All Posts
Picture books for frosty days
Posted in Parents and Teachers on January 2, 2018 at 6:00 am
By Sheri Boggs Winter is just not my thing. I’m too clumsy to ski. It’s too cold to enjoy being outside. And I get too dispirited by the short days to remember to take my vitamin D. I pretty much just grit my teeth, put on my stupid tights (and gloves, and boots, and hat, […]
Tags: book list, booklists, books, family, kids, parents, picture books, reading, winter, young learners
Do you hygge? What it is and how to do it this winter
Posted in Explore and Discover on December 26, 2017 at 6:00 am
By Abra Cole Do you hygge? Maybe you have no idea what I’m asking about. I didn’t either, until recently when I listened to the audiobook of Meik Wiking’s The Little Book of Hygge: Danish Secrets to Happy Living. I highly recommend reading or listening to this book. The author himself does the reading for […]
Tags: activities, ambiance, blues, camaraderie, candelight, candles, comfort, comfort food, companionship, contentment, cozy, Danish, happy, happy living, hygge, hyggeligt, jazz, music, nourishment, snuggle, winter
Social-emotional picture books to help your kids get through the holidays
Posted in Parents and Teachers on December 12, 2017 at 6:00 am
By Rachel Edmondson The holiday season is often fraught with emotions. Many adults find themselves stressed, excited, joyous, and sad—sometimes all in the same day! It’s helpful to remember that the children in our lives are often dealing with the same strong emotions. While having a vacation from school, receiving gifts, attending celebrations […]
Tags: booklists, books, children, children's books, early learners, early learning, early literacy, emotional, emotions, family, feelings, health, holiday season, holidays, kids, parents, picture books, preschoolers, reading, social-emotional, social-emotional skills, social-emotional tools, toddlers, young learners
’Tis the Season for Mobile Devices
Posted in Explore and Discover on December 7, 2017 at 6:00 am
by Erin Dodge Whether you have a new mobile device or you’re loving your old one, you have access to free apps and resources with your library card. You can download popular books, movies, music, and more. Because all of the apps and digital resources are free, avid and casual readers, listeners, and watchers of […]
Tags: adults, Audiobookcloud, audiobooks, BiblioBoard, book a librarian, books, devices, digital library, eBooks, hobbies, hoopla, ipad, iphone, kids, mobile devices, movies, music, overdrive, parents, RBDigital, reading, services, smartphone, tablet, technology, teens, tweens, young learners
Holiday Gifts for Expectant Mothers
Posted in Explore and Discover on December 5, 2017 at 6:00 am
By Stefani Miller “What do you want for Christmas?” I’ve never had trouble answering that question in the past. There’s always been a thing or two on my list. But as a newly expectant mother I find myself, for the first time, unable to answer. Before I became pregnant, I could ask for things that […]
Tags: baby, expectant mothers, family, gift giving, gift ideas, health, holiday gift guide, holiday gifts, kids, new baby, new mom, parenting, parents, pregnancy, pregnant, young learners
Big animals, big news: Connect with Washington wildlife at your local library
Posted in Explore and Discover on November 30, 2017 at 6:00 am
By Nathaniel Youmans 2017 has been quite a big year for Washington’s large wildlife. The gray wolf population in the northeast part of the state continues to rebound by an annual growth rate of nearly 30%, with the two newest established packs recognized in a Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife survey conducted late last […]
Tags: adults, animal conservation, booklists, books, Canada lynx, community, conservation, education, family, gray wolves, human population growth, kids, lynx, nature, nonfiction, nonfiction books, parents, reading, teens, tweens, urban expansion, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, wilderness, wildlife, wolf, wolves, young learners
Job seekers: Get an advantage with WorkSource Spokane
Posted in Business and Careers on November 28, 2017 at 6:00 am
by Melissa Rhoades At the end of 2015, right after Christmas, the entire department where I worked at a local company was laid off—not the happiest New Year’s surprise. The change was big and sudden, and one I hadn’t planned for. After over a decade at the same company, I didn’t know how the job-search […]
Tags: adults, career, career club, career coach, education, job club, job hunt, job search, job search strategies, job seekers, job training, jobs, WorkSource, WorkSource Spokane
Audiobooks: Are they reading or cheating?
Posted in Explore and Discover on November 22, 2017 at 6:00 am
by Abra Cole Readers quickly divide into two groups when it comes to audiobooks: those who consider listening to audiobooks as reading and those who don’t (“it’s cheating!”). On which side do you fall? I am a lifelong member of the pro-audiobook club. I’ve been listening to books for as long as I can remember. […]
Tags: adults, audiobooks, authors, booklists, books, digital library, family, hoopla, kids, overdrive, parents, teens, tweens, YA
Non-comic movies from superhero directors
Posted in Explore and Discover on November 21, 2017 at 6:00 am
by David Wyatt Did you get tired of comic book movies taking over this past summer? Well don’t look now, but they are taking over November as well. Earlier this year, at least a half dozen comic book movies came to theaters. With the release of Thor: Ragnarok earlier this month and the imminent arrival […]
Tags: adults, comic books, comics, DVDs, filmography, films, hoopla, movie directors, movie genres, movies, superheros
Director’s Update: Libraries in Spokane Valley
Posted in News on November 16, 2017 at 6:00 am
By Patrick Roewe, Executive Director Earlier this fall, news about Spokane Valley Libraries was a topic discussed by both candidates and citizens. There seemed to be a lot of confusion, so I’d like to provide an update on the status of potential changes to library services in Spokane Valley. At their October meeting, the Spokane […]
Tags: community, Director's Update, new library, new library proposal
