A lot of the public’s awareness of the transgender community comes from movies, television shows and books. But for decades, media did not accurately represent or characterize transgender people. Transgender Awareness Week – November 13 to 19 – highlights transgender people and the issues faced by members of the community. It’s also a time for […]
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National Book Award Winners from Pennsylvania
The winners of the 2021 National Book Awards will be announced in just a few days. This year, there are 25 finalists in five categories: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, translated literature and young people’s literature. Since the National Book Awards began in 1950, hundreds of authors have been honored for their exceptional books. And many are […]
Just Picture It! Hopeful Titles to Help Your Kids Be Optimistic
We all know it feels better to be optimistic than pessimistic, but optimism goes deeper than that. Researchers have found that a positive outlook is linked to resilience, better physical health and even a longer life. In children, optimism leads to more positive interactions in school and decreases the risk of depression. One way to […]
10 Books for Native American Heritage Month
It’s National Native American Heritage Month! November is a great time to pick up a book by or about Indigenous people. Whether you’re introducing a young reader to the Navajo Code Talkers or looking for literature by today’s most prolific Indigenous writers, you’ll find plenty of options at your library. These are just a few […]
DA101: Intro to Dark Academia
Welcome, students. Please take your seats. No talking. Keep your hands visible at all times. Syllabus Dark Academia is a genre of literature that is having a moment right now. It typically features an elite group of students selected out as special in some way. Something wicked, nefarious or unfortunate tends to happen. Perhaps it’s […]
Books To Read While Curled Up With a Pumpkin Spice Latte
The changing of the leaves reminds us that the seasons are changing. The leaves begin to fall, the nights become cooler, and most importantly, all our favorite coffee spots start to offer our favorite drink: the Pumpkin Spiced Latte. This tradition is quite new and dates to 2003 when Starbucks released the first Pumpkin Spiced […]
October 17 is Black Poetry Day!
Black Poetry Day commemorates the birthday of Jupiter Hammon, the first published African-American poet. His first work, the religious poem “An Evening Thought,” was published in 1760 and is still reprinted today. Black Poetry Day celebrates the rich history of Black poets from Hammon and Phillis Wheatley in the 1700s; through Langston Hughes and the […]
TeenTober: What will you discover at the library?
Happy TeenTober! TeenTober is a new nationwide celebration hosted by libraries in October where we celebrate teens and help them connect with library resources that help them meet their goals. In addition to books, the library has lots of free services to help teens level up their academics and learn vital creative skills and hobbies at their own […]
National Voter’s Registration Day – Six Questions Answered!
National Voter’s Registration Day is September 28th – and I haven’t done a thing to get ready! No decorations up and no presents bought! Just kidding – this isn’t that kind of holiday. But if you have questions about this special day, here are some answers. What’s National Voter’s Registration Day – I never heard […]
Celebrate Banned Books Week with These 5 Titles
Banned Books Week begins on September 26th to serve as our yearly reminder that books and book series are challenged and sometimes entirely removed from schools and libraries nationwide. These stories come under fire for various reasons, including uncomfortable subject matter, vulgar language, or even public statements from the authors. New and old books are challenged each […]
