Author: BexBlog

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Reading Life

 The Magic of Made-Up Words

by Patron Service Associate & Creative Content Coordinator Hannah

Every so often, a word gets stuck in my head, taking up residence for a day or so, alongside the occasional tune, lyric, or jingle. Recently, that word was Dushegubs, the name of a species of calculating, homicidal, tree-like beings from Sweep of the Heart by Ilona Andrews.*

But much to their indignation, this isn’t a blog post about Dushegubs. It’s about something bigger: the magic of a writer’s ability to invent words that land in a reader’s mind and mean something!

One of the most well-known examples of a writer who shaped new words to capture concepts, feelings, or humor that existing language couldn’t quite capture is William Shakespeare. Scholars credit him with the earliest known written examples of some 2,000 words. What’s fascinating is that Shakespeare’s made-up words often feel completely natural. That’s because many of these words were created using recognizable linguistic strategies.

One of the most common was combining existing words to form something new and precise.

  • Eyeball (eye + ball) and bedroom (bed + room) were both first recorded in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Though the components would have been familiar, the combinations were new and almost immediately understandable.

Shakespeare also expanded English through prefixes and suffixes, transforming meaning with subtle shifts.

  • Lonely comes from lone + -ly and appears in Coriolanus.
  • Savage already existed, derived from the Old French sauvage and the Latin silvaticus (“of the woods”), but Shakespeare extended its use into forms like savagely, first recorded in Othello.

Fluent in Latin, French, and Italian, Shakespeare frequently borrowed and reshaped words, anglicizing them or recombining roots for expressive effect.

  • Assassination comes from the Italian assassinare.
  • Dexterously derives from the Latin dexter, meaning skillful.

Other authors followed similar paths. Charles Dickens is thought to have blended scrouge (to squeeze) and gouge (to cheat) when naming his 1843-character Scrooge, a name that has since become shorthand for a miserly person.

Meanwhile, Theodor Seuss Geisel—better known as Dr. Seuss—prioritized sound and rhyme. Words like wocketh, yuzz-a-ma-tuzz, and sneeches rely on phonetics and sound symbolism, and align with Seuss’ broader goal of helping young readers recognize sounds and patterns. Lerkim perfectly captures the lurking nature of the Once-ler’s shack in The Lorax. Grinch sounds unpleasant, grumpy, and sly before you even know who he is, let alone if you have any knowledge of the French word grincheux.

Interestingly, Dr. Seuss’ If I Ran the Zoo is often credited with the first printed appearance of the word nerd, though not in its modern sense. Unfortunately, National Word Nerd Day, an unofficial celebration of language, vocabulary, and wordplay, fell on January 9, so we’ll have to catch it next year.

Invented words are such a novelty! They interrupt our habit of skimming, forcing us to pause and decode, and I find that moment of engagement rewarding. Some invented words don’t stop at being memorable. They migrate out of our books and into everyday language to fill a gap or because they are simply too good to ignore. Like John Milton coining pandemonium in his epic poem Paradise Lost for the capital of Hell, combining Greek pan (all) and daimon (demon). 

And then there’s J.R.R. Tolkien, a master of immersive world-building who didn’t just invent words, he built entire linguistic systems! Terms like hobbit, ent, and orc feel ancient and inevitable, even though they were newly minted. His words stick because they sound rooted, purposeful, and perfectly suited to the world they inhabit.

So, when a word takes up residence in your head, pause and enjoy it. Chances are, it was made with care. 

*Dushegubs comes from the Russian dusha (soul) and the verb gubit (to destroy).

Recommended Reading:

Categories
Recommendations

Happy New Year!

by Adult Services Manager Josh

New Years is my absolute favorite holiday.

Here are some reasons why:

  • I love celebrating with whoever I choose.
  • I love reflecting on the year I’ve had and making resolutions to better yourself (not many holidays can boast that).
  • I love watching all the other countries, whose time zones are ahead of us, celebrating.
  • I love counting down to midnight.
  • I love the weird ball of lights slowly descending (although I have notes for improvement here).
  • I love kissing my partner after yelling “HAPPY NEW YEAR!” 
  • I love the bubbles from champagne tickling my nose as we all toast.
  • I love flipping the new calendar, trashing the old, and moving forward.
  • I love dedicating myself to saying “I can’t believe it’s [current year here] already,” and writing the wrong year on every piece of paperwork I touch for 6 weeks.

