Blog Entries

Don't miss these special events at all 3 branches!

Summer Reading is Underway... Don't miss these awesome, fun, and educational programs at each library location! Didgeridoo Down Under

An energetic fusion of Australian music, culture, comedy, character building, storytelling and audience movement/participation. The didgeridoo has been played by Aboriginal Australians for at least 1,500 years. Didgeridoo Down Under is much more than music. Learn about Aussie culture, sea creatures, and more, all while moving & grooving to the pulsing rhythms of the didgeridoo!

Monday, July 11, 10:30 AM, Clarke County Library

Mon...

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Why Native Plants?

Why Native Plants? 

You may have heard the term “native plants” and seen books or articles devoted to the subject. For us, a native plant is one that was growing in our area before humans began introducing plants from other parts of the country and other parts of the world (exotics). Our native plants evolved here and are an important part of our ecosystems, providing our native animals food, host plants and habitat. Oaks, Redbuds, Dogwoods and Pawpaws are examples of native trees that support our local animals and insects.  Just as the Monarch Butterfly needs milkweed t...

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Happy National Pet Month

In celebration of pets, May is recognized as National Pet Month. It’s a wonderful time to show a little extra appreciation for our furry friends, and books are always a great resource for everything, including learning something fun about your pets! 

In addition to learning from these books, you can also just enjoy feel-good animal stories. In The Healing Power of Pets: Harnessing the Amazing Ability of Pets to Make and Keep People Happy and Healthy, we see the positive impact pets can have on our lives. I know that for me, I'm always cheered up from a difficult day when I ...

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Family History Corner

Researching Common Surnames:

May 2022

My last name is Smith.  I have been told that our ancestors changed our surname before immigrating to the United States from Poland.  I have hesitated to attempt any research because I feel like I truly have a generic name.  Would it even be possible to learn anything about this family?

-A Researcher

Your question really has two parts to it.  How can I find the original Surname of my family? If it is a common surname, how do I research it properly?  Having a generic surname can be very fr...

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Marvelous Us! Part III

In Marvelous Us! Part I and Part II we explored books related to our marvelous human bodies. Although popular culture over-emphasizes how our bodies may look, we often fail to appreciate how our bodies function. Whether or not you are happy with the way your body looks, the way it functions is truly marvelous. We take for granted the complex inner workings of the human body until something is out of balance, then we cannot stop thinking about it.

We are all familiar with the foundations of good health: eat well, sleep well and exercise regularly. A bit easier said than done, but t...

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Organizing your Family History Research: Special Program with Family History Hunters

April’s Family History Hunters meeting will feature a special presentation on organizing your family history research. Our presenter for this meeting, Tina Claflin, is the owner of Halcyon Reflections, a certified photo manager, and offers independent consulting and organizing services for veterans, families, and non-profits to help others get organized to preserve their stories.

Tina will cover how to manage the physical organization of genealogy materials, as well as organizing digital files on a computer and on a chosen cloud service. The presentation is intended for both begin...

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Family History Corner: Census Records

Census Records

April 2022

This month I want to build on the past ideas that I have written about and hope that you are having some success.  I have suggested that those who are beginning their family history:

                1. Identify what you already know about your ancestors through family members or papers you already have in your home. 

                2. Select a record to research: once...

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PUSHING MY SHELF DURING THE BINGO CHALLENGE 2022: KATIE M.

In this installment of the Pushing My Shelf  blog series, Katie M. tries her hand at writing a haiku after reading a book about poetry.

This month we thought we would do a blog series for the Push Your Shelf Bingo Challenge. The challenge is to complete Bingo squares that “push your shelf.” In other words, read or try something that you might not ordinarily consider; something not typically found on your bookshelf. Find out more here.

To cheer you on some participating staff members* are contributing short blogs that recount their experience completing a Bingo chall...

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Database Spotlight: Universal Class

 The March Database Spotlight highlights Universal Class

Universal Class offers over 500 online courses. From academic subjects to career and business courses to creative hobbies, there is something for everyone, ages teen through adult, available from Universal Class. Learn something new or update your existing skills. All courses are self-paced, so you can finish them at your convenience. Progress is assessed through assignments and exams, with feedback given. Certificates and CEUs can be earned with course completion.

Universal Class is easy to find on the Handley Regio...

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Switching from the OverDrive App to the Libby App

Do you love our digital resources? Me too! I read exclusively on the Libby app now. Although I do love the feel of a book in my hand, the methodic turning of the page, and the ritual of browsing new titles and selecting one from the stacks, the fast pace of life has forced me to go completely digital. I am often reading on the go, and this way I always have my books and magazines with me. Not to mention reading in bed at night with no bedside light required! Did you know you can set the Libby app to dark, so you won’t have the blue light effects of your device? These are just a few reasons ...

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PUSHING MY SHELF DURING THE BINGO CHALLENGE 2022: KATIE H.

In this installment of the Pushing My Shelf  blog series, Katie gets gobsmacked with so many NextReads Newsletters from which to choose.

This month we thought we would do a blog series for the Push Your Shelf Bingo Challenge. The challenge is to complete Bingo squares that “push your shelf.” In other words, read or try something that you might not ordinarily consider; something not typically found on your bookshelf. Find out more here.

To cheer you on some participating staff members* are contributing short blogs that recount their experience com...

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Marvelous Us! Part II

Part I of Marvelous Us! got us started on an exploration of the human body by examining some recent titles added to the library’s collection. The subject is so large and rich that we need three parts to cover our recent acquisitions on the topic.  In Part I we looked at our skin, microbes, bacteria, hearts, blood, transplantation, and an overview of the human body.

Now we come to hormones in the book Aroused: the history of hormones and how they control just about everything.  This book is “a fascinating look at the history and science of some of medicine's most import...

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PUSHING MY SHELF DURING THE BINGO CHALLENGE 2022: Adrienne

In this installment of the Pushing My Shelf  blog series, Adrienne talks about reading some adult graphic novels that she normally might not pick up.

This month we thought we would do a blog series for the Push Your Shelf Bingo Challenge. The challenge is to complete Bingo squares that “push your shelf.” In other words, read or try something that you might not ordinarily consider; something not typically found on your bookshelf. Find out more here.

To cheer you on some participating staff members* are contributing short blogs that recount their experience completing...

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Pushing My Shelf During the Bingo Challenge 2022: Julie

In this installment of the Pushing My Shelf blog series, Julie talks about discovering online magazines, especially those that appeal the most to her such food magazines and foreign language magazines and even foreign language food magazines!

This month we thought we would do a blog series for the Push Your Shelf Bingo Challenge. The challenge is to complete Bingo squares that “push your shelf.” In other words, read or try something that you might not ordinarily consider; something not typically found on your bookshelf. Find out more here.

To cheer you on some participat...

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Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month is a time dedicated to celebrating the milestones in history that have supported, furthered, and emphasized the voices of women. The recognition of this month began as Women’s History Week in 1981 with the passing of a statute by Congress, part of which states, “...American women have played and continue to play a critical economic, cultural, and social role in every sphere of our Nation's life by constituting a significant portion of the labor force working in and outside of the home.”

 

 

Part of women’s history is the advanc...

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