National Library Week

It's National Library Week! For those of you who aren't aware: yes, the library is celebrated for an entire week. You may see larger library systems really celebrating this week with day-to-day activities and programs, even having guest speakers. It is a truly exciting time for those who work for libraries, love libraries, love to read, or really have any need for a library in all its wonderful capacities.

We decided to highlight one of the most important aspects of a library: the staff. Take a look at our Facebook page to learn more about the staff members who work at Portland District Library. Happy National Library Week!

Books hated, books loved

Wuthering Heights

Yes, the characters are unlikeable, some you could say are downright villains, and I can easily get on the hate train for them. Yes, the story is dark, dismal, and void of many seemingly redeeming aspects. Yes, it left a strange, sour essence on my mind, perhaps making my spirit a bit heavier. Yet, what is light without darkness? We often shy away from tough, uncomfortable topics, but I have long since embraced the balance I find when I can peer into both sides. By no means do I think we should accept, respect, or justify the actions of these people. Some of the things they do or have done are horrible, unforgiveable acts, but peering into the miserable lives of these people we can glean a side of our human existence that we routinely ignore or overlook. It may seem unbelievable, but the lives of these characters are reflections of human nature and are indeed realistic depictions of how some people live their lives.

Jane Eyre

By far one of my favorite classics because the main character is so similar to how I am as a person that it's almost like reading a story about myself. Being one of the rarest personality types, I find it difficult to fine heroines that feel like kindred spirits so I was delighted when I came across this novel. I realize that this makes me biased, but I can also see why other people dislike this story so much. Being that Jane appears to be a unicorn personality type, it may be difficult for other personality types to really feel connected to her. Some of her decisions may seem confusing or unrelatable because of how she is, and I could identify those moments myself. Yet, the story seemed unique precisely because of the way it was told, narrated by Jane in only the way she as a character could have told it, and I think this makes the story original in its own way. This is a rare glimpse into the mind of a person who does not speak, does not convey much of what is going on internally, so I think there is some value that can be taken from it. If anything, we can take away that those who rarely speak, who appear quiet, pensive, and thoughtful have just as much going on inside as anyone else.

The Lovely Bones

I am ready to get hate for this one. It is definitely not a nice, light read. I felt more than uncomfortable reading it, and to be honest it hurt me to have read it at all. You could say that reading through this is masochistic in a fashion, but my undying fascination with understanding many facets of life, including death, spurred me on. This book may follow the tracks of a killer, one of whom is the most despised and hated among our society, but in the end there is a bright spot. Justice is served in the most karma-tic way possible, so I was satisfied. Many people believe that justice has to look a certain way, but I think righteous, cosmic justice is just as good as any. The single thing that I can say I hate about this story is that it is too close to reality. We hear true stories like this on a semi-regular basis and have become somewhat desensitized to it. It was unique in the way that it was told from a heavenly perspective, but not in the way that it happens to women every day. It is a difficult topic to swallow, and yet some things in life aren't always meant to be palatable. I think wading through this discomfort has allowed me to widen my lens.

The Host

I get the hate on the author. I read the first few books of the Twilight series, but just couldn't finish them. It was so teenage cringe that even as a young adolescent I just couldn't bear reading anymore. I mean, sparkly vampires? Just stop the madness already! But, I gave her another chance at redemption because that is just the sort of reader I am. I was pleasantly surprised she had something different in her arsenal and could enjoy this adventurous read. I enjoyed the evolution of this story as it seemed more polished and thoughtful than her previous work. It is a solid standalone and I was very pleased not to find anything sparkly except for maybe the eyes of the hosts in the book. It is definitely still an adolescent read with the typical love triangle tropes but it was definitely an improvement from her vampire-werewolves series.

Interview With the Vampire

Speaking of vampires, I want to understand the hate for this book. So, how could a story written so believably, with such humanity (as much as possibly could be when talking about blood-sucking fantasy-beings), and with an eloquence that gave life and dignity to a classic "monster" be disliked? I would like to see some of the haters do a better job than Rice when attempting to humanize a collectively-agreed inhuman monster race. This book takes you to the darkest, most horrifying parts of being human, which stands apparent amidst the obviously more vampiric experiences. I realize that some readers might not like to sit in discomfort, nor are they able to stomach animalistic instincts that lead to gruesome storytelling which I just felt was part of telling the greater story. And, yet, all of it weaves together in an undercurrent conveying what a struggle it is to remain in all the virtues of humanity with so many inhumane things happening around us. Forget that the vampires literally feed on the humans, but rather find the key notes of struggling in our existences no matter our personal circumstances. If you can get past the discomfort, there are many golden eggs to find.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy

I realize his writing style is not for everyone, but for someone willing to trek through the long, sometimes monotonous descriptions of a fantasy-world I will gladly die on this hill. Some people prefer the epic cinematic version of this story, but I have always devoured pages and preferred delving into the confines of a book. Of course the movies are some of the best films in the history of cinema, but there is just something about combing through the intricacies of Tolkien's world and digesting it in its original format that comfort and enthrall me. Whereas I can see someone not particularly interested by his usual recounting of minute details in painfully long detail, I was hooked by the amazing amount of subject matter he could create. His world was so well thought out that he had accompanying books to further world build, which to me is absolutely mind-blowing. I find it an impressive work of art, despite the naysayers poo-pooing it for being too much like a college level lecture than a story. His world made me feel like it could be very much real and I simply marvel at a mind that can be dedicated to this life work.

Many classics such as The Great Gatsby, The Old Man and the Sea, Pride and Prejudice, the Scarlet Letter, 1984, The Giver, Fahrenheit 451...

Again, I can see where people hate these book. I am only human; however, I do not share the same feelings about being required to read them in order to pass a high school literature class, or even a college one. Rather, I personally do not find it unpleasant to have been forced to read something I normally wouldn't have picked up on my own volition in order to expand my mind. These stories have and continue to teach us valuable lessons as well as tune us into history that has shaped our present. It is always important to remember past events and times we have never experienced. If we continue to hate them, we will never glean the important knowledge they openly offer us. We don't even have to necessarily like the information, but to realize there are understandings of existence outside our own is enough. Being aware, being accepting of other or opposing ideas, and being able to respect them is such an important aspect of being human. I know I was taught civility through the grappling of these sometimes dry, weighty volumes, and I am better for persevering through their difficult subject matter.

As always, take my opinion as a grain of salt, but I stand by my reasons for finding the silver lining in many situations, and when there really isn't one then I find the lesson in it instead.

Portland Creates 2025

 

It's spring, and that means it's time to get creative with Portland Creates! Join the community in an all-ages art competition by submitting your very own art for display and judging. It can be something you make specifically for this program, or something you've had for years that you want to finally put out there. We welcome different mediums including (but not limited to) 3-D, metal workings, quilting, crocheting, quilling, painting, drawing, and much more! We will begin submissions April 1. Get creative and showcase your art to the community!

Book Sale going on now at the library!

 

Hurry and stop into the library to fill up on our sale items! This event runs until March 20 and includes any item we have put onto the blue sale cart, the two tables closest to the adult computers, and anything you find in the Used Book Sale room. Find books, movies, and more when you browse our selection. If you can fit it in a bag, you can leave with it for only $2.00. That's a steal!

Something borrowed...

"Something borrowed, something new, something old, something blue." You can find all these things at the library.

We have new materials regularly which you can find in their designated sections. The Adult New Fiction can be found to the left of the stairs while the new Adult Nonfiction can be found to the right (upon entering the library). We have a wide array of genres in the fiction section which can include paperbacks and graphic novels. Our nonfiction section can vary from new recipe books to trending self-help books, but there is always something interesting among the bunch.

The Teen New Section can be found just to the left of the new Adult Nonfiction and has all the latest fiction, graphic novel, and nonfiction in that age group. Our Juvenile New Section (including from middle school age and younger) is right next to the Youth Desk downstairs. Here, you can find a mix of fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, and more! You may also find new materials on top of the book shelves, inside the picture book tiered shelves, on top of the board book spinner, and on the display ramp or at the top of the ramp.

For something old, there are a plethora of things to mention including our historic Carnegie building and our Local History Room. Our building was established in 1905 with funding by Andrew Carnegie and despite renovations the original stonework façade has been preserved. If you want to delve into history around your neighborhood, you can visit the Local History Room where there are newspapers on roll, yearbooks, and historic documents that pertain to the Portland area. Although rare, we do still circulate some books dating back to the 1800s and 1900s, not to mention the historical section of the regular nonfiction collection (check out the 900s).

As for the something blue, at times there are blue skies outside our windows, but finding a book with a blue cover is a guarantee. Take a look at some books in our collection with blue covers:

I usually pick this time of year to try something new. Last year I learned how to make my own fruit roll-ups in a dehydrator, this year I have decided to try Microgreens. I actually found myself a little intimidated by the little microgreen seeds. It couldn't be as easy as it looked, could it?  I set my Alfalfa seeds out to soak overnight in a glass jar, I rinsed them in the morning and placed them in my little microgreen tray and after rinsing them 2 x daily for 7 days and I have cute little alfalfa sprouts to put in my salads. Just a little bit of spring in a bowl. 

