Explore and Discover

Escape screen time this winter

Posted on November 25, 2020 at 6:00 am

BY MELISSA RHOADES Several excellent virtual library programs are happening this winter, and we hope to see you at them! We also hope you’re taking breaks from screen time—especially if you’re one of the many people currently working, socializing, and playing virtually these days. Screen time is any time spent in front of a television, […]

Beyond Veterans Day: Information and resources for veterans and their families all year long

Posted on November 12, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Crystal Miller Yesterday was Veterans Day, a federal holiday to honor and pay our respects to all the people who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Veterans Day is always on November 11 and was originally called Armistice Day to honor the end of major conflicts in World War I, which happened […]

Civic Lab Online: What we know about the COVID-19 Pandemic

Posted on November 10, 2020 at 6:00 am

ABOUT CIVIC LAB ONLINE Civic Lab Online provides information on issues facing our community for you to explore. Take a look at thought-provoking materials for teens and adults that allow us to engage in open conversation and grow together as a community. You’ll find all past topics on the Civic Lab Online web page. WHAT […]

Dance Apocalyptic: A pandemic playlist & more

Posted on November 3, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Susan Goertz Lately, random songs have been popping into my head, often playing on loop, until I give in altogether and play the same track 20 times in a row while dancing in my pajamas. Maybe you are experiencing something similar. (No judgment. All feelings deserve to be felt.) With a quick online search, […]

Trick-or-treat alternatives for an enjoyable celebration

Posted on October 21, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Alison Johnson I really love Halloween. Thinking up the perfect costume is fun, and then there is the excuse to indulge in sweets! You may be wondering, as am I, how we can still have a fun Halloween celebration with the restrictions we face right now. Many of us may err on the side […]

The lifecycle of your ballot: Mail-in ballot processing & security

Posted on October 16, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Dana Mannino It’s election season! A steady stream of cars flows through the library parking lots as voters drop their ballots in white collection boxes. This year, we’ve received quite a few questions about what happens to a voter’s ballot, including: “Is it safe in the ballot box?” and “How are the signatures on […]

Filling out the FAFSA with live online assistance from HelpNow

Posted on October 8, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Crystal Miller Attention current and soon-to-be college students! HelpNow has live tutors offering free assistance with your FAFSA. FAFSA stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This program offered by the federal government offers more than $150 billion to help students pay for college and vocational training. When you fill out […]

Drought-tolerant yard project: Researching, planning, digging & planting

Posted on October 7, 2020 at 6:00 am

By Jane Baker I didn’t mow the front yard all summer. This is just one of the benefits of installing a drought-tolerant landscape, a project I started researching in 2018 and took on in 2019. In creating a new landscape, especially one without grass, I learned a lot about plants, climate, and drainage, but the […]

15 trivia questions for Banned Books Week

Posted on September 23, 2020 at 6:00 am

BY ABRA COLE Banned Books Week is next week, September 27–October 3. So, usually at this time of year, I would be working on a banned books display for the Teens section at the Spokane Valley Library. It is one of my most favorite displays to put together, not just because it is such an […]

Tags: adults, ALA, banned books, books, reading, teens, trivia

The importance of diaries, memoirs, and autobiographies for our empathy and history

Posted on August 26, 2020 at 6:00 am

BY CAITLIN WHEELER I had wanted to be a diarist as a child, but having grown up on Dear America and Royal Diaries, I felt like my 90s school bus experiences weren’t interesting enough. I have since realized that my attitude about my journal writing continued into adulthood, and yet I’ve also considered sharing with […]