A Year in Review, Literarily By Pam ParkerDirector of Library Operations Our “Best of 2025” is a smorgasbord of reads, with 50 fiction and 50 nonfiction titles, selected from books published during the year. Using literary awards, other ‘best of’ lists, starred reviews, staff picks, and patron suggestions, we handcraft our list with an eye for stand-out reads that we suggest will endure well beyond the … [Read more...] about Best of 2025
Liaison-Senior Staff Essays
What’s So Special?
I Know! By Aly Wepplo, Collections Manager As collections manager, I keep our shelves full of materials that serve the community. On a day-to-day basis, this means ordering books that people want to check out and keeping them in good shape. But the Library also holds materials that don’t circulate and aren’t for daily use. These are special collections, and the library is finding new ways to showcase them. Items in special collections tell the story of our Library. We still hold … [Read more...] about What’s So Special?
Loops and Bounds
The Invitation of Ink By Martha WilliamsDirector of Programs and Education Above my head flutter loops of translucent paper, inked Chinese characters dancing down the lecture hall's beams. These Memorial Banners tell of the more than 10,000 Chinese workers who contributed to building the western section of the Transcontinental Railroad between 1863 and 1869. Paid less than their white counterparts, segregated and discriminated against, these laborers enduring blustering winters in the … [Read more...] about Loops and Bounds
Scrutiny and Wonder
Reflections on the Path through Dyslexia By DeAnn Campbell, Children’s and Young Adult Library Director My father grew up on a dairy farm and loved animals. He had a gentle way with all of them, but especially large beasts like cows and horses. Apparently, he had wanted to become a veterinarian. After high school he attended a single semester of college where he decided that this path of study would be impossible. He dropped out. My mother once told me that it was likely my dad … [Read more...] about Scrutiny and Wonder
