Explore and Discover

On our coffee tables & nightstands: Books for your reading list

Posted on December 18, 2019 at 6:00 am

by Rachel Underwood Working in a library with all of the books can be beautiful, enriching, and wonderfully satisfying. Library staff have the privilege of interacting with an enormous part of our community and pride ourselves on finding that just-right book—or movie or CD or audiobook or magazine—for each person’s needs. However, in order to […]

December, a season to celebrate human rights

Posted on December 11, 2019 at 6:00 am

By Susan Goertz As winter descends upon us, for many of us, our thoughts wander toward cozy gatherings with those we love. Most of us enjoy beautifully decorated trees, glowing firelight, delicious feasts, and traditional treats. December beckons us to gather together and reflect, to share with and nurture our family and friends. I would […]

Friends: Who needs them?

Posted on November 20, 2019 at 6:00 am

By Abra Cole Friends. We all have them, but do we need them? The topic came up when my 3-year-old and I were reading Ryan T. Higgins’ book We Don’t Eat Our Classmates! recently. We got to talking about his friends at daycare. Of course, it’s the norm to refer to his entire classroom as […]

Library insider: Helping your child research for school papers and projects

Posted on November 13, 2019 at 6:00 am

By Dana Mannino I always know when it’s research paper season. The first clue is that my work calendar explodes. For my work as a librarian, I offer research workshops to area high schools that aren’t fortunate enough to have their own library. Somehow all the requests for workshops come in at once. The second […]

Native American Heritage Month: A look at books by indigenous authors

Posted on November 6, 2019 at 6:00 am

BY CAITLIN WHEELER November is Native American Heritage Month and a great time to learn more about some of the many indigenous groups of North America. Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian provides an introduction to indigenous peoples’ portrayals in media after colonialization in Americans, the interactive online exhibit that looks […]

Your Path to Student Financial Aid Starts with the FAFSA

Posted on November 5, 2019 at 6:00 am

You or your student may be eligible for student financial aid. To find out, you will need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form beginning in your senior year of high school and throughout your college years. When you submit your FAFSA form, you find out if you are eligible […]

When murder smells like honeysuckle: The allure of film noir

Posted on October 30, 2019 at 6:00 am

By Melissa Rhoades In adolescence, my impulse towards mysteries and thrillers was satisfied by Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Mystery! on PBS. But these days when I get the urge, I’m more likely to pick up a film noir or some of the hardboiled fiction that inspired it. Less cozy and more convoluted, film […]

Favorite reads reimagined for the screen: Upcoming film and TV adaptations

Posted on October 9, 2019 at 6:00 am

By Rachel Underwood Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Netflix (even Facebook Watch) are churning out as many originals and adaptations as they can buy, produce, and film—all to try to win the fierce video streaming competition. This is fantastic for book nerds because these streaming giants are looking to novels and nonfiction for good source material! […]

Play it again: A love letter to The Bartlett

Posted on October 2, 2019 at 6:00 am

By Susan Goertz In late 2013, something magical happened that changed Spokane’s music scene forever, for the better. The Bartlett opened its doors. A desperately needed all-ages venue, The Bartlett was everything Spokane’s music scene was missing—an intimate space (150 person capacity versus the 1,500 capacity of The Knitting Factory) that fo […]

The Sandwich

Posted on September 11, 2019 at 6:00 am

By Abra Cole Earlier this month as my family prepared for a day-long excursion into Glacier National Park from our campsite, we discussed easy travel options for lunch. We had pasta salad and salami and cream cheese rolls, along with other not-so-typical camping fare. Ultimately most of us opted for a good old fashioned sandwich—simple, […]