Did you know that this week is National Library Week? We are closing out the week celebrating the books, people, and buildings that make the Library a place for everyone!
If you’re looking for a on theme read, look no further. Here are some library-related reads for the bibliophile in us all. Just click on the book title to place the book on hold!
For National Library Week, which runs from April 23-29, the staff at Rocky River Public Library have filled quite a few shelves full of our book recommendations. From nonfiction to graphic novels to fantasy to audiobooks, we’ve got a little bit of everything for every type of reader.
But if you can’t make it in person to see our staff recommendations, here’s a list of just a few of the books staff have picked out:
A reimagining of the classic gothic suspense novel, Mexican Gothic follows the experiences of a courageous socialite in 1950s Mexico who is drawn into the treacherous secrets of an isolated mansion.
Alex Craft knows how to kill someone. And she doesn’t feel bad about it. When her older sister, Anna, was murdered three years ago and the killer walked free, Alex uncaged the language she knows best: The language of violence.
An account of the unsolved Golden State Killer case, written by the late author of the TrueCrimeDiary.com website traces the assaults and murders of dozens of victims and the author’s determined efforts to help identify the killer and bring him to justice.
Three Daughters of Eve is set over an evening in contemporary Istanbul and follows the efforts of a woman to navigate cultural, religious and economic tensions during a seaside mansion dinner party while enduring painful memories of her deep multicultural friendships during her Oxford years.
Zuboff explores the challenges to humanity posed by the digital future, presenting a detailed examination of the unprecedented form of power called “surveillance capitalism,” and the quest by powerful corporations to predict and control human behavior.
A clerk in a Tokyo of the near future works in an organization that controls the flow of information to society–employing electronic brainwashing and other insidious techniques–a job that contributes to his increasing sense of dehumanization.
Keefe documents the notorious abduction and murder of I.R.A. Troubles victim Jean McConville in 1972 Belfast, exploring how the case reflected the brutal conflicts of Northern Ireland and their ongoing repercussions.
Glitter and Glue presents an account of the author’s perspectives on motherhood, which have been shaped by her job as a nanny for a grieving Australian family and her character-testing experiences with her daughters.
Despite the unspeakable horrors that Frankl faced in the Nazi concentration camps, he learned from the strength of his fellow inmates that it is always possible to “say yes to life”–a profound and timeless lesson for us all.
Kolker tells the heartrending story of a midcentury American family with 12 children, 6 of them diagnosed with schizophrenia, that became science’s great hope in the quest to understand the disease.
First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It’s a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support.
There’s a party going on right here, a celebration to last throughout… the week. Ok, I’ll stop with the Kool and the Gang, but it is National Library Week and a good time to celebrate all of our wonderful libraries! Here at Rocky River we are asking for reasons why you love your library – fill out a entry slip and you’ll not only be spreading the love but you’ll have a chance to win a Books-A-Million gift card! Entry slips and box are at the Reference Desk.
Isn’t that sad? But isn’t nice that there is a National Library Week at all?! Yes! and Yes! Hopefully you’ve taken a moment to check something out at your favorite library this week, said something kind to your favorite librarian, or thought good thoughts about libraries in general, but if you’d like to finish off the week in high style? PC Magazine has a thoughtful piece discussing how libraries are remaining relevant that you might enjoy reading, and please don’t miss the slide show suggested at the end of the article -it’s fun!
Yep! Still here and still going strong! Public libraries, academic libraries, business libraries, school libraries… This is *our* week to feel extra special! How can you help? Oh, so many possibilities! I’ll suggest three and we’ll see if any of those inspire you? (If they don’t, let me know and I’ll try three more?)
1. Come in for a visit! Let’s talk about some good -or bad- books you’ve read recently. We can see how many other patrons we can intrigue with our spirited conversation!
2. Ask for help with a research project! We *love!!* this stuff!! (It’s why we became librarians!) Feel free to make the request challenging and then give us a little time to work on it – we’ll WOW you!
3. Play Trivia Pursuit® with your favorite librarian and then take her out for a celebratory ice cream sundae! (It’s pretty likely that she’s going to win as librarians do seem to know many odd bits about a wide variety of topics…)
So? Which of these non-challenging challenges are you considering? … What about trying all of them?! (I’ll start setting the game board up now!) See you soon!
Medicine for the soul. – Inscription over the door of the Library at Thebes
This week libraries across the country will be celebrating National Library Week. National Library Week, which began in 1958, is a way to recognize, celebrate, and honor the many ways libraries serve communities.
Libraries have existed in some form since the beginning of civilization. Archaeologists have discovered a collection of 5,000 year old clay tablets in ancient Mesopotamia and ancient Egyptian scrolls from 1300 bc. These findings and many more are a testament to mankind’s desire to seek, preserve, and share knowledge. Prior to the 4th century bc libraries were private collections, but in 300 bc The Great Library of Alexandria in Egypt was founded as a public library, though it was only open to those who possessed the proper scholarly qualifications. Public libraries have obviously changed throughout the centuries!
The oldest library in the United States began when John Harvard, a clergyman from Massachusetts donated 400 books to a new university that would eventually honor him by adopting his name. Lending libraries were established in the colonies in the 1600’s and private literary societies established subscription libraries in the 1700’s. The first public library in the United States opened in 1833, as the support for free public education increased. Libraries have a long history of evolving to meet the needs of the communities that support them. Here at our own little library, we thank you for your continuing support.
That’s a very brief glimpse at the long and rich history of libraries, and Melvil Dewey wasn’t even mentioned! I’ll try to get to him this week, he’s important to libraries. For a fun (and current) look at the life of professional librarians check out This Book is Overdue!: How Librarians and Cybarians Can Save Us All by Marilyn Johnson. You’ll find it in the nonfiction section according to its Dewey number: 020.23J. It’s pretty popular around here so you may have to wait in line!
Read it or Weep 