Now is a good time to wash out your garden pots with hot soapy water to get them ready for spring planting. I usually like to pick the sunniest, warmest day in February to reorganize my garden shed. (I don't sweat and it's usually uninhabited of creepy crawlies and spiders) February is also a good time to prune your fruit trees-pruning while your trees are dormant is less stressful for the trees and easier for you. (Though I would wait until the worst of the the cold is over). We bought four apple trees last spring and I have been hovering anxiously all winter to see how they fared. If you have an excess of energy you can also turn over your compost and clean up any debris in your flower beds.  

My sister likes to plant her tomatoes indoors in February so she can plant them in the garden in March (she uses the wall-o-water method). I have never tried this myself but I can appreciate there is nothing in the world like picking fresh tomatoes  out of the garden in mid-June. 

If you have seeds on hand and you don't know if they are viable, you can test your own seeds for germination by placing 10 seeds on a moist paper towel, fold the paper towel in half over the seeds, lightly press down so the wet paper towel comes into contact with the seeds. Place the damp paper towel and seeds inside a ziploc bag (if you are germinating multiple seeds, make sure to label your ziploc bags). Keep the seeds warm and moist. You should monitor the seeds every day and mist if needed. If less than five seeds germinate, fresh seeds should be purchased. 

Don't have time to order seeds this month? The Portland District Library can help you with that! Come visit our seed library and "borrow" some seeds. Each week we are getting new donations (thanks to great seed companies like Burpee and Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds  and amazing local gardeners) to share with you! You can keep the seed exchange going by bringing back seeds for our seed library after your fall harvest is complete. 

My new favorite meme!!!

Celebrating February

February is full of interesting historical tidbits and holidays, some that I didn't have a true appreciation for until I read up on some of them. I thought it would be a fun activity to dive into some of the celebrations that occur in this chilly month and get to know them a little better. Let's begin!

Some of us anticipate the coming of Valentine's Day, a welcome reprieve from the winter weather filled with gratuitous amounts of candy and flattering cards. Not all too surprisingly, it may have originated in unison with Roman fertility festivities during this time, though the holiday's true origins are vague at best. Formal valentines and the way we celebrate the holiday today began in the 1500s with commercially printed valentines becoming a mainstay in the 1700s. 

Those of us who choose to celebrate this holiday enjoy planning the best way to appreciate the loved ones in our lives, though in modern times it has extended beyond just a single significant other. I've sent cards and/or candy to close friends and family on Valentine's Day simply because they are important people in my life. Personally, to me, celebrating any holiday is better than none during this time of year. It gives a much-needed break to the otherwise monotonous cloudy skies and snowy landscapes that grow long and dreary.

💘💝

Then there is the humorous tradition of Groundhog Day, where a Pennsylvanian groundhog pops out to see if there will be another 6 more weeks of winter (for those of us who didn't keep up with this, he predicted a longer winter - BOOO!). This European-originated tradition actually happens during the midpoint between Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, and continued its relevancy as a encouragement and reminder that spring is coming. It started out with those in the Middle Ages believing bears and badgers interrupted their hibernation to check if spring was on its way around this time of year. German immigrants to America brought this tradition with them, but since they couldn't wrangle a bear or badger onto their ships they adopted a groundhog as substitute as they were plentiful in the "new world".

Funnily enough, despite his extravagant name of "Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sages of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather-Prophet Extraordinary", he only predicts the season's change accurately 40% of the time. That is only slightly better than our own human meteorologists (haha, just kidding...). Thanks to our modern day technology, you can enjoy watching this event at 6:00am sharp on February 2nd every year, again and again and again... 

For our Christian friends, there may be something a little more solemn and reverent to celebrate on February 2. Candlemas is a time that shares a major similarity with Groundhog Day. There is no marmot involved, but rather it is a time to reflect on the coming of spring. It is a celebration to remind people of the natural cycles in life which involve that of spring overtaking winter, as well as the more hopeful themes of life overcoming death and light prevailing over darkness.

Another interesting fact about February is that the last full moon was often called the Snow Moon due to the snowy conditions in the last month of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. However, North American tribes referred to it as the Hunger Moon due the scarcity of food during this time of the year.

