• Lists

    10 Picture Books for Lunar New Year

    I know that Lunar New Year is celebrated in more than just the Chinese culture, unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to find titles for Lunar New Year celebrations in other Asian countries (although I did find one). I will also note that some of these titles are most likely not…

  • Activities

    Preschool Expo

    This is one of those program ideas that doesn’t work for all communities, but is really beneficial for ours.  Our library is situated in a suburban community of about 30,000 residents.  We have 20+ childcare and preschool options for families and for the past few years, we partner with our…

  • Lifestyle

    Director's Thoughts #5

    As I’ve mentioned in the past, we’re spending this year working on a 3-year strategic plan for our library. We’re starting from the ground up with a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis, PEST (Political, Economic, Socio-cultural, Technological) analysis and identifying our stakeholders. This project is being done not only…

  • Lists

    It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 1/22/17

    I got to spend some amazing, quality time with my brother sister-in-law and adorable 15-month-old godson this weekend, which as usual, means I didn’t get any reading done! SO, I’m going to finish up The Reader this week and hopefully read a little something of The Sun Is Also a Star by…

  • Lists

    Bibliotherapy for Teens: 25 Title About Tough Topics

    The idea of bibliotherapy is one that has been around for over 50 years. It is the idea that “the use of selected reading materials as therapeutic adjuvants in medicine and psychiatry; also guidance in the solution of personal problems through directed reading.” (AHIL Quarterly, Summer 1966, p. 18.) There…

  • Lifestyle

    "A Place for the Vulnerable"

    I’ve had plenty of people ask me how I became a librarian (which you can read about here), but no one ever really asks why I became a librarian. I love books and this seemed like a great career to get into if you love books. But as an introvert, it…

  • Lifestyle

    Quick Book Display

    I don’t know if others have seen it, but two days ago President Obama sat down with the chief book critic of The New York Times and talked about how important reading and books were during his years in office. I’m a librarian and I follow a lot of book related news,…

  • Lists

    Top Ten Tuesday:Ten Underrated/Hidden Gem Books I've Read

    Counting Thyme by Melanie Conklin A novel about what it’s like to want the best for someone else, but also feeling guilty for wanting something for yourself. The Detective’s Assistant by Kate Hannigan A historical fiction, mystery novel about the first female detective for the Pinkerton Agency in 1859 –…

  • Lists

    It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 1/16/17

    I didn’t get much reading done, but I did read The Inquisitor’s Tale: Or, The Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dog by Adam Gidwitz. It’s definitely a very different book than anything I ever read, it was interesting and unique and fun to read. I love historical fiction books and…