In the modern Western world, we associate ghost stories with Halloween, but the tradition is much older. When the nights are long and cold, and the dark feels more dangerous, it makes sense for thoughts to turn to unsettling things. Many Christmas traditions are connected to the Winter Solstice celebration and the festival of Yule. The darkest days of the year are seen by many as a time when the dead has the strongest influence over the living, and many cultures have traditions to ward against the monsters of winter.
Let’s continue the tradition of scary stories around the solstice and not shy away from darker thoughts and the things lurking in the night. Cozy up with a book and remember the promise that we can start over, even if we are all a little haunted. Continue reading “A Very Scary Christmas”
November 16-22, 2025, is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Worldwide, there are 795 million people who don’t have enough to eat. Many Americans are forced to choose between buying groceries, paying rent, or seeking medical attention. Locally, over 200 students are reported homeless annually by Columbia Public Schools. Learn more about Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week.
To bring awareness to hunger and homelessness in our community, we have partnered with Flourish Initiative to create a CommunityMade book list. Flourish is a local non-profit focused on supporting youth and young adults experiencing homelessness and other significant socioeconomic barriers to college and career success. They help youth through transitional housing for ages 16-24 who are experiencing homelessness. Flourish has a street outreach program that provides basic needs and case management to support youth and young adults who are experiencing homelessness with the goal of accessing housing. Continue reading “CommunityMade List by Flourish Initiative”
Many mwahaha tidings of toned-down terror to all of my fellow whimsigoths, baby bats and self-proclaimed scaredy cats! While society at large might be turning the calendar page on spooky season this upcoming weekend, we true believers know it is always Halloween in our souls. 🦇🎃❣️ Which means it is (always) time for another installment of Spooky, Not Scary — a watch-list designed with the gentlest ghosties in mind. 👻🫶🏼
For those just joining in, I give you the following titles that are avowedly Spooky, Not Scary™. Each title is rated on a scale of 0-5 smashed pumpkins. The more smashed pumpkins (which I’ve metaphorically dropped out of terror), the closer the tv show/movie/video is to being truly frightening.
Note: no gourds were harmed in the making of this list, though some may have been consumed, especially if transformed via kitchen witchery into a baked good evil. 😈✨🍞🍪
You can access the full list of this year’s picks at this link (as well as volume one at this link; volume two a.k.a. boo! at this link; and volume threeeeeeek! at this link); what follows are some of my not-so-fearsome favs with minimal spoilers.
Continue reading “Spooky, Not Scary™ Watch-list: Volume Oh, the Fourror! 👹”
The nights are getting long and dark and we are well into Spooky Season. There is no better way to spend a creepy evening than safe inside with a spine-chilling story. And we have a fresh harvest of scary books to offer!
Continue reading “Scare Up a Good Book”
Happy Banned Books Week! 🎉 Banned Book Week takes place from October 5-11 this year, but of course, any day is a good day to read a banned book. October 11 is also Let Freedom Read Day, and you can take action by 📖 checking out a banned book from the library, ✍🏽writing a letter to your favorite banned author, or 🗳️registering to vote! Continue reading “Teen Reader Reviews: Banned Books 🚫📖”
It’s fall, y’all! And if you’re looking for something to get you in the spirit of the season, check out one of these titles!
Is there anything more autumnal than a pumpkin patch? That is the setting of Rainbow Rowell’s “Pumpkinheads.” Every fall, Deja and Josiah work together at the local pumpkin patch, but this is their senior year and their last fall as “seasonal best friends.” Josiah’s ready to spend the whole night feeling sad about it. Deja isn’t ready to let him. What if instead of moping they went out with a bang? They could see all the sights! Taste all the snacks! Try all of the things they never have! A sweet and hilarious story about discovering what it means to leave behind a place — and a person — with no regrets. Continue reading “It’s Fall, Y’all!”
Our teens had a Suzanne Collins Summer! Despite the fact that the first “Hunger Games” book debuted nearly 20 years ago (if you are a parent, teacher, or geriatric millennial, it will turn 20 in 2028), we still had several summer reading reviews for her books! It’s always bittersweet when summer reading is over, but it means we get to start sharing your book reviews, and we’ll share more throughout the school year!
Continue reading “Teen Reader Reviews: Suzanne Collins Edition”
We had over 70 people compete in this year’s Cosplay Costume Contest and they were all wonderful and unique! After much deliberation, we have chosen this year’s winners. Thanks to our judges and all of our participants! Continue reading “2025 Cosplay Winners”
We are excited to announce that we have the winners of this year’s Teen Photo Contest! We had 23 entries and they were all outstanding! The teens have submitted their photographic interpretations of this year’s Summer Reading theme, “Color Our World,” and after much deliberation, we have selected this year’s winners. Below are the top three winners. Continue reading “Teen Photo Contest Winners 2025”
This year marks our 10th CosPlay Con program. Join us on Monday, July 28 from 6-8 pm at the Columbia Public Library! Dress up as your favorite character, be it superhero, anime, sci-fi or your own original persona. We’ll award prizes for the best costumes and characterization in different age categories, so be ready to show off your cosplay game! Photos and registration will begin at 6 p.m., followed at 6:30 p.m. by a runway show. All ages are welcome!
If you’re curious about cosplay or need help with your current cosplay, we will be hosting a Cosplay Workshop on Saturday, July 12, from 1-2 at the Columbia Public Library. In this workshop, our staff will be on hand to answer your questions about basic sewing, wigs, makeup and more. Bring your project, and we’ll see if we can help Continue reading “10 Years of Cosplay @ DBRL”
