eBook Displays of the Week
Your Library Staff at Home: Book & TV Time
Need to step out of time and take your mind off of things?
Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore is about a woman who wakes up every New Year’s Day (her birthday) at a different phase of her life. In this way, Oona has the advantage of knowing her future but does not have the ability to change it (mostly). This wild romp of a read, ultimately an uplifting story about self-discovery, may leave you wondering how everyday small decisions influence your life trajectory. Don’t get caught up on the complicated time-travel elements in this novel, just enjoy the ride.
For something completely different, travel in time to the 9th-century by watching The Last Kingdom, a BBC historical drama adapted from Bernard Cornwell’s best-selling series of books “The Saxon Stories.” Combining historical figures and events with fiction, this series recreates the history of King Alfred the Great and his desire to unite the separate kingdoms that become England. Currently filming its fourth season, The Last Kingdom, with its breathtaking cinematography and glorious fight scenes, should be on the watch-list of fans of Game of Thrones and Vikings.
Until next time, be good to yourselves.
Your Library Staff at Home – what do you think about these things?
The weather is getting nicer and nicer, what a lovely thing! And (again) as I have more time at home right now, I’m looking at the backyard and thinking… what about a vegetable garden this year? I do get plenty of sun in the yard and there’s room for a small patch of produce, what do you think? Should I go for it? Raised bed or dig up some dirt? Let me know!
While you’re pondering my situation, you’ll also want to consider this:
Cox is giving a deserving teacher a $1,000 “home classroom” makeover… and we need your help
Teachers have made incredible strides in the past few weeks to ensure students stay connected to their schooling while learning remotely. Do you know of an educator who has created a dynamic virtual classroom, or is building lessons that help kids thrive in a digital learning setting? If so, we want to hear about it – and potentially award that teacher with a $1,000 virtual classroom makeover!
Click the button below to nominate an educator that is taking virtual classroom instruction to the next level. We may share their successes on our social media pages, showcase them in a TV spot, or even award them with $1,000 in equipment and technology!
NOMINATE A TEACHER NOW
And after you’ve recognized a deserving teacher, I think you deserve to watch the Great Depression Cooking channel on YouTube. These are new videos, but Clara is sweet, funny, and has good words of wisdom -all the things I need (and maybe you need?) right now! I love it when she cooks with dandelion greens!
Be kind to yourself!
-Stacey
Virtual Book Club – Week 3
Welcome back to week 3 of our Little Fires Everywhere virtual book club! Each week on Sunday, we’ll be posting discussion questions to chat about in the comments below. Some of our librarians have already gotten the discussion started in previous weeks, and we’d love to hear what you have to say!
For this week, we’re going to start talking about a few more serious topics: race, class, and society, and how they impact the novel and its themes.
- What were your thoughts regarding the Mirabelle McCullough / May Ling Chow case? Whose side were on? Did your allegiance change?
- How are class and race treated in this novel? What impact do they have on the story’s events and the way the characters respond?
- Describe Shaker Heights and its sense of itself as a refuge and “a little bit of heaven on earth.” Would you enjoy living there or somewhere like it? Consider why Celeste Ng might have set her novel in such a place? If you’ve been to Shaker Heights, do you think the way the book describes the city is faithful to the real place? Can you see something like the events of the novel happening in real life in Shaker Heights?
Questions from litlovers.com, some additions from me.
Whether you add your thoughts or just read the discussion, thank you for being here! We miss you too, and we’ll get through this together.
Your Library Staff @ Home – Making & Crafting
Guess what peeps? I finished it – yes, the Icelandic shawl that has been on my needles for way too long. It’s beautiful and blocked on the bed in the back bedroom. I just have to let it dry and fix a few small details and I can wear it….next year! Here’s a look at the blocked beauty (it took the entire queen bed space to lay it out – it’s huge).
Now that that monkey on my back has been put aside for a bit, let’s focus on some other tasks – mask making – a thing we all need right now.
If you can sew, the New York Times has a fairly simple pattern that my husband is using (see below). Local requests from University Hospitals and the Cleveland Clinic have provided a way for sewers to help during this stressful time as well. University Hospitals even provided a pattern and instructions, though they are a bit complicated if you’re new to the craft. If you’re a quilter and have quilting fabric, apparently it works really well.