Right now, I’m in the reflection stage of the year. Looking back at my 2025 new year’s resolutions and pondering what went well, what didn’t, and how I can change for 2026. One of my 2025 resolutions was to watch more movies, and I wanted to share some things I learned about myself through a simple and, let’s be honest, very easy new year resolution. 

I watched 75 movies this year, which is about 1½ movies a week. Let me make a few excuses as to why I didn’t watch more: My kids, whom I love deeply, make uninterrupted movie time rare. A second is my lovely wife, who has almost the exact opposite tastes as me. The center of our movie Venn diagram is so slim and well exercised, I knew I couldn’t count on watching a wide range of movies with her. Lastly, on most nights, by the time the house is quiet, my brain is too tired for a two-and-a-half-hour commitment, so I gave myself permission to pause movies and pick them up the next night, something younger me would have never allowed.

I found myself gravitating towards certain directors or styles and building on them. I’m one to randomly put on a movie and commit. As I mentioned, not a lot of free time in my life, so I really need each movie to be a home run. 

image from Collider.com

I started by watching and rewatching the films of the Coen Brothers. This was a delight and gave me a great excuse to experience some of their earlier work I’d never seen, including Blood Simple, Raising Arizona, and Miller’s Crossing, as well as revisit old favorites like The Big Lebowski, No Country for Old Men, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and Inside Llewyn Davis. I also gained a new appreciation for movies I didn’t quite “get” the first time around, like Barton Fink and A Serious Man.

From there, I fell into early cinema and the work of Buster Keaton. Standouts include Sherlock Jr., which I would argue is his best and contains some of the most astonishing stunts ever put on film. Another favorite was One Week, a 23-minute short about a newlywed couple assembling a kit house as a wedding gift. What I love about these films is that they’re short, rarely more than 70 minutes, and often either in the public domain or available on Kanopy. Among other early and silent films, The Passion of Joan of Arc left a deep impression. It’s a movie that appears on countless “best of” lists, and for good reason. It features one of the most emotional and intimate performances in silent film history.

Along the way, I started noticing patterns and lessons emerging.

Lessons learned:

  • The Before Trilogy. The spark between two people is so magical. Do everything you can to keep that! Start by hugging everyone around you a little tighter and longer.
  • Buster Keaton. Truly great humor is timeless. No dialogue needed!
  • Coen Brothers. The world is chaotic and doesn’t make sense most of the time, but that’s ok.
  • Greta Gerwig. Sometimes you can’t pick a life, you just have to wait for it to pick you.

I also noticed some movies were in dialogue with each other. Seemingly presenting arguments for each side, allowing me to decide where I fall.

  • Institutions and the ideas they represent
    • Hail, Caesar! and The Grand Budapest Hotel both contain a single character with tapdancing dialog juggling a million things all at once to try and protect a chaotic institution that gives them purpose. They do this with charm, intellect, and varying degrees of success. 
    • On the other side of the spectrum, I watched the 1928 film The Passion of Joan of Arc where the conflict between the church’s authority and her spirituality are at odds, which shows the institution betraying its stated mission in order to preserve power.
  • Living by a code
    • Seven Samurai. Living by a code can be so rewarding. Each samurai operates from an internal compass that values honor, sacrifice, and responsibility, even when no one is watching or when there is nothing tangible to gain. It can be so comforting to know exactly where you stand, to have a set of principles that guide your decisions regardless of convenience.
    • Office Space. Sometimes that code needs a rewrite. Peter’s rebellion against corporate nonsense is funny because it feels honest. His refusal to keep playing by rules that exist only to prop up a broken system raises the question of whether blindly following a set of codes is actually virtuous. The movie made me think about which rules I follow out of integrity and which ones I follow out of habit or fear, and whether those two things are always aligned.
  • Work life balance
    • Paper Moon. You can always use help with your job, even if you are a con man. Moses and Addie work best when they recognize each other’s strengths and actually function as a team, which in turn strengthens their father/daughter dynamic. The movie made me think about trying to carry everything instead of accepting help or sharing responsibility. Work doesn’t have to be solitary to be legitimate.
    • The Shining. Absolutely work on your unfinished novel, but do not let it consume you. Jack’s obsession is a horrible mix of ambition and isolation. Creative work matters, but not at the expense of the people around you. Also, maybe don’t offload every practical responsibility onto your spouse. 