President's Day also happens this month which traditionally honors George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, though all-in-all it is for recognition of every U.S. President. It was first celebrated in the 1800s, but was heavily debated starting in 1968 when Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill in order to give people longer weekends throughout the year. Despite oppositions that the holiday be split and celebrated on the actual birthdays of both presidents, it has been widely accepted as President's Day by retailers in order to promote sales. It is also the day that public ceremonies in Washington and throughout the country are held.

Lastly, let's talk about the Winter Olympics! The Nordic Games began in 1901 in Scandinavian countries and was not officially recognized as the Winter Olympics until 1924. Oppositions by Scandinavian countries to create the Winter Olympics rose from their own Nordic Games as they did not want to give up this tradition. After adding figure skating and ice hockey to the modern Olympics and many of their own people going on to secure medal after medal, the opposition died down. After 1994, the Winter and Summer Games became held every 4 years and alternates in even-numbered years.

⛸🏒

Despite being the shortest month of the year, February is full of celebrations that offer rich history, even more than I anticipated upon first glance. We can continue to recognize important people, events, and contributions when we become aware of the significance of each one. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to keep information at the forefront of understanding in order to keep our traditions alive. It is helpful to have a calendar with official celebrations, but when faced without one we are still capable of honoring our humanity. As winter gives way to spring, the human spirit presses on.

Book Suggestions For Littles and Middles

If you are tired of trying to figure out what to read to your kids or want a concise list of books that is appropriate for their age, stop by the library and inquire with us. We have book suggestions that we can share with you, especially if you decide to join our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, as well as different formats to help you along. We provide reading kits for your littles to practice their budding reading skills or tablets preloaded with games that will foster a love for learning and reading. Certain littles can sign up for story time and join our librarian/library clerk as you sing and read along. There is also a virtual option so if groups are not your thing, you can do everything from reading along with the read aloud to doing the activity, all from the comfort of your own home.

If you are looking for a quick way to search for books, you can visit our online catalog here. You can log into the system using your first initial and last name (with no space) and your library card number (without the "P"). Then you will be able to search for specific titles using the search box in the upper right hand corner of the page.

Another great way to find books is to search for book finding sites or book lists online. Some of the few that come to mind are: 

• GoodReads
• Brightly
• Common Sense Media
• Book Trust/Bookfinder
• PBS KIDS
• Focus on the Family
• ALA/ALSC

You can find more with a quick search on Google. However, I would like to list some notable children's books from 2024 to get you started on some great reads for your little(s) to middle(s).

LITTLES

The Artivist by Nikkolas Smith

Motivated by a sense of duty, a young boy utilizes his artistic talent to address the issues in his community and create change.

Beneath by Cori Doerrfeld

While grieving a loss, a child and their grandfather go for a walk in nature and observe examples of things under the surface that cannot be seen.

Big by Vashti Harrsion

A young girl confronts the shifting meaning of being called “big” as she grows up, ultimately owning the adjectives that feel right and rejecting the hurtful ones.

Evergreen by Matthew Cordell

Evergreen the squirrel faces her fears as she journeys through Buckthorn Forest to deliver soup to sick Granny Oak.

Have You Seen My Dinosaur? by Helen Yoon

A young child with an invisible dinosaur laments about the struggle of finding something lost.

Henry, Like Always by Jenn Bailey

When Henry is thrown off balance by a change to his routine, he learns strategies to cope and participate.

Nell Plants A Tree by Anne Wynter

The past and the present of a family are connected by the planting and growing of a tree.

The Truth About Dragons by Julie Leung

A biracial boy learns to connect to his two cultures and embrace his grandmothers through dragon stories. 

What a Map Can Do by Gabrielle Balkan

A raccoon narrator introduces maps of all kinds, from houses, cities, stars and even the human body, and teaches how to read and create them.

MIDDLES

Bea Wolf by Zach Weinersmith

The epic poem Beowulf gets a kid friendly graphic novel retelling where children are the heroes fighting against the forces of adulthood.

Calling the Moon: 16 Period Stories From BIPOC Authors edited by Aida Salazar and Yamile Saied Mendez

Periods are destigmatized in this short story compilation that shows a multitude of ways this rite of passage can be experienced and celebrated.

Elf Dog & Owl Head by M.T. Anderson

This humorous and wondrous adventure of a boy and his magical dog is a timeless coming-of-age story marked by masterful world-building.

Good Different by Meg Eden Kuyatt

In this novel-in-verse, Selah struggles to follow her self-made rules of being “normal” and learns it is okay to be different and advocate for her needs.

Lasagna Means I Love You by Kate O'Shaughnessy

When her nan dies, Mo goes into foster care and discovers the power of food and found family through cooking and sharing recipes.

