Scholarly Communication Research & Teaching Librarian at the University of New England, is past president of the Maine Library Association, a member of the American Library Association Policy Corps, and serves on the executive board of the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition. As the Scholarly Communication Research & Teaching Librarian at the University of New England, Sonya liaises with the College of Business and the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences while actively contributing to various university committees, including the Open Educational Resources Steering Committee, Equity and Diversity Council of Chairs, and the University Faculty Assembly. Sonya holds an MLIS from Simmons College, a BA in Political Science from Framingham State University, and a doctorate in Public Policy focusing on Educational Leadership from the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine. Her research centers on the intersection of public policy and libraries, exploring how legislation shapes access to information. When she’s not immersed in her work or reading, Sonya loves to spend time outdoors in Maine, enjoying adventures with her husband, son, and their beloved chocolate lab, Bourbon. The challenges librarians face today echo Brown’s idea of “being in the arena.” Whether it’s addressing book bans or advocating for community resources, stepping up despite the fear of criticism embodies the very essence of daring greatly, and Sonya shares her experiences and inspiration pulled from Brené Brown’s work. Please continue to support your local library by visiting www.UniteAgainstBookBans.org and finding ways you can get involved. Our drink this week is a Mezcal Paloma to highlight Brené Brown’s Texas roots, however she is also proudly sober and I wanted to honor that as well, so I’m also including a Paloma recipe using Ritual Zero Proof Tequila, which I have made for a previous episode. Mezcal Paloma (link to full recipe with directions) ¼ cup kosher salt 1 teaspoon chili powder 1 lime, zested and sliced 2 oz Mezcal or sub tequila 2 oz Grapefruit juice 1 oz honey simple syrup Club soda Paloma Recipe (Non-Alcoholic) 3 ounces Ritual tequila 2 ounces fresh grapefruit juice, plus wedges for garnish2 ounces club soda½ ounce lime juice¼ ounce simple syrupIn this episodeALA Policy Corps Maine Library AssociationBooks by Brené BrownBrené Brown’s PodcastsSuper Soul Sunday - Oprah’s podcast with Brené BrownPodcast episode where Brent discusses libraries“When you defund a library, you can change the economic future of an entire family. So cut that shit out.” -Brené Brown

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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