Posted in Explore and Discover on August 18, 2016 at 6:00 am
By Carlie Hoffman It’s been a little over eight years since I moved to Washington state, and I am proud to say that I have not missed voting in a single election in those years. While I would like to say that it is my civic conscientiousness that attributes to this record, in truth it’s […]
Posted in Explore and Discover, Parents and Teachers on August 17, 2016 at 6:00 am
By Jill Johnson You might not expect to a get lesson in good oral health at the library, but that’s just what happened at all ten libraries of the Spokane County Library District. The Tooth Fairy Project was launched in February 2016. The idea was to teach little ones (and their parents) the importance of […]
Tags: nutrition, oral health, oral hygiene, stories, storytime, teeth, tooth fairy, toothbrush
Posted in Explore and Discover, kids, Parents and Teachers on August 16, 2016 at 6:00 am
By Gwendolyn Haley Something magical happens when families read books together and then talk about the big ideas they encounter. Reading is always fun, but talking about books and ideas helps us learn about the world and one another in a whole new way. Prime Time Family Reading from Humanities Washington taps into that magic […]
Tags: book discussion, booklists, books, cleverness, courage, developing readers, dreams, fairness, family, greed, kids, reading, reading comprehension, reading together, themes, young learners
Posted in Explore and Discover on August 11, 2016 at 6:00 am
By Erin Dodge Whenever I see an amazing craft or find a new interest, I know I can head to the library and find tons of books and other resources—whether it’s knitting, cooking, or coding a smartphone app. So I knew I had found a kindred spirit when I heard about a young library member […]
Tags: beetles, bugs, fish, hobbies, insects, kids, life sciences, mantis, millipedes, Odyssey Program, science, science olympiad, tweens, wildlife
Posted in Explore and Discover on August 9, 2016 at 6:00 am
by David Wyatt Summer reading is almost over! Light, breezy, and perfect for the beach, summer reading lists are often the popcorn-flick equivalent for books. Of course, I’m contrary and will avoid nearly all of these lists. No Cussler, Patterson, and certainly no romance novels for me. Instead, I fell into a reading pattern comprised […]
Tags: booklist, fantasy, nonfiction, science fiction, Summer reading
Posted in Explore and Discover on August 4, 2016 at 6:00 am
By Amanda Flanery A book can be a quiet escape for those of us seeking adventure, improvement, understanding, or intrigue. We understand that by opening a book, we’re opening ourselves to a world that’s a little better understood. As a member and employee of the library, I appreciate and advocate all of these things. But […]
Tags: artwork, balance, book cover art, contrast, cover art, design, design principles, graphic design, movement, proximity, repetition, unity, white space
Posted in Explore and Discover on August 2, 2016 at 6:00 am
by Erin Dodge Local artist Loretta West teaches the meditative art form of Zentangle at the Library District during August as part of our 2016 Summer Programs. In a previous post, Loretta graciously answered my questions about Zentangle and where she finds inspiration. Today, she shares a booklist filled with books that have touched her soul and […]
Posted in Explore and Discover on July 28, 2016 at 6:00 am
By Stefani Miller Few things are more delicious than the sweet tang of fresh berries on a hot summer day, preferably blended into something cold and refreshing. So I’m sharing the icy deliciousness of homemade fruit sorbet with you. Sorbet is the perfect summer treat. It’s easy to make. All you’ll need is fresh fruit, […]
Tags: booklists, cooking, family, food, fruit, ice cream, kids, no-bake, recipes, sorbet, treats
Posted in Explore and Discover, kids on July 26, 2016 at 6:00 am
By Erin Dodge Is that a fly buzzing around your head? Did a door just creak open? Who left the faucet on to drip, drip, drip? The culprit may be Noiseguy Charlie Williams, vocal sound impressionist extraordinaire. Lucky for us, he is performing his show, “Sound Coach: A Reading Relay Readathon,” at all District libraries, […]
Tags: comics, events, kids, music, noise, noises, onomatopoeia, sound effects, vocalization, vocals
Posted in Explore and Discover on July 21, 2016 at 6:00 am
By Carlie Hoffman For a long time, I thought of myself as a “renter for life.” I was living in an apartment and watching the entire housing industry collapse, and I thought, “I’m never buying a house. Such a big purchase is scary, and you have to fix everything when something goes wrong.” But then […]
Tags: digital library, digital resources, fixer upper, home improvement reference center, maintenance, repairs