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TAG: reading

Bicentennial of a Monster’s Birth

Posted in Explore and Discover on April 17, 2018 at 6:00 am

By Melissa Rhoades On January 1, 1818, the debut novel of a 20-year-old woman was anonymously published in London. Within five years, a second edition was released and a play based on the book premiered. The novel and its spin-offs remained a hit, and in 1910, Edison Studios created the first movie based on Mary […]

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Resolving to Read Diversely

Posted in Explore and Discover on March 13, 2018 at 6:00 am

by Caitlin Wheeler In late 2016, a friend challenged everyone she knew, including me, to name one Indigenous American author, other than Sherman Alexie, off the top of their heads. As an employee of the library and an English literature major with a passion for diverse representation, I felt I should have answered quickly and […]

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Billie Holiday and the books to read for awareness and insight

Posted in Explore and Discover on January 30, 2018 at 6:00 am

By Susan Goertz During my freshman year of high school, I was given the assignment to write a report on an important American. Although I had almost no exposure to her at that point—and I can’t remember what instigated the choice, except maybe the happy accident of hearing her on the radio—I selected the singer […]

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In anticipation: Romances to read in 2018

Posted in Explore and Discover on January 10, 2018 at 6:00 am

By Stefani Miller As we start a new year, I look forward to publishers announcing the release dates for new books. Whether it’s another installment in a favorite series or a second novel from a 2017 debut author, each month in the new year is a fresh opportunity to get my hands on a brand […]

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Picture books for frosty days

Posted in Parents and Teachers on January 2, 2018 at 6:00 am

by Sheri Boggs Winter is just not my thing. I’m too clumsy to ski. It’s too cold to enjoy being outside. And I get too dispirited by the short days to remember to take my vitamin D. I pretty much just grit my teeth, put on my stupid tights (and gloves, and boots, and hat, […]

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Social-emotional picture books to help your kids get through the holidays

Posted in Parents and Teachers on December 12, 2017 at 6:00 am

by Rachel Edmondson The holiday season is often fraught with emotions. Many adults find themselves stressed, excited, joyous, and sad—sometimes all in the same day! It’s helpful to remember that the children in our lives are often dealing with the same strong emotions. While having a vacation from school, receiving gifts, attending celebrations […]

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’Tis the Season for Mobile Devices

Posted in Explore and Discover on December 7, 2017 at 6:00 am

by Erin Dodge Whether you have a new mobile device or you’re loving your old one, you have access to free apps and resources with your library card. You can download popular books, movies, music, and more. Because all of the apps and digital resources are free, avid and casual readers, listeners, and watchers of […]

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Big animals, big news: Connect with Washington wildlife at your local library

Posted in Explore and Discover on November 30, 2017 at 6:00 am

By Nathaniel Youmans 2017 has been quite a big year for Washington’s large wildlife. The gray wolf population in the northeast part of the state continues to rebound by an annual growth rate of nearly 30%, with the two newest established packs recognized in a Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife survey conducted late last […]

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Dealing with Addiction: An OverDrive collection of eBooks & Audiobooks

Posted in News on November 2, 2017 at 6:00 am

OverDrive, the eBook and Audiobook service, has donated a curated collection of over 60 titles related to addiction, opioid use, and recovery to the Spokane County Library District’s digital collection. It is called “Dealing with Addiction,” and titles are free to check out with your library card. Just last week, President Trump declared the […]

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Reading with children: Identity, voices, and shared memories

Posted in kids, Parents and Teachers on October 31, 2017 at 6:00 am

by Gwendolyn Haley I hear my grandfather’s voice when I read The Tale of Peter Rabbit. He did not read to me regularly. We lived very far away from him and only saw those grandparents once or twice a year. But when he read that story to me, it was magical. I have read the […]

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