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Outreach for a library is vital and the tasks are ever-changing and require creative thinking and the ability to problem-solve on the spot. Our focus can change from month to month, depending on a library event, the seasons, community changes, or invitations to engage with the public. Here's a first peek into some recent adventures! The outreach department at Caldwell Public Library has been preparing our Spring and Summer outreach schedule. In addition to planning, we have been visiting homebound patrons and delivering books, dropping off library made kits and information packets to locations outside of walking distance from the library, and meeting new partners with who we will create action plans to help us assist each other in supporting our community. Interested in our homebound delivery or contactless delivery services? Fill out an application and become a part of our delivery route! In addition, we have been thankful to celebrate two services that have recently been launched. We have been working hard on supporting our Idaho Laundromat and Literacy program, and we have been excited to finalize our efforts on securing an outreach vehicle that will help us get around Caldwell easier and offer some essential services to our community. The Idaho Laundromat and Literacy program in Caldwell was recently featured on KTVB7! Part of planning for the outreach events we are a part of this summer is cleaning our Mobile Makerspace. Leslie (Outreach Services) and I have been cleaning and organizing this Tiny Idahome so that it will look as nice as possible for our future events. Our first event coming up is The Once Upon a Time Library Gala on April 26th! Would you like to come see our Mobile Makerspace, enjoy some food and music, participate in our silent auction, and meet other wonderful people in the community? Come join us for our event!

I didn't buy a Switch when it initially came out. I had already owned Breath of the Wild on the Wii U and wasn't interested in the other launch titles. The library of games has grown so much though that I finally broke down and bought one, and I can't say I'm disappointed. The games I have played have been a lot of fun and I have enjoyed how the Switch operates. It's very different from the other Nintendo consoles I have owned in the past and the portability is a huge plus. Below are some games I have played that I highly recommend. Stardew Valley Stardew Valley is a farming game with a little extra to help keep the player involved. The player inherits a farm from their grandfather with the intent of fixing it up and building their dream farm. Alternatively, though, the player can go an entirely different route. While farming is the main goal of the game and ultimately makes the most money, the player can opt to not farm all together. There are mines to explore where the player can fight different monsters, fishing, and different objectives and tasks for the player to complete. You can also befriend members of the local community, which is recommended to receive items from them, and have the option of marrying one of them. Many players will spend their time focusing solely on one thing and ignoring the rest. The game has all 4 seasons, with each one lasting 28 days. Some crops and fish can only be grown or caught in certain seasons so the player must plan when they can complete certain tasks. It was developed by Eric Barone, aka ConcernedApe, and is also available on PC, PS4, Xbox One, IOS, and Android. Super Mario 3D All-Stars This compilation of games was the main reason why I bought my switch. Super Mario Sunshine was the main Mario game I played as a kid after Super Mario World for the SNES. This is a compilation of the earlier 3D Mario games, Super Mario 64, Super Mario Sunshine, and Super Mario Galaxy. It’s the perfect tool to delve into some good old-fashioned nostalgia or play a Mario game you may have missed. This compilation was the first time I had ever played Mario 64 and understood the hype surrounding it. I was also able to revisit Mario Galaxy, which was another Mario game that I played. It’s easy to access the different games, as you just pick one on the main menu and you can switch back and forth whenever you want. Something that I noticed, while playing Mario Sunshine, was that my hands still seemed to have the muscle memory of playing the game originally on the GameCube. This made playing a little challenging at first but after a while you get used to the controls. Immortals Fenyx Rising I recently started playing this game and was sucked in fast. It’s centered around Greek Mythology as the main character, a mortal named Fenyx, wakes up from a shipwreck to discover that their brother and shipmates were all turned to stone. In their quest to save them, they learn that the myths are real and the Greek Gods do exist, but they also need help. A villain named Typhon has stolen the essences of Athena, Aphrodite, Ares, and Hephaistos, thus weakening them, and altering their appearance. The player must free their essences and restore them back to their godly form. Zeus goes to Prometheus for help who sets a wager that if a mortal can defeat Typhon, then he will be freed from his imprisonment. The game is told in an almost story-like way, with Prometheus narrating parts of the story and some humorous dialogue between him and Zeus. There are various puzzles and tasks for the player to complete to help increase stamina and other stats. Fenyx is also customizable, and their appearance can be changed at any point in the game. The game gave me strong Breath of the Wild vibes with how the player navigates the world and the puzzles that are completed reminded me of the shrines. Developed by Ubisoft, this game is also available on both PS4 and PS5, PC, and Xbox One, and Xbox series X and S. Mario Golf: Super Rush I played this game with my family a few months ago and had a lot of fun. It follows the rules of golf at its core but has a few different game modes that the player can do. Players can also just do a typical game of gold where they play the holes. You can decide how many holes you play, and depending on the amount of people playing will determine how long the game lasts. Want a game that's more of a challenge? Check out Michael's blog post on Elden Ring! You can also view other Switch games available through out catalog.

Deadly games - an all-familiar trope for horror and thriller fans. Think of the classics - The Running Man by Richard Bachman and The Lottery by Shirley Jackson - and some newer ones - The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins and The Maze Runner by James Dashner - there is a game in each of these books, and inevitably, someone will die. Readers love the anticipation and the thrill that accompanies lethal games (in fiction works, of course). So this month, we've put together a list of a few lesser-known teen books published in the last couple of years that deal with dangerous games and brave protagonists. Some of the books include magic, and some have dragons, but all of them will have you sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for what happens next. Titles were chosen by Ellie Epperson, Youth Services Supervisor. Cut Off by Adrianne Finlay The new virtual reality show does what its name implies - CUTS OFF participants from the rest of the world. A group of teenagers volunteers to be part of the hit show Cut Off, each for unique reasons, where they are placed out in the wilderness, far from human habitation. But the game isn't too dangerous - if it becomes too much for a contestant, they can "tap out," and the last one left gets a big cash prize. However, this game round proves to be a little different from previous iterations of the game. When communication with the game show hosts goes dark, the four remaining contestants must find a way to trust each other if they want to survive this now deadly game. House of Dragons by Jessica Cluess (House of Dragons Series #1) In House of Dragons, the game in question is slightly different from a traditional game. The five great houses of Etrusia have a tradition - when the Emperor dies, one person from each house is selected to compete for the throne. Usually, the chosen person is the oldest child in the house, one trained to compete in the "glorious Trial." Of course, this time, the elements are just a tad different. Five outcasts from each house have been chosen to compete, and the book alternates between their viewpoints, giving readers a look into each character's mind. Basilisks, dragons, and other mythical creatures abound in this world, creating unique challenges for the contestants. Only one person can sit on the throne - who will it be? Book Two: War of Dragons is scheduled for publication in May 2022! Caster by Elsie Chapman (Caster Series #1) Magic is addicting but also extremely deadly. Aza Wu is well aware of this, especially since her sister, Shire, died while casting spells. Besides, magic is illegal, so Aza is better off just leaving it alone, right? But nothing is ever that simple. Aza and her parents operate a teahouse in Lotusland and must pay off the local gang to keep the family business running. Money is already tight, so when Aza receives an invitation that could get her some more cash she takes the offer. She doesn't realize that by doing so, she has entered a deadly magic tournament with real-life, scary consequences. She manