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.

College is Not the Only Option

With the start of a new school year comes a newly published book--Rethinking College: A Guide to Thriving Without a Degree by Karin Klein. I recently read this and highly recommend it for parents of soon-to-be high school graduates and airmen considering their future lives after the military.

With the ridiculously high cost of college these days, the daunting prospect of going into debt, and the possibility of getting a low-paying job outside one's field, it's essential to know that there are other options besides college. Klein's book provides alternatives to 4-year colleges, including various work experiences, apprenticeships, and creative self-employment, among others. Additionally, a number of quizzes are offered to help determine one's interests and strengths as well as desired work-life balance.

So many high schools push kids to take the college track (often because the percentage of graduates planning to attend college determines the reputation of the schools). However, they fail to help those students who don't want or are unable to go to college; they offer few alternatives besides vocational schools or the military. Klein shows that people can be well-educated, have successful careers, and enjoy fulfilling lives without a college degree (similarly, she also discusses how a number of people with advanced graduate degrees are underemployed, dissatisfied with their work, and lack job security).

The world today is different than it was decades ago when a bachelors degree meant more. Since the pandemic, skills are becoming more sought by employers than a college degree. Although college is still a noble pursuit (and is required for certain fields, such as medicine), this book provides invaluable information for students and their families to consider in making one of the largest financial and timewise investments they will ever make.

Wishing everyone a good school year from the perch.

Be a Reading Model

In the last post, I talked about the importance of reading to your children from infancy in order to help make them readers. There is another key factor in helping your children to become readers--modeling. And no, I'm not talking about strutting around the house in the latest outfit you bought on Amazon.

Monkey see, monkey do. Kids are nothing if not impressionable, and the adults around them serve as models to imitate. When they see an adult doing something, they want to do it, too. If an adult is cooking, they will want to cook. If an adult is building something, they will want to build. Similarly, if kids see an adult reading, they will want to read.

If your kids don't see you reading, the concept of reading and books will be foreign to them. It's difficult to get them to do something if they don't see you doing it first. As they get older, your kids may even make the argument, "Why should I have to read if you don't have to read?" That's a legitimate question, in my humble opinion.

Reading should not be a chore for anyone, young or old. I know we're all busy and tired these days, but let's try to set aside 20-30 minutes each evening for leisure reading. It can be a thriller, a romance, a cookbook, a how-to book, a newspaper, even a graphic novel (hey, it's still reading). Just read and let your kids see you reading. And don't forget to read to or with your kids, especially when they're very young. When your kids are older, talk with each other about what books you're reading. It will give you a subject for conversation as well as an opportunity to bond and know each other better.

Wishing you many good family reading moments from the perch.

Get Them While They're Young

A number of you know I lead Storytime on Wednesdays at 10:30, but more recently I've also been reading books on Friday mornings at the Child Development Center. My experiences there with the preschoolers have been nothing less than eye-opening, to say the least.

Each week I read to a different classroom, and it never fails to amaze me how eager the kids are for books and listening to stories. They're so excited and aren't afraid to comment about the characters or the pictures they see on the pages. Sometimes, by popular demand, I need to read a book more than once. Other times, several children rush to give me books they enjoy from a classroom shelf so I can read them aloud.

I taught high school English 20 years ago, and I honestly don't remember my students being half as excited about reading as the preschoolers at the CDC. More often than not, trying to get the teens to participate in class discussions was as easy as pulling teeth, no matter how I tried to get them involved or interested. Even though I made Friday a day to read any book for pleasure in class (in my time, it was called SSR or "Sustained Silent Reading"), some students agonized over reading. And bringing some reluctant readers to the school library to help them choose books about things they liked didn't always make a difference.

Thinking about my high school students from years ago and seeing the CDC kids' enthusiasm for reading today has made me realize, more than before, that if you want your children to be readers, you need to start reading to them and with them from infancy. Yes, infancy. Reading board books to babies and progressing to picture books as they grow help kids develop a love for books and reading in addition to developing their thinking, analytical skills, and imagination. It sets them up to succeed in school and beyond. Spark their interest in reading while they're very young; that spark will transform into a raging fire as they get older.

What are some of your favorite childhood books? Share with us!

Looking forward to sharing more reading journeys from the perch.

