Caregiver Care

If you're wondering why I haven't been at the perch for a while, it's because I was caring for my mother who was recently hospitalized for pneumonia with sepsis (this can happen at any age; for symptoms and more information consult the Mayo Clinic). Thankfully, she will be fine, but being her caregiver (and also my father's--he's 81 and needs help with some everyday tasks) made me stressed and exhausted. I'm sure anyone who's been through similar will attest the same, in addition to proclaiming the importance of taking care of yourself so you can be there for your loved one.

Here's what I learned about the needs of caregivers from my own experience:

• Get rest.  The person who is ill needs rest, but so do you. If you're tired and depleted, you won't be much good in providing help. Furthermore, you put yourself at risk for getting sick.
• Eat and Drink.  Don't forget your own basic needs to keep up your strength and avoid dehydrating.
• Use the restroom.  How can anyone not do this? Well, it's not too hard when you have doctors, nurses, and others coming in and out of the hospital room, and you're getting up and down giving your loved one sips of water as well as adjusting blankets.
• Take your own meds.  If you're on maintenance medications, like yours truly, be sure to remember your own health.
• Ask for help.  As a general rule, I try not to bother others, but when I really need help, I've learned to ask for it. I was really grateful to my husband and in-laws for helping with different things, like bringing over groceries and food.
• Read a book.  Seriously. You need a mental break sometimes from what you're doing and what's going on. I was glad to read my Kindle in the hospital during those times when my mother was able to sleep. It was good to have a temporary distraction.

There are all sorts of support groups both online and in-person for caregivers of those with various illnesses, aging issues, physical/mental/emotional impairments, etc. Some support groups are specific to a condition (i.e., breast cancer, dementia, autism) or are more general. If you're wondering how you can help someone you know who's caring for someone on a short- or long-term basis, here are some online articles to read:

• "6 Simple (Yet Meaningful) Ways to Support a Caregiver" (Caring Bridge)
• "10 Ways to Help Caregivers" (Bridge to Better Living)
• "Caregiver Stress: Tips for Taking Care of Yourself" (Mayo Clinic)
• "Family Caregiving: Help and Support for Caregivers" (HelpGuide.org)
• "How to Support a Caregiver" (Carespring)

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy Holiday Season from the perch.

The 300th Post!

Wow! Can you believe it? 300 posts in over 12 years! I missed celebrating the 100th and 200th posts, but the 300th is the charm!

Approaching the Thanksgiving holiday, my thoughts and feelings turn to gratitude. You may recall that back in January I made the New Year's intention (I hate the term, "resolution") to keep a gratitude journal and every day list three things for which I'm grateful, no matter how big or small. Well, I've actually kept it up. Maybe I've combined a couple of days here and there, maybe I've listed more than three things on some days, but I've made a point of keeping it going.

Experts claim that reflecting and being grateful help rewire your brain to think more positively and, in turn, make you feel happier. I didn't think I would say this, but the experts are right--I do generally feel more content overall. Even my husband says I complain less these days! And flipping back through my gratitude journal, I'm amazed by how many things I have to be grateful about.

So in the spirit of Thanksgiving, let me say that I am grateful that I've been able to write 300 posts for you to read and (hopefully) enjoy. I'm grateful to have been your perch librarian for over 14 years now (and counting). I'm grateful to have helped so many of you with your questions, a number of which have been interesting and some of which have kept me on my toes! And I'm grateful to have gotten to know so many of you along with your families--it's one of the highlights working at the perch.

Although we're living in uncertain and somewhat concerning times, there are still things for which to be grateful. And keep in mind that those things are often ordinary, everyday things that can be easily overlooked and taken for granted. Take a moment to stop, notice those things, and be grateful for them.

Wishing you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving from the perch.

Let's Talk Turkey!

Are you hosting Thanksgiving this year like your perch librarian? Are you also intimidated by the turkey? With the holiday just around the corner, I thought it might be good to talk turkey. Specifically, let's talk about different websites that can help us conquer that big bird.

It's amazing how many ways a turkey can be cooked--in the oven, on the barbecue, in a deep fryer, in a smoker, etc. As for recipes, the number is endless; I kid you not. Bearing all this in mind, I'm going to list a few key places to get started:

• AllRecipes  Here are 13 turkey recipes to peruse. Choose from a classic or an herb roasted turkey to something a little off the beaten path, like a spicy Cajun deep-fried or a roast Peruvian turkey. The recipes include accompanying videos as well.
• Butterball  The name is synonymous with both turkey and Thanksgiving. It covers everything from types of turkey to buy, thawing directions, various cooking instructions, and leftover recipes, among other things. And don't forget about the hotline for turkey questions and emergencies.
• Food Network  The well-known TV channel lists 92 turkey recipes from the classic to the truly out-there turkey (I'm talking about tandoori, Memphis-fried, General Tso's-fried, buffalo-fried, North Carolina-style barbecue, maple-whiskey...you name it).
• Food & Wine  For a rather classy turkey, check out the 26 recipes offered here. There are recipes for turkey that's cider-glazed, citrus marinated, spice-rubbed, beer-brined, and more. There's even Anthony Bourdain's recipe for "business turkey," which has the bare basics.
• YouTube  For visual learners, watch a video and let a cook go through the cooking process step-by-step. Search for "how to cook a turkey" (the cooking method can be specified in the search) and choose from videos made by famous chefs and vloggers. Additionally, it's a good place to look up video recipes for side dishes and desserts.

Do you have a particular turkey recipe you enjoy? Share with us!

Wishing you good reads and delicious eats from the perch.

What's Cooking with the Perch Librarian

Fall is the time for comfort food, at least it is for me. With the leaves dropping along with the temperatures, I enjoy making and eating some savory foods on a chilly day (along with a good book, naturally). Although there are some great cookbooks out there, I actually prefer exploring recipes online. That way I can look for specific recipes and even compare multiple recipes for the same dish to see which one I prefer.

So if you're wondering what are some of my favorite fall dishes, check out the following:

• Rustic Hungarian Mushroom Soup  I love almost anything with mushrooms, but this easy-to-make soup is so mushroomy and creamy you'll be wishing you had a bigger stomach. Enjoy it with a roll or a chunk of crusty bread.
• Easy Slow Cooker Beef Chili  The crockpots tend to come out more in the fall and winter, don't they? Other than sauteing onions and browning beef, this is a "dump" recipe. Pair it with this ultimate moist and tasty Cornbread recipe and you're in heaven.
• Meatloaf Supreme  There are so many meatloaf recipes out there that it's hard to choose. The ingredient that distinguishes this one from others (along with it being a recipe of American author Laura Ingalls Wilder) is your choice of sausage mixed with the beef. I like using mild Italian sausage and an extra can of mushrooms (did I mention I love mushrooms?) beside the can of mushrooms I spread on top.
• Gemma's Best Ever Irish Scones  Scones and tea--what could be better? Not much, in my opinion. Believe this tea snob when she says there are few (if any) recipes for scones that can compare. Make sure you pair this with a good cuppa.
• Polish Apple Cake  I found this recipe on a Facebook page for those interested in their Polish heritage. If you're looking for something different from your standard American pie, give this one a try. It's simple, delicious, and you can decorate the top with sliced apples to impress others.

What are some of your favorite comfort recipes for fall? Share with us!

Wishing you delectable delicacies this season from the perch.

 

Witchy Reads

Some are old, some are new. Find the perfect book for you! 'Tis the witching time of year to read of things that we may fear. Care to read of Salem's trials? Witches of the British Isles? Then come and visit for a spell. The books we like, we'll gladly tell. The cauldron's brewing--that's no joke! The library's where you won't go broke.

Now on to books that are quite charming or (who knows?) a tad alarming:

• The Hour of the Witch by Chris Bohjalian  In 1662 Boston, a woman seeking to divorce her abusive husband is tried for witchcraft. Beware of dinner utensils.
• The Nature of Witches by Rachel M. Griffin  Witches control the climate and are losing control. Now we know the real reason behind climate change!
• A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness  What do you get when you put a witch and a vampire together, and then mix in some daemons? The first book of an exciting trilogy filled with romance, history, adventure, and suspense.
• The Once and Future Witches  by Alix E. Harrow  Three sisters join the suffragists, use witchcraft, and change the course of history. Never underestimate a witch.
• Wicked by Gregory Maguire  Move over Dorothy. This is the backstory about the Wicked Witch of the West in Oz who wasn't always wicked.
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K Rowling  The book that started the world phenomenon centering on an 11-year old boy who discovers he's a wizard and attends a school for witchcraft.
• The Witches: Suspicion, Betrayal, and Hysteria in 1692 Salem by Stacy Schiff  A non-fiction read about the most infamous witch hunt in American history.

Know other books that are divine? By all means share and post a line.

Wishing you good witchy reads from the perch.

Why You (May) Read Faster on an E-Reader

In my last post, I talked about people generally reading faster on an e-reader as opposed to a print book. This time I'm going to explore why this may be the case. I can't speak for all readers of digital books, but I will share with you some of the reasons why I probably read faster with my Kindle:

• I can adjust the font size.  I love that I'm not restricted to the publisher's font size. I can choose a size that's comfortable for my eyes to read. I can also choose a serif or sans serif font, if I'd like.
• I can read in dark mode.  If you're not aware of this, dark mode puts text in white against a black background. This makes it easier on the eyes to read in low-light situations. It's an eye-saver for me to use dark mode to read in bed at night.
• It's lighter to hold than a print book.  My Kindle weighs far less than most books. Also, I don't have to hold it open or even hold it at all (I actually have a triangular pillow pad on which to prop it).
• I can get a book anytime.  If I finish my book outside of library hours, I don't have to wait for the library to open to get my next read. I can get it at 11 p.m., 6 a.m., or whenever.

Not too long ago, someone who prefers reading print books told me I went over to the "dark side" and "drank the Kool-Aid." I replied that the dark side is pretty nice and the Kool-Aid tastes good. Not everyone may agree with me regarding the use of e-readers, and that's okay. I will say, however, to be open to different things because you just never know if you may discover something new to enjoy.

Wishing you delightful refreshments to accompany your reading from the perch.

With What Do You Read Faster?

Do you read a paper book faster or an electronic book? That is the question for today since I stumbled across this article claiming we perceive that we read faster on an e-reader.

When I first started reading ebooks on my Kindle during the pandemic, I admit that I had to adjust to reading on a screen and swiping across it to advance rather than turning a physical page. However, once I grew accustomed to using an e-reader, I was like a fish taking to water. It indeed felt like I was reading faster on a screen than a printed page. I thought that must have been my imagination. Did I really read more ebooks than print?

To get to the bottom of things, I went to my LibraryThing page to see how many print books I read throughout 2019 (my last pre-pandemic year of reading strictly print) versus how many ebooks I've read this year (post-pandemic) so far. Surprise--I listed 10 books in all of 2019 compared to 19 books in 2023 and there are still 3 MONTHS left in the year! I actually do read more on my Kindle than in print! Who knows how many books I'll have read by December 31?

According to a blog called Simone and Her Books, 66 percent of people say they read faster on an e-reader, while 34 percent say they read slower. Wow! Bear in mind that Simone didn't do a scientific study; she got these percentages from people who responded to her topic-related question on Bookstagram. If it's true that people read faster on readers, it would be interesting to ponder why that's the case, something that's best left for another post.

Do you feel you read faster on an e-reader or in print? Share with us!

Wishing you good reads (electronic or in print) from the perch.

Up for Some Death Cleaning?

Back in April I posted about helping my parents house hunt and promised to talk about adventures in moving at a later time. Well, I'm making good on that promise. I've recently returned from helping my parents move out of their New York house and brought them across the country to move into their new house in Washington State. At the time of this writing, my parents are staying at my house while waiting for their moving truck to soon arrive with all their furniture and other worldly possessions.

A big part of moving, as those of you in the military will attest, is deciding which things to keep and which things have to go. This part was especially difficult for my father, who has a tendency to keep more things than he should (like over a dozen pill boxes--don't ask). However, if you're downsizing from a bi-level house to a single level, getting rid of things you no longer need is essential.

Helping my father sort through his belongings and part with unnecessary things was a lot like Swedish death cleaning (and of course, I had to read Margareta Magnusson's The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning in the middle of the move). If you ask me, the Swedes have the right idea--clean and get rid of your unneeded stuff as you go through life so someone doesn't have to clean up your junk after you're gone. Not only does this make your house less cluttered and more organized for you now, it also makes it easier on the person settling your affairs later, leaving a good last impression of you. After all, no one wants to be remembered for being a hoarder, right?

Along the lines of Swedish death cleaning, I helped my father toss or donate quite a few things that were taking up space for far too long. Bills that were paid in the '90s, a number of key chains, 8-track tapes of polka music, clothes that weren't worn in ages or no longer fit. Items that are still being used and sentimental things, like family photographs, were naturally kept. It was a rather intense process, but well worth it and one I highly recommend for everyone at every age. I'm proud of my father for having done so well with cleaning out his things. Now, if I can only get him to part with a few of those pill boxes he insisted on keeping...

Wishing you happy death cleaning from the perch.

Movies that Speak Summer

Some movies capture summer so perfectly you can feel the sticky, humid heat and smell the barbecue along with lake water or briny ocean air. By no means is this a definitive list of movies that take place in summer, but these are some of my favorites (all of which are available at the library):

• American Graffiti  School's out and there's not much to do in a pre-tech, pre-internet world than ride around in your car and hang out with your friends at the burger joint. See a young Harrison Ford before he became big in Star Wars and Indiana Jones.
• Dirty Dancing  A lakeside cabin at a family resort in New York's Catskill Mountains. A summer romance between a hunky dance instructor and a cute girl wanting to change the world in the turbulent 1960s. Expect both the expected and the unexpected.
• Jaws  The early classic of Steven Spielberg that made and continues to make people afraid of going into the water. A bigger boat is always a good idea.
• Mamma Mia  Plenty of shorts, dresses, bathing suits, beautiful Greek islands, and ABBA music to accompany the story of a young woman who invited her three potential fathers to her wedding. A guaranteed feel-good movie with a stellar cast including Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Amanda Seyfried, Colin Firth, and others.
• Mystic Pizza  A group of girls having summer jobs at a local pizza parlor in Connecticut have fun, make mistakes, and learn about relationships in this 1980s favorite featuring a young Julia Roberts.
• Rear Window  You can feel the steamy summer in New York City while watching this Alfred Hitchcock classic. A photographer with a broken leg is confined to his apartment, spies on his neighbors through his window, and finds out more than is good for him.
• A River Runs Through It  Summer in 1920s Missoula, Montana means church, family, socials, and fly fishing--lots of it--against the background of beautiful big sky country. Directed by Robert Redford, starring Brad Pitt, and based on the semi-autobiographical book by Norman Maclean.

Do you have some favorite movies set in summer? Share with us!

Wishing you happy movie-watching from the perch.

What Does a Librarian WANT to read?

How's your summer reading so far? Are you reading some good books? Still working on your TBR (to be read) list?

