Dear Friends,
Somehow, we are already in the last week of February. I cannot even begin to imagine how that has come around so quickly! But, as the days are getting longer and the weather a little warmer, I suppose I will have to believe the calendar.
With Matthew away for a few days, I am stepping in this week to say “hello” to you all. This is the time of year when the antsy end-of-winter energy always sets in at my house, so it seemed like a good time to remind everyone that there is always space at the Library if you need to get out of the house. Next week, we have both Family Game Night (Friday, March 7, 3:30-5:30 PM, for ages 5ish and up) and our Skidompha After Dark Game Night (Friday, March 7, 6:00-9:00 PM, for ages 16+), so be sure to come join us for some socializing and board games!
And, for whiling away cozy hours at home, there are always good books and movies available. If you would like some recommendations, I checked in with our staff to see what they have been enjoying recently…
From Kristi, our Youth Services Librarian: “I just finished Force of Nature: A Novel of Rachel Carson by Ann E. Berg, illustrated by Sophie Blackall. While written as middle grade fiction, I really enjoyed this peek into Carson’s life and think other adults would, too.”
From Hannah, our Teen Services Librarian: “I’d recommend Bright Red Fruit by Safia Elhillo. It’s a moving YA novel in verse that is so good you’ll want to finish it in one sitting (with that one sitting accompanied by a cup of ginger honey tea).”
From Chloe, our Adult Services Librarian: “I’m reading Siren’s Call, by Chris Hayes. Hayes makes a compelling argument that our attention is necessary to our senses of identity and cohesion as humans. It’s also being increasingly threatened by economies and policies which brutally compete for it. The books cuts deeper than an analysis of technology, which is examined as a symptom of this assault on our attention and not its root cause. Pretty enlightening so far!”
As for myself, I always enjoy revisiting Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, and they have been great fun while I was waiting for a new book to make its way to my hands. Now the wait is over! Lyndal Roper, one of my favorite historians, has written a book about the German Peasants’ War (1524-1525) called Summer of Fire and Blood, and I am very much looking forward to settling in with a cup of tea, my cat, and my book. I hope your evening is just as pleasant!
Be well,
Meghan
Meghan Hawkes
Communications Coordinator
Skidompha Public Library