Of course, my resolution to watch more movies resulted in me watching more movies (who would’ve thought?!). What I didn’t anticipate was how much a steady diet of art would quietly work its way into my everyday thinking. These stories helped me sharpen my sense of what I value and what I’d like to be more intentional about. I wouldn’t say it was inspirational in a grand, sweeping way, but allowed for small calibrations throughout the year, which makes it a pretty successful resolution in my book.

Categories
staff favorites

Staff Favorites: Best of 2025

by Public Service Associate Juliana

I love compiling this list. Even though the internet is inundated with lists around this time, I still really love this one. It’s full of character and personality, highly specific and individual based on our tastes and preferences. Out of those of us who submitted responses, we had zero overlap! No one favorited the same book, film or album as someone else.

That means there is so much to explore here. Our interests range from nature documentaries to culinary memoirs, comedy tv series to fantasy romance, atmospheric music to alternative metal, and many things in between.

We here at BPL hope you find something new for yourself in the following selection and that you have fun exploring what we enjoyed this year!

Owen

Novel

  • Fun for the Whole Family by Jennifer E Smith. This one was really good for a few reasons, the split perspective done right, the really thoughtful interactions between the four main characters and their relationships as siblings, and also just for the aesthetic pleasure of watching these adults get stuck in a snowstorm and think about ruining their lives.

Documentary Film

  • Every Little Thing dir. by Sally Aitken. Beautiful and moving documentary about Los Angeles hummingbird rehabilitator Terry Masear. The documentary treats its subject much as she treats hers, as something delicate and special, filled with stunning images of the hummingbirds she cares for, and injected with Masear’s own gallows humor about the ephemerality of life.

Album

  • Eusexua – FKA Twigs. FKA Twigs has never been so back on this truly exciting release. She is at her most creative, most original and most experimental in this album, and the accompanying music videos are just as much to die for. I’m highlighting the title track and also Striptease as the best songs on the album.

Honorable mention to Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s memoir Far from Home. I can’t say I care much for Murkowski herself or her politics, but she does offer an interesting and fairly novel insight into the politics of wild Alaska and gives the same treatment to Washington D.C. that I would probably give to Anchorage.

Jen

Nonfiction/Memoir

  • Non-Fiction was all I read in 2025. Just keepin’ it real. HA! See what I did there? The book? How to Share an Egg: A True Story of Hunger, Love and Plenty by Bonny Reichert. It is a culinary memoir about the author’s relationship with her Holocaust survivor father through the lens of food. It’s a slow burn, but well worth it. 

TV show

  • Without a doubt. The Studio. It is the funniest. It is the swearingest. It is a breakneck-speed, homage-laden, fun-fueled comedic delight. And it is simply the best show TV had to offer in 2025.

Album

  • Debí Tirar Más Fotos – Bad Bunny. Resoundingly my favorite record of 2025. As a tried-and-true punk rock Gen-Xer, this record would not be my typical jam. But I was all like, why are people being a little extra about this Bad Bunny character and his upcoming halftime show, I’d better investigate. Turns out THE KID IS A PHENOM. Such fun! Such positivity! Such joyousness! Bad Bunny’ll make you shake your boom-boom and make you a happier person while listening. Which is, frankly, what we can all use right now. 

Hannah

Novels

Nonfiction/Memoir

  • Carpet Diem by George Bradley caught my eye with the pun, pulled me in with the patterns, and was an interesting look at one person in this human world.  

TV Show

Albums

  • From the Pyre – The Last Dinner Party, if you need something atmospheric.
  • Skeletá – Ghost for the catchy and theatrical things you may hear me humming.

Juliana

Novel

  • Counting Backwards by Binnie Kirshenbaum. This is the second novel I’ve read by Kirshenbaum. I found it completely absorbing and maximally devastating. And I loved it.

Movie

  • Train Dreams dir. by Clint Bentley. I cried as the credits rolled. This is such a lonely and beautiful movie. Next on my list is to read the novella of the same name that the movie is based on by Denis Johnson.

