Posted on Monday, November 30, 2020 by Megan
During the winter months I love to heat up some hot cocoa and get creative. Even though this year is different than any other year, I’m still busting out my mug and my paints. You can paint along with me at www.dbrl.org/yeti-painting and create a winter wonderland painting that features an adorable tiny yeti. Continue reading “Winter Guided Painting: Mini Yeti”
Posted on Friday, November 27, 2020 by cs
The time just changed and ,although it did make that one Sunday feel so much longer, the skies are dark now when I leave work. If you are like me and get the “darkness doldrums” finding something to keep busy with helps. I usually do this by thinking of the holidays and gifts or decorations to make. Continue reading “Crafternoon to Go: Bubble Print Gift Tags”
Posted on Monday, November 23, 2020 by Liz
This is the third and final blog post in the homeschooling and distance learning series I’ve been doing over the last couple of months. This post will focus on community resources for people looking for more information and help with homeschooling and distance learning. I’ll also be including some odds and ends that I have come across since starting this series of blog posts. Continue reading “Homeschooling and Distance Learning Resources: Community Resources and More!”
Posted on Friday, November 20, 2020 by DBRL_Katie
“I am thankful that I am an oak, and that though I may be wind-broken or uprooted, hewn or sawn, at least I cannot, under any circumstances, be squashed.”
– from the short story “The Direction of the Road” by Ursula K. Le Guin
A month ago, despite political polarization and an isolating global pandemic, our community united in well-wishes for the McBaine Burr Oak, colloquially known as “Big Tree.” It was struck by lightning during a formidable morning thunderstorm and damaged to lengths only next springtime can reveal. Now seems an especially good time to meditate on its resilience and let ourselves feel awe in its presence. Continue reading “Resilient Trees”
Posted on Monday, November 2, 2020 by Anne
2020 has been quite the year, hasn’t it? It’ll go down in history for its world-stopping pandemic, multiple environmental disasters and very turbulent election season. One thing that feels a bit lost in all the chaos is the fact that this year is a major anniversary. One hundred years ago, the 19th Amendment passed into law, finally giving all Americans the right to vote. Numerous women and men fought tirelessly over several decades for women to have the chance to have a voice in how their country is run. They faced many roadblocks over the years, but their hard work and determination ultimately paid off with the passing of the amendment on August 18, 1920.
The library, of course, offers a number of great materials on the subject if you’re interested in learning more. If you’d like to have a little bit of fun in the process, I invite you to try our first ever digital escape room: Votes for Women. We had planned to celebrate this anniversary with an in-person escape room earlier in the year. But like with many things in 2020, we’ve had to re-think our approach to library programs and create an online version. Continue reading “Digital Escape Room: Votes for Women!”
Posted on Monday, October 26, 2020 by Liz
This is the second blog post in a series that will focus on resources the library and community have to help out parents with distance learning and homeschooling. The resources I will be focusing on in this second post are digital resources that are available to library patrons through the library’s website. These resources will be listed under a few different categories depending on what they have to offer. Continue reading “Homeschooling and Distance Learning Resources: Digital”
Posted on Monday, October 12, 2020 by cs
Yay! Autumn is finally here: apple cider, sweatshirts, a crackling fire and fragrant pots of soup. Maybe it is the crisp blue skies which accent some of the most beautiful scenery in nature that nudges my desire to be creative again. Maybe it nudges your creative spirits, too.
In light of all of this “creative nudging,” our fall DIY craft kits include the ingredients to make a personal journal with a beaded bookmark. Continue reading “Crafternoon-To-Go”
Posted on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 by Eric
Have you heard about the upcoming election? The one on Tuesday, November 3?
I hope you’re already aware of it, because it’s kind of dominating the news right now. Also, the last day you can register to vote is October 7 — one week from today! If you want to vote absentee or by mail, your last day to request a ballot application is October 21.
Let’s review those dates:
Posted on Monday, September 28, 2020 by Liz
This is the first blog post in a series that will focus on resources the library and community have to help out parents with distance learning and homeschooling. The first resource I’ll be sharing are books from the library on various topics related to parents as teachers and learning for children of all ages.
“The Call of the Wild and Free: Reclaiming Wonder in Your Child’s Education” by Ainsley Arment
Inspired by the spirit of Henry David Thoreau — ”All good things are wild and free” — mother of five Ainsley Arment founded Wild + Free. This growing online community of mothers and families want their children to receive a quality education at home by challenging their intellectual abilities and nurturing their sense of curiosity, joy and awe — the essence of a positive childhood. The homeschool approach of past generations is gone — including the stigma of socially awkward kids, conservative clothes and a classroom setting replicated in the home. The Wild + Free movement is focused on a love of nature, reading great books, pursuing interests and hobbies, making the entire world a classroom, and prolonging the wonder of childhood, an appealing philosophy that is unpacked in the pages of this book. “The Call of the Wild and Free” offers advice, information, and positive encouragement for parents considering homeschooling, those currently in the trenches looking for inspiration, as well as parents, educators and caregivers who want supplementary resources to enhance their kids’ traditional educations. Continue reading “Homeschooling and Distance Learning Resources: Books”
Posted on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 by JessB
With travel restricted, sometimes the best way to explore is through the pages of a book! There are a lot of exciting places that you can explore without leaving 
the comfort of your home. Around the world, there are a seemingly endless number of locations valued for their beautiful landscapes, cultural traditions and rich history. Some of these places are recognized for their natural and cultural value, and are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. UNESCO stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. This organization is a world-wide group that is devoted to promoting [cultural diversity, safeguarding natural resources, and protecting culturally meaningful sites around the globe.
Did you know there are over 1,000 UNESCO World Heritage Sites around the world? That means a lot of beautiful and richly diverse places to explore — and some of those places are closer than you might think! To see the entire list of natural and cultural World Heritage Sites check out World Heritage Sites: A Complete Guide to 1,031 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Continue reading “Virtual Travels with UNESCO”