Explore and Discover

Helpful Spring Gardening Programs, Informative Books & the Latest from the Master Gardeners

Posted on April 11, 2023 at 6:00 am

By Crystal Miller Spring is upon us and that means there’s a new crop of gardening programs on offer at our libraries, fresh gardening books on our shelves, and seed libraries to visit. Our long-time community partner, the WSU Extension Spokane County Master Gardeners, has been presenting gardening programs and hosting a plant clinic at […]

Ways to Connect with Poems & Celebrate National Poetry Month this April

Posted on April 5, 2023 at 6:00 am

By Melissa Rhoades Since 1996, April has been designated as National Poetry Month to recognize and honor this long-lived and varied artform. Poems can be emotional expressions, political statements, a spiritual practice, a way to convey narrative, a whimsical play with language, and many other things. Likewise, poems can fulfill specific rhythms, s […]

World Languages at the Library: A Multitude of Experiences & Opportunities

Posted on March 29, 2023 at 6:00 am

By Dana Mannino Did you know that the library has books in languages other than English? Currently, our largest non-English collection is in Spanish. We are actively building a collection in Russian and looking ahead to grow our collection in Marshallese and Arabic as well. These are the most common non-English languages spoken in the […]

Preparing to Get Outdoors: Helpful Books, Guided Hikes & A Spring Essentials List

Posted on March 15, 2023 at 5:00 am

By Alison Johnson Around this time of year, I anxiously await getting outdoors with my pup. I have a high energy dog who loves tramping through the mountains and just about anywhere we can find a trail. If I can’t wait, this means we’ll run into mud, ice, snow, rain, and cold. But early spring […]

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 […]

Kindness: Ideas, Inspiration & the Research about Its Positive Effects

Posted on February 22, 2023 at 6:00 am

By Abra Cole Random Acts of Kindness Random Acts of Kindness Day was February 17, 2023, and while it was perhaps overshadowed by Valentine’s Day, it still serves as a great reminder that we can all be kinder to each other every day of the year! Research has shown that being on the receiving end […]

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... […]

Women’s Heart Week: Heart Disease Signs, Risks, Prevention & Library Resources

Posted on February 1, 2023 at 6:00 am

By Crystal Miller Women’s Heart Week Organized by the Women’s Heart Foundation, Women’s Heart Week is celebrated each year February 1–7 and aims to educate, raise awareness, and teach the symptoms and preventions of serious heart diseases in women. According to both the Women’s Heart Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and […]

Year in Review: Our Libraries in 2022

Posted on December 28, 2022 at 6:00 am

By Jane Baker It will come as no surprise that the library has books. Fiction and nonfiction, picture books and weighty tomes, fantasy adventures and practical how-to guides, our shelves are filled with so many reading options. What may be a surprise is all the ways in which our libraries are more than books. Here […]