The Joys of E-Reading

I have a confession to make to you, my dear followers--I have only recently discovered the joys of e-reading. I'm admitting it. I know how that must sound coming from a librarian, especially one who uses all sorts of technology on a daily basis. I'm well familiar with the various databases for e-books and other e-reading our library offers, but I can't say that I myself have ever read a book entirely online until now. Blame it on the pandemic.

I grew up with books. I love the feel of them in my hands, the smell of their ink and paper, and the fact that they're unplugged. Since I spend most of my days on a computer screen, I didn't want to spend even more time on a screen simply to read a book. I was afraid of straining my eyes further and not having that same experience I get from reading a paper book.

When the stay-at-home order was issued and libraries, including my own, were closed down, like many other readers, I acutely felt the disconnect between myself and the print collection. I was in the mood for reading a certain title, but now I had no access to it...except for its digital version. So I hijacked my husband's tablet, installed the database app, and checked out the virtual book.

I'll be honest. It was strange at first to read the book on a tablet, tapping the screen to go to the next page or to bookmark my spot. After a while, however, I became more comfortable with this new reading experience. I was able to adjust the brightness of the screen according to the light in the room (it was actually great for reading in bed--no need for a reading light!). I was also able to adjust the size of the text (no need for large print books) and look up the definition of any word by tapping on it. Not to mention, I now had access to thousands of books at my fingertips!

Don't get me wrong, though. I'm not giving up paper books. I still love their old school experience. I've just learned to enjoy and appreciate a new reading experience as well. So this Christmas, if Santa offers me an e-reader, I won't turn him down this time.

Happy readings (print and virtual) from the perch.

Summer Reading--It's Good for You!

Our Summer Reading Program has started and is well underway--YAY!!! In the last post, I wrote about how the library is doing the program this year during the pandemic. I also mentioned some benefits of reading for both kids and adults, but just in case you need some more reasons:

• Improves reading skills.  The more you do something, the better you get. Reading is something to practice just like any other activity.
• Improves writing skills.  A good writer is also a good reader. Books demonstrate how language is used.
• Increases the desire to read.  When you eat a potato chip, you know you can't eat just one. The same goes for books.
• Improves self-esteem.  Reading builds vocabulary and knowledge. It's a good feeling when you're able to express yourself well and talk about things you know.
• Improves memory.  When you read a book, one event in a story often leads to the next. Reading exercises your mind and helps you remember earlier things.
• Improves concentration.  You just have to know what happens next in the story, don't you? Reading will help you focus and concentrate better.
• Reduces stress.  Need to relax? Reading allows you to forget your troubles and focus on something else for a while.
• Promotes curiosity and learning.  Reading exposes you to different things that will make you want to learn and understand more.
• Improves empathy.  Connecting with fictional characters helps us connect with real people in our lives.
• Provides entertainment.  Books and the stories they tell are fun! They take us to different places when we have nowhere to go.
• Creates a lifelong interest in reading.  When you start reading and make it an enjoyable activity, it becomes a good habit.

So, crack open those books, charge up those e-readers, and get reading! Read whatever you like. Read alone. Read together. The Summer Reading Program may run for 3 months, but the benefits, fun, and memories will last a lifetime.

Happy summer reading from the perch.

Summer Reading Program (Pandemic Edition)

Around this time of year I normally talk about the start of the Summer Reading Program, how much fun it is, and why everyone should do it. While I'm still going to talk about those things, I'm also going to talk about how the library is going to begin the program while we're still in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.