You may recall that last time I talked about recently published books I've read and enjoyed. In this post I'm going to share with you some new books that I would like to read but haven't gotten around to just yet:

• All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley  Can you imagine what it would be like to work as a guard in the Metropolitan Museum of Art with all those priceless masterpieces? This book is a firsthand account of one guard's experiences.
• Your Table is Ready by Michael Cecchi-Azzolina  I'm sure a maître d’ of swanky New York restaurants serving celebrities and the elite has a few stories to tell, and I'm curious to read about them.
• Spectacular by Fiona Davis  If you didn't know, I'm a New Yorker, born and bred. Having been in Radio City Music Hall in the past and reading some of Davis' books about other New York City landmarks, I'm excited to see how she presents the story of this famous Art Deco theatre.
• Don't Think, Dear by Alice Robb  I've always found the behind-the-scenes ballet world fascinating, and this book was written by a former student of the School of American Ballet. She discusses how the school affected her and other women, both positively and negatively, whether they went on to become professional dancers or not.
• Beyond That, The Sea by Laura Spence-Ash  This book is about an 11-year old English girl sent by her parents to a family in Boston to keep her safe from German bombs during World War II. After first adapting to life in America, she must then re-acquaint herself with life in England when she returns to her parents after the war.
• The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson  As I mentioned in my previous post, I enjoy reading about libraries and other librarians, real or fictional. This novel is based on a true story about a librarian who creates a library in a London Underground station to help others get through the air raids of World War II.

George R.R. Martin said, "A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies." I don't know how many lives I've lived up to this point, but I do know that I love reading about different people and their lives, past and present, familiar and different.

What books would you like to read but haven't gotten around to reading? Share with us!

Wishing you many literary adventures from the perch.

What Does a Librarian Read?

With the start of the Summer Reading Program, you might be thinking about books you're going to read. If I may, I'd like to share some books that I've enjoyed recently, all of which were published over the last several years and can either be found in our library or on Libby/Overdrive.

• The Lonely Hearts Book Club by Lucy Gilmore  I love this book not only because it's about a librarian and about people coming together to help each other, but also because it's written by a local Spokane author and takes place in nearby Coeur d'Alene. Who doesn't enjoy reading about familiar places?
• Listening Still by Anne Griffin  The setting and topic of this book are a little off the beaten path--in a small Irish town, a funeral home director's daughter is able to hear the thoughts of the newly deceased. Although it may sound macabre, the book is more about the choices we make, the outcomes of those choices, and accepting those outcomes.
• The Librarian Spy by Madeline Martin  I can't speak for all librarians, but I find it interesting to read about others in my profession, fictional or real. The story of a librarian from the Library of Congress working covertly in Portugal may be fictional, but the World War II events and circumstances depicted are not.
• Stupid Things I Won't Do When I Get Old by Steven Petrow  We may see our grandparents, parents, or other relatives aging and think we're going to age more gracefully. History, though, has a habit of repeating itself. I like how this author examines his parents' aging as well as his own with a mix of humor, frustration, surprise, and ultimately compassion.
• The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley  I guess I have a soft spot for lonely characters who eventually come together and support each other. This one, however, takes place in London and centers around a notebook in which the characters write about what their lives are really like rather than the façades they present to others everyday.
• Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt  This is a different kind of feel-good book told from the perspective of an octopus and an older woman who cleans a fictional aquarium near Seattle. The two form an unlikely friendship of sorts and unexpected things happen. Just take my word and give this one a try.

If none of these titles rings your bell, that's okay. Stop by the perch and I'll help you find a book that does.

Wishing you many good reads this summer from the perch.

Summer Reading = Fun!!!

The Summer Reading Program (June 1-August 31) is just around the corner! Hard to believe, I know, but the start of it is almost here!

I could do what I've done other summers and talk about how it's important for kids and teens to read in their time off from school. Summer reading prevents the so-called "summer slide," helping kids improve their vocabulary and thinking abilities as well as retain things they learned over the school year. But I'm not going to talk about that.

I could talk about all the cool prizes we have for kids, teens, and adults. There are jump ropes, noisy putty, coins, badges, highlighters, watercolors, microphones, spaghetti yo-yos (I really like those!), journals, cups, and phone stands. Of course, there are other things like bags, because you can never have too many book bags. But I'm not going to talk about that.

I could talk about the exciting activities we have in the library during summer reading. There are art experiments, break-out boxes, STEAM programs, and finding where Mango (the summer reading mascot) is hiding in the library each week. But I'm not going to talk about that.

What I AM going to talk about is having FUN reading, because that's really the heart of summer reading. Whether you're a kid, teen, or adult, just READ. It can (and should) be ANYTHING you want to read. Fiction or fantasy, mystery or manga, it makes no difference as long as it's FUN to you. Read if you have somewhere to go, read if you have nowhere to go. Read stories about people, places, and things. 

So, do the Summer Reading Program for the fun of it (and maybe that spaghetti yo-yo).

Wishing you good readings this summer from the perch.

Taking On the Remakes

Many well-loved classic movies are being remade these days. I understand that making movies has always been expensive, and nowadays it's more expensive than ever. It makes sense that, due to costs, movie executives are less willing to make movies from scratch and want to invest in something familiar to audiences, something they hope will be a sure hit. However, as the saying goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Not all movie remakes have been as well received as the original versions. Fame was so loved and popular it became a hit TV show in the '80s, but the 2009 remake lacked the grittiness and heart of the original. I may be biased having grown up with The Karate Kid, but I (and apparently others) had trouble seeing anyone but Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita in those now iconic roles. Sure, the effects in the original Ghostbusters aren't up to today's standards, but it's those cheesy effects along with those actors that make it so fun. And don't even get me started on Dirty Dancing and Footloose.

To be fair, there are remakes that are just as good if not better than their original versions. Disney has done a great job in remaking both The Parent Trap and Freaky Friday, updating cherished movies to a new generation of audiences without alienating the older generation. Poseidon, the remake of The Poseidon Adventure doesn't disappoint in its intensity or star power. A Star is Born and True Grit are also notable remakes.

It's all fine if a movie remake is done well, but I would hate to think that unique movies like the first Star Wars, Back to the Future, or My Big Fat Greek Wedding may not be made today because of the financial risks involved. Sometimes, the risks may just pay off.

What are your favorite/least favorite remakes? Share with us!

Wishing you happy movie watching from the perch.

Libraries--The Heart of Communities

Since this is National Library Week, I'm going to make a completely biased post about why libraries are so great beyond the books. So, if you don't mind me showing some library love, then by all means read on.

Libraries today are among the few places where people of all ages can gather for reading, studying, enjoying programs, socializing, or whatever...without paying anything! Sure, you can do the same things in a coffee shop or restaurant, but you have to buy something and you're expected to leave after a reasonable time. In libraries, you can be there the entire day without anyone pushing you out.

You also have real people in libraries to help you--yes, indeed! Actual living, breathing people who are friendly and genuinely want to help you, whether it's finding information or teaching you how to do something on a computer. Where was last place you went that had kind people assisting you? I don't know about you, but I find it so irritating to deal with automated phone trees or touch screens, especially when only an actual person can help me with something.

Ultimately, libraries really are the heart of communities. People of all ethnicities, races, and backgrounds are welcome. And libraries are very community-conscious, thinking about ways to better serve their patrons. English conversational groups for non-native speakers, homework help for young students, and guest speakers discussing retirement issues with older members, are just a few of the many community-centered library offerings. With patrons being the heart of libraries, it's no wonder that libraries are the heart of communities.

Yours truly, cheering on libraries from the perch.

Home Buying, Sweet Home Buying

Buying a house is a stressful experience, something I was reminded of recently while helping my parents (who currently reside in New York) house hunt and navigate buying a house locally. I bought a house with my husband about 10 years ago, and I think everyone who's been through the process will say it's nerve-wracking and confusing, not just because this will likely be the most costly investment you'll ever make, but also because it's difficult maneuvering all the steps and legalese involved.

That's where having a good realtor comes in. The pros of hiring a realtor is having someone guide you through the process and all the legal documents. Another advantage is having someone help with your house hunt and take you on a tour of houses in which you're interested. Sometimes, a realtor will even have the inside scoop on houses that are just about to go on the market, giving you first dibs on what may be your dream house (this is what happened to me and my husband). The big con of having a realtor, however, is paying a commission of up to 3% of the home's sale price.

Whether or not you decide to enlist the services of a realtor in searching for and buying a house, here are some notable resources for helping you start your journey to home ownership:

Books

• Nolo's Essential Guide to Buying Your First Home by Ilona Bray (643.12 BRA) Various real estate professionals--from brokers and mortgage specialists to home inspectors and others--educate on how to go about buying your first home.
• Buying a Home: The Missing Manual by Nancy Conner (643.12 CON) A real estate expert comprehensively simplifies the basics of buying a home.
• Making the Most of Your Veterans Affairs (VA) Home Loan Benefits by David E. Nelson, Jr. (643.12 NEL) An American veteran/realtor explains how to use your VA home loan benefits to purchase your home.
• Mortgages 101 by David Reed (332.7 REE) Find answers to a number of important questions you may have on taking a home loan.

Online Resources

• "How to Buy a House in 2023" by Rachel Cruze Gives steps on how to finance a home as well as the home-buying process, from house hunting to closing, through the website of personal finance expert Dave Ramsey.
• "Buying a Home" by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Provides a step-by-step guide in buying a home.
• "How to Find a Real Estate Agent: Where to Look and What to Ask" by Natalie Way Offers tips on finding a realtor and key questions to ask.

Of course, once you find that perfect place, the next big thing is moving all your furniture, household goods, and classic paperback book collection into it. Discussing adventures in moving, though, is something best left for a future post.

Wishing you happy times at home from the perch.

Book Challenges and Intellectual Freedom

This morning I read an article by the Associated Press that stated 2022 set a new record for book challenges in the United States. Apparently, more than 1,200 books were challenged last year, which was twice the number challenged in 2021. Requests were made to remove certain items from library shelves across the country, and librarians were even harassed or threatened.

I've written about book challenges before, and as a librarian in the U.S., I would like to reiterate that it's my job to obtain information for library patrons, regardless of what that information may be. It's not my job to censor information. Library materials in this country are available to all those who want them. People are free to borrow (or not borrow) whatever they would like.

You do not have to agree with all the items a library contains; even library staff do not agree with everything on library shelves. What's important is having access to materials and respecting each other's right to check out materials of our choosing.

The library is a safe place for everyone. No matter what you believe, who you are, or where you come from, you are welcome in the library. Let's make sure we keep the library a safe and respectful place where all kinds of information is obtainable.

Ever respectfully yours from the perch.

The Most Important Teacher

I was recently asked to talk about the importance of reading at a Bundles for Babies program conducted by the Airman and Family Readiness Center. In case you're unfamiliar with this program, it gives parents-to-be tips on parenting along with helpful local resources.

They say it takes a village to raise a child, and although I won't contest that claim, I will also stress that the most important teacher your child will have is you. Yes, YOU, the parent. It may not be obvious, but your baby is learning from you long before he or she starts speaking. A child's mind is like a sponge absorbing all that's around, and when it comes to reading, there's no such thing as too early.

When you read to your baby on your lap, your baby is listening to sounds, to language. He or she is learning how to communicate with the words that you speak. Reading to your child is also a bonding experience, something the two of you can do together. Time spent reading together helps your child associate reading with love and as an enjoyable activity to anticipate. Once your child is talking, you can discuss what you read together and teach different things through examples shown in a book.

It may seem like a lot of pressure (and it is), but reading to your child is setting him or her up for later in life. Reading encourages empathy, promotes an attention span, expands the imagination, and develops reasoning abilities. All these qualities will help in elementary school through college and beyond. School teachers, librarians, coaches, and others will provide support and do their part, but as the parent, you are the foremost teacher in your child's life now and in the years to come.

Wishing you and your child wonderful times reading from the perch.

Making Changes

How do you feel about change? Do you embrace it, ready to do something new and different? Or do you resist it, preferring the old and familiar?

The library is currently going through its biggest change in years--switching over to a new software system that handles all our library business. As you can imagine, we're a bit ambivalent about this. It means giving up a system to which we've become accustomed and learning a new, unfamiliar system. As a patron, you will also notice changes with our catalog and due dates for library items, among other changes.

We've all had to deal with change in our lives at one point or another, whether it's starting a new school, moving to a new town, or switching jobs. Some changes are easier than others, but there are books available to help us adapt:

• Small Move, Big Change by Caroline Arnold  Shows you how to make a big change in your life by focusing on smaller achievements, the "microresolutions" that add up to that big change.
• Life is In the Transitions by Bruce Feiler  Offers suggestions on how to give up an old mindset and find new strategies to cope with change.
• Tiny Habits by B.J. Fogg  Demonstrates how change can be easy and even fun when done in small steps (various exercises are included).
• Switch by Chip and Dan Heath  Through examples, shows how we can unite our rational mind (the part wanting change) with our emotional mind (the part resisting change) to make a transformation.
• Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson  Gives insight into how to deal with change using a short parable about 4 mice looking for "cheese" (what they want in life) by going through a "maze" (where they look for what they want). 

Sometimes change comes smoothly and sometimes it doesn't. If the change in our software system comes with a few bumps along the way, please bear with us as we're still adjusting. And of course, should you have questions, whether it's about our new system or anything else, feel free to ask us.

Wishing you positive future changes from the perch.

Just Keep Swimming

How are we doing on keeping those New Year's resolutions? Still doing well? Struggling a little? Ditched them halfway through January? Personally, I believe New Year's intentions are kinder and leave room for being simply human; resolutions, to me, feel more like a ball and chain.

My New Year's intention is to be more positive and grateful, and to help me to this end, I started a daily gratitude journal. At the end of each day, I write down 3 things for which I'm grateful that day. It can be anything, like a beautiful sunset, a cup of tea, a stranger saying hello, or reading a good book (big surprise). The one parameter I've set up for myself is focusing on things I have and avoiding the words don't or can't (i.e., "I'm glad I don't have to clean the bathroom today" or "I'm glad I can't visit Snake Island in Brazil"). Let's face it--don't and can't are negative terms while have tends to be more positive.

To be honest, so far I've had to combine a few days (I was feeling crummy with a head cold in the middle of January), but other than that, I've kept up with my journaling. It's given me cause to stop and think about the good that's around me. I'd like to think that when I do have a bad day, I can flip through previous pages and remind myself that things aren't as awful as they may seem in that moment. Anyone who's into mindfulness can tell you that moments come and go, changing all the time.

If you've had trouble keeping your New Year's promises to yourself, don't beat yourself over the head. You're only human. And remember that tomorrow is the start of another new year (not all new years need to start on January 1). The important thing is to keep on going. As Dory in Finding Nemo puts it, "just keep swimming."

Wishing you good vibes from the perch.

Don't Count On It

I've never been a big fan of numbers. Although (with extra effort) I got As in my high school math classes, I found the history of math to be more interesting than the actual math itself. Blame it on Miss Bailey, my 9th and 11th grade math teacher who never let anyone forget that Euclid was the father of geometry.

With so many making New Year's resolutions, I can't help noticing all the posts on social media asking people how many books they want to read this year or encouraging kids to read 1,000 books before kindergarten. I think it's great for those of all ages to include books and reading in their plans for the New Year. However, I have a problem with the counting part.

This is just the opinion of one perch librarian, but I think once you put a number to the books you read, you put unnecessary pressure on yourself. At first you may not give much thought to your goal of reading X number of books. However, over time, you're focusing more on achieving that number than you are on enjoying the books you're reading, which should be the ultimate objective. 

And especially concerning very young children, you want to make reading something fun, something they want to do in order to turn them into life-long readers. If you turn reading into a chore, kids will avoid them and likely have difficulty in school and beyond. Just relax and make daily bedtime or morning reading with your little ones part of a pleasant routine. The number of books read will take care of itself.

Remember--what really matters is enjoying the act of reading. Regardless of age, it's the quality of time spent with a book, not the quantity that's important.

Wishing you a year of pleasurable reading from the perch.