Make Your Intentions

We're halfway through January.  I'm sure many of you have made New Year's resolutions such as dieting, exercising, giving up smoking, being better with finances, etc.  Many of you are probably doing well in keeping those resolutions up to this point, but I'm sure there's an equal number of you who have already given up on them.  Am I right?

Perhaps it's time for a new tradition--New Year's intentions.  Stop and think about it.  According to Lexico, which is powered by Oxford (the same people who give you the Oxford English Dictionary), intention is defined as a "thing intended; an aim or plan."  Compare that with resolution, which is defined as a "firm decision to do or not to do something."  Doesn't an intention sound more appealing than a resolution to you?

Personally, I think it's more realistic to set up an intention.  Let's face it, if you're resolving to do something, like dieting, you're going to feel like a failure if you don't stick to it.  An intention is kinder.  You intend to improve, but if you fall short, that's okay.  Just get up and try again without beating yourself up.

So make some New Year's intentions, like going to the library more often.  If you don't fulfill your intentions one day, tomorrow is another day.  Do the best you can to keep your plans.  And if you do make it to the library, you might also want to make an intention to stop by the desk and say hello to your friendly neighborhood perch librarian.

Wishing you many good intentions from the perch.

The End of the Saga

In case you didn't know, I'm a big Star Wars fan.  I grew up with the original trilogy, I watched the prequel as a young adult, and more recently, I've been watching the sequel trilogy as *ahem* a slightly more mature person.  If you have any interest at all in these movies, you know that the last of the nine movies will open in cinemas next week, just in time for Christmas.

I remember thinking it odd that the original trilogy started with Episode IV and continued through Episode VI.  What about Episodes I-III?  It would take another 16 years until those early episodes would be released in cinemas.  Until the prequel, I assumed Luke Skywalker was the main character of the franchise because he was the good guy, the one you cheered on.  Then it became clear--Anakin Skywalker, a.k.a. Darth Vader, was the center of it all.

It was great to see how, from humble beginnings, Darth Vader became the menace of a galaxy far, far away, but he died at the end of Return of the Jedi.  Peace was restored.  The light side of The Force triumphed over the dark.  What more could be covered in Episodes VII-IX?  Apparently, plenty.  A mere 10 years after the prequel, we saw what happened to Han Solo and Luke Skywalker.  We saw a new threat, the First Order, grow from what was left of the Empire and the Resistance, the new Rebel Alliance, fighting it to make the galaxy peaceful once more.

The newest movie, The Rise of Skywalker, marks the end of a long era.  A very long era--42 years, to be exact.  Many of my generation who grew up with the movies are now seeing the last installment with their kids or even grandkids.  If you ask for my personal opinion, the nine movies George Lucas envisioned may be completed, but I don't see the Star Wars universe being gone forever.  I'm sure more movies will be made (think Rogue One and Solo).

In the meantime, we can watch the newest movie in the cinema and go to the library for Star Wars DVDs and books (you knew I had to plug the library, didn't you?).

Wishing you peace in your galaxy this Holiday Season from the perch.

Holiday Stress Busters

Here we go again.  The holidays are upon us.  Thanksgiving is just around the corner with Christmas on its coattails just 4 short weeks later.  Considering all the planning that goes into cooking, traveling, decorating, gifting, and whatnot, it shouldn't be surprising that so many of us feel frazzled to the point of no return.  And yes, even your normally mild-mannered perch librarian feels a little overwhelmed this time of year (though I try not to show it).

So, how do we survive the holiday season?  How do we keep ourselves from going crazy and maybe even enjoy ourselves a little?  

Here are some holiday stress busters to help you get through the most wonderful time of the year:

• Read.  Come on.  You know I had to put this at the top of the list, didn't you?  Take at least a few minutes each day to read a good book.  It will get your mind off things for a while.
• Sip.  Researchers in the UK have found that the act of brewing and sipping tea is relaxing, lowering your levels of cortisol, a.k.a. the "stress hormone."  And did I mention tea tastes good?
• Laugh.  Watch a funny DVD.  Get together with friends.  Tell a joke.  Dance a goofy dance.  Act dorky.  Whatever you do, have a good laugh.  That will be sure to lower your stress.
• Hug.  Another thing that lowers both cortisol and blood pressure is hugging.  That simple human contact does so much.  Don't have anyone to hug?  Hug yourself.  Seriously.  Don't worry--I won't tell.
• Breathe.  It's basic, but it does the trick.  Just sit down and focus on your breathing.  Breathe in, breathe out.  Your parasympathetic system will be activated and you'll feel better.  Why do you think meditation has become mainstream lately?
• Walk.  A little exercise does the body and the mind good.  You're moving those legs and swinging those arms.  Let those endorphins (the "happy hormones") flood your system.  Soon you'll be thinking: "Stress?  What stress?"

Keep in mind that you don't have to be Superman or Wonder Woman to get through the holidays.  Simplify, prioritize, delegate, and budget.  You don't have to do everything.  Be as kind to yourself as you would be to your best friend.  Self-care is especially important during the holidays.  And if you need some books, DVDs, or CDs to help you take a break, stop by the library--we got plenty of free things to get you relaxing.

Wishing you a happy and stress-free holiday season from the perch.

Seriously Ghoulish Books

Warning: This post is not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach.