So, here's the lowdown, simply put:

• The Summer Reading Program is starting virtually.
• The dates are June 1-August 31, 2020.
• Register online at https://fairchildafblibrary.beanstack.org or download the Beanstack App on your phone. (Note: Paper logs can be delivered curbside upon request.)
• Anyone 13 and older can register themselves; adults can register themselves and children under 13 as a family (children 13 and over can be registered with the family, if preferred).
• Once registered, sign in and log minutes under Log Reading and Activities.
• Logs
• 2 hours = 1 log for children
• 6 hours = 1 log for teens
• 8 hours = 1 log for adults
• To collect PRIZES for completed logs:
• Look at our prize selection located here.
• Call the library (509-247-5556), email (fafblibrary@gmail.com), or message through Facebook (Fairchild AFB Library).
• Tell us which prizes you would like and schedule a time for curbside pickup.
• There are extra badges you can earn for writing book reviews and doing other online activities.

We don't know when the library will re-open to foot traffic and we don't know when or if we will have in-person activities for the Summer Reading Program this year. Our primary concern is to keep everyone safe and healthy.

However, that doesn't mean we can't still have fun doing the Summer Reading Program! There are a lot of cool books to read both in print and virtually. Reading takes you many places, even when you may not have any place to go. For kids, reading helps avoid the "summer slide," maintain reading skills, and perform well on school achievement tests. For adults, reading is interesting, entertaining, and keeps the brain sharp.

Bottom line--the Summer Reading Program is FUN for people of all ages! Just do it!

Wishing you happy reading this summer and always from the perch.

The Pandemic vs. The Volcano

This week marked the 40th anniversary of the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in southwestern Washington state. For those in the Inland Northwest at that time, life veered away from the normal. Schools and nonessential business were closed. Some college graduation ceremonies were canceled or postponed. People stayed home or wore face masks when they went out. Sound familiar?

It's ironic that life during the COVID-19 pandemic is eerily similar to life in the aftermath of the Mt. St. Helens eruption. Even the days leading up to the event show a lot of parallels--closing areas near the volcano to the public, advising businesses to shut down, telling people to look after their personal safety. There was a lot of fear and uncertainty then just as now.

The pandemic and the eruption are natural disasters that cannot be controlled. However, our reactions to such things can be. Keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe, helping those who need our help, and being kind to each other in times of crisis are things that we can do something about. This was true after the Mt. St. Helens eruption and it's true during this pandemic.

Life has returned around the volcano since that fateful day in 1980. Grasses grow and wildflowers bloom. Various animal species call the area around Mt. St. Helens home. Life has resumed, but there is a new normal. Life will resume after this pandemic as well even though there may be a new normal for a while. We just need to keep going, keep moving forward. Hang in there.

Wishing you good health, strength, and peace from the perch.

Mother's Day in Uncertain Times

Easter and Passover this year have been celebrated differently than usual due to COVID-19. Places of worship were closed; many religious services were streamed online for people to watch in their homes. Families, which normally gather together on such occasions, were celebrating a quieter holiday in isolation from each other.

And now Mother's Day is upon us during these strange and uncertain times. With so many stores, museums, concerts, and restaurants closed to customers, how do we celebrate and honor the woman who has done so much for us? Here are some ideas:

• Buy mom a gift certificate.  If mom's favorite store, hairdresser, or manicurist is closed at the moment, chances are you can go online and buy a gift certificate. Mom will appreciate the gift later and you'll be helping those in your community now.
• Make or share a meal.  If you live in the same household, you can make a meal for mom. If you don't, you can get takeout (many restaurants are still open for takeout) and leave it on mom's doorstep for her to enjoy.
• Say hello while keeping a healthy distance.  Make signs or giant cards to hold from the sidewalk for mom to see from her window.
• Watch a concert or Broadway show together virtually.  Some orchestral concerts and theatrical shows are available online for free during this time. Why not watch one and talk about it afterwards?
• Tour a museum virtually together.  Ever wanted to visit the Art Institute of Chicago? How about New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, or the British Museum, London? These museums and others now have virtual tours.
• Give mom a call.  This works any day, whether it's Mother's Day or not. Mom would love to hear from you.
• Read a book together.  You can read a favorite book aloud with mom over the phone, through virtual chat, or in person.

Just because this year is different than other years doesn't mean that Mother's Day can't be special. The greatest gift you can give your mom is showing her how much you care and love her.

