Explore and Discover

Inclusivity, Awareness & Literacy: Sensory Storytime & Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Posted on March 2, 2023 at 4:30 am

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and prompts us to consider our level of awareness, what is and isn’t in place in our community for inclusion of all people of all abilities, and what we can do as individuals and as a community to be open to and inclusive of everyone. In this guest blog, learn about Sensory Storytime and browse […]

Civic Lab Online: How Does Machine & Algorithm Bias Affect All of Us?

Posted on February 8, 2023 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. Machine & […]

15 Minutes of Community Science Can Make a World of Difference

Posted on February 2, 2023 at 7:00 am

When you hear someone say that that something is “for the birds,” they mean it is foolish and not to be taken too seriously. This month, the Great Backyard Bird Count on February 17–20 invites everyone to do something for the birds that isn’t foolish, is in fact helpful, and could be quite fascinating... […]

9 Guidelines for Writing Book Reviews & How to Add Yours to Our Catalog

Posted on November 22, 2022 at 6:00 am

By Andrea Brumbaugh Not all personal book reviews are created equal. If you have spent any time on Goodreads, you’ve most likely seen some that simply state, “I hated it,” or “I loved it.” If these readers are writing the review for themselves so that they can look back later and see how they felt […]

The Great Thanksgiving Listen: Discover the Uplifting Effect of Family Stories & Memories

Posted on November 9, 2022 at 6:00 am

By Melissa Rhoades & Dana Mannino Would you like this year’s Thanksgiving celebration to make your guests feel uplifted, connected, and hopeful? If so, you can participate in The Great Thanksgiving Listen, created by StoryCorps. Each Thanksgiving, StoryCorps encourages us to sit down with an elder, mentor, family member, friend, or someone we […]

Making a Zine: The Who, What, Where, Why & How of Zine Creation

Posted on November 8, 2022 at 6:00 am

By Abra Cole What Is a Zine? Zine (pronounced “zeen”) is short for magazine or fanzine. A zine is a publication that is not professionally published and not officially related to any brand, series, or company. Fanzines started in the 1930s as science fiction enthusiasts wrote and published their ideas about the topic to share […]

Empowering Voters: Important Civics Information from the League of Women Voters

Posted on October 25, 2022 at 6:00 am

Guest Blog by Beth Pellicciotti What Is on the Ballot? The League of Women Voters’ mission is to empower voters and defend democracy. We empower voters by explaining how to register to vote, either online at VoteWa.gov or using a paper form that you can download and print from the Washington Secretary of State’s website. […]

Q&A with Teri Koski: Finding Useful Resources & Support for Memory Loss & Dementia

Posted on October 13, 2022 at 7:00 am

By Crystal Miller According to Alzheimer’s Disease International, “someone in the world develops dementia every 3 seconds. There are over 55 million people worldwide living with dementia in 2020. This number will almost double every 20 years, reaching 78 million in 2030 and 139 million in 2050.” These statistics are sobering and point to the […]

Library of Things: Save Old Photos & Family Movies as Digital Media with Project Memory

Posted on October 6, 2022 at 7:00 am

By Dana Mannino While the pandemic caused us to pause many of our most popular library services, this year has been a joy to start bringing them back. We are excited to announce that we have resumed Project Memory appointments! You can once again get help at the library with transferring your personal photos, home […]

Civic Lab Online: What is Indigenous Peoples’ Day?

Posted on October 4, 2022 at 6:00 am

Last year Indigenous Peoples’ Day was declared a federal holiday for the first time. It has been celebrated in individual states and cities for years, and now is gaining more recognition as areas develop their own traditions celebrating local tribes and Native American heroes. How did this day begin, and how do citizens who aren’t Indigenous ce […]