Search results for: melissa rhoades
Fantastic International Fiction: Read Beyond the Beaten Path & Expand Your World
August 2, 2022By Melissa Rhoades This summer’s reading challenge dares us to “Read Beyond the Beaten Path.” Reading stories by international authors is a wonderful way to do that. International fiction—also called foreign fiction—allows us to not only imagine the sights, smells, and sounds of other landscapes but also gain exposure to diverse customs, cuisines, and cultural […]
New Picture Books in Rhyme Bring Family Fun to Your Storytime
May 4, 2022Presenting storytimes again also gives me the perfect excuse to explore the new picture books added to our collection. Believe it or not, we’ve purchased over 650 picture books between January 2021 and April 2022. That’s a pretty hefty amount for one person to peruse! Here are eight new picture books that provide a great introduction to stories in rhyme.
Celebrate International Women’s Day with New & Groundbreaking Books
March 8, 2022International Women’s Day takes place each year on March 8 to acknowledge women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements in the face of historical disadvantages. It’s also a day to advocate for women’s rights worldwide. I’m normally a fiction reader, so I’ve decided to celebrate International Women’s Day this year by expanding my reading list to include nonfiction books about women’s widely varying experiences. What I’m discovering is that these books are just as riveting as a good novel! The following selections offer powerful insights into some of the ways women have struggled, persevered, and triumphed around the globe.
Grow Your Creative Talents in the New Year with Helpful Books, Resources & Programs
December 29, 2021“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have,” Maya Angelou said in an interview. From my experience, this is absolutely true. This means that including creative goals in your New Year’s resolutions could lead to a more productive and inspirational 2022. Our libraries offer plenty of ways to help with creative goals, including books, DVDs, and CDs to check out, online and on-demand classes, library programs, and even a website featuring local artists. Which ones will you try?
Over 148,000 Full-Text Reads in This Great Digital Resource for Literature Fans
November 23, 2021Leisure readers, students, and people engaged in professional literature research will find quick searches to quality information (without advertisements getting in the way) when using Gale Literature: Litfinder. Litfinder is found in our Digital Library and is a fantastic tool for lovers of contemporary and classic literature from around the world. The content is accurate and reliable, and the tools and features help you discover both general reading and literary sources. Because Litfinder contains so much data and has many tools and features for refining searches, I’m highlighting some of the best ways to use these tools when you’re getting started.
Top Literary Destinations to See in Asia, Africa, Europe & Latin America
September 10, 2021Whether you’re planning an actual trip or simply want to travel in your imagination, you’ll find exciting places to add to your literary travel itinerary in this post! Discover some of the oldest, most beautiful, and most unusual libraries and literary landmarks in Asia, Africa, Continental Europe, and Latin America.
Top Literary Tourist Stops in English-Speaking Countries for Avid Book Fans
June 23, 2021BY MELISSA RHOADES Summer 2021 may not be an ideal time to travel internationally, but it’s a great time to start dreaming and planning! In fact, Conde Nast Traveler (available digitally from Flipster) recommends planning international travel at least one year in advance. TRAVELING IN THE TIME OF COVID-19 The status of international travel is […]
16 Fabulous Book Destinations for Your Next Trip
April 14, 2021BY MELISSA RHOADES As communities continue to reopen across the Inland Northwest, travel has dominated my mind. I’ve waited over a year to see family and friends, and I look forward to packing my bags for a visit. I also look forward to sightseeing again. With National Library Week taking place just last week, it […]
Nurturing creativity & imagination with picture books
January 28, 2021BY MELISSA RHOADES Children are naturally creative and tend to display expansive imaginations. It’s even a stereotype that our imaginations blossom when we’re young and get socialized out of us as we grow into adulthood. Pablo Picasso is famously quoted as saying: “Every child is an artist. The problem is staying an artist when you […]
Escape screen time this winter
November 25, 2020BY 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, […]