Album

Josh

Nonfiction/Memoir

Movies

  • Sinners. Not in 100 years would I have guessed I needed a movie about vampires playing blues music set in 1932 Mississippi. I’m mostly allergic to musicals and horror films, but this movie highlights the music without taking the viewer out of the story (think O Brother, Where Art Thou?) and it’s not over-the-top gory. 10 out of 10!
  • One Battle After Another. Another absolute banger by Paul Thomas Anderson. The chase scenes are so intense that, at one point, I felt relief when someone was caught and tased. 
  • Phoenician Scheme. Out of all of Wes Anderson’s films, this one feels the most like Looney Tunes to me, which warms my heart!
  • Minecraft. My kids love Minecraft. I love Jack Black. There’s really nothing else to say.

Albums

  • Bleeds – Wednesday. These guys just have an old-school indie rock feel to them that can slide into americana all the way to punk rock.
  • For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women) – Japanese Breakfast. The title says it all: this is music for melancholy brunettes (& sad women).

Gabrielle

Novels

  • Silver Elite by Dani Francis. Great dystopian fantasy romance. Keep ya on the edge of your seat kind of book. Sorry if I annoyed anyone talking about it incessantly. 
  • Enchantra by Kaylie Smith. Fantasy romance and book 2 in a series. Was pleasantly surprised that this book held its own to the first book. Love a good enemies-to-lovers romance.

Nonfiction

Albums

  • Space of the Heart – GoldFord. Described as soulful pop. Love every song on this EP.
  • Even in Arcadia – Sleep Token. Alternative Metal. Amazing blend of genres and impressive musicality. 
  • Portal – Balu Brigada. Indie pop. I prefer the funkier songs but still enjoyable.
  • Pressure – Julia Wolf. Been listening to “In My Room” on repeat and will continue to do so until I hate it. 

Kelly

Well, I have been reading a LOT of romance, so here you go.

Novels

  • What If You Fall for Me First by G.F. Miller. I’m always on the lookout for romance books I can give tweens and this one fits the bill perfectly. Yes, I already asked Heidi to order it, as well as the first book in the series, Not If You Break Up with Me First. Imagine The Duff if it was set in middle school. It’s adorably cute. Kitten sweaters and all 
  • Come As You Are by Dahlia Adler. I read this teen book in one day maybe two days and then I went back and reread all of the scenes with the two main leads because their chemistry is just *chef’s kiss*. 
  • Any Trope but You by Victoria Lavine. I’m not gonna lie, if you don’t like the main character, you won’t like this book. But there’s a lot of other things to love like the scene where she trips and sprains her ankle, so he has to carry her down a mountain, meeting the man of her dreams by literally jumping into his arms because she saw a moose (did I mention this is set in Alaska?), and you know, a sizzling sauna scene. Also, both main characters are the primary caregivers for family members, and I loved that this was a major part of the story. If you don’t like romance, I’d still read it because of the well-written relationship between the main character and her sister–think of The Notebook if it had been about two sisters–happy tears.

Albums

  • EPIC the Musical – Jorge Rivera-Herrans. I’m cheating a little bit because it originally did not come out in 2025, but there is a new complete collection 3 LP set that you can pre-order and –checks the website– is already SOLD OUT. Nooooooooo that was gonna be my Christmas present. Anyway, I put this musical about The Odyssey up there with other greats like Les Mis, Hamilton, and Phantom of the Opera. Every song on here truly is epic, and I am OBSESSED -IWYFILWYOAOAIDCHWOWNMHLIBYMDTMYNTSPAIBWWPWWPWWWOFY (IFYKYK)
  • K Pop Demon Hunters Soundtrack. I mean how can I not add this. 

Movies

  • The Accountant 2. It is just as good as the first one. Two Wolff brothers mean double the trouble, double the fun, and double the sarcasm (Brax has enough for both of them). My favorite scene is them both sitting on top of Christian’s trailer in lawn chairs and Christian’s brother, Brax gives him a hard time (as brothers do) about putting on sunscreen and eventually chucks it across the lot.

Debbie

Novels

  • Tilt by Emma Pattee. A slim but powerful book about Annie, a heavily pregnant woman, caught up in everyday worries, who is in IKEA picking out a crib when a massive earthquake hits. It’s both a journey across the city to find her husband, and a journey within.  
  • The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones. A great historical horror novel with an interesting twist on vampires that I did not see coming!  Not to mention that the novel brought to light some real horrors from history.  

