Melanee Smith Memorial Library

Why we will no longer be a welcoming church

We’ve decided to quit being a welcoming church. No kidding. We’re giving it up. Like so many congregations, we’ve sunk an amazing amount of time and energy into becoming a welcoming church. We changed worship styles, trained greeters and ushers, wore name tags, brewed coffee, went to workshops on hospitality and put our friendliest people …

Summer Concert Series 2023

Get into the groove of summer! Boone County Public Library is partnering with Boone County Parks Department to bring you a summer full of live music! In case of rain, outdoor concerts at Boon…

As the welfare state decays, public libraries become sites of social trauma

With no commons anymore, many homeless and struggling people find refuge at public libraries

16 Invasive Species Sold at Garden Centers You Should Never Buy

These 16 invasive species of plants are commonly sold at garden centers - beware of them and DO NOT buy them from your garden store!

What Libraries Can (Still) Do

Librarians will need to cherish their special talent as “stewards” while letting go of the instinct to be “collectors.” Knowledge in physical form needs to be preserved and curated. But with digital information pouring into iPhones and Kindles in petabytes, libraries need to rethink old habits. They cannot collect everything, or even a small fraction of everything.

Government lawyers don’t understand the Internet. That’s a problem.

How You Can Get Schoolwork Help At Elkhart Public Library

Don't stress out about your schoolwork assignments. The Elkhart Public Library can help you with free resources!

Public Libraries: Untapped Resource for Schools?

A new study on public libraries highlights their role in digital literacy and family engagement A recent survey of more than 400 public library directors provides new evidence of how public libraries are transforming to help families build digital literacy skills and become familiar with new technology. The results, published…

Guess who uses public libraries the most? Millennials

(CNN) — A public library may conjure up an image of a place where a septuagenarian is scouring for books on tape or a harried mom is trying to calm

Should Public Libraries be Welcoming Homes for Ingenuity?

Ingenuity has not traditionally found a home in public libraries, but could ingenuity take up residence within a public library?

Public Libraries Build New Spaces for Teens

Across the country, public libraries are stepping up by creating new spaces for teens to work and play<br>With newly-designed areas for silent study, group work, video and music production, gaming, and more, public libraries are quickly becoming hot spots for teens<br>[Librarians] are making a concerted effort to turn the spaces over [to] the teens…encouraging them to suggest and plan programs, hiring them to work…

How public libraries are evolving to meet patrons' needs in the digital age

Public libraries have always played a vital role in the communities they serve. The changing needs and demands of patrons have led to a physical evolution of libraries, including an increase in group work spaces, expanded computer and internet access and dedicated kids and teens hangout areas. Concurrent with this physical transformation has been a... Read more »

Eckhart Public Library

Library of Things The Library of Things is Eckhart Public Library's circulating items that can be checked out with a library card. Items are being added to our Library of Things regularly, and you can search to see what is... Read more

What’s Geeking and How Can it Help My Public Library?

It’s easy to get caught up in our everyday busy lives and forget to give attention to the things we love—the things we are passionate about. But a new public awareness campaign provides some needed…

In Praise of Public Libraries: Beacons of Knowledge, Refuge, Wonder

Unless efforts are made to preserve them, our local libraries -- places of knowledge, refuge and wonder for generations -- one day might be gone.

Why we still need public libraries

The Internet is wonderful but so are our libraries.

VillaPark Public Library's review of Worms for Lunch?

4/5: Get hungry for hijinks as big and small animals alike try to get served a mouthful of worms for a midday meal. This book prompts active reading and responses as curiosity grows with each page flip. With easy-to-digest illustrations and simple question-and-answer format, this book is a perfect introduction to a variety of animals and their typical diets… which almost always does not include wriggling worms. Check this book out at the Villa Park Public Library!

Scottsdale Public Library's review of Just a Duck?

What a sweet and precious book. If you have time, take a look. Duck wants to climb and claw, but learns his webbed feet are not a flaw at all. A non-preachy book on self-acceptance with adorable illustrations. -Sara G

Norwell Public Library Strategic Plan Survey

Thank you for taking the Norwell Public Library's strategic planning survey! We hope to create a plan that will help us to better serve the Norwell community for years to come. Please take 10-15 minutes to tell us about your needs, wishes, and interests!<br>Paper surveys will be available in the library.

Have the Public Library Find Your Next Favorite Book 

The library can be overwhelming when you’re just trying to pick up a light weekend read. Unless you know exactly what you want, you might need a nudge in the right direction. Luckily, the library’s got you.