Shelf. Life

Many of us have been home for several weeks now. I don't know about you, but life is getting a little dull around the Dillinger household. As a parent of a very energetic only child, I'm struggling with ways to keep my daughter occupied while I'm working from home. My family and I are also in a rut with dinner, TV shows, and ideas for family activi...

As we approach Mother's Day, I would like to share these inspiring, emotional, funny books about motherhood and being a parent. Some are from the point of view of the child about their mother, others are from the mother's point of view. What remains clear is the bond between them remains strong even through times of hardship. All of these titles ar...

Calling all readers! Are you missing human interaction as much as we are? Do you miss connecting with your fellow readers or librarians? Well, we miss you; so, we invite all of you to join us for book discussions! In May, we will host a weekly Couch Club, where you can chat about books without leaving your couch. Each week, we will separately read ...

As our shelter in place order continues and your reading pile dwindles, here's a look at three popular reads that can be downloaded with Willard's Overdrive or Libby apps. "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng With the release of Hulu's series adaptation of "Little Fires Everywhere," Ng's novel has topped lists and charts from Amazon to book club...

On April 2, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued an executive order to cancel all in-person classes for K-12 students for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year. While we expected this decision, it has devastated students, parents, and teachers nonetheless. Parents are now responsible for remote learning and teachers are preparing to present curriculum...

We have all faced our own challenges during the past few weeks with social distancing becoming the "new norm." I have been very proud of my fellow librarians who have embraced the challenge of finding innovative ways to bring library services to your home and connect with the library community. We miss those "in-house" moments—seeing our regular gu...

If you're in need of a fun distraction, now is the perfect time to dive into graphic novels, and one of my favorite ways to read them is through Willard's digital app Hoopla. Hoopla allows users to read in what they call "action view," which just means the app zooms in on each panel of art. It's a really cool way to experience the artwork and story...

Hey parents, while many of you are trying to find unique ways to keep your kids' minds active from home, we want to show you some awesome resources that are available to you. The good news is, there are so many people out there who want to help, especially right now! Authors and Illustrators, like Mo Willems and Kate Messner, are sharing read-aloud...

Willard Library's leadership announced at an all-staff meeting the closing of both buildings to staff and public just nine days ago, but already it feels like a dream. I can picture us spread around the room — physically distanced — talking in broad terms about what life would be like working from home. Although our physical buildings were closed, ...

As I watched Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announce tonight's shelter in place order, I thought about what we have always known: The library is so much more than the buildings. It's the people, the relationships, and the love of books and community that bring us together. We can still enjoy these things without the buildings and seeing each other in person...

Do you ever wonder what happens before new books hit the shelves? Here's a special behind the scenes tour of the Acquisitions and Technical Services Department here at Willard. I'll walk you through the ordering process and what happens as soon as books are delivered from our vendors. So, let's follow the book! Part 1: Selection Ordering for both t...

Each month, the library's staff meet to discuss books we've been reading. Here are some of our favorites from February. The Child Finder by Rene Denfeld This book takes place before The Butterfly Girl , as readers are introduced to Naomi, a private investigator with the uncanny ability to find people. Naomi is enlisted to find a child who has been ...

Do you know about Select Reads ? I feel like it is one of the lesser-known library services, but so awesome. If you are an avid reader, who is constantly looking for new materials, please check out Select Reads. Select Reads is an email newsletter subscription service, which delivers title suggestions directly to your inbox. Lists are compiled by l...

Willard Library staff members have done a wide variety of reading and watching this month. Reading: Butterfly Girl by Rene Denfeld This book parallels the stories of investigator Naomi, who has the "uncanny ability for finding missing children" and an abused 12-year-old girl by the name of Celia. Hill Women by Cassie Chambers If you've read Hillbil...

This year, Willard Library begins a new chapter in its history. On Jan. 1, I had the privilege of becoming the 15th director since the library opened in 1840. I look forward to building on the strong foundation of both current and past leadership of the library, the trustees, and the dedicated staff. It's truly an honor to lead the library that I g...

Happy New Year from your friends at Willard! As we welcome 2020, many of us think about the coming year and commit to improving ourselves in some way. My resolution every year, for the past five years, has been to eat better and exercise more. I start off with the best of intentions, but can never seem to make it past the month of January. Either t...

My favorite part about working at Willard Library for the past 12 years has been that our target is always moving! Speaking of moving, in case you haven't heard I'm heading to Ithaca, N.Y., where I will join the Cornell University Library in January. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in Battle Creek and will miss all friendly people I regularly see...

It's that time of year when we are supposed to give thanks for all that is good in our lives and spend time with loved ones. Leisurely put up the holiday decorations while sipping eggnog and listen to festive music. Find the PERFECT gift for everyone on our list. The reality is that many of us dash around in panic mode, stressed beyond belief, tryi...

The library staff has done a wide variety of reading, listening, and watching this month. Listening to: Frozen II Soundtrack (available from Willard's Hoopla app) If you've seen Frozen II in theaters, don't miss a chance to sing along to this soundtrack. Hollywood's Bleeding by Post Malone (also available from Hoopla) A bit of hip-hop/rap, mixed in...

During this busy season, it's important to take some time to make stuff. Creative activities are known to contribute toward reducing stress and depression according to the American Journal of Public Health . So, if you are feeling a little stressed from the holiday hustle and demands, take some time for yourself at the library and enjoy a little cr...