A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism Librarian Andrea Nelson recommends "Careless People" by Sarah Wynn-Williams. “They were careless people, Tom and Daisy – they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.” ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby Back when Facebook (now Meta) was young, a sign hung on the wall of … [Read more...] about Book Review: Careless People:
Fresh from the Stacks
Launchpad to the Whole Wide World
Every Book in the LibraryBy Kyla Merwin, Communications Manager Autumn has arrived in the Wood River Valley in a flurry of change. Leaves are turning from green to gold, students are returning to school with their packs full of books, optimism, and #2 pencils, and southbound birds are spreading their wings. With September has also come the happy annual occasion of Library Card Sign-up Month. When my grandmother first took me to the public library in Missoula, Montana, I was agog with … [Read more...] about Launchpad to the Whole Wide World
From Paris to Hemingway’s Idaho
“Hunger Was Good Discipline” The Community Library presents a new foyer exhibit that explores Hemingway's time in Paris in the 1920s, and his later years in Ketchum, Idaho—where he shaped his memories into the pages of A Moveable Feast. This exhibit will be on display through December 2025. Between Two Places Two periods stand out in Hemingway’s life: his early years in Paris and his later years in Ketchum. In Paris, he kept disciplined writing routines and built … [Read more...] about From Paris to Hemingway’s Idaho
70 Years, 70 Books
Reflecting on 70 Years of Publishing By Pam ParkerDirector of Library Operations Happy Anniversary to The Community Library, which celebrates 70 years as an institution in 2025. Our librarians thought it would be fun to look back on those years and identify stand-out books that were published for each year. We did this for four categories: fiction, nonfiction, young adult and children’s. Then we created a mash-up list that picks the most significant title for each … [Read more...] about 70 Years, 70 Books
Acclaimed Water Ballet at the Sun Valley Resort
By Jack Tenold, Library Programs and Communications Intern Hidden History: July 28, 1950: This week, we look back at the dazzling 1950 Sun Valley Water Ballet, a crowd-favorite staged at the Sun Valley Lodge Pool. Directed by Dorothy Collins and inspired by Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite, the show blended synchronized swimming, dance, and elaborate costumes into a polished amateur production. Though it remained a beloved summer tradition for over a decade, the Water Ballet came to an end in … [Read more...] about Acclaimed Water Ballet at the Sun Valley Resort
Book around the Block 2025
Celebrating the Library's 70th Birthday!Wednesday, August 204:30pm - 6:30pm4th & Walnut in Ketchum We're going to party like it's 1995! So dress up and come dance, play, explore, hunt, paint, eat, drink, and be happy... ...at The Community Library, Gold Mine Thrift, Gold Mine Consign, and Wood River Museum of History and Culture. We'll be dancing through the decades with live music, hosting an outdoor adventure zone for kids, giving away books, painting in watercolor, and … [Read more...] about Book around the Block 2025