Movies

  • Eddington dir. by Ari Aster. A darkly funny look at how the pandemic made a lot of us crazy.  Great performances and a sharp message!
  • Mickey 17 dir. by Bong Joon Ho. The director of Parasite is back with a fun, sci-fi social satire that touches on issues of identity and class struggle, all while being a gonzo sci-fi adventure!
  • Weapons dir. by Zach Cregger. My favorite scary movie of the year. It had so many interesting twists, genuinely terrifying moments and strong visuals. But not for the faint of heart – there is one scene I wish I could un-see.
  • Ocean with David Attenborough was one of my favorite documentaries of the year!  Beautiful visuals and also a strong message about the real challenges facing the ocean, but ultimately hopeful on how everyday people can change things for the better.

Beth

Novels

  • A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar. A dystopian novel set in near future Kolkata following two characters as they navigate the despair, fear and urgency that accompanies climate induced famine. Majumdar writes her characters with such compassion that, despite their sometimes cruel and selfish choices, there is no villain or hero, but simply two characters desperately struggling to protect and take care of their families in a dangerous and uncertain world. 

Nonfiction/Memoir

  • Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy. Roy is one of my favorite writers and her first memoir is full of conviction and vulnerability as she explores her life, in particular her very complicated relationship with her mother. I listened to this on audiobook, and Roy’s wonderfully soothing, articulate voice – one I could listen to read a phone book – accentuates the beauty and poetry of her writing.

Television

  • The Rehearsal (Season 2) As a fan of everything that Nathan Fielder creates, the second season of The Rehearsal is the most absurd, chaotic, inventive and over the top stunt he’s pulled off. What other comedian would get a commercial pilot’s license – with a 737 rating – for a TV show? 

Albums

  • Man’s Best Friend – Sabrina Carpenter. I wasn’t sure how Carpenter would follow up Short n’ Sweet, which in my opinion was (near) pop perfection, but Man’s Best Friend is even more campy, playful and laugh out loud funny than its predecessor. Dance parties highly encouraged!
  • The Life of a Showgirl – Taylor Swift. A little indie project that you might have missed as it flew under most people’s radar, The Life of a Showgirl is a skip-less 12 track album that is pure, unapologetic fun from start to finish. Honestly, even if the rest of the album were duds, “Father Figure” alone would be enough to make it my favorite of the year. 
Categories
Online Resources

How to Spend Your Kanopy Tickets This December!

by Public Service Associate Juliana

We’re heading into the second week of December and it’s time to get your watchlist in order! Kanopy recently rolled out their Home Viewing for the Holidays collection and I’m here to help you narrow it down.

Last year around this time I suggested Yuletide classics such as The Bishop’s Wife and The Holly & the Ivy.

This year I find myself compulsively drawn to films Kanopy categorizes with the tag, “Is it a Christmas movie?” I recently watched the independent film, Kisses, which I chose because I wanted to watch a coming-of-age film. I didn’t realize it takes place during Christmas, and I once I did, I realized I wanted more films in that vein — films set during the holidays but that aren’t really holiday themed. Everyone loves the Die Hard debate. Is it a Christmas movie, or not? It’s that type of film I’m seeking this year, films on the fringe of Christmas.

We all know the cinema we need leading up to the end of December, the ones we gravitate towards annually. Feast of the Seven Fishes, I’m looking at you. But what about the ones located in the periphery?

This list will allow you to indulge but in a way that’s holiday lite, or holiday adjacent. Sound like your vibe? I encourage you to consider the following.

“Is It a Christmas Movie?”

