Blog Entries

Check Out an Award Winning Title: Youth Media Award Winners Announced

Every year, the American Library Association awards special recognition to excellent new books for children and teens. The most recognizable of these awards are the Randolph Caldecott Medal, for the most distinguished picture book; the John Newbery Medal, for excellent in children’s literature; the Michael L. Printz Award, for excellence in young adult literature; and the Coretta Scott King Book Awards, for books that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.

This year’s awards were announced at a library conference in Seattle on January 2...

Socks, Soup, Hot Drinks, and Hygge

Snow days are the best days. When work and school are closed, and you’ve already made your obligatory milk and bread run to the store, you’ve got nowhere to be and are in no hurry to get there. Everything is covered in a sparkling blanket of white, sounds are muted, and the world slows down. It’s easy to appreciate the beauty of winter on these days, when you’re snuggled up in your cozy home, possibly with a good book courtesy of your local library!

But the next day or the day after, when the beautiful pure snow has turned to gray slush, and you’ve got to trudge through it back to...

This Includes Everyone: Picture Books that Encourage Inclusivity

One of my heroes, Mister Fred Rogers, once said, “The world needs a sense of worth, and it will achieve it only by its people feeling that they are worthwhile.”  Below are some picture books families can read together that prompt conversation about inclusion and recognizing worth in all of our neighbors.  

Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev

It’s Pet Club day, but not all pets are welcome, especially elephants. Through beautiful illustrations and a lyrical story, families are able to discuss how it feels to be left out a...

Best of 2018

What did you read this year?

See if your favorite reads of the year made our best of 2018 list.

I’ll be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara

The Book of M by Peng Shepherd

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life by Eric Idle

Ask a Manager by Allison Green

Barracoon by Zora Neale Hurston

Boom Town by Sam Anderson...

Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward All

As I begin writing this blog post, we’ve just had our first snow of winter. On November 12. And despite the fact that I am staunchly Team No-Christmas-decorations-before-Thanksgiving, the weather has me thinking of the winter holidays. 

When you’re born six days before Christmas, you usually either embrace it wholeheartedly or go full Grinch. I went the first route, and I absolutely love the holidays. But it can be a really difficult time of year, too. Those who can’t afford extravagant gift-giving, those who have no family or are estranged from ...

Winter Blues

In the words of The King, Elvis Presley himself, “I’ll have a blue Christmas without you.” The holidays can be a hard time for many people. We feel so much pressure to be thankful, make merry, and attend or host a score of events while looking flawlessly festive and creating magazine-worthy spreads for meals and parties. It can be a lot to handle for anyone, but for those who may be suffering the loss of a loved one, going through a divorce or break-up, or dealing with mental health challenges, the holidays can be especially trying.

We have probably all experienced one or more of ...

Check out some of these Holiday Favorites on Hoopla

Stuck at home this winter? Don't let that stop you from enjoying yourself this winter. The library has a variety of resources you can access from home 24/7. Hoopa launched their Winter Wonderland this month and there is something for everyone including eBooks, movies, music and eAudiobooks. Never tried Hoopla before? Learn more about it HERE.

Hoopla has holiday music albums available 24/7 online or through the app with your library card. Other popular artists include Michael Buble, Sia, Frank Sinatra, Josh Groban, Mariah Carey, Nat King Cole, Idina Mensel, ...

Excelsior! - A Tribute to Stan Lee

On November 12th 2018, Stan Lee, co-creator of iconic comic book characters Iron Man, Hulk, Spider-Man, Captain America, the X-Men and Thor among others, died.  He was 95 years old.  When I heard about his passing, I wasn’t surprised, he wasn’t in great health, but I was saddened.  Not only do we share a love of comics, we shared a birthday, December 28th.  So, as a comic book fan and above all a Marvel comics fan, it was a sad day, but it brought back one of my favorite memories.   

In 2012, I was lucky enough to get tickets to attend the San Di...

Everyday Instant Pot and Air Fryer Recipes

Looking for some recipes to try with your new Instant Pot and air fryer? Checkout some of these cookbooks for a variety of everyday meals to please the whole family.

The Essential Mexican Instant Pot Cookbook: Authentic flavors and modern recipes for your electric cooker by Deborah Schneider

Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook by Dana Angelo White

Instant Pot cookbook: 60 delicious foolproof recipes

Dinn...

Inspirational and Faith-Based Movies

Need a little pick-me-up? Inspirational and faith-based movies are popular checkouts! The library has a growing collection of inspirational books and movies. Here are some popular titles from the DVD collection. 

A Man Called John

Jon is a pastor with a unique form of praise. After an unwelcome “outburst” during a service, the senior pastor requests he is moved to another church. After being moved three times, he must decide whether to change his worship style or risk moving yet again.

Hoovey

Instructional Genealogy Books and Videos

If you are looking to begin your research on your family history, general research books and instructional videos are a great place to get started. The library has a variety of resources available to you, and most of these titles are available from home. To Learn more about the library's genealogy collection, visit our genealogy webpage. 

DNA and family history: how genetic testing can advance your genealogical research by By Chris Pomery

The family tree problem solver: tried-and-tr...

Paranormal Romance to Check Out this Fall

Are you a fan of all the spooky creatures that come around this time of year? If you’re hoping to dive into a new paranormal romance series this fall, check out some of these series favorites.

Shadow Reaper (Book One in the Shadow Riders Series) by Christine Feehan

This “deliciously dark” romance follows the lives of Stefano Ferraro, a Shadow Rider, and his love interest Francesca Cappello. Stefano learns that Francesca is also a shadow rider and attempts to take her under his wing when she moves into his Chicago territory.

Voting: A Family Affair

Election season is upon us and there’s a good chance your little ones have noticed. From yard signs and to canvassers knocking on your door, the political climate is brewing just as intensely as the fall winds. Involving children in the voting process is a great way to develop a sense of citizenship at a young age. There’s a good chance your children have already participated in a vote: voting for which movie to watch, or whether to buy chocolate or vanilla ice cream at the store. This can be a great starting point to discuss political voting. Just as families vote for a movie, so do citize...

Halloween-Themed Books to Read with Your Kids

I’m so glad Autumn is finally here!  I love all the rain we’ve been having, the cooler days and even chillier nights, the warm drinks and snuggly blankets.  My kids love it too, but, most of all, we love Halloween.

Around the beginning of September, we start to immerse ourselves in all things Halloween.  Decorations sneak out of the closet and suddenly there’s a skeletal bird perched in the bathroom, a plastic cauldron full of Lego “soup” in the kitchen, a twisted witch’s broom in the hallway (life with small children is never boring).  We start watching Hallow...