NEWS

March 6, 2023

“It’s not hoarding if it’s books.” This has to be one of my favorite memes/quotes/mantras. While I work daily at the library, I keep my own extensive collection of books at home. My current obsession? Books based on mythology, folktales, and fairytales. My husband and I spent some time recently browsing through Barnes and Noble and while he curled up in a chair with a Star Wars novel, I checked out the mythology retelling display. I came back twenty minutes later with a stack of books weighing me down. His comment? “You work in a library! Why do you need all that?!” What can I say? I’m a book hoarder and I’m not ashamed to admit it. Our home has at least one bookcase in every room (most often more than one) that is full to the brim with books that I promise I will one day read! And what I don’t have at home, I borrow from the library. When I finish a book I’ve purchased, it usually goes to the library for others to enjoy. Unless it’s one of those rare books I enjoyed so much that I just can’t seem to part with it. And I enjoy collecting books on a variety of subjects: King Arthur, Greek mythology, historical fiction, etc. I just need one more bookshelf! Do you collect any books? We’d love to hear about (or even see pictures of!) your book collections! Find our Lost in the Stacks post on our Facebook and tell us about (and show us) your collections!

Your librarians have been working hard already to get ready for the Summer Reading Program, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have lots of great programs planned for you in March. Adults, be sure to come to our Texas County Literary Society meeting on March 6th at 5:30PM. Discuss what books you’re reading and get ideas for new books to enjoy. Trust me, you’ll walk away with a long list. Teens, in addition to our usual teen game night and movie, Miss Megan has planned for a DIY Pendant Jewelry on March 17th at 3:30PM. I’ve seen the finished product and it looks like a lot of fun and a great way to get creative at the library. Kids, we’re still very grateful to have Miss Arleen and Miss Ashley from the OPSU Extension Office leading crafts for the month of March, and we’re really excited to have Miss Fayla reading some of our new books and classic favorites. Be sure to stop by and say hello to Miss Fayla as she begins her adventure here at the library! Lastly, don’t forget that our Winter BINGO Challenge continues through the month of March. Mark off a row, column, or diagonal line on your BINGO card by attending programs, downloading or checking out materials, and/or connecting with us on social media. Turn in your completed card by April 1st and be entered into a drawing for a basket of winter (or anytime!) goodies.

Do you have a student who needs to earn those Accelerated Reader points? The library can help! Our books are marked with different colored stickers to indicate what AR level fits the book. And yes, your student can use our books for AR tests! There are lots of ways you can find books for Accelerated Reader testing. First, you can search for titles in our catalog then narrow them down with the AR filter. You can also stop by the library and browse the books for the sticker color that matches your student’s AR level. Lastly, on the front page of our catalog page you’ll find ARBookFinder. ARBookFinder utilizes searching by title, author, or subject to help you find the book that fits your student’s level. You can also browse the database by award list and topics that students are of current interest to students. Finally, the database is tied in to major textbook companies to indicate which books tie in to the textbook’s curriculum. ARBookFinder also offers practical tips on helping your student with reading skills and preparing for AR tests. If you’re interested in this database, or any our databases, and need assistance, please, stop by the library or give us a call at 338-7330.

Among the many books we have ordered for March, we’ve got three especially good ones to highlight. For adults, Dark Angel by John Sandford continues the escapades of Letty Davenport. Letty Davenport, the tough-as-nails adopted daughter of Lucas Davenport, takes on an undercover assignment that brings her across the country and into the crosshairs of a dangerous group of hackers. Letty Davenport’s days working a desk job at are behind her. Her previous actions at a gunfight in Texas—and her incredible skills with firearms—draw the attention of several branches of the US government, and make her a perfect fit for even more dangerous work. The Department of Homeland Security and the NSA have tasked her with infiltrating a hacker group, known only as Ordinary People, that is intent on wreaking havoc. Letty and her reluctant partner from the NSA pose as free-spirited programmers for hire and embark on a cross country road trip to the group’s California headquarters. While the two work to make inroads with Ordinary People and uncover their plans, they begin to suspect that the hackers are not their only enemy. Someone within their own circle may have betrayed them, and has ulterior motives that place their mission—and their lives—in grave danger. 

For teens, we’ve ordered Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu. Meet Winter Young – International pop sensation, with a voice like velvet and looks that could kill. His star power has smashed records, selling out stadiums from LA to London. His rabid fans would move heaven and earth for even a glimpse of him – just imagine what they’d do to become his latest fling. Meet Sydney Cossette – Part of an elite covert ops group, Sydney joined their ranks as their youngest spy with plans to become the best agent they’ve ever had. An ice queen with moves as dangerous as her comebacks, Sydney picks up languages just as quickly as she breaks hearts. She’s fiery, no-nonsense, and has zero time for romance – especially with a shameless flirt more used to serving sass than taking orders. When a major crime boss gifts his daughter a private concert with Winter for her birthday, Sydney and Winter’s lives suddenly collide. Tasked with infiltrating the crime organization’s inner circle, Sydney is assigned as Winter’s bodyguard with Winter tapped to join her on the mission of a lifetime as a new spy recruit. Sydney may be the only person alive impervious to Winter’s charms, but as their mission brings them closer, she’s forced to admit that there’s more to Winter Young than just a handsome face . . . Lastly, for kids, When Things Aren’t Going Right, Go Left by Marc Colagiovanni is an inspirational story about optimism, overcoming adversity, and forging your own path. Told through creative language play, and with depth and whimsy, this picture book reminds readers of their own agency and the power they have to direct their own path. Marc Colagiovanni’s lyrical text and Peter H. Reynolds’s stunning art create an enduring message of strength and perseverance that is both universal and personal, and one that readers will be drawn to over and over again. To reserve these books and ask about other upcoming books, give us a call or send us an email at adult.librarian.gpl@gmail.com. Catch you in the stacks!