International
  • Umbrellas of Cherbourg (2 tickets) “An angelically beautiful Catherine Deneuve was launched to stardom by this dazzling musical heart-tugger from Jacques Demy. Winner of the Palm d’Or at the 1965 Canes Film Festival.”
  • Morvern Callar (2 tickets) “After her partner’s suicide, a mourning supermarket worker (two-time Oscar nominee Samantha Morton) and her best friend hit the road in Scotland. Cannes Film Festival winner. Official Selection at the Toronto International Film Festival.”
  • Mon Onkle Antoine (2 tickets) “Called one of the greatest Canadian films of all time, the film captures a bittersweet portrait of rural life and loss. Winner of Best Feature Film, Best Performance by a Lead Actor, and Best Direction at the Canadian Film Awards.”
  • Riders of Justice (2 tickets) “Markus begins to suspect his wife was murdered and embarks on a mission of revenge. Danish action comedy film, critically acclaimed.”
Independent
  • Kisses “A darkling, modern-day fairy tale and lyrical coming-of-age story, Irish filmmaker Lance Daly’s 2008 film “KISSES” is a small gem.” – James Verniere, Boston Herald
  • Tangerine (2 tickets) “Christmas Eve odyssey through subcultures of Los Angeles. Official Selection at the Sundance Film Festival.”
  • New Year’s Day (2 tickets) “A man returns to his sublet apartment to find the previous tenants, three offbeat young women, still in residence with the belief they have the apartment until the end of New Year’s Day. From independent legend Henry Jaglom.”
  • The Merry Gentlemen (2 tickets) “A dark, romantic character-driven drama directed by and starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Keaton.”
Horror & Thriller
  • The Lodge (2 tickets) “In this atmospheric psychological horror, soon-to-be stepmother Grace (Riley Keough) retreats to a remote winter cabin with her fiancé’s two children (Jaeden Martell and Lia McHugh), only for eerie events and buried traumas to surface as they become snowed in.”
  • The Dirty South (2 tickets) “When a ruthless, big shot (Dermot Mulroney) goes after the deed to her family’s bar, a bartender takes extreme measures to protect what is rightfully hers.”
  • Ben Is Back (2 tickets) “Academy Award winner Julia Roberts and Academy Award nominee Lucas Hedges deliver powerful performances in this edge-of-your-seat thriller.” 
Comedy
  • Nobody’s Fool (2 tickets) “Paul Newman earned an Oscar nomination plus Best Actor honors from the National Society of Film Critics and New York Film Critics Circle for his portrayal of Sully, a likeable working stiff who’s made a lifetime of bad decisions.” 
  • The Hudsucker Proxy (4 tickets) “With a nod to the rapid-fire movies of Frank Capra and Preston Sturges and lots of visual flair, filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen (Fargo, The Big Lebowski) craft a comic “Hiya Bub!” to business success. You’ll love the Hud!”
Romance
  • Untamed Heart (4 tickets) “Adam rescues Caroline from a life-threatening situation on her walk home. Intrigued by her knight in shining armor, Caroline tenderly breaks through to his lonely world.”
  • The Apartment (4 tickets) “Jack Lemmon and Fred MacMurray co-star in this Billy Wilder classic that would go on to win five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay.”
Western
  • The Proposition (2 tickets) “In this gritty Western written by acclaimed songwriter Nick Cave, a lawman apprehends a notorious outlaw and gives him nine days to kill his older brother.”
  • McCabe & Mrs. Miller (4 tickets) “A gambler and a prostitute go into business together in a grimy Western mining town as they cater to the vices of the morally bankrupt residents. But their success attracts notice by corporate interests that are too big and too ruthless for the pair to fight in this gritty romantic drama.”

Never used Kanopy before? It’s easy to set up an account with your library card. Sign up for an account today. You’ll love it.

Categories
Programs

Meet Your Heroes

by Public Service Associate & Content Coordinator Hannah

When I saw an email announcing that an author event featuring Meg Cabot still had tickets available, I did a double take. In my mind, she should always be sold out! So, I invited a friend, bought our tickets from the wonderful hosts at Westerville Public Library, requested the day off—it landed on my birthday, after all—and started counting down!

I first discovered Meg Cabot’s books on my older sister’s bookshelf. She would have been the target age group and probably would have let me borrow them too, but just in case, I’d sneak read. Ever since, I’ve had a soft spot for Cabot’s characters: flawed, funny, strong girls living life and facing extraordinary circumstances.

But if you’re anything like me, you might register for an author event and immediately wonder: is it okay to admit I haven’t read all their books? I debated rereading All-American Girl, brushing up on Princess Diaries trivia, and putting Enchanted to Meet You on hold before it hit me: there’s no pop quiz at the door. Meg Cabot, under her own name and at least three pseudonyms, has written more than 80 books! Sure, some fans might aim for total completion, but libraries welcome all readers.

And for the other practical questions:

  • Can I bring something for them to sign?
  • Do I need to dress up?
  • Is it acceptable to take photos?
  • What should I say if I get the chance to talk to them?
  • And how early should I arrive?

Most programs are casual, but specifics can usually be found in the event description, confirmation email, or announcements from library staff. Organization and helping people are kinda our thing, so feel free to call or send an email!

Met a #1 New York Times bestselling author with 25+ million books in print and she signed my book with genuine warmth. Thank you, public libraries!

