Author – Spokane County Library District

It’s National Craft Month: Get Inspired, Try Something New & Boost Your Creativity

Posted in Explore and Discover on March 7, 2024 at 6:00 am

March is a wonderful time to learn a new skill or fall back in love with an old favorite. To inspire your crafting muse, visit your library to see an art show! You can see and hear two Irish music groups at our libraries to help fuel your creativity. Take a workshop or check out something from our Library of Things or... […]

9 Series That Serve Up a Different Kind of Cozy Mystery

Posted in Explore and Discover on January 17, 2024 at 6:00 am

By Abra Cole Getting Cozy January and February are full of short days and cold nights, which make for a natural time to rest (hibernation, anyone?). I think this is a great time to get cozy with a hot cocoa and read a new series. So, I’m focusing on the cozy mystery. For me, cozy […]

Imagine & Create: 3D Printing at Spokane Valley Library

Posted in Explore and Discover on November 15, 2023 at 6:00 am

By Abra Cole 3D Printing at Spokane Valley Library A frequently asked question we’ve gotten since the new Spokane Valley Library has opened is: “When will 3D printing return?” Well, I am here to share the good news: 3D printing is back and we’re accepting printing requests! We’re offering STEM programs on how to make […]

50 Summer Activities to Explore in Your Backyard, Around Town & the PNW

Posted in Explore and Discover on July 5, 2023 at 6:00 am

By Abra Cole We are in the full swing of summer. And before you know it, we will be swinging back toward fall, crisp leaves, hot cocoa, and (dare I say it) snowy weather. But before that happens, we have summer fun awaiting us. I’ve compiled a list of 50 summertime ideas for things to […]

Celebrating the Mermaid: From Bubbly, Sweet Creatures to Fearsome Sea Monsters

Posted in Explore and Discover on May 3, 2023 at 6:00 am

By Abra Cole Most people are familiar with the tale of the bright-eyed, bubbly Ariel from Disney’s animated version of The Little Mermaid. However, in most tales, mermaids are not quite so friendly, or aesthetically pleasing. The oldest recorded mermaid story is the Syrian goddess Atargatis, the woman who dove into a lake and was […]

Kindness: Ideas, Inspiration & the Research about Its Positive Effects

Posted in Explore and Discover on February 22, 2023 at 6:00 am

By Abra Cole Random Acts of Kindness Random Acts of Kindness Day was February 17, 2023, and while it was perhaps overshadowed by Valentine’s Day, it still serves as a great reminder that we can all be kinder to each other every day of the year! Research has shown that being on the receiving end […]

The Season in 5 Senses: Finding Calm, Centered, Peaceful Moments

Posted in Explore and Discover on December 21, 2022 at 6:00 am

For some of us, this is the season of overwhelm. Expectations we have for ourselves or that others have for us can be downright unbearable during the holidays. This year, I propose trying a different approach to the holiday season. Namely, let’s take a step back, give ourselves a little space, and try to find more meaning in doing less. If you ha […]

Tags: adults, booklists, books, parents, reading, teens, tweens

Making a Zine: The Who, What, Where, Why & How of Zine Creation

Posted in Explore and Discover on November 8, 2022 at 6:00 am

By Abra Cole What Is a Zine? Zine (pronounced “zeen”) is short for magazine or fanzine. A zine is a publication that is not professionally published and not officially related to any brand, series, or company. Fanzines started in the 1930s as science fiction enthusiasts wrote and published their ideas about the topic to share […]

Growing Your Garden with Resources for Seed Saving & Our Seed Libraries

Posted in Explore and Discover on August 31, 2022 at 6:00 am

By Abra Cole If you’re a gardener, this time of year usually means two things: it’s seed saving time and we’re due to get our fall crops planted. This summer has been a little strange for many Inland Northwest gardeners. The heat came later than usual, and it was preceded by unusually large amounts of […]

The Great Indoors: Things to Explore When You Take a Break from the Outdoors

Posted in Explore and Discover on July 6, 2022 at 6:00 am

By Abra Cole Ah, summer! The sun is shining (we hope), the grass is green, and pollen is everywhere. For some of us, this is the season when we head outdoors as much as possible, to dig in the soil, go on walks, explore nature, and get dirty every day. For others, none of this […]

Author: Abra Cole