Polar Bears and Polar Night

I wrote about armchair travel in the past, and I'd like to tell you about my latest armchair trip to a place near the North Pole (and no, it's not Santa's workshop). The book I recently read is Life on Svalbard by Cecilia Blomdahl, a New York Times bestseller by a Swedish YouTuber who has been living for the past 10 years in Longyearbyen, Svalbard's largest town with roughly 2,600 people.

Where the heck is Svalbard, you may ask? Svalbard is a group of islands in the Arctic Circle that belong to Norway. It's a place of extremes. At the moment, they are experiencing what is called polar night, which is when the sun doesn't rise at all for several months in the winter due to the tilt of the earth on its axis. In contrast, they will have 24 hours of sunlight for several months straight in the summer, a phenomenon known as polar day. 

I learned of the book through a CNN article, and I found the thought of people living somewhere like Svalbard fascinating. Blomdahl takes us through a year living in her cabin just outside of Longyearbyen with her Norwegian partner, Christoffer, and her dog, Grim. She writes about her cabin, going to town, seeing the northern lights, boating in the summer, and traveling hours by snowmobile to an off-the-grid vacation cabin, all accompanied by her stunning photos. 

I have to admit I've even started watching Blomdahl's YouTube channel. Cecilia comes across as bubbly and positive, like a good friend chatting with you. It's so interesting to watch her take us to the only supermarket in Longyearbyen, restaurants in town, walks during polar night with Grim, and around her cabin and deck on the water. And let's not forget about polar bears--there are plenty of them on Svalbard, and everyone who goes outside town needs to carry a rifle for protection in the event of facing one of these Arctic giants.

Find the book on Overdrive/Libby (ask us about FREE access), and unless you have a Kindle Colorsoft, be sure to download the app on your phone, tablet, or computer in order to enjoy Blomdahl's photos in all their glorious colors.

Wishing you good armchair travels from the perch.

Presidential Libraries

No doubt you've heard that President Jimmy Carter lay in repose at The Carter Presidential Center, which consists of a museum and library dedicated to the former president's time in office. It was not the first time that a president or a first lady lay in repose at a presidential library before burial. This got me thinking about American presidential libraries--their number and how they began, among other things.

Apparently, presidential libraries are a 20th century phenomenon and there are currently fifteen of them, two of which are completely digital at the moment (Obama and Trump). Franklin D. Roosevelt. was the first president to have a presidential library; he developed and built it, opening it to the public in 1941. Roosevelt was also the first president to donate his professional and personal papers to the federal government, and his presidential library was the only one to be used by a sitting president.

The Presidential Libraries Act in 1955 encouraged but didn't require presidents to donate materials from their administrations, but the Presidential Records Act of 1978 declared that all presidential records are owned by the public. The libraries are operated by the Office of Presidential Libraries, which falls under the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). There is a presidential library for every president since Herbert Hoover, and each library is located in a president's home state (Texas has three). A number of presidents and first ladies are even buried on the grounds of their presidential libraries.

Although it's possible to visit a presidential library, some have virtual tours. Additionally, many presidential documents and photos can be accessed through the internet. For instance, you can see photos of Jackie Kennedy's dresses and find information on when and where she wore them, or you can read the public papers of Ronald Reagan.

I'm probably a bit biased as a librarian, but presidential libraries make it easier for future generations to learn about past presidents and understand their administrations.

As always, sending you best wishes from the perch.

Winter Reading Challenge!

This year the library is doing its very first Winter Reading Challenge! Woo-HOO! Why are we doing it? Because we can! More seriously, though, aren't the post-holiday, colder, darker days of winter the perfect time to read? And isn't it a great excuse to read some of those books you were gifted over the holidays?

Our theme is "Bundle Up With Books," something that's so enticing to do right now on the sofa with a warm beverage, fuzzy socks, cuddly blanket, and flickering candle. Doesn't that give you the feel-good vibes and make you enjoy winter? The Danes sure have it right with the hygge thing!

For those of you who have done our Summer Reading Program, the Winter Reading Challenge works pretty much the same way. It's for kids, teens, and adults, and it counts if you read aloud to each other (for both the listener and the reader) or if you listen to audiobooks. You log your minutes (either online or in person at the library on paper) and get prizes for logs you turn in. Not a bad deal!

So, stave off those winter blues by registering for the Winter Reading Challenge (https://fairchildafblibrary.beanstack.org/) and get reading! The program runs now through January 31. Start your New Year right with books and fun!

Wishing you a winter and whole year of good reads from the perch.

Get the Facts

The library is a politically neutral zone (with the exception of upholding your freedom to read). It does not support any political party and it welcomes people of ALL parties. Heck, unless you tell us which party or candidate you support, we don't know and we don't need to know.

What the library will support and encourage is that you exercise your right to vote. And if you're unsure how to vote, we can help you find information that will aid you in making your choices. There are various materials online and in print about the candidates and different issues that will allow you to learn more.

A good voter is an informed voter, one who checks and evaluates sources. Are the sources reputable? Do they have an agenda? Are they more left-leaning or right-leaning? Do they present more facts or opinions? So many news sources today often present opinions as facts, and it takes effort to sift the real from the unreal. As a general rule, if something seems unbelievable, it probably is. Don't get taken by the sensationalism of a number of news outlets. Be especially wary of social media, which is full of opinions and emotions.

