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10 Experiential Learning Activities for Non-reading Kids

October 16, 2017

Gardening is a fun and rewarding activity for kids and adults alike.

Tips from a Business Librarian: Are Professional Associations Worth Your Time?

October 12, 2017

When your business is brand new — or still in the planning stages — and the money is running out, why would you think of joining an association? Shouldn’t that wait until you are bigger and more established? Maybe so, but associations can also be your best friend. There are associations for just about everything, that have websites and newsletters, and sometimes member lists that you can access immediately. And how does this help you?

Soon After I Lost My Job — Library Editorial Cartoon

October 10, 2017

“As people continue to struggle in the wake of the Great Recession and the ever-widening gap between the wealthy and everyone else, they have turned to libraries to find the resources they need. Libraries have long been a site for job seekers; now they have begun staffing social workers and registered nurses to serve a wider array of needs — continuing a tradition of the library as a safe, welcoming, and supportive place for people to turn to.” — Kevin Moore, EveryLibrary’s 2017 Artist in Residence.

Here’s a Beautiful Reason for Loving Libraries : The Library Moment!

October 05, 2017

Not everyone has my luck — I love my job. I am a librarian.

Three Lessons I’ve Learned About People from Being a Librarian (plus a bonus one)

October 02, 2017

Library work is about people. Most library staff — from shelvers of books, to the clerks who check items and and out, to the librarians answers questions at the information desk — work directly with the public. I’ve done all of these jobs at many libraries over the last fifteen years, and throughout that time I’ve noticed that the same immutable truths of human nature seem to crop up regardless of a community’s demographics. Though some of them are library-specific, anyone who has worked in public service will recognize a few of these in their own experiences. Note: While I think some of these things are amusing, I don’t write them to lampoon my patrons; my aim, instead, is reflective. Let’s think about these lessons as a society, and see if there’s a deeper meaning in them. Here we go:

Five Mid-Century Modern Library Buildings That Will Make You Swoon!

September 28, 2017

Mid-century modern design has always had a wholesome influence on me. When I see a building, piece of furniture, type, or graphic design that is spare and functional, full of long lines and quadrilaterals, made of simple materials, and connected to its environment, it gives me a distinctly calm feeling. When I see a mid-century modern building, the world slows down, it makes sense.

Why Parents Should Rejoice That Their Young Readers Are Gobbling Up Graphic Novels

September 25, 2017

The graphic novel trilogy March, by Congressman John Lewis with Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell, gives readers a first-hand view of the civil rights movements. Book three won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. It is the first graphic novel to be awarded this prize.

Beating the Standardized Testing Blues with Libraries!

September 21, 2017

Now that school is back in session, students all over the country are getting ready for a few weeks of standardized tests that have become the reality every school year. Regardless of one’s opinion about the effectiveness of these tests, no one can argue that they wear students out. It’s pretty easy for kids and teens to get demoralized with day after day of multiple choice and essays. Certainly, they can expend some of their restlessness by running around in the park or by vegging out in front of the TV, those are both decent options. However, I contend that the library is the best antidote to the testing blues.

Fake News — Library Editorial Cartoon

September 19, 2017

"Everyone is talking about “fake news” these days — especially the people most responsible for it! But what is it really? Is this really a new phenomenon? Nope. It’s the same old disinformation, misinformation, and plain ridiculous information that gets passed around by malevolent and/or ignorant forces. (They’re not always easy to distinguish, these forces.) The only way to fight it is with educating ourselves. Thankfully our libraries are full of great sources on information on a wide variety of subjects!”   — Kevin Moore is EveryLibrary’s 2017 Artist in Residence.

Libraries and the Business Community: A Success Story

September 18, 2017

Libraries exist to help people succeed, and the business world is no exception. Many aspiring business owners got their start in a public library, whether through researching how to write a business plan, attending a class on Quickbooks, or developing a marketing list using the library’s electronic resources.
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