Here's something just in time for Halloween--anthropodermic books.  What kind of books are these, you ask?  Simply put, they are books bound in human skin.  Yes, you read that right.  Actual human skin.  Now how and why did such a practice ever start?  Well, allow me to explain.

Anthropodermic bibliopegy, as the practice of binding books with human skin is formally called, has been done over centuries.  It was rumored to have started in the Middle Ages, but the first reliable accounts of the practice go back to 17th century Europe.  Anthropodermic books became more common during the Reign of Terror in France when the skin of those executed was used in book binding (ironically, a copy of the Rights of Man was bound in human skin).  In 19th century Great Britain, the skin of hanged criminals was also sometimes used in book binding as an additional punishment (you gotta love those Victorians).

So, how many anthropodermic books are there?  The exact number is unknown, but according to The Anthropodermic Book Project, 50 books have been identified as allegedly anthropodermic and 18 have been confirmed as human.  Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your opinion), our library does not have any anthropodermic books.  If you must see some of these books, however, you can find them at Harvard University, Brown University, and the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, among other libraries in the world.

I can't say that I'm a big touchy-feely person, so handling a book bound with human skin wouldn't be up my alley.  I have nothing, though, against leather-bound classics.  On second thought, maybe I'll just play it safe and stick to paperbacks.

With safe Halloween wishes from the perch.

Ever Evolving Libraries

Libraries.  I probably don't have to tell you, but they're places traditionally associated with books, silence, and shushing librarians.  Although books are still the mainstay of libraries, the silence and stereotypical shushing librarians are gone.  Libraries have evolved to become community spaces where people can learn in open environments filled with chatter.

Many librarians today specialize in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), teaching both children and adults things you would have normally learned at one time in a classroom.  Storytimes are made to be fun and informative, educating children on everything from human bodies to celestial bodies.  Libraries are going beyond the promotion of reading and literature.

Additionally, libraries and librarians are dealing with electronic devices and information.  People of all ages with questions about using computers or finding information on the Internet can get help from librarians. There's a reason why the library degree today is called an MLIS as opposed to the older MLS--it's a degree in library and information science.

Libraries have always been gateways to information, but today they are so much more than simply places to get books.  If you want to read a classic, though, that's okay, too.  Just choose whether you want to read that classic in print or electronically.

Actually and virtually yours from the perch.

Re-Visiting Downton Abbey

Since six seasons of Downton Abbey weren't enough for us, we now have Downton Abbey, the movie.  The Crawleys are back with their staff, estate, and ever-evolving intrigues that are oh so proper and British.  There's just something about large castles in quiet pastoral settings and formal dinners waited on by servants in coattails and white gloves.  It's a window into another time and culture in which everyone knew his or her place in a stifling class system.

If you're a fan of the show or the movie and are interested in all things Downton Abbey, there are a number of items that can be checked out from the library for your reading or viewing pleasure:

• The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton  New York's elite in the 1910s live in a world of etiquette and strict social conventions that don't include nonconformist women.
• Downton Abbey, Seasons 1-6 DVD  The original source and best place to start.  Get to know the Crawley family beginning in the 1910s, shortly after the heirs of the estate perish in the sinking of the RMS Titanic.  
• The Forsyte Saga by John Galsworthy  Three generations of an upper middle class British family are presented from the 1870s to the 1920s.
• Howard's End by E. M. Forster  In the early 1900s, two families dispute over which will inherit a home in the English countryside.
• The Manners of Downton Abbey DVD  Shows the roles and responsibilities of the nobility in contrast to those living a life in service.
• Parade's End DVD  Focuses on a love triangle--an aristocrat, his socialite wife, and a suffragette--in England during the Edwardian era.

So, get out your hats and cravats, sip your tea, and enjoy your journey to the past.  Is there a better way to begin the fall season?

Prim and properly yours from the perch.

Schools Need Librarians!

The start of the school year got me thinking about all the people going back to classes--the students, the teachers, and the librarians.  Yes, librarians are an important part of the school staff, too!  And it also got me thinking, with all the budget cuts school districts have made around the country, so many school libraries are without librarians because they have been let go.

School librarians are no less valuable than language arts, social studies, math, or science teachers.  They teach students just like teachers of other subjects.  In addition to teaching students how to use the library, school librarians teach how to conduct research, a skill that's valuable not only in writing papers and creating projects, but also in real life.  This has become even more important in today's age when information abounds but may not always be accurate.  Librarians teach how to evaluate various resources and tell which ones are trustworthy.

Beside teaching and helping students, school librarians also help teachers.  They assist teachers in getting the right materials for specific class lessons, build classroom libraries, and get in touch with community resources, such as local authors.  Librarians and teachers are partners in education, promoting learning and finding ways to motivate all students, even those who may be difficult and reluctant learners.

Librarians turn the library into a safe and welcoming space for students and teachers to study, work on group projects, or simply hang out and read.  As a loner who felt she didn't fit in with different crowds in school, I saw the library as a sanctuary.  It may have been crowded and noisy out in the hall, but the library was peaceful and filled with books that took me away to different places.  And the librarian was always welcoming and ready to help me find whatever I needed.  The library was one place where I felt I fit in.

Never underestimate the importance of school libraries and librarians, especially concerning the development of children.  Let your school district know just how much your school librarian means to you.

Sincerely yours from the perch.