“If all printers were determined not to print anything till they were sure it would offend nobody, there would be very little printed.” ― Benjamin Franklin, Founding Father of the United States
Banned Books Week is upon us once again: October 1-7. The theme chosen this year by the American Library Association (ALA) is “Let Freedom Read” with the slogan “Free People Read Freely.” I love this theme. I love freedom. And really, who doesn’t? Some of our greatest leaders have supported the idea of the freedom to read. President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave a commencement address at Dartmouth University on June 14, 1953 in which he said “Don’t join the book burners. Don’t think you’re going to conceal faults by concealing evidence that they ever existed. Don’t be afraid to go in [sic] your library and read every book…” And from across the aisle, upon signing the amendment to the Library Services Act February 11, 1964, Lyndon B Johnson said “The central fact of our times is this: Books and ideas are the most effective weapons against intolerance and ignorance.” Continue reading “Let Freedom Read!”
During National Recovery Month we celebrate the achievements of people who are overcoming issues with substances and mental health. Recovery Month helps spread the word about better ways to treat and recover based on evidence. It encourages the growth of a strong and proud community of people who are in recovery. We also give credit to the professionals and community members all over the country who play a big role in supporting recovery in its different forms.
While each of our buildings and our digital library has local and national resources and information for you, I want to remind you that we are also a repository of stories. People telling their experiences with the hopes of inspiring you. In recognition of Recovery Month, let’s take a look at memoirs that represent recovery, treatment, family and community. Continue reading “National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month”
Studies have shown that loneliness increases the risk and severity of dementia. Unfortunately, the condition can too often lead to social isolation. But your library can help.
The Daniel Boone Regional Library Vision Statement reads, “DBRL strives to be at the heart of the community, a trusted resource and partner known for excellence, creativity and open, equitable access, connecting every person to opportunities for a lifetime of discovery, learning and joy.” Nobody ages out of library services, and the goal of access for everyone continues with changing life circumstances, including a diagnosis of dementia. Continue reading “Memory Café at Your Library”
During the Depression, many people saved buttons, collars, and even zippers from clothes they couldn’t use anymore. Usable pieces of cloth were often sewn together to make a different item of clothing. These button collections have often been passed down through the generations. I received many buttons and lace collars when a family member passed and used some to make clothing for my children when they were small (however, now that they are in their 20s, I don’t think they would be very interested in my homemade creations). Recently, I came across a great activity for our September Crafternoon: button and bead mosaics. All supplies will be provided, but we welcome you to bring any buttons, beads and small pieces of jewelry/mementos you might want to use.
Join us on Thursday, September 14 from 2 -4 p.m. in the Friends Room at the Columbia Public Library. This program is for adults and registration is required — register early as craft classes fill quickly.
For more ideas on decorating with buttons and beads, check out these library resources. You can also explore Creativebug, which is our database on arts and crafts activities. You can view tons of creative ideas with instructional videos and more are added monthly! You will need your library card and pin (your birthdate in MMDDYYYY format) to use this database.
Stay tuned for our October Crafternoon in the library’s program guide, website and social media!
These are some more CDs I’ve been keeping in rotation as I put off replacing the dysfunctional AUX cord in my car. Thanks to the library, I always have an album accompanying me from point A to point B 🙂. What are you listening to in the in-between?
Smino “Luv 4 Rent” (2022)
When to Listen: Embarking on a day you’re not sure you’ll get through (a long shift, a difficult visit, a first meeting); on the way back home, when you remember how most things are survivable (enjoyable, even, when you rely on the people around you and let them rely on you, too).
Feels Like: Coffee in the evening. A good hair day. Telling your friend a sad story, realizing it’s kind of funny (They’re laughing, and now you’re laughing, and it doesn’t really matter why).
Favorite Lyric: “Not too great at relationships / At least I try” (“90 Proof” ft. J. Cole)
From the Artist: “This whole album… it’s about having fun and recognizing your inner love, you feel me? Straight up self-love vibe” (Apple Music). Continue reading “Songs for the In-Between II”
I know fall is close when the chrysanthemums show up for sale, popping their sassy color all over the place. They are a favorite replacement for fading annuals, cone flowers and zinnias that have begun to get a bit raggedy.
