Categories
Booklists Youth Services

Newbery & Caldecott Through the Years

by Associate Librarian Leah

As we head into this new year, let’s revisit some of our favorite children’s classics from the past ten decades. Many Newbery Medal and Caldecott Medal & Honor books are available for checkout at BPL, even though the original stories may be from the early to mid 1900s. The Newbery Medal has been awarded by the American Library Association since 1922, and Caldecott Medal & Honor books have been recognized since 1938. You can find the complete list of Caldecott award honorees and recipients here.

Categories
staff favorites

Staff Favorites of 2024 (That Came Out in 2024)

by Public Service Associate Juliana

I learned something while compiling this year’s list of favorites — I found that most of us here on staff at the library don’t read the most popular new titles. For example, we didn’t read James (except for Jen), The Martyr, The Women, or All Fours. I, for example, didn’t even read Intermezzo yet, and I am a (big) Sally Rooney fan. These titles will likely be on our TBR 2025 lists for when some of the hype falls away and we can get these items in our hands. What you will find below are some of 2024’s titles that we enjoyed and were able to snag off the new shelf in good time.

Categories
Online Resources

Holiday Films to Stream

by Public Service Associate Juliana

If you’re looking for heartwarming films this holiday season, start your search on Kanopy! This digital resource is available to you for free with your library card! Kanopy features thousands of movies, from classic cinema and indie film to international films and top documentaries and also plenty of holiday-themed films to celebrate the season.

Categories
Programs

A Reflection on Y2K Twenty-Five Years Later

by Technology Librarian Josh

I remember the lead up to January 1st, 2000: a dull anxiety slowly getting louder and louder until all thoughts are fogged by the worst-case scenarios. News story after news story explaining the Y2K problem, people’s reaction, and what the fallout was going to look like. This was a magic threshold we were going to cross that no one could stop and there was nowhere else to kick the can. We had to solve this problem to maintain our current way of life.

Categories
Staff Reviews

An Atmospheric Film for Thanksgiving

by Public Service Associate Juliana

Based on the Tony-award winning play, The Humans is heavy on dialogue and works to build complex, authentically flawed characters. It’s a dimly lit family drama that takes place on Thanksgiving night at the daughter’s lower Manhattan apartment. The synopsis reveals that “as darkness falls outside and eerie things start to go bump in the night, the group’s deepest fears are laid bare.” This leads you to think it’s a horror movie. 

Categories
Booklists

Bookish Beverages: A Cozy Combination

by Public Service Associate & Content Coordinator Hannah

As the air cools, leaves turn, and the light changes, there’s nothing better than curling up with a good book and a warm beverage. Whether you’re a devoted tea connoisseur or a coffee aficionado, grab your favorite mug—we’re celebrating the bond between brews and books!

Categories
Recommendations Staff Book Reviews

Leah Recommends Award-Winning Young Adult Fiction

by Associate Librarian Leah Boyden

Earlier this year I took a course on engaging teens within libraries. As a lover and reader of young adult material and former middle school teacher, this task was right up my alley. A former student of mine encouraged me to write a blog post for the library and because of their encouragement I signed up!

Categories
Recommendations

Haunted Novels for Fall

by Public Service Associate Juliana

Many Octobers I have steeped myself in scary movies, but this year I feel driven to read something scary. There’s no better place to start than with a classic from horror queen, Shirley Jackson. When I searched the fiction stacks I found The Haunting of Hill House. Orange and black cover, inky, black-edged pages and the title in gothic font, I was immediately obsessed.

Categories
Booklists Recommendations

Fantastical Detectives in Magical Realms

by Public Service Associate Autumn

I love a good mystery novel, though I came to them much later than I should have. As a teen, when I had run out of my own books to read (for the week) and my family could not make it to the library, my grandfather gave me several Agatha Christie novels from his collection.1 But I didn’t read them that week. In fact, I didn’t read them until after I watched BBC’s wonderful adaptation, Poirot. But then, I was hooked: the twists and turns, the rooting out of each motive and link, fishing through all the red herrings, and perhaps most importantly, the satisfaction of knowing how all the pieces fit together in the end. It warms my order-loving soul.2 I immediately went back and read the Agatha Christie originals, then moved on to Arther Conan Doyle, Rex Stout, Stephen Spotswood and many more.

Categories
Recommendations

Lifelong Learning: A (Quick) Study of Oysters

by Public Service Associate Juliana

image from Taylor Shellfish

 “Unless you’re vegetarian or vegan, you can’t go to Seattle and skip a platter of freshly shucked Pacific Northwest Oysters.”

Lonely Planet Washington, Oregon & the Pacific Northwest

At the start of every travel journal, after flight details and a packing list, I create a checklist of things to do. Most recently, while planning a trip to Seattle, the list included Pike Place Market, the Space Needle, Seattle Central Library, coffee, and oysters.