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Mother's Day from the perch.

Coping in Quarantine

I don't have to tell you that we're living through a difficult, stressful time with a new normal. Schools, stores, and services that we took for granted are all closed. Even parks and playgrounds are closed to prevent people from gathering and spreading COVID-19. Families are spending a LOT more time together at home working, learning, and simply living their everyday lives.

The first week (maybe even the second) at home may have been tolerable, but going through three weeks or more of isolation can test the endurance of any introvert or person with a home business. So, how do we cope with being in quarantine during a stay-at-home order? How do we stay healthy both physically and mentally during this time?

Below are some suggestions for keeping both you and your family from climbing the walls for an extended stay at home:

• Keep a routine. Adults and kids alike do well when we know what to expect. Keep a regular bedtime and time to wake in the morning. Get into a daily routine of activities.
• Exercise. We may not be able to go to the gym or park now, but we can still do things inside, like yoga, zumba, and good, old fashioned calisthenics. We can also go outside to ride a bike or take a walk around the neighborhood as long as we keep apart from others.
• Get some fresh air. It's spring. The weather's getting warmer and the flowers are blooming. Step outside your house and just hang out in your back or front yard. Seeing some nature and getting a little Vitamin D will make you feel better.
• Limit your time getting the news. We all want to know what's going on, but watching 24-hour news networks and following news websites around the clock is going to drain your energy and bring down your spirits. Set a limit on your news time.
• Keep in touch with family and friends. We're all going through this together. Although we can't socialize in person, we have technology and social media to help us stay in touch. Pick up the phone or do a live video chat through Skype or Facebook with someone you care. 
• Do something fun. This is the perfect time to start that new hobby or craft you always wanted to do. Play some board games. Watch a movie. Read a book (you knew I had to add that one).

Just remember that the quarantine won't last forever. We will go outside again, we will get back together with each other, and we will resume our normal lives. We just don't know when that will happen. In the meantime, we need to isolate for our own safety as well as that of others. Keep in mind that the library has a number of virtual books and other items to help you and your family through this. Just contact us (509-247-5556, fafblibrary@gmail.com).

Wishing you and your family good health from the perch.

It's Okay Not to Be Okay

When we were all celebrating the start of 2020 back in January, I'm sure no one ever dreamed that three months later we'd be living through a coronavirus pandemic and life as we know it would be put on hold.  We're experiencing a new normal--many of us (including your perch librarian) are working from home, kids and college students are out of school dealing with online learning, we're wearing masks and gloves outside of the home, restaurants are open only for takeout, hair salons and so many other services are temporarily closed...the list of closures and restrictions goes on.

Maybe some of us or people we know have gotten COVID-19 or have died of it.  One of my relatives was hospitalized for several days due to coronavirus-related pneumonia (thankfully, she recovered); a family friend was the first person to die of the virus in Spokane.  To anyone suffering with COVID-19, I wish you the best for a speedy and full recovery.  To anyone who has lost someone to it, I offer my sincere condolences.

I don't have to tell you that this is a scary time for all of us, young and old.  We don't know what's going to happen; we don't know when this roller coaster ride we unwillingly were put on is going to end.  I'm not going to lie--I've had moments when I broke down and cried about what's happening.  According to the experts, this is to be expected because we're not only dealing with the unknown but we're also dealing with grief for the loss of our former lives, the way things used to be before the pandemic. 

This is the time to be kind to ourselves.  It's okay not to be okay now.  Don't beat yourself up for not being your usual self or being on top of your game.  Don't reprimand your kids for having a tough time adjusting to online learning.  This pandemic has put us all into survival mode, and our best at this time won't be the same as our best under normal circumstances.  And that's alright.  The roller coaster will slow down and stop eventually.  We just don't know when.  In the meantime, stay healthy and be safe.  We will get through this, one day at a time.

Wishing you good health and calming vibes from the perch.