There are a lot of alternatives if you’re not a sewer. This Masks4All site has tons of great ideas. Keep safe out there people.
And if you’re looking for more creative outlets, check out Week 3 of Creativebug’s Crafting at Home series. There’s Watercolor lettering, a knitted shawl (I may skip that one) and clothespin dolls for the kids – so inspiring!
I’d love to hear what you’re making, so comment below. Stay safe and stay home!
~ Dori
Your Library Staff at Home- Arts and Culture Online
For this weeks post rather than highlighting the digital resources of one institution I thought I would showcase multiple online exhibitions and content from cultural organizations in our area.
The Cuyahoga County Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument is now posting weekly videos on their YouTube channel highlighting different parts of the monument’s history. This series can be used as a supplement to US and Ohio history lessons.
The Akron Art Museum‘s YouTube channel has past artist and curator talks as well as promotional/documentation of past exhibitions and events. They also have a prompt/activity page that uses pieces from their collection.
The Artist Archives of the Western Reserve has their collections as well as as a guided tour of the current exhibition, 2020 Annual Members Exhibition, hosted on their website.
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History has a dedicated page to all their virtual resources during their closure. These series of videos are a great way to learn not only about prehistoric life but about local Ohio wildlife.
The Cleveland Botanical Garden has a dedicated blog for updates on their website. They also feature a page devoted to their online learning resources and tips for individuals looking to get into bird watching.
The Cleveland Metroparks website features not only information on their available outdoor resources but also a Virtual Classroom. This page has information on the new programs created at this time as well has past digital content available.
International Women’s Air & Space Museum YouTube channel has history videos as well as interviews from astronauts.
MOCA Cleveland‘s Facebook Page features videos highlighting the staff of the institution. A great way to learn about all the different jobs within a museum as well as to get to know the people.
The Kent State Museum has its collection online and searchable as well as a blog that shows restoration efforts by the staff. Their Gallery of Costume allows viewers to explore the fashions of the past.
Spaces gallery’s YouTube channel features artist and curator interviews, video based art pieces, and information on current and past exhibitions.
Your Library Staff at Home – Book Recommendation
Are you looking for a brand-new book about animals and family? I just finished St. Francis Society for Wayward Pets by Annie England Noblin and really enjoyed it.
Maeve Stephens is a successful sports journalist in Seattle, Washington until her newspaper goes under and a video is released of her boyfriend with another woman. In the midst of the chaos in her life, Maeve is notified that she inherited a house from her biological mother, Annabelle, who put her up for adoption 36 years before. Seeking a new beginning, Maeve trades in her troubled Seattle life for a fresh start in the small town of Timber Creek, Washington.
Upon moving to her new home, Maeve begins to put together pieces of her birth mother’s life. She learns that Annabelle was a town favorite, willing to help anyone (stray animals included). In her adjustment and exploration, she comes to learn about the darker side of the town of Timber Creek, and important truths about the woman that gave birth to her.
Maeve finds a little romance, some new friends, some crabby neighbors, a couple clever animals, and a better picture of her family’s history.
Hope you enjoy!
~Emma
Your Library Staff at Home- Our Favorite Poetry
Happy National Poetry Month from all of us at Rocky River Public Library! National Poetry Month was launched in April of 1996 by the Academy of American Poets to remind the public that poets have an integral role to play in our culture and that poetry matters. You can read more about National Poetry Month and ways to get involved here!
Below you will find some favorite poems and poetry collections curated by RRPL staff we hope you will enjoy, along with lots of links so you can explore our favorite poets from home.
Dori’s Poetry Pick: “Sorrow Is Not My Name” from Bringing the Shovel Down, by Ross Gay
You can find more of this Ohio born poet’s work on his website, in our digital library collection, and through the Poetry Foundation website.
Megan’s Poetry Pick: “The Lake Isle of Innisfree” by William Butler Yeats
You can read more from Yeats, widely considered one of the greatest poets of the 20th century, through the Poetry Foundation, or choose from four of Willam Butler Yeats poetry collections in our digital collection, including some of his early poems and an audiobook.