After weeks of anticipation and nostalgia, the evening arrived—and we were greeted with a fun surprise: attendees received a tiara in a nod to Mia and Grand-mère. We found our seats in the well-appointed high school auditorium, where the energy was chill but everyone from young teens to lifelong fans was surprisingly engaged.

Cabot didn’t do a typical sit-down Q&A or panel. Instead, she delivered a slide-show-meets-stand-up talk that was conversational, funny, and personal. She shared how some personal trauma fueled her creativity, but in a way that made us laugh, reflect, and cheer for the creative process. When an audience member asked if she used AI, she joked, “No—I wrote my first book by hand at age 7. It was about a puppy in a tornado. And now AI just copies my love of em dashes!”

She also talked about her early love of sci-fi, especially Princess Leia from Star Wars, and how a librarian helped her discover fantasy novels. While Cabot wasn’t heavily involved in the first screenplay, we got behind-the-scenes tidbits from The Princess Diaries film adaptations—including the hilarious fact that very few people recognized her at the premiere! It was heartwarming to hear that she loved seeing her story come to life, especially the gentleman singing Genovia’s national anthem.

This event reminded me why author visits—and libraries—are so special. Their time, openness, and creativity are gifts we should honor. Meg Cabot has been a major voice in literature for decades, and hearing her speak gave me a deeper appreciation for her, her work, and her dedication to storytelling. What I’ll remember most? Her generosity with fans, hilarious stories, and the camaraderie in the room. I’m looking forward to seeing how today’s young readers connect with the forthcoming Princess Diaries graphic novel adaptations.

Tips for attending an author event:

  • You don’t need to cram or re-read everything.
  • Go with an open heart and curiosity.
  • Be respectful.
  • Bring a friend!

Explore upcoming author events at Bexley Public Library!

Categories
Game Spotlight

Spooky Fun for Everyone

by Public Service Associate Paul

“I don’t know if anyone’s out there or if anyone will find this. I think I’ll just talk for a while then leave this recording here before I go. Maybe I should leave a note with it. I think that I’ll listen to it a few times just to hear a voice. Even if it’s my own.”

Do you like to tell spooky stories around the campfire? What if I told you instead of taking turns with your family or friends, you could all work together to craft a story and that you could do it from the comfort of the inside of your home! Well, you can and it’s all with the help of a game called Ten Candles written by Stephen Dewey. 

Continue reading “Spooky Fun for Everyone”
Categories
Bexley History

Bexley Public Library Day !

By Community Outreach Librarian Leah

Did you know that September 30th is Bexley Public Library Day? Last year during our centennial celebration, Mayor Kessler proclaimed September 30, 2024, and every year moving forward, as “Bexley Public Library Day.” This was a generous way to establish our official birthday and to honor the Library’s long and positive legacy in our community. Our centennial year encouraged learning about the history of Bexley Public Library, for staff, patrons, and the community. Test your knowledge of these historical BPL facts!

Continue reading “Bexley Public Library Day !”
Categories
Video Games

Malfunctioning Ethics: Art Theft, Bungie, and Marathon

By Public Service Associate Paul

Left: Marathon (1994 art) | Right: Marathon (2025 art)

Buckle in, there’s a history lesson coming, but I promise it’s going somewhere…
It’s May 1991, thousands of American troops are preparing to return from deployment in the Gulf War, the Queen of England visits Congress for the first time, and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System is readying to hit shelves. Meanwhile, following his graduation from the University of Chicago, Alex Seropian founded his own gaming company named Bungie Software.

Continue reading “Malfunctioning Ethics: Art Theft, Bungie, and Marathon”
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Reading Life Recommendations staff favorites

Questions for Your Consideration and Inspiration (Part 2)

I recently read a New York Times “By the Book” interview with Louis Sachar (for free with my library card!) and I found myself thinking how much I would love to ask my coworkers some of these questions. There were so many responses I decided to post it in two parts. Enjoy!

Continue reading “Questions for Your Consideration and Inspiration (Part 2)”
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Reading Life Recommendations staff favorites

Questions for Your Consideration and Inspiration (Part 1)

by Public Service Associate Juliana

I recently read a New York Times “By the Book” interview with Louis Sachar (for free with my library card!) and I found myself thinking how much I would love to ask my coworkers some of these questions. There were so many responses I decided to post it in two parts. Enjoy!

Continue reading “Questions for Your Consideration and Inspiration (Part 1)”