Learning from Lula

I recently read Kirsten Miller's Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books, a book I thoroughly enjoyed. It's a light read that deals with the serious subject of banning books, something that's happening more often in more places.

The book is set in a small Georgia town where everybody knows everybody, history goes deep, and gossip goes even deeper. Lula Dean, bless her heart, creates the Concerned Parents Committee that aims to rid the school and public libraries of "pornographic" books in order to protect the town's children. She then puts up a little library, in front of her house, filled with conservative books that made her the person she is today. What Lula doesn't know is that the daughter of her high school archrival replaces all her books with banned books, putting false dust covers on them.

It's funny to read about the readers' surprise when they find different books in the covers, but it's inspiring to see how the books change their perspectives and their lives. Books are powerful in helping people learn--about history and each other. Sometimes, the lessons are difficult and unpleasant, but they're necessary for moving forward to a better future and to avoid being mired in the mistakes of the past.

Kirsten Miller does a great job presenting the issues surrounding book banning in a fun, interesting, and non-preaching way. Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books is a real page turner filled with the unexpected. It's sure to stay with you for a while.

Have you read Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books? What are your thoughts on it? Share with us!

Ever yours truly from the perch.

Thinking About the Summer Reading Program?

Just do it! 😊📚

https://fairchildafblibrary.beanstack.org

Cooking for Dad

Father's Day is this weekend, and one way to a dad's heart is through his stomach. The barbecue may be a popular option, but there are other options for tasty, summertime cuisine. And let's not forget desserts--sweets are just as popular with dads as they are with moms!

If you're stumped on what to make for your Father's Day feast, take a look at the following cookbooks and websites offering simple and delicious recipes for dads of all tastes:

Cookbooks

• The Firehouse Grilling Cookbook by Joseph T. Bonanno Jr. (641.5784 BON)  The FDNY author lives up to the culinary reputation of firefighters. There are all kinds of recipes for your cookout, from appetizers and salads to marinades for your meats. Drinks and sweets? They're included.
• The Art of the Pie by Kate McDermott (641.8652 MCD)  My dad has always been a big fan of pie, and this cookbook is bound to please pie lovers of all kinds. Fruit pies, berry pies, creamy pies, even savory pies--they're all here. Various gluten-free and vegan crust recipes are also offered along with those for no-bake crusts.
• 20-40-60 Minute Dinners by Kate Otterstrom (641.5 OTT)  Who says you have to work your fingers to the bone cooking for dad? This book has plenty of quick and easy dishes that dad and everyone will love. From sandwiches to casseroles and more, make a meal that won't take all day.
• Taste of Home All-American Cookbook (BT 641.5 TAS)  Sliders, pigs in a blanket, burgers, corn dogs, pastas, pulled pork sandwiches, baby back ribs, deviled eggs, potato salads, cobblers, cheesecakes, pies...do I need to go on?

Websites

• Better Homes and Gardens  The recipes here are traditional but with interesting twists to make dad's mouth water. Try the Scandinavian Steak and Potatoes, Bacon Cheeseburgers with Kentucky Bourbon Sauce, or Pineapple-Ginger Wings, among others. 
• the kitchn  This site offers 57 scrumptious recipes for dad's big day. There are plenty of dishes featuring beef, chicken, fish, pasta, veggies, barbecue, and more. Grill outside or cook inside, light or hearty, there's something for everyone.
  
• Simply Recipes  For the dad with a sweet tooth, 30 dessert recipes are sure to satisfy, including Flourless Chocolate Cake, Peach Cobbler, Cowboy Blondies, Easy Dump Cake from Scratch, and Blackberry Pie. Bake or no-bake, take your pick.
  
• What's Gaby Cooking  There are various recipes for every course: appetizers, salads, main dishes, and desserts. Among them are a 5-ingredient recipe for Paprika Roast Chicken, Hatch Green Chili Ribs, Blackberry Peach Crisp, and a no-bake Cookie Icebox Cake, perfect for summer.
  

Still not finding the recipes you want? Then stop by the library to take a look at our cookbook selection or search the internet for other cooking blogs and websites.

Do you have a special recipe for dad? Share with us!

Happy Father's Day wishes from the perch.

Why handwrite?

In my previous post I talked about handwriting letters and places/people where you can send them. Perhaps you thought, "Perch Librarian, we have email, text, and social media, so why bother with pen and paper, things that are going the way of the dinosaurs?" 

Believe it or not, handwriting does have advantages over typing. Allow me to elucidate:

• Personal  A handwritten letter is more personal than something typed in a printout or on a screen. My most cherished gifts from my husband are his birthday/anniversary/Valentine's Day cards to me in which he handwrites a note.
• Relaxing  No electronic device is involved. No distractions or interruptions. It's just you, the paper, the pen, and your thoughts.
• Self-Reflection  It's so easy to bang out something on a keyboard, and often on social media we see people giving knee-jerk reactions (I'm sure you know what I mean). Since handwriting takes longer, we need to think before we write.
• Exercising Your Brain  Of course, brainwork is involved in typing, but scientists have proven that your brain works differently and makes more connections when you form each alphabetical character by hand versus tapping a key, which requires the same movement regardless of the letter. Additionally, handwriting aids in learning, spelling correctly, and memory recall.
• Mental Health  Handwriting has a more positive effect on a person's mental health. It improves your mood when you take the time to handwrite to someone, thinking about that person while also getting thoughts out of your mind and down on paper.
• Tangible  A handwritten letter is a small part of someone's personality, something that person touched and created that will last through the ages. Imagine not having all those letters written by ordinary people during the Civil War or other historical periods; imagine not having cards handwritten by your grandparents or your parents.

When I look at my mother's handwriting in the birthday cards she's given me over the years, I can see changes in her reflected in the pen strokes--the smooth, smaller, and steady lines when she was younger, the larger characters that have lost their steadiness with arthritis as she ages. Even when I look at things I've handwritten myself twenty (!) years ago, I can decipher a person who's not quite the same as the person I am today. These are things that typing can't replicate. What will people in the future make of all the digital notes we type today?

Wishing you cherished moments of reading and letter writing from the perch.

The Power of the Pen

When was the last time you've handwritten a letter? You know, the "old-fashioned" way with pen and paper? Years? Since you were a kid? Never? Similarly, it may have been ages since you received a handwritten letter through "snail mail" as well.

I've just finished reading Kate Thompson's The Wartime Book Club (available on Libby), which I had the most difficult time to put down. In a nutshell, it's a historical fiction book about the Nazi Occupation of Jersey, part of the Channel Islands belonging to the UK. One of the characters is a postal worker who, in an act of defiance, steals letters sent to German soldiers stationed on the island. She opens the letters to find they're from family and sweethearts, very human and rather personal. In the additional material after the end of the book, the author addresses the lost art of letter writing and different outlets in the UK that allow people to write and receive handwritten letters.

That got me thinking: What are some writing or pen pal clubs out there? Venues that give an opportunity to practice handwriting or (something that is rarely taught these days) handwriting in cursive? Lo and behold, there are a number of such clubs that you can join:

• Global Penfriends  Based in Australia, this free website claims it's safe, secure, and family friendly. All profiles are reviewed by a human and it's set up so children can't be contacted by adults. Write in your own language or in another language to practice your foreign language skills.
• Kids for Peace  A website that connects kids with other kids as pen pals either inside or outside the US, allowing them to practice their handwriting skills. Furthermore, they will have the chance to share and learn about other parts of the country or the world.
• Love for Our Elders  So many of the elderly living in nursing homes or assisted living facilities feel lonely or isolated. Why not cheer one or a few of them up by writing something to them? You can read their profiles and write about something you have in common.
• A Million Thanks  There are plenty of military men and women--active, reserve, and veterans. Pick up the spirits of one by handwriting a letter of thanks and gratitude that will be delivered either abroad or on the homefront.
• Up Cancer  Encourage someone with cancer by handwriting a note to that person. Inspire another person and yourself at the same time. Send your letters to Up Cancer's address in Georgia, and Up Cancer will distribute your letter to a cancer patient.

There are other websites that can get you started with your letter writing besides the ones mentioned above. Not sure about writing to someone you don't know? How about handwriting a letter to a relative or friend you care about? Imagine that person's surprise and joy of receiving a letter in the mail from you!

Wishing you happy letter writing/reading from the perch.