Greg’s Poetry Picks: Don’t Call Us Dead: Poems by Danez Smith and
Bury it by Sam Sax
Read more of Smith’s award-winning poetry on his website and on the Poetry Foundation website. You can find more of Sax’s work on his website, through the Poetry Foundation site , and you can check out his debut collection of poems, Madness, from our digital library collection.
Nicole’s Poetry Pick: Blud by Rachel McKibbens
You can listen to audio performances of some of McKibbens’ poetry on her website or read some of her poetry through the Poetry Foundation.
Carol’s Poetry Pick: “The Widow’s Lament in Springtime” by William Carlos Williams
You can check out a collection of Williams’ early poems from our digital library in addition to reading more of Williams’ poetry through the Poetry Foundation.
Stacey’s Poetry Pick: “Still I Rise” from And Still I Rise: A Book of Poems by Maya Angelou
We offer quite a few of Angelou’s amazing poetry collections in our digital library, and many of her poems are available on the Poetry Foundation website.
We’ll be celebrating poetry all month long over on the library’s social media, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for more staff favorites, book spine poetry, and more. If you want to participate, consider recording yourself reading a favorite poem and sharing it on social media! We can all #shelterinpoems while we shelter in place- thanks to the Poetry Foundation for that wonderful hashtag!
Your Library Staff at Home – Keeping the young kid(s) busy while working from home
This week we had the opportunity to enjoy some happy mail for the little one, and it continues to bring us joy and engagement while trying to get some of my work tasks completed. Our happy mail included a care package from Grandma, a book from the Imagination Library and Highlights Magazine.
The care package from grandma included Easter candy and goodies, plus some very helpful handcrafted cloth masks for our little family to wear when we need to make essential runs.
My daughter also received her second book from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a copy of Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit and we were thrilled to add this classic to our collection. The Imagination Library is such an important resource in expanding access to books for young children. Participating communities are eligible to sign up children ages 0-5 to receive free books monthly. According the the Department of Education:
Data from the NAEP also show that students who report having more books in their homes performed better academically. Specifically, while less than 15 percent of students with between 0 and 10 books scored proficient in 2015, 50 percent of students with more than 100 books did. The data and research are clear – children who have access to print reading materials have better literacy outcomes.
The final piece of happy mail we received to help us pass the time this week was the April edition of Highlights Magazine. The coloring pages, photo hunts, and simple stories are proving to be an excellent resource to keep an eager-to-learn 4 year-old busy while I get work done.
Good health to you and yours,
Beth
Your Library Staff at Home-More ABCs of Staying at Home.
A is for Anxiety. Let’s get that part out of the way. How am I dealing with my anxiety? Well, some days I turn to yoga. My go-to yogi is Adriene Mishler of Yoga with Adriene. This month she has created a playlist of free videos designed to nurture. You do not have to be strong and bendy to do these videos; just show up as you are. You don’t have to have a ton of time; most of the videos are under 30 minutes. Some days I just sit on the couch and listen to murder podcasts while playing Best Fiends. Balance, lol. If you are feeling anxious, know it is normal. Know you are not alone. Know that what works for one person may not work for you. Heck, what works for you one day may not work for you the next! So, check in with yourself. Try new things and if you can’t manage on your own, reach out for help.
B is for Bingeing. Time for another librarian confession-I have not read a single physical book in a month (Be Not Far From Me by Ohio author, Mindy McGinnis and it’s amazing!). All of my reading during social distancing has been audio and I am half way through a re-listen of a favorite series.
As for what I am binge watching-it’s a mixed bag. I am finding comfort in rewatching my favorites, so Schitt’s Creek and Supernatural have been my go-tos. While everyone else is watching Tiger King (I quit after episode 3, but that didn’t stop me from taking all the quizzes and based on my astrological sign and a quiz I got Saff both times), I went a different route with my disturbing documentary selection. In one sitting I watched all of Taken at Birth about a Georgia doctor who sold over 200 babies out of his clinic in the 1950s and 60s.
C is for Connecting. If you are reading from Rocky River, you probably know about Unite the Night. If you are somewhere else, maybe your own community has a similar event. Every Sunday from 8:30-9:30 people turn on their porch lights and set out luminaries to remind each other that we are all in this together. This week I helped the library join in. Staying connected can be as simple as turning on a light.
~Megan
Read it or Weep 