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Finding Your Joy in Winter

Posted on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 by Abbey Rimel

If you pay attention to your library, you’ve learned by now that we provide books, movies, music and scads of vetted information through databases. One thing you may not immediately think of when you think of the library is personal fulfillment. A pandemic can do a lot to suck the joy out of everyday life and we’re here to help you recapture some small measure of enjoyment. This winter, squeeze some peace, calm and personal enrichment into your day, compliments of your library.

Join a Poetry Group

Books, Roses, Flowers, Mug, Cup, Table

I’m not a poet, but I’ve co-hosted a poetry open mic before and it’s an amazing, cathartic and warm experience. The poets who join us are always supportive and encouraging of each other. The poetry always comes from the heart and I come away inspired to find new ways to express my own feelings and experiences through words. Most importantly, I learn that caring, thoughtful people are all around me and it makes me feel better about the world.

Take a chance on the upcoming Virtual Open Mic Poetry Reading on Tuesday, February 22 at 7-8 p.m. Join us live viz Zoom at this open mic event co-hosted with the Columbia Chapter of the Missouri Writers’ Guild. Share your own original poems, or just listen and enjoy. Register to watch: www.dbrl.org/open-mic. If you’d like to be a reader, please also sign up at http://dbrl.me/rp. We will have a limit of 12 readers.

 

Explore Your Creative Side

Painting, Pencils, Paint, Pens

I’m also not much of an artist, but I’ve always really enjoyed entering the “flow state” with paper and pencil or brush and canvas. With art, there are no rules, only guidelines. It’s very freeing to mix your own colors, draw your own lines and create a world straight from your own mind.

If you need a little jump start, why not sign up for the upcoming Winter Paint-Along on Thursday, February 17? The session is in person and runs 6:30-8 p.m. in the Friends Room of the Columbia Public Library. Join Lisa Franko from Access Arts for an enjoyable evening of guided painting. Ms. Franko will lead you through the basic techniques of acrylic painting. All supplies provided, and beginners and all skill levels welcome. This program is for adults and teens, and masks will be required. You can register here: www.dbrl.org/paint-along. The Callaway County branches at Fulton (February 22) and Holt’s Summit (February 24) will feature the same program, led by librarian Lisa Stock, later this month.

 

Family Game Night

Board Game, Settlers Of Catan, Game

Family. You live with these people. Your relationship has weathered some of the worst days you’ve ever known and you’re still working your way through every day together. Let’s celebrate with some fun and games! Dust off your Monopoly or Risk game, pop a little popcorn and gather round! If your family also happens to be into chess, make sure you tune in for Chess: Opening Moves on Tuesday, February 8 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. This event will be live via Zoom and it will be led by experienced chess player Jason Delpire, who will discuss the opening, why masters make certain decisions and how to decide on your first moves. Intended for players who know chess notation, though there will be a quick refresher. This program is for those ages 10 and older. Register here: www.dbrl.org/chess.

 

Explore Fiber Arts with Creative Bug

crocheted donut with yarn and crochet hook on pink background

Whether it’s knitting, crochet, weaving or sewing, CreativeBug has a course for you — and it’s all free with your library card! Beginners and experienced crafters alike will find projects and how-to videos for a wide range of fiber arts. I can’t imagine anything better than a nice knit pair of mittens as a lovely Valentine’s gift, or just an everyday way to say “I care.” As a fair knitter and a halfway decent crocheter, I love the sense of satisfaction I get after completing a cute little baby hat or a handy little pouch to keep special mementos. Find your next project today!

 

Plan Your Spring Garden

Vegetables, Basket, Vegetable Basket

You know it’s coming, but sometimes the darker days of winter can all but erase memories of spring. Break out of the doldrums and break out the seed catalogs! Browse the library catalog for garden inspiration. We’ve got great ideas for vegetable and flower gardeners alike!

