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Why the Value of Self-Reliance is at the Heart of Libraries

April 03, 2018

I recently returned to Ralph Waldo Emerson’s timeless essay “Self-Reliance”, and found it different from how I remembered it. Emerson’s self-reliance is rigidly individualistic, non-conformist, and solitary; a person must invent their own ideas, everyone else be damned. This differs slightly from our colloquial ideas of self-reliance as either self-made in a materialistic sense or the quality of a person who has achieved a lot through hard work (aka, “…blood, sweat, and tears.”). When we think of a self-reliant individual, many of us picture a pioneer-type in the Wild West, venturing out to explore the untamed wilderness and surviving to tell the tale. While not untrue in its essence, one may simply point out that though this person existed in the past, the West has been won. To that end, it must be asked: What is self-reliance in contemporary life?

Libraries: They’re for adults too!

March 29, 2018

Libraries are steadfast hallmarks of American society. Americans across the country have childhood memories of their local libraries. Often, as we escape childhood, our trips to the library become less frequent. As a result, libraries occupy a smaller amount of space in our minds and their troubles slip from the running list of concerns we have.

A New Mom’s Best Resource for Herself and Her Child: the Local Library

March 21, 2018

I’m not a mom, but from what I can tell, it is really hard work. Like, I have no idea how you do it, work. My mom is a library power user and she passed the library gene on to me. Big time. If I was a mom, I would have my kids at the library from the minute they could leave the house as infants. You don’t have to be a power user to love the library. And you don’t have to be a mom to fall in love with all that libraries offer. But, if you are a mom, the library is one of the best resources available to you. From parenting resources and social connection to early childhood development toys, arts and crafts, storytime and much more, the local library can be a new moms best resource for yourself and your child.

Library Storytime: It’s a Lot More than just the Story

March 21, 2018

Storytime is the Heart and Soul of the Library To many people, storytime and libraries go hand-in-hand. But surprisingly many new parents don’t know about the storytime programs available at their local public library. Not only is storytime a great free form of entertainment for parents looking for activities for their children, but library storytime can provide a bonanza of cognitive benefits as well. In many ways, storytime is the heart and soul of the library- not only does it bring together parents, caregivers and children but it also showcases the depth and breadth of your local public library’s commitment to your community with respect to early literacy and child development.

Building Your Tween’s World One Audiobook at a Time

March 20, 2018

Whether it’s via books, movies, or small screen media consumption, tweens take an interest in sampling a variety of genres. Fantasy, historical fiction, mysteries, adventure, and even horror can attract some initial curiosity that often leads to delving deeper and gaining a personal taste for tales in a similar vein. There are plenty of age-appropriate, professionally performed audiobooks that offer kids 10–12 the opportunity to taste such possibilities.

10 Library Projects That Will Rock Your Socks Off (that were funded through IMLS)!

March 17, 2018

I wrote an article recently about how Trump is coming after libraries and I wasn’t joking. In Trump’s FY2019 proposed budget, his administration has called for the elimination of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)! This misguided move is obviously bad for libraries because IMLS is the independent government agency that transfers the funds made available through the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) — the only Federal funding that is exclusively for libraries — to libraries all around the country! If we lose the IMLS, libraries will lose the ability to do some truly meaningful work. Below are 10 examples of important initiatives that were funded through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS):

Get started on your family tree with local and worldwide resources

March 12, 2018

“Know Thyself” Isn’t Just For Philosophy Majors According to USA Today, genealogy is the second most popular hobby in the United States. Once an esoteric pastime for retirees and genealogy buffs, family history has become a mainstream interest for more and more Americans. Part of this recent trend can be attributed to the popularity of television shows such as Finding Your Roots and Genealogy Roadshow on PBS and Who Do You Think You Are? on TLC. At the same time, the commercial availability of inexpensive DNA testing kits like 23andMe and AncestryDNA have inspired a new generation of Americans to know more about their roots. Whatever the reason, there are now many resources available to you in helping you fill out your family tree- from online databases to the National Archives. A great way to get started, however, is to take advantage of what’s available to you at your local public library.

Congratulations! Your School-aged Child Has a Funny Bone!

February 21, 2018

Kids build all sorts of linguistic skills during the first four years of life, and their early school years typically bring strides in visual literacy, another gold mine of linguistic riches. In addition to learning to understand and follow verbal directions, explain how they feel, and explore worlds of fact and fantasy written by all kinds of authors because they’ve cracked the code of print, your 8- to 10-year-old may be on the way to developing a sense of verbal humor.

Pursuing Your Passions at the Library

February 20, 2018

What makes you who you are? What fires you up?

The Brilliant Role Libraries Play in Supporting Entrepreneurs

February 19, 2018

Dear budding entrepreneur: Your local library is one of the most powerful tools you have to launch a successful business. As EveryLibrary writes, “Librarians can serve as an extension of your staff and will help you harness the power of these resources to grow your business.” Sometimes misidentified as repositories for dusty books, today’s libraries are actually cutting edge information hubs designed to help people get the resources, materials and connections they need, whether for work, school, pleasure or all of the above. Library staffers and resource librarians are some of the smartest folks around — and they’re on a mission to help you get information. If you’re an entrepreneur, an established business owner, or just thinking about starting a business, head down to your local library. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the role the library staff and resources can play in helping you start and grow a business. Here are just a few ways libraries support entrepreneurs:
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