Posted in Explore and Discover on June 27, 2017 at 6:00 am
by Susan Goertz For me, there is no question that dystopian author Philip K. Dick was a visionary. And interestingly, the physical appearance of his female characters tends to have a direct correlation to their level of intelligence (I’ll let you discover which way the correlation falls out). Reading his novels and stories for a […]
Tags: adults, booklists, books, dystopian, female protagonist, graphic novels, hoopla, movies, overdrive, reading, women
Posted in Explore and Discover on June 21, 2017 at 6:00 am
By Erin Dodge In my experience, if you tell kids that they get to go see a science show, the response might be worthy of a shoulder shrug (not true for all kids, of course). I get it. The words “science show” may not be very inspiring to a lot of kids. Now, if I […]
Tags: chemistry, experiments, kids, Mobius, Mobius Science Center, parents, science, science experiment, STEM, summer programs, young learners
Posted in Parents and Teachers on June 20, 2017 at 6:00 am
By Mary Ellen Braks This article is second in a 2-part series. The first article is 7 stages of block play: Building and early learning. As a librarian my go-to choice for baby gifts has always been books. The more books you have around your house and the more you read to children, the more likely it is […]
Tags: block play, blocks, Build a Better World, building, development, early learning, emotional, Hands-on Building, KEVA blocks, literacy, mash-ups, math, physical, Pre-K, pre-kindergarten, preschool, social, storytime, storytime mash-ups
Posted in Parents and Teachers on June 16, 2017 at 6:00 am
By Mary Ellen Braks Blocks! Kids love them and parents love them. Most preschool classrooms and child care centers have blocks. Building programs seem to be everywhere. In fact, we’re having a week full of block and building activities at our storytimes this summer. You may be thinking, “Great! But why!?” My answer would be […]
Tags: block play, blocks, building, early learning, KEVA blocks, mash-ups, Pre-K, pre-kindergarten, preschool, storytime, storytime mash-ups
Posted in News on June 14, 2017 at 10:45 am
The Spokane County Library District Board of Trustees announces the selection of Patrick Roewe as the new Executive Director of the Library District. Roewe will step into the position when current Director, Nancy Ledeboer, retires on September 1, 2017. Roewe is currently the Deputy Director and has been with the District for 10 years. “The […]
Tags: announcement, community, Executive Director, library
Posted in Explore and Discover on June 14, 2017 at 6:00 am
Guest Blog By Kim Brinkmann “I had no idea this place even existed!” This phrase is commonly expressed by first-time guests of the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center. The Outdoor Learning Center is tucked back in a corner on the grounds of Pasadena Park Elementary School, hidden among the towering cottonwoods, cedars, and aspens. It […]
Tags: animal conservation, animals, community, eagles, education, environmental, events, family, habitats, hawks, kids, natural wildlife, nature, owls, parents, raptors, rehabilitate, rescue, summer programs, Summer reading, teens, tweens, West Valley Outdoor Learning Center, wildlife, young learners
Posted in Explore and Discover, kids, Parents and Teachers on June 6, 2017 at 6:00 am
By Rachel Edmondson My family loves to go to farmers’ markets. We love fresh, local produce, and we find it’s even more appealing when you are face to face with the people who grew it. Of course, farmers’ markets have a lot more than just produce—artisan foods, fresh meat, crafts, and brews—something for everyone. Last […]
Tags: Catholic Charities, Catholic Charities Food For All, eating right, educational, exercise, farmers market, healthy choices, KERNEL, kids, nutrition, parents
Posted in Explore and Discover on May 30, 2017 at 6:00 am
By Abra Cole Sometimes, when I find myself in the mood for an upbeat, quick read, I look to the library’s graphic novel sections. Traditional super-hero stories aren’t my cup of tea. I find myself drawn more to the stories that include strong, primary female characters. Luckily these days, there are quite a few great […]
Tags: booklists, books, comics, digital library, female protagonist, graphic novels, hoopla, reading, teens, tweens, YA
Posted in kids, News, Parents and Teachers on May 25, 2017 at 6:00 am
By Erin Dodge Summer is a fantastical time at the library—a time to build reading muscles with imaginative and real life stories found on the bookshelves. Summer is also the time when kids and families can see, hear, and interact with magicians, musicians, puppets, and more. These summer programs are geared towards kids entering kindergarten […]
Tags: coin trick, improv, magic, magic show, magic tricks, magician, performer, Science Magic, Secret of Wizards, summer program, Summer reading
Posted in Explore and Discover on May 23, 2017 at 6:00 am
By Stefani Miller Walking into the cookbook section at the library can be a little intimidating. There are so many books with lovely, enticing pictures on the cover. How are you supposed to choose which one to take home and which one to leave on the shelf? Don’t panic! I’ve been testing them out in […]
Tags: adults, booklists, books, cookbook, cooking, food, recipes