 

 

 

While I’m not a Pollyanna, I am relentlessly hopeful that the library can make a difference for our community by showing them that there are little bright spots in the world, no matter how cold or dark winter may be. Keep looking for them and we’ll all be there together when the sun shines on us in the spring!

Nonfiction Roundup: February 2022

Posted on Monday, February 7, 2022 by Liz

Below I’m highlighting some nonfiction books coming out in February. All of the mentioned titles are available to put on hold in our catalog and will also be made available via the library’s Overdrive website on the day of publication in eBook and downloadable audiobook format (as available). For a more extensive list of new nonfiction books coming out this month, check our online catalog. Continue reading “Nonfiction Roundup: February 2022”

Debut Author Spotlight: February 2022

Posted on Friday, February 4, 2022 by Katherine

Here are a few of the most notable adult fiction debut novels coming out in February. These have all received positive reviews in library journals. For a longer list, please visit our catalog.

Ramon and Julieta book cover“Ramón and Julieta” by Alana Quintana Albertson

Ramón Montez always achieves his goals. Whether that means collecting Ivy League degrees or growing his father’s fast-food empire, nothing sets Ramón off course. So when the sexy señorita who kissed him on the Day of the Dead runs off into the night with his heart, he determines to do whatever it takes to find her again.

Celebrity chef Julieta Campos has sacrificed everything to save her sea-to-table taqueria from closing. To her horror, she discovers that her new landlord is none other than the magnetic mariachi she hooked up with on Dia de los Muertos. Even worse, it was his father who stole her mother’s taco recipe decades ago. Julieta has no choice but to work with Ramón, the man who destroyed her life’s work — and the one man who tempts and inspires her.

As San Diego’s outraged community protests against the Taco King takeover and the divide between their families grows, Ramón and Julieta struggle to balance the rising tensions. But Ramón knows that true love is priceless and despite all of his successes, this is the one battle he refuses to lose.

Continue reading “Debut Author Spotlight: February 2022”

Winter Picture Books for Everyone

Posted on Wednesday, February 2, 2022 by Jerilyn

“Picture books are the campfire story of the reading world. They’re warm, they’re inviting, they’re the perfect stories to bring people together… Sometimes reading should be more about the experience, about taking a brief moment in time and sharing a story with a loved one, parent, or friend.” This wonderful quote came from the article Why I Will Never Stop Reading Picture Books with My Kid by Tom Burns. Continue reading “Winter Picture Books for Everyone”

Crafternoon-To-Go: Adult Relaxation Kits

Posted on Monday, January 31, 2022 by cs

Making time to relax is hard — particularly with the grays and browns of winter surrounding us, dark evenings, dealing with the pandemic and all of the other tasks that make demands on our lives. As part of our Winter Reading Program, our kits this month are designed to help you relax. We have included an easy coaster-making craft for your favorite beverage, lavender sachets, adult coloring pages/colored pencils, a link to free relaxation music and some beginning instructions on meditation.

These kits will be available while they last in all of our branches on Friday, February 4. You may pick them up at the second floor reference desk at the Columbia library and near the service desks at our other branches. You can try these library resources for more assistance in helping you relax. We hope this helps you make time for yourself.

 

 

Image Credit

Read the Recipe! Vol. V(alentine)

Posted on Thursday, January 27, 2022 by Jason Delpire

My favorite holiday in the kitchen was always Valentine’s Day. The expectation was that this meal would be special for our guests and that made the crew really try for “wow!” factor. Now, the holiday is a great time for me to strive for that same reaction from the ones I love. The challenge is to make a special meal for two, but most recipes are scaled for four, or more. Recognizing this obstacle, I searched for sources that would help us create a special meal for two, or three. My book list of these meals can be found here.

Instead of my usual approach of looking at only one book, I wanted to highlight a few titles that looked interesting to me (and were available while writing this). Note: I will offer some example dishes, most will probably be vegetarian, though important to mention: these are not meatless cookbooks.