Did you know you could save your hardy or garden mums through the winter and tend to them so they revive in spring?
While we treat them as annuals, certain plants grow as perennials in their home countries. And while these autumn mums in pots are not necessarily hardy and won’t have a lot of time to settle, with care you can overwinter them. After they have bloomed, trim them back and plant them in an area of your garden with good drainage and protect them from the thaw/freeze cycle of Missouri’s winters. Uncover them in the spring and as they begin to leaf out, pinch the new growth back to encourage multiple blooms or let them grow as nature intended. Missouri Botanical Gardens offers a care sheet with more details. Continue reading “Recycle That Plant!”
Want a little color for your summer outfit or an upcoming gathering? Paint, decorative paper and a little Mod Podge will provide that bling! Join us on Monday, August 21 at 6 p.m. as we Crafternoon at night. Your imagination is the only limit, so come prepared to paint and decorate away. All supplies provided. This program is for adults and registration is required — register early as these classes fill quickly.
For more ideas on DIY bracelets, check out these library resources. You can also explore CreativeBug, which is our database on arts and crafts activities. You can view tons of creative jewelry ideas with instructional videos, on everything from wire-wrapping to beading to leathercrafts, and more are added monthly! You will need your library card and pin (your birthdate in MMDDYYYY format) to use this database.
Stay tuned for our September Crafternoon in our program guide, on our website and on social media!
What book combines the obscure art of horse diving, otherworldly hauntings, unusual animals, World War I veterans and Wild West shows, all taking place under the long shadow of Manifest Destiny and racial segregation in America? Look no further than this year’s One Read book, “When Two Feathers Fell From the Sky” by Margaret Verble. The novel, Verble’s third, is a wildly entertaining but also compassionate examination of the treatment of those on the margins of society in early 20th century America, a time when the tenets of a humanistic progressivism were all too slowly supplanting long-held beliefs about race and gender.
In her other novels, “Maud’s Line,” “Cherokee America” and “Stealing: A Novel” Verble does not shy away from offering entertaining narratives and characters alongside unsparingly realistic narratives about the displacement, violence and marginalization aimed at Native Americans in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century. Verble herself is a registered member of the Cherokee Nation, and each book asks one overarching question: What is it like to be a member of a nation of people, with immense territory and a complex and advanced civilization, and to have all of that stripped away by an often violent, racist and land-greedy government? Continue reading “Literary Links: One Read Author Margaret Verble”
In July, we will be “antiquing” during our Crafternoon. Well, maybe not “antiquing,” but our project has been popular since the 15th century. Paper quilling is the art of using paper strips and glue to create simple and complicated shapes and patterns. Strips of paper are quilled onto a skewer to make a shape and glued onto a canvas to create a picture. All supplies are provided. This is a more complex process, so fine motor skills win the day here! Join us on July 10 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Friends Room as we Crafternoon at night. This program is for adults and registration is required — register early as these classes fill quickly.
For more ideas on decorating with paper, check out these library resources. You can also explore CreativeBug, which is our database on arts and crafts activities. You can view tons of creative jewelry ideas with instructional videos, on everything from wire-wrapping to beading to leathercrafts, and more are added monthly! You will need your library card and pin (your birthdate in MMDDYYYY format) to use this database.
Stay tuned for our August Crafternoon in our program guide, on the website and in social media!
The AUX cord in my car finally gave up. Now, to listen to music while I drive, I have to use these things called “CDs.” Good thing the library has some of my favorites! Here’s what I’ve been listening to, between point A and point B.
Solange “A Seat at the Table” (2017)
When to Listen: When you’re too tired to be angry, when you need to be reminded of your magic. When it’s time to set down that weight you’ve been carrying.
Feels Like: A bubble bath, a blessing. A long conversation with a friend who understands. Relief from the machine, before you do it all again tomorrow.
Favorite Songs: “Weary,” “Where Do We Go,” “Borderline (An Ode to Self Care)”
From the Artist: ”Although I wanted the album to have those moments of grief, and being able to be angry and express rage, and trying to figure out how to cope in those moments. I also wanted it to make people feel empowered and [that] in the midst of all of this we can still dream, and uplift, and laugh like we always have” (Fader). Continue reading “Songs for the In-Between”
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