Staff Pick Round-Up, 3!

Hello, readers! It has been a while since we did a staff pick round-up; if you missed the first or second, be sure to take a look at them. It is always fun to see what others are reading! Now let’s see what your library staff have been perusing in their spare time: Romona enjoyed … Continue reading Staff Pick Round-Up, 3!

New Year, Old Books

Hello, readers! Happy New Year, and welcome to 2022. How are you at making New Year’s resolutions? Perhaps the better question is how are you at keeping New Year’s resolutions? There seems to be only one resolution I am sure to keep: this year, I will read more books! Actually, I have to confess, reading more … Continue reading New Year, Old Books

The Creepiest Month

It's October, and thoughts often turn to skeletons, ghosts, zombies, vampires, and other things that go bump in the night. To prepare, I've been reading (or re-reading) some of the creepiest books out there, and I'm sharing some of my favorites with you. Scary stories have been around for a long time. The 19th century … Continue reading The Creepiest Month

Secret Societies: Fact and Fiction

If you ask me, secret societies are kind of the coolest. Enigmatic organizations, with their clandestine meetings and peculiar rituals, spur serious intrigue. And who doesn’t love being let in on a secret! Many secret societies we know of today have a nefarious reputation. However, undercover organizations used to be quite the thing, and for … Continue reading Secret Societies: Fact and Fiction

It’s time for school!

All across the country, kids are starting school -- either for the new school year or for the first time. Some schools are already in session, while others start in the next few weeks. Of course, this got me thinking about books related to the start of school. As usual, my thoughts first jump to … Continue reading It’s time for school!

Destination Fiction: The Middle East

Hello Patrons! We are now well into summer and our adult summer reading program The Great Jackson County Read: Armchair Traveler is going strong; plus, there is still time to rack up some raffle tickets and win cool local prizes! Last month, we visited Asia through a selection of fiction. Now it's time to get … Continue reading Destination Fiction: The Middle East

Destination Fiction: Asia

https://stockwatchboard.com/traveling-through-books/ Hello Readers! This summer I hope you will participate in the Adult Summer Reading program at Jackson County Public Library, beginning June 3rd. This year’s theme is the Great Jackson County Read: The Armchair Traveler, which is all about experiencing the world abroad through the books you read, from the comfort of your favorite … Continue reading Destination Fiction: Asia

Winter Wonderlands!

All my life I've had a fascination with winter. Maybe it's because I grew up in coastal Southern California, so winter for us was a novelty, an annual drive up into the mountains to experience sledding, snowmen, and other winter fun. But we always went on a clear day (so as not to get stuck … Continue reading Winter Wonderlands!

Guest Blog: Local author, Tyler Cook, reflects on Macon County Public Library’s Read Local Book Fair

As I reflect on the fifth annual Read Local Book Fair in Franklin, I can’t help but feel excitement, as if I’m attending it for the first time.  Each year brings a new experience, and a new group of customers gets to experience a new book, whether they buy mine or someone else’s.  For us … Continue reading Guest Blog: Local author, Tyler Cook, reflects on Macon County Public Library’s Read Local Book Fair

Stepping Stones

A few weeks ago a riveting image showed up on my Facebook page. It was something like this: I was immediately captivated by the artist's style and searched out more images of  Syrian artist Nizar Ali Badr's work. It turns out some of his creations, which he shares mainly via Facebook, have been used to … Continue reading Stepping Stones