If there is one thing certain to come from the election, it's a different elected leader. Some of us will be happy with the result, and some will not. No matter what, when the election is done, let's move forward. Let's all respect each other and calmly continue. Then let's do something we can all (hopefully) agree on--read.

Wishing everyone the best from the perch.

Halloween--It's for Adults, Too!

Why can't adults have fun? I mean REALLY have fun? The kind of fun like you had when you were a kid, when you didn't feel silly about dressing up, pretending to be someone or something else, and playing make-believe? Think way, way back. Can you remember what that felt like?

Too many of us take life too seriously and have forgotten how to play. Or we think we can't afford the time to play because there are more important things to do, like doing taxes, making dental appointments, or following news on the election (that last one is the best, isn't it?). Playing for adults, however, is not only fun, it's good for our mental and physical health. It helps us to relax our minds and bodies, de-stress, laugh, move, and more.

Let's face it. Halloween gives us adults an excuse to put on a costume, have fun, and act goofy (something my co-workers will say I do often enough). We can be a Jedi knight, a princess, a superhero, an alien, or anyone else, real or imagined. We can even be something strange like a Rubik's Cube, puffy cotton candy with a paper stick sitting on our head, or a washing machine. You can be whatever you can imagine! And don't be afraid to act out the new persona you've taken--just do it. Halloween is for everyone--kids and adults.

If there's one thing I've learned from the kids in the library storytimes that I lead, don't worry about how you look or if you're doing things right. Just get out there, let yourself go, and have fun in the moment!

What do you want to be for Halloween this year? Share with us!

Wishing everyone loads of fun this spooky season from the perch.

Libraries--In the Fight Against Loneliness

I recently read and absolutely loved The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife, a gem of a first book by Anna Johnston. It's a story about Fred, an 82-year old man about to be evicted from his apartment for not making rent over several months. He's been short on cash since paying for cancer treatment for his wife, who died ten years earlier. Not only is Fred a widower, he's an only child with no children, family, or friends (they either died or moved away). Loneliness consumes his life until some strange and comic turn of events enable him to trade places with his doppelganger living in a nursing home, where he's surrounded by kind, caring people. I'm not going to give away the story, but trust me when I say this is a sad, funny, surprising, page-turning, feel-good book. I laughed and cried at different points for Fred and the other characters.

Besides being so good that I savored each page, why am I bringing this book to your attention? Because it addresses an epidemic currently in the U.S. (and in many part of the world)--loneliness. It's ironic that at a time during which we're so connected through technology, a number of us--from kids to the elderly--are lonely. A text or a video chat just doesn't replace real, in-person interaction and communication. I was stunned to learn that the Surgeon General claims that loneliness is as dangerous as smoking 15 cigarettes or drinking 6 alcoholic drinks a day! Seriously! Loneliness can also raise the risks of obesity, high blood pressure, anxiety, Alzheimer's, heart disease, and other ailments.

So, what can help counter this epidemic? Libraries. 

Think about it. Where else but the library can you go to talk with real people, participate in programs, and socialize without paying? As a perch librarian manning the reference/circulation desk, it may be part of my job to be professional and polite, but many perch librarians like myself truly enjoy talking with patrons and getting to know them. I can tell you from experience that a number of people, young and old, come up to me just to chat about whatever is on their minds. Often, I get the impression that they enjoy having real face-to-face connection; for some, it may be the only real connection they'll have all day or possibly all week. And if I and my co-workers can brighten people's days and make them feel less lonely in addition to helping them with their information needs, then that's good. We're happy to fight the battle with loneliness one person at a time.

Wishing you meaningful connections with others from the perch.

Books That Feel Like Fall

With the weather getting cooler and the autumnal equinox in sight, I set out on a quest to discover books that feel fall-like. I found lists of books on a number of websites claiming various titles to be good reads for fall, but some of the selections didn't encompass the sense of the season to me. So, I turned to my colleagues in the library to see which books feel like fall to them:

• Anna--House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland (Libby/Overdrive) This supernatural young adult novel focuses on three sisters who disappear from their home in Scotland. They reappear some time later with no memory of what occurred and strange things start to happen. Anna likes the book's spooky aspects, which makes her think of fall.
• Calise--Ten Apples Up On Top! by Theo LeSieg (JE LES) This is a cute counting book for children about a lion, a tiger, and a dog seeing how many apples they can balance on their heads while performing a range of activities. Calise says this book feels fall-like to her because it brings thoughts of apple picking to her mind.
• Eileen--A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (F HAR) To me, this book presents many aspects of fall. Set in September around the pagan festival of Mabon (the autumnal equinox), a tea-drinking scholar-witch studying in Oxford University's Bodleian Library finds a strange manuscript sought by other witches, vampires, and daemons.
• Emma--Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel (ER LOB) The well-loved children's book series about Frog and Toad going on their different adventures while sporting sweaters and jackets speaks fall to Emma.
• Lisa--Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert (J FIC EHL) Lisa's pick for a fall feel is a classic children's story. She believes that this picture book, which shows a man made of colorful leaves blowing in the wind, is imaginative and expresses the beauty of fall.
• Victor--Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto (Hoopla audiobook) Coming from Texas, fall feels a little different to Victor, whose family enjoys eating tamales during the season. In this children's book, a young girl helps make tamales but notices that her mother's ring is missing. Did it slip off her finger and into one of the tamales that was cooked?

I thank my colleagues for their contributions to this post, and now I turn to you, dear readers--which books feel like fall to you? Share with us!

Wishing you a wonderful fall season filled with cozy reads and warm drinks from the perch.