Cooking for Mom

Mother's Day is on the horizon! With restaurants becoming more expensive, you might be thinking of treating mom at home with a special meal made with love. How about a Mother's Day breakfast? Or lunch? Brunch? Maybe even dinner?

I've been looking around for different recipes, either in print or online, to help you prepare a meal for mom that she'll always remember:

Cookbooks 

• Fix-It and Forget-It Slow Cooker Dump Dinners and Desserts by Hope Comerford (641.5884 COM)  If you're all thumbs in the kitchen, this is the perfect book. Find a recipe, dump all the ingredients in the crockpot, and switch it on. It can't get any easier. Still unsure? Then try the recipe for 6-Can Soup.
• Fast From-Scratch Meals by Betty Crocker (641.555 CRO)  Food made from scratch that can be made quickly? I'd say that's a winner! All the recipes can be made in 30 minutes or less, many with just a handful of ingredients.
• Amish Community Cookbook by Carole Roth Giagnocavo (641.566 GIA)  I probably don't have to sell you on Amish recipes--tasty, stick to your ribs, home cooking. There are all kinds of easy recipes, including one for Tuna Noodle Casserole my husband says is the best he's ever had.
• Afternoon Tea is the New Happy Hour by Gail Greco (BT 641.5 GRE)  Around the library I'm known as a tea snob, so if you're looking for tea drink variations and traditional/non-traditional munchies to go with them, this book is for you. I'm not sure about Pizza Cupcakes, though.

Websites

• Grits and Pinecones  The blogger of this website has been cooking for over 50 years and offers mouth-watering, Southern-style recipes. There are a number of make-ahead recipes for those who don't want to cook on the big day, including ones for grits, quiches, and salads.
• Laughing Spatula  This mother-daughter team have a section for Mother's Day recipes on their blog to tempt any tummy. I'm all set to try their Easy Crustless Quiche recipe, great for gluten-free, diabetic, or simply carb-conscious eaters. Their Blueberry Pie Bars also look scrumptious.
• The Pioneer Woman  Ree Drummond has 60 recipes for mom's big day. There are recipes for pasta, pizza, piccata, pesto, parmesan, pork, and potato dishes. And if you don't like foods that start with "P," there are plenty of those as well.
• Taste of Home  There are so many good recipes here, and some are even easy enough for kids to help make. The Ham and Swiss Sliders recipe is simple and sounds delicious. There are others for sandwiches, brunch items, and desserts that will surely please. Just take your pick!

Of course, there are many more websites and food blogs than the ones listed above. Furthermore, the library has plenty of cookbooks for all types of cuisines and digital cookbooks through our online collections. 

Do you have a favorite recipe for mom? Share with us!

Happy Mother's Day wishes from the perch.  

How Does Your Garden Grow?

Are you a plant parent or want to become one? I've recently become a plant parent again...after about 20 years! Not many people know that quite some time ago, plants were a part of my (almost) everyday life. As a kid, I would help my grandfathers take care of their vegetable gardens in the summer. I planted seeds, watered, and picked fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis, peas, and corn. When I went to college and later to work, I didn't have the time or the desire to putter around with potting soil.

Fast forward to the present--I guess you can say the gardening bug has finally bitten me once more. This time around, however, I'm focusing more on indoor plants to bring a bit of nature and calm into my home (or at least my living room). I have a variety of plants--spider, pothos, rubber fig, aloe, snake, and Christmas cactus--to add interest and for their easy, low-maintenance care. I planted them in terra cotta pots, because as much as I like the ceramic pots, they're not as porous as terra cotta (I want proper drainage without root rot). Furthermore, terra cotta is a warm, inviting color in the home.

With April being National Gardening Month, I thought I'd share some resources on plants that I've found particularly useful:

• Indoor Edible Garden by Zia Allaway (635 ALL)  Maybe your idea of indoor plants is to produce something edible? If so, see see how you can grow herbs, vegetables, and fruits in your home.
• Gardening in the Pacific Northwest by Paul Bonine and Amy Campion (535 BON)  Offers useful tips on outdoor gardening specific to Washington, Oregon, and southern British Columbia.
• Epic Gardening  Has everything, and I mean everything, for gardeners of all types and skills.
• OurHouseplants.com  For those who want to concentrate on caring for indoor plants. Offers plant profiles, guides, tips, and other useful information for both novice and expert gardeners.
• Washington State University  Provides free and useful information pertaining to gardening in Washington State, including soil, fruits, flowers, lawns, and more.
• Forcing, Etc. by Katherine Whiteside (635.9 WHI)  A good resource for those who prefer gardening houseplants and other plants indoors.

