At Credo, we understand the need for libraries to write interesting social media content to engage your users and raise awareness of valuable resources and services. That’s why we’ve created this monthly blog post with social media posts featuring interesting observances, trivia, this-day-in-history, and humor that your library can copy/paste to your own feed with no attribution necessary.
P.S.: the images here are all in the public domain (mostly from Pixabay and Wikimedia Commons), so feel free to take advantage of them when you post!
February 1
A shocking 600,000 Americans die from heart disease every year. Learn more about heart disease during American Heart Month and discover how to reduce your risks.
February 1
South African author Alan Paton’s anti-apartheid novel “Cry the Beloved Country” was published #onthisday in the U.S in 1948. Paton’s vocal opposition to apartheid led to the confiscation of his passport. Learn more about apartheid at Credo Reference. https://search.credoreference.com/search/all?searchPhrase=apartheid
February 2
#Onthisday in 1709, British sailor Alexander Selkirk was rescued by William Dampier after being marooned on a desert island for five years. His story inspired one of the most popular adventure stories in world literature, “Robinson Crusoe.” Read about Daniel Defoe’s novel at Credo Reference. https://search.credoreference.com/search/all?concept=Robinson%20Crusoe
February 3
Pixar Animation Studios, the brilliant minds behind Toy Story, The Incredibles, and many other animated films, spins off from Lucasfilm as an independent film production company #onthisday in 1986. Learn more about animation at Credo Reference. https://search.credoreference.com/search/all?concept=Animation&searchPhrase=Animated%20films
February 4
Jackie Robinson, the first African-American baseball player in the modern major leagues, became the first African-American executive of a major TV station, WNBC NY, #onthisday in 1952. Learn more about Jackie Robinson at Credo Reference. https://search.credoreference.com/search/all?searchPhrase=Jackie%20Robinson
February 5
Make that waffle a la mode for National Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day! Fun fact: ice cream was made in China before 1000 BC and was most likely introduced to Europe by Marco Polo. Learn more about the history of ice cream at Credo Reference. https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/heliconhe/ice_cream/0
February 6
Twenty-six-year-old Elizabeth II succeeded King George VI to become queen #onthisday in 1952. Discover more about Britain’s longest-reigning monarch at Credo Reference. https://search.credoreference.com/search/all?searchPhrase=Queen%20Elizabeth%20II
February 7
The Beatles landed at NY’s JFK airport for their first U.S. tour #onthisday in 1964, sparking a frenzy that would sweep the country. Learn more about the Fab Four at Credo Reference. https://search.credoreference.com/search/all?searchPhrase=beatles
February 8
Mary, Queen of Scots, a.k.a., “Bloody Mary,” was beheaded #onthisday in 1587 after being convicted of plotting to assassinate Elizabeth I. Learn more about the ill-fated queen at Credo Reference. https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/columency/mary_queen_of_scots/0
February 9
Happy birthday to “Waiting for the Barbarians” author J.M. Coetzee. He is the first author to win the Booker Prize twice, and, in 2003, won the Nobel Prize for Literature. Learn more about this acclaimed South African author at Credo Reference. https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/lrpsouth/coetzee_john_maxwell_1940/0
February 11
Nelson Mandela, leader of the movement to end apartheid, was released from the Victor Verster Prison in Cape Town after 27 years imprisonment #onthisday in 1990. Learn more about this iconic South African statesman at Credo Reference. https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/columency/mandela_nelson_rolihlahla/0
February 12
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People formed #onthisday in 1909. One of its many key victories was the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision that outlawed segregation in public schools. Learn more about NAACP at Credo Reference. https://search.credoreference.com/search/all?concept=National%20Association%20for%20the%20Advancement%20of%20Colored%20People&searchPhrase=NAACP
February 14
#Onthisday in 1818, Frederick Douglass—African-American abolitionist, orator, newspaper publisher, and author of the profoundly influential “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave”—was born. Discover more about this United States official and diplomat at Credo Reference. https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/jhueas/douglass_frederick/0
February 15
Greek philosopher Socrates is sentenced to death by hemlock poisoning for corrupting the minds of the youth of Athens and for impiety #onthisday in 399 BC. Learn more about the life and death of the father of western philosophy at Credo Reference. https://search.credoreference.com/search/all?searchPhrase=Socrates
February 16
Fidel Castro became the sixteenth Prime Minister of Cuba after overthrowing Fulgencio Batista #onthisday in 1959. Discover more about the Cuban communist politician, prime minister, and president at Credo Reference. https://search.credoreference.com/search/all?searchPhrase=fidel%20castro
February 17
Today is #RandomActofKindnessDay! Pay it forward, just because!
February 18
Toni Morrison, the first African-American woman to win a Nobel Prize, was born #onthisday in 1931. Her books centered on the Black experience in America. Learn more about this ”Beloved” novelist, essayist, playwright, and librettist at Credo Reference. https://search.credoreference.com/search/all?concept=Toni%20Morrison
February 20
Give your favorite furry/feathered/scaled friend an extra treat today for #NationalLoveYourPetDay. You can also learn about the history of cats and dogs at Credo Reference. https://search.credoreference.com/search/all?searchPhrase=dog
February 21
Happy Presidents’ Day, celebrated every third Monday of February to remember and honor those who served the highest office. It’s also a perfect day to brush up on the president’s role and responsibilities in the executive branch at Credo Reference. https://search.credoreference.com/search/all?searchPhrase=president
February 22
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.”—C.S Lewis, author of “The Chronicles of Narnia.” Something to think about to celebrate #BeHumbleDay! Not to brag, but you can also learn a lot about C.S. Lewis at Credo Reference. https://search.credoreference.com/search/all?searchPhrase=CS%20Lewis
February 25
Celebrated every Friday before Ash Wednesday, today marks the Brazilian Carnival, a communal celebration that takes place just before Lent with a week of dancing, singing, and partying. Learn more about Carnival at Credo Reference. https://search.credoreference.com/search/all?searchPhrase=Carnival
February 27
Today is International Polar Bear Day, created to raise awareness for the need to protect denning polar bear families across the Arctic. Take part in this special day by learning more about these endangered animals at Credo Reference. https://search.credoreference.com/search/all?concept=Polar%20bear
