Tips & Tricks for ACLA Databases and Downloadables

Do you have a summer bucket list this year? It’s a strange and unique summer for all but there are still plenty of ways to get your summer groove on and take advantage of a quieter pace. Magazines (and blogs and Instagram!) have always been a great source of inspiration for me; from projects to recipes to staycation ideas to cocktails to ways to make my home more amazing. Let Libby’s magazine collection support and inspire YOUR best summer! 

• Get organized with the March issue of Good Housekeeping. While summer is not the ideal time to organize my basement (too hot down there!) I’ll be bookmarking this issue for the fall when I will definitely get to that project, I swear!
  
• I bought a nice tabletop grill last summer, so learning to grill like a pro is on my list this year. Grill more than just a hamburger (though those are top notch grill-food!) with June’s issue of Food Network (it includes a delish-sounding meatless burger too!) Taste of Home’s June/July issue is also another grill-packed issue!
  
• I have a LOT of yard – well, for me it’s a lot. And it’s all garden, no lawn. It’s quite a bit of work. HGTV’s July/August issue has some really helpful tips and info on summer plants and what gardening can look like during the summer months. Now where did I put my gardening gloves…
  
• Because this season is so drastically different from other summers (for all of us!) why not embrace JOMO (the Joy of Missing Out) and see what comes from slowing down? Frankly, I’ve always been more JOMO than FOMO (the Fear of Missing Out). The April issue of O The Oprah Magazine (written way before the pandemic!) has a great article on JOMO that just may help you enjoy a quieter, slower summer.
  
• Many of our vacations will be postponed this year. It’s a rough reality. There’s hope though! The experts suggest camping! Now, that’s real social distancing! Outside Magazine’s May issue includes a delightful feature on this very thing: ‘The New Spirit of Camping: 50 Fresh Ideas for Life’s Ultimate Getaway.’ And when vacations are canceled, weekends and smaller road trips take a front row seat. Discover how to make the most of your weekend-getaways in the May/June issue of Backpacker.
  
• If one of your goals this season (and let’s be honest, this is a life-long goal!) is to learn more about African American history and the history of racism in America, there are some really helpful recent articles that can get you started in your re-education. Try the 12/7/18 issue of Newsweek’s cover article: Yes, America is Racist. Now What?’ Or the 6/22 issue of The New Yorker (whose cover alone is worth checking out). 
  
• One item on my bucket list (it’s on my list every season) is to establish a meditation/yoga practice. Yoga Journal is a super helpful resource in reiterating that yoga is for EVERY BODY. There’s a whole crop of new, different, diverse bodies sharing their love of yoga these days, and the March/April issue is all about those Next Gen Yogis.
  
• Like everyone, I’ve been spending even more time outside these days. We’re enjoying our porches, patios, balconies and yards as much as we can! As these spaces become even more important for renewal and nourishment, check out Veranda and Backyard magazines (any issues!) for inspiration and ideas on how to make your outdoor spaces cozy, beautiful and welcoming.

Along with plenty ‘o books to keep your summer reading lists lengthy, Libby has such a great collection of magazines that can support all interests and bucket-listers! They’re easy to read too, right within the Libby app on your smart phone or iPad! Happy Summer!

• Kelley, Cooper-Siegel Community Library

As patrons continue to need to supplement their physical library checkouts with e-offerings, OverDrive’s Always Available section has become an even more important destination to point out. This time, we’ll focus on e-book offerings. Always Available includes selections for a variety of audiences, from children to adults. This is a great way to introduce patrons to OverDrive—after all, they can really walk away with some titles checked out, not just on hold!

I wanted to highlight a fiction, nonfiction, and a graphic work selection for each age group.

Preschool:

Germs are Not for Sharing by Elizabeth Verdick; illustrations by Marieka Heinlen

Obviously, this book is pretty topical at the moment. This has been a go-to for parents for a while now and any extra exposure it gets right now is appropriate.

Niko Draws a Feeling by Bob Raczka; illustrations by Simone Shin

This is the perfect picture book for little artists or any child that has a big imagination.

My First Bob Books: Pre-Reading Skills by Lynn Maslen Kertell

Bob Books are a great way to begin the process of learning to read and this set is always available—kids may want to keep checking it out over and over!

Elementary:

Lazy Crafternoon by Stella Fields

Everyone is crafting more now and this is a great title with lots of ideas. Most of the materials needed may already be in your home!

Lucy & Andy Neanderthal by Jeffrey Brown

This is the first book in a new graphic novel series from Jeffrey Brown, creator of the popular Jedi Academy series.

Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly

This is the first fantasy novel by Newberry Award Winner Erin Entrada Kelly (Hello, Universe). Inspired by Filipino folklore, this is sure to become a classic for both reluctant and voracious readers.

Teen:

Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang

Yang has already released a number of popular graphic novels for teens (American Born Chinese) as well as his continuations of the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe. His latest is Dragon Hoops, an autobiographical look at power of sports—even for those that are completely skeptical of them.

Say Her Name by Zetta Elliott; illustrations by Loveis Wise

This is a powerful poetry collection inspired by the #SayHerName campaign that pays tribute to victims of police brutality.

Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maika & Maritza Moulite

This is a coming-of-age story that really marks the arrival of two fresh, talented voices to the YA scene. Main character Alaine Beauparlant is discovering her heritage as she learns about the beauty and significance of Haiti.

Adult:

Children of the Land: A Memoir by Marcelo Hernandez Castillo

A newly released memoir that truly distills are current moment. Castillo uses his background as a poet to write a lyrical and disarming work about the trauma of displacement and provides real, breathing examples affected by our immigration policies.

The World Doesn’t Require You: Stories by Rion Amilcar Scott

They may not be as popular as their novel counterparts, but short story collections are often the most bracing and rewarding reading experiences I have. The World Doesn’t Require You is certainly one of those collections. These stories share the setting of Cross River, a town established by the leaders of the only successful slave revolt in the mid-nineteenth century. Scott bends genre and expectation, telling stories of violence, religion, and love. Scott will be an author with much to say in the future.

Batman: White Knight by Sean Murphy

After last year’s blockbuster film Joker, the character has never been more popular. Murphy’s very popular addition to the Batman canon follows a Joker that has been cured of his insanity as he attempts to make amends—first with Harley Quinn, then Batman himself. This is one of the more important releases in the world of Batman of the last 5 years.

Snowy Little Christmas by Fern Michaels, Tara Sheets, and Kate Clayborn

Just for some fun, why not celebrate the halfway mark to Christmas with a little romance? I can’t remember a year, after all, where I’ve more looked forward to the holiday season than this one!

Jeff, South Park