Haunted Libraries!

Unexplainable things happen in the library from time to time. A book we thought we left on a desk turns up in an unexpected place. Creaking noises are heard when no one's around. Lights go off unexpectedly. When things like this happen, we usually attribute them to the library ghost.

Now mind you, we have no official proof that a ghost haunts our library since our budget has no wiggle room for us to hire a medium or ghost hunter. There are, however, other libraries in the U.S. that are supposedly haunted by one or more ghosts:

• Cairo Public Library (Cairo, IL)  Toby occasionally walks upstairs in the library and turns off lights.
• Houston Public Library (Houston, TX)  Julius, a night janitor who played the violin, can be heard playing uplifting waltzes on his instrument.
• Parmly Billings Library (Billings, MT)  At least four ghosts call this library home: a six-foot tall ghost in the kitchen and lounge, a brunette wearing glasses on the third floor, and a woman accompanied by a grey blob ghost in the basement.
• Umatilla County Public Library (Pendleton, OR)  When the Pendleton Public Library was housed in an older building, a librarian named Ruth, who died of a cerebral hemorrhage, made an intercom system buzz repeatedly.
• Willard Library (Evansville, IN)  The Grey Lady likes moving boxes, running the elevator with no one inside, and making typewriter sounds.

By no means are these the only library ghosts around. If you're interested to read about more hauntings, check out the articles through American Libraries Magazine and the Open Education Database. And the next time you hear or see something strange in our library, don't worry--it's just the library ghost.

Wishing you a fun and safe Halloween from the perch.

Disney Daydreaming

Would you believe Walt Disney World in Florida celebrates its 50th birthday this year? That's right. The Big 5-0! I'm sure a number of us have visited the Happiest Place on Earth either as kids, with our kids, or both. I'm probably sounding ancient, but I remember visiting the park when there was only the Magic Kingdom and Epcot Center; even then, it was almost impossible to see and do everything for your whopping $25 entry fee (that price has gone up just a tad since the late 1980s).

Reflecting on the milestone also got me thinking about how Walt Disney has influenced the childhood of so many throughout the world. I mean, can anyone not recall watching a Disney cartoon, like Snow White, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King? And don't forget those live action movies, such as Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Mary Poppins, Pollyanna, and Freaky Friday (preferably the Jodie Foster version).

Let's face it. Disney has introduced classic fairy tales and stories--everything from Hans Christian Andersen, Lewis Carroll, and the Brothers Grimm, among others--to generations through the medium of film. Not only did Disney expose so many to these examples of children's literature, he also put his own spin on them, often giving them happier endings than their original sources. Good prevails in the end, and love is one of the strongest forces that exist.

Keep in mind that the library has a large fairy tale collection as well as Disney children's books and Disney DVDs. Stop by and check some of them out!

Wishing you a wonderful journey into imagination from the perch.

The Joys of Walking

I'm going to take a break from talking about books and literary matters, because I'd like to share with you what's been putting a spring in my step these days (other than light and uplifting reads). Ahem. I have discovered the joys of walking.

Am I hearing crickets? Have I lost you? Before you switch to Facebook and scroll for more memes on cats or politics, allow me a moment of your time.

Maybe you've been like me--pandemic starting to get to you, needing some exercise, looking for something to break your currently limited routine. Normally, I get outside and exercise a bit in warmer weather. However, with this past summer being one of the hottest on record, I was upset with myself for getting even less exercise than in the winter. Then I spotted this article which got me off my tuchus and walking almost every chance I get.

For most of us, walking is something we do everyday. You need no skills other than being able to put one foot in front of the other. Experts say that some of the benefits of walking (which I have discovered firsthand) include:

• Improved health. It's probably a no-brainer that walking gives you better cardiovascular fitness, makes bones and muscles stronger, burns calories, and does a lot of other good things for your body.
• Improved mood. It doesn't take much. Even 10 minutes walking outside can relax you, clear your head, and make you feel better all around. Trust me.
• Improved productivity and brain power. Walking re-charges you, increasing blood flow to the brain which in turn helps you think more clearly.
• Improved sleep. The movement you get from walking helps you de-stress, therefore allowing you to sleep better.

For more on the benefits of walking, check out some articles on Prevention, Healthline, and the Mayo Clinic's website.

I could go further, but I don't want to keep you from those oh-so-important Facebook memes. On second thought, why not put the memes aside and use the time to take a walk instead? It'll be better for both your physical and mental health.

Wishing you good walking from the perch.

And So It Continues...

Covid--it's the elephant in the room that we want to forget about. For the past several months I've tried to ignore it, writing non-Covid related posts, but after a summer in which many of us have spent time outdoors and with children about to start school again, I feel the elephant, unfortunately, needs to be acknowledged.

We've gone through our second spring, our second summer, and soon, we're going to go through our second fall with this pandemic. We thought we saw the light at the end of the tunnel, but that light got pushed back a little further with the Delta variant, not enough people getting vaccinated, and the return of masks for everyone. We're tired and extremely pandemic weary. So, how can we help ourselves, our children, and our loved ones face another fall, another school year with Covid affecting so many aspects of our lives?