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels by Beth Lincoln

In this British country house mystery, Shenanigan Swift must solve a murder at a family reunion.

Credit: All descriptions have been pulled from https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/notalists/ncb.

What are your fond memories of Portland District Library?

I recently came across a historical document that outlined a personal account from a patron that routinely utilized the library. He and his family were lifelong frequenters of the library, and his personal account of their 3 generations spending time within the walls of our library was touching. It reminded me that there is so much history surrounding this building aside from its historical significance as a Carnegie library. I spent what precious time I was afforded within these same walls, escaping to other worlds and finding solace in the quiet peace I could find here. Those memories were always held dearly until I began working for the library in my adult years, and now I get to make new memories here.

What sort of memories do you have of our library? Are there members of your family that can regale you with tales that included trips to the library? We would love to hear all about it. You can share here or online via out Facebook page!

New Year, New You?

I have to admit that I fit in with the mass of the population whose new year's resolutions consists of getting healthier and looking different. I don't know about you but I know that my goals are more about living longer with a better quality of life and feeling better about myself. Being an advocate for positive change, I find the process of making resolutions invigorating. In the past, I have asked myself more dire, serious questions, but this year I am thankful to be asking smaller and more achievable ones.

I almost always set a goal to exercise more in general and I will say that doing so at least 30 minutes a day has (and will most likely always) help me. I find that many people share a similar goal, whether it be to actually make use of that gym membership or to finally be able to say you have participated in a marathon, I believe this is such a worthy goal. It's not only about feeling good about the way you look, but feeling good about the way you are. For myself, the aftereffects of incorporating more exercise in my routine enables my body to simply be. If you know, then you know.

The other task is more monumental: what can I do to change the way I look, and how can I do it in a way that improves rather than detracts? Now, I am not just talking about pure aesthetics, though in a highly visual, interconnected world there is some of that in play. But, rather, in a bigger and more substantial way, how can I make changes to differentiate myself so that I feel more like me? There are so many ways to become more authentic, but to change a few things on the outside does help get more trivial things out of the way to make room for the heftier, weightier work: the inside stuff.

I have long reflected and done work on the inside, now I am realizing that it came at a cost to my outside. I get to choose how I represent myself in the world, not just with my actions, thoughts, and expressions but how I decide to show up - physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, all the -y's. We have been given such a gift to be able to choose in this life, and it is so much stronger than it first appears. If anything, I am wishing you a year of choosing.

Lastly, let me leave you with a challenge, ask yourself: What will I choose this year?

If your New Year resolution, like mine, isn't about exercise or losing weight, but limiting the number of seeds and plants you can purchase for the summer, then, you know that the official gardening season has begun once those colorful seed catalogs start coming in the mail. 

I spend weeks in January poring over every page of the seed catalogs, looking for exotic scents, edible flowers (I do love duel purpose greenery), as well as plants that might increase my growing season. 

I understand that some people are NOT planners. They have beautiful, wonderful, thriving gardens and flower beds that require no planning at all.

I am NOT one of those people. I have to have a plan!

My first step is to get out my trusty garden binder where I have a map of my garden  (on graph paper)  and what I planted the year before. Once I have my binder, I review last years notes and yields in order to appraise what worked and what didn't. (I definitely didn't mulch or water enough last year).

Step two; I ask myself questions.

Am I happy with my garden/flower bed layout? Do I even need to order new seeds?  Do I need to fix or replace any equipment? Is there a new technique I want to learn? (I want to grow microgreens indoors this year). Do I want to enlist my 8 year old and design a butterfly-friendly garden? What is my budget? We axed any new projects this year and intend to focus on increasing efficiency and productivity, so we will definitely be doing more succession planting and mulching this year.

Step three; order seeds. Last year my sister had great success with an early yield tomato plant, so I will definitely try that this year, along with ordering my 'old' reliable heirloom seeds, and maybe a couple of fancy flowers to keep the bees stopping by my garden. 

There is a delicate balance between wants and needs, dreams and reality, and effort vs reward. Gardening is not for the faint of heart, but it is well worth it for the taste of that fresh produce that you planted and nourished with your own exertion. Even if you only start with a single container of Sweet Million tomatoes on your back patio or porch,  

January in Michigan is the perfect time to take small steps to plan ahead and prepare your garden for the upcoming season. For me it is also a great way to shake away those post-Christmas blues.   

   

Other optional January to do's:

[] Inventory seed starting supplies if you want to start seeds in March/April

[] Clean and repair tools.

[] Inventory pantry and calculate what you need for the upcoming harvest.

[] Prune trees.