Of course, the library has more books and electronic resources than the ones I listed above. Which plants are your favorites? Have any good gardening tips? Share with us!

Good naturedly yours from the perch.

Libraries--They Are A-Changin'

Have you stepped into the library lately? If you haven't for a while, you may be in for a surprise. People are talking, kids are building with Legos, and teens are playing games on their smartphones. It's not your grandmother's library in which silence was golden and bespectacled librarians with tight hair buns shushed anyone who spoke above a whisper (thinking about it, I don't think I've ever "shushed" a library patron).

Once upon a time, libraries were primarily storehouses of books, places from which you could borrow materials or study them in quiet. As years went by, other materials--audio/visual, magazines, newspapers, board games, museum passes, and more--were acquired by libraries and lent out. Naturally, storytimes for children along with various programs for people of all ages were added.

Nowadays, in our "plugged-in" world where the town square is dead and malls are dying, libraries have become the last places where people can gather without having to pay anything to stay as long as they like. They have transformed over time to serve as community centers, where children can play and adults can learn different skills in informal classes. Sometimes, movies are shown or musical recitals are held. Libraries are definitely not the same quiet places of yore.

That is not to say, however, that there aren't places within the library where you can find peace away from the noise and bustle. There are study rooms (walk-in or by reservation) for those who would like to have a refuge dedicated to concentration. And between storytimes or other programs, the library still does have its quiet moments when you can work in a carrel or snooze in a comfy armchair. Libraries are for everyone.

Wishing you good library visits from the perch.

Recipes of the Irish

(Full disclosure: I posted this just before I went to lunch, when my stomach was getting grumbly and my head was feeling light. It's a re-post, but a handy one with St. Patrick's Day coming up.)

When most of us think of Irish food, corned beef and cabbage along with a pint of Guinness probably come to mind. Irish cuisine, however, goes beyond those two St. Patrick's Day staples. Take a look at these recipes which are bound to make your mouth water:

• Colcannon (Spend With Pennies)  It's hard to get any better than creamy, Irish-style potatoes with bacon, cabbage, and butter--oh, my!
• Corned Beef and Cabbage (Dinner at the Zoo)  Easy, traditional, slow cooker recipe with melt-in-your-mouth meat.
• Irish Beef and Guinness Stew (Recipe Tin Eats)  A hearty beef stew full of flavor, perfect when served over mashed potatoes.
• Irish Potato Leek Soup (My Recipes)  Great for St. Patrick's Day or any chilly day.
• Irish Tea Cake (Will Cook for Smiles)  A no-fuss, buttery cake that's great with a cup of tea.
• Scones (Bigger Bolder Baking)  The best recipe ever for Irish scones. Period.
• Soda Bread (Sally's Baking Addiction)  Classic, flavorful, simple-to-make quick bread.

So, are you getting hungry yet? Why not try one of these tasty recipes? And don't forget to check out other delectable delicacies offered by the websites.

Wishing you good eats and a Happy St. Patrick's Day from the perch.

Leapin' Leap Day!

Get ready for February 29--Leap Day! In case you weren't aware, every four years is a Leap Year, which makes the year 366 days long rather than the usual 365. That extra day gets added to February, giving us 29 days that month instead of 28. Why the extra day? Since it takes the Earth 365.24 days to rotate around the sun, that extra day every four years keeps the calendar on track. This is how winter stays in January and doesn't shift to July (in the Northern Hemisphere, at least).

Of course, an offbeat day like Leap Day has been the inspiration for different traditions, one of which is Bachelor's Day, a.k.a. Ladies' Privilege in Ireland. Saint Bridget supposedly asked Saint Patrick to allow women to propose to men on one day every four years because some men took their darn sweet time to propose.

This tradition of women proposing on Leap Day has lasted through the present (not that women nowadays can't take the lead and do the proposing any time of the year they want). The movie, Leap Year, which can be borrowed from our library on DVD (shameless plug here), shows this tradition at work rather humorously.