The Cozy Table book cover“The Cozy Table” by Dana DeVolk contains a nice collection of 100 practical dishes that span meal types from appetizers to desserts. Reasonable ingredients list and mostly short preparation times make this a good resource for a busy small family. We bookmarked a number of recipes immediately. I made the Broccoli Rice Casserole (makes 3 to 4 servings) and the three of us finished it without much trouble, even though I essentially doubled the recipe. I also made a Veggie Goat Cheese Frittata, but added so much to it, one could argue it wasn’t nearly the same dish. Other future selections include: Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Cornbread Crust, Caprese Pizza and Cheesy Pesto Pull Apart Rolls.

The couples cookbook book coverNext was “The Couple’s Cookbook” by Cole and Kiera Stipovich. These recipes were much more adventurous than The Cozy Table (if I must compare, rather than analyze as individuals). Each entry is grouped by meal, which is helpful but also a bit judgemental (I believe you can eat any food, at any time of the day. And, as Leslie Knope said, again voicing my innermost thoughts, “Why would anybody ever eat anything besides breakfast food?”) We marked a few recipes for future meals. Our favorites were: Cold-Pressed Roasted Eggplant Sandwich with Parsley Pistachio Pesto, Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Crispy Shallots and Lemon Zest, and Soba Noodle Salad with Tofu and Charred Green Onions.

The Date Night cook bookFinally, I paged through “The Date Night Cookbook” by Ned and Ariel Fulmer. I cannot lie: this was not my cup of tea. Saccharine, cutesy, and most of the pages looked more appropriate for Instagram. (Page 151 shows Ned, wearing a long-sleeved sweater with a fresh, stylish apron, while holding a cooked chicken cutlet over the saute pan — no flame on the burner. Later, he’s cutting a pork loin in suit and tie.) The recipes were fine, I suppose, though there was a definite slant towards a dinner party more than an intimate meal. Looking through the book again as I write this, nothing really stands out. The text includes the collected wisdom of this couple on a range of topics, not just food.

New DVD List: One Night in Miami, Tina, & More

Posted on Monday, January 24, 2022 by Decimal Diver

Here is a new DVD list highlighting various titles recently added to the library’s collection.

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Website / Reviews
This feature film is a fictional account of February 25th, 1964, where four icons at the forefront of Black American culture, Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke and Jim Brown gathered discussing their roles in the civil rights movement and cultural turmoil of the ’60s. Adapted by Kemp Powers from his acclaimed play, this film is the feature directorial debut of Academy Award–winning actor Regina King. Continue reading “New DVD List: One Night in Miami, Tina, & More”

Fresh Horror From the Icy Depths of Winter

Posted on Friday, January 21, 2022 by Abbey Rimel

Surprisingly, even during the pandemic, horror is a genre growing in popularity. You’d think our real lives held enough horror, but the key thing about reading a horror novel or watching a scary movie is that these horrors are not yours, they belong to someone else and you’re just borrowing them for a moment. Not only that, but you’re viewing these particular horrors from a comfortable distance. Maybe that gives the horror fan some semblance of control in an otherwise chaotic world and at a somewhat exhausting point in human history, that could be useful. Continue reading “Fresh Horror From the Icy Depths of Winter”

Crochet: Knitting’s Less Popular Sister

Posted on Wednesday, January 19, 2022 by The Biblio-Buckaroo

It’s a new year and it’s cold outside! It’s a good time to pick up a crochet hook and some wooly yarn and get cozy. Whether crochet is new to you or you have a stash of yarn that you have neglected, there are a lot of fun projects, with different levels of difficulty, to dive into. Is crochet as popular as knitting? It is not. Judging by the ratio of knitting books to crochet books in the library’s collection, crochet is mayyybe half as popular. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its charms. For example, you don’t have to count stitches, you use one hook instead of two needles and who doesn’t love a groovy 1970s granny square afghan? Continue reading “Crochet: Knitting’s Less Popular Sister”