Explore and Discover

James Frye: synesthete artist’s work at Airway Heights Library

Posted on September 16, 2016 at 6:00 am

By Erin Dodge When walking into the Airway Heights Library, colorful art welcomes you from the display case. You’ll see record albums, clocks, people, keyboards, and cats in a kaleidoscope of vibrant colors. Inside the library, you’ll see even more artwork along the wall in the children’s section—each tableau intricately detailed and evokin […]

Building and planting next year’s garden

Posted on September 13, 2016 at 6:00 am

By David Wyatt Earlier this summer when it was still scorching, I fenced off a portion of our yard to keep our new raised-bed garden out of reach of our two mutts. The dogs were not pleased to have lost some of their lawn. Too exhausted from the heat to do any more, I took […]

The Whole30: for heart health, for life

Posted on September 8, 2016 at 6:00 am

By Jane Baker The cardiologist gave me a choice: lose weight, lower your blood pressure, and get more cardio exercise or begin taking a prescription. After we talked it through, I made the decision to forgo the medication, and return in six months for a follow-up on how things were going. “Stay away from carbohydrates, […]

Celebrating Grandparents

Posted on September 1, 2016 at 6:00 am

By Gwendolyn Haley Both my husband and I grew up living hours away from our grandparents, and consequently only saw them once or twice a year at most. When we started our family, we lived five hours away from our own parents, so our children were also on track to only see their grandparents a […]

Fall hikes: sorting favorites

Posted on August 30, 2016 at 6:00 am

By Rich Landers Being a trail guidebook author who’s explored Inland Northwest trails for more than three decades, I’m regularly asked a question this time of year: “What’s your favorite fall hike?” The answer is as difficult as naming your favorite child. And as all parents know, even our children are a little more appealing […]

Dynamic audiobook performers

Posted on August 25, 2016 at 6:00 am

By Melanie Boerner I understand that, as a librarian, I am expected to have piles upon piles of books throughout my house and be well versed in all types of literature. With that said, I have a confession to make: I have piles of half-read books around my house. As a full-time working mom of […]

Ultimate Gilmore Girls fandom

Posted on August 23, 2016 at 6:00 am

By Rachel Edmondson With two young kids in the house, I don’t end up watching a lot of TV. By the time the kids are asleep and I’ve gotten a few things done around the house, I rarely choose television over my bed (what can I say, I’m a woman who likes her sleep!). But […]

Researching elections in 2016

Posted 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 […]

The Tooth Fairy Project

Posted 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 […]

Prime Time Family Reading: discovering ideas together

Posted 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 […]