Here are some ideas:

• Get outdoors.  Even if the weather turns chilly and even downright cold in the months ahead, go outside for a short or a long walk. Let the kids play. Experts say that even 10-15 minutes can boost your mood and help your body feel better, not to mention help your immune system.
• Do a hobby.  Whatever it is--knitting, woodworking, puzzles, cooking--just do something to get your mind off what's going on in the world and relax. Kids know how to play; adults can do well by taking a lesson from them and play as well.
• Get away from social media and the news.  Yes, for better or worse, we want to know what's going on in the world; we don't want to be out of the loop. A little social media and news is okay, but a lot of it around the clock can really get you down. Set time limits for yourself and then do something else.
• Meditate.  If you can breathe, you can meditate! Find a quiet place, sit or lie down, close your eyes, and just focus on your breath--breathing in and breathing out.
• Watch movies or shows.  Are there some DVDs you haven't watched or TV shows you need to get caught up on? Then get the popcorn and snacks, snuggle into the sofa cushions, and watch away! (Shameless plug: the library has PLENTY of DVDs to borrow and digital movies to check out.)
• Read books!!!  When you're limited in where you can go, books can help you virtually travel anywhere, whether the place is real or fictional. You can take your mind off the present situation for a while and even be in a different time. Don't know what to read? Let your friendly perch librarian help you!

If past pandemics have taught us anything, they eventually do end. This current one will end; we just don't know when. In the meantime, take care of yourself and those in your life.

Wishing you good health, physical and mental, from the perch.

Writers' Blogs

You've heard about writer's block, but have you heard about writers' blogs? Perhaps you have a favorite author. Or two. Or three. Chances are they have blogs that they update regularly. So, between the publication of novels, you can see what writers like to share with their readership. 

I have to admit that I take pleasure in following the blogs of authors whose books I enjoyed reading. It gives me insight into their world--things they enjoy, recipes they like sharing, matters that are important to them. It also helps me feel connected to the authors, seeing that they're normal, everyday people who go through the same hopes and fears that the rest of us experience.

I'm sure there are a lot of writers' blogs in cyberspace, but here are several links to blogs of authors who are popular or those I just find interesting:

• Meg Cabot (The Princess Diaries Series)
• Neil Gaiman (Coraline, Neverwhere) 
• Gregg Hurwitz (The Survivor, You're Next)
• Heather Lende (If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name; Find the Good) 
• Debbie Macomber (A Good Yarn, Window on the Bay) 
• George R.R. Martin (A Game of Thrones Series)

Who's your favorite writer? Does your favorite writer have a blog? Share with us!

Wishing you good reads, as always, from the perch.

Lonely Books

Do you have some lonely books at home? They may be sitting on your shelf or on the edge of your night table. They're the ones we get from a bookstore, yard sale, or Friends of the Library book sale out of town. We buy them to read later, but the problem is that we don't.

There's always that shiny new book that we just have to read from the library. And because that book has a 2-week checkout limit, we give that book our total attention until we're done reading it. Meanwhile, our books at home are lonely. They continue to wait patiently for us, hoping that one day we'll give them the same love and attention as the new library book.

I really don't mean to make my books at home lonely. I just take for granted that they're always there for me. Since they're mine, there's no time limit to how long I can keep them, unlike library books. For a while, then, my books sit on my shelves. And sit. And sit...

It's time for things to change. Our books should not go forgotten and unloved. We need to remember why we brought them home and spend quality time with them. Recently, I have made an effort to read some of the books that sat on my shelves for years. I'm here to tell you that the books are nonjudgmental and forgiving. Be sure to show your books some love today.

Wishing you and your books happy times together from the perch.

Cool Reads for Hot Days

"All I Want for Christmas" is not a song normally associated with summer. Nevertheless, it was playing in the Hallmark store I visited a few days ago. I'm familiar with the concept of Christmas in July, but it still felt strange to be listening to Mariah Carey belting out that holiday tune in the middle of an exceptionally hot summer.

Then it occurred to me--why not read books set in snowy places to cool ourselves down a bit? Think cool to feel cool. For starters, here are some books to transport us (mentally) to colder climates:

• The Children's Blizzard (Melanie Benjamin)  Addresses the January 1888 blizzard moving fast through the Dakotas just as most children are leaving school for the day.
• Into the Wild (Jon Krakauer)  A college graduate makes his way across the U.S. to live off the land in Alaska with dire consequences.
• The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (Stieg Larsson)  This thriller set in chilly Sweden involves a journalist hired to investigate the 40-year old disappearance of a young woman from a wealthy family.
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (C.S. Lewis)  During World War II, a girl in England walks through a wardrobe and into the land of Narnia, where it's always winter due to the evil White Witch.
• The Revenant (Michael Punke)  Based on the true story of Hugh Glass, who seeks revenge on the men who abandon him after he's attacked by a bear on the unchartered American frontier in 1823.
• Ethan Frome (Edith Wharton)  In snowy New England, a man in a dead marriage falls for his wife's young cousin who is visiting.

Needless to say, these titles are just a small sample of the numerous offerings that exist. What are some books you've enjoyed that are set in colder or snowy locations? Share with us!

Wishing you cool reads from the perch.