Amy Adams' character in the movie decides to surprise her feet-dragging boyfriend on Leap Day by proposing to him in Ireland, where he's attending a conference. She runs into one comic obstacle after another trying to reach him on time, and if I say any more I'll be giving the rest of the movie away. Just take my word that it's a cute movie full of laughs. Be sure to check it out sometime this Leap Year.

Wishing you a happy Leap Day (and year) from the perch.

Library Love

Are you in love...with your library? We most certainly hope so! February is Library Lover's Month, a great time to show your library some love. 

From time to time, I enjoy reading fictional books about libraries and librarians. I suppose what I do is similar to nurses watching medical dramas to see how accurately their profession is depicted by others not in the medical field. It's interesting to see how some writers imagine what happens in a place where I spend a great deal of time.

Here are several books I've read and liked that focus on different libraries: 

• What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama (Hoopla, Libby)  I really enjoyed this one. Although the story is fictional, it shows the real power of a librarian and a friendly staff member at a Tokyo library. They can make patrons feel welcomed and valued; sometimes, they can even find the right books to help people change their lives.
• The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles (BT F SKE, Libby)  This book is loosely based on the true story of what was happening at the American Library in Paris during the Nazi occupation of France.
• The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis (Libby)  If you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a library, this one is for you. It focuses on the wife of a superintendent living in an apartment in the main branch of the New York Public Library in 1913 and her granddaughter, a curator at the same library in 1993.
• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (BT F HAI, Libby)  How would you like to go to a library in which every book is about you and the different paths you could have taken in life? See what happens to one woman who goes to such a library. Would she have done anything differently in her life knowing the various possible outcomes?
• The Little Wartime Library by Kate Thompson (Libby)  London during the Blitz has many stories, but this is one of a makeshift library deep in the Bethnal Green station of the Underground and its staff raising the spirits of people through books.

Do you have a book you like that takes place in a library? Share with us!

Wishing you lots of lovely library experiences from the perch.

Books that Pay

Do you own some rare books? I'm talking about first editions, anniversary editions, and out of print editions. Those of us who are book lovers have probably bought a few books over time. We brought them lovingly to our homes and happily read them. And then, they got relegated to the back of our bookshelves and ultimately forgotten until we do a deep cleaning.

The deep cleaning of my bookshelves happened last summer. It was well past time to part with a number of books that went untouched for years. They took up space with little, if any, justification. The "common" books I no longer used (paperbacks, popular fiction, and easily obtained non-fiction) went to a local library's book sale, and hopefully, they will be enjoyed by others. There were some books in my personal collection, however, that were more rare.

One such book I had was a collector's edition of Christopher Paolini's Eragon, which was published with a faux leather cover in 2013. I picked it up on sale for a few dollars in a bookstore some years ago, thinking it was a nice copy to have or give as a gift to someone. Fast forward to the present: my husband put the book up for sale on eBay and it sold...for 400 dollars! Now it's on its way to Italy to make some reader in Europe happy (I know it made me happy!).

The lesson to be learned--you never know what treasures (literary and financial) may be hidden on your bookshelves. Who knows? You may even have tucked away a first edition of the first book in the Harry Potter series.

Wishing you happy book experiences (rare and otherwise) from the perch.

FREE Books to Keep--No Kidding!

You read that right! The library is giving away FREE books! Now that those bills are coming in after the holidays, anything free probably sounds good at this point. To clarify, I'm not talking about books you can check out and borrow from the library; I'm talking about books you can take home and keep forever and ever!

You may be wondering what this is all about. Well, if you didn't know, our library has a Free Shelf with adult, teen, and children's books. Occasionally, we even have DVDs, CDs, and books in different languages. What we have on the shelves keeps changing, so the offerings always stay fresh.

How can we give away books for free? Often, we get donations from patrons who are cleaning out their homes or moving. Children and teens may outgrow some books, adults may no longer need textbooks and other materials. If our library is unable to add items to our collection, we put them on our Free Shelf for others to take and enjoy.

So, come on over and help yourself to things on our Free Shelf. Take some for yourself, your kids, and your friends. Got a holiday or birthday coming up for a book lover? Get a gift without spending a dime (don't worry--it's our secret!). Just please don't take items from the library's collection without checking them out first.

Wishing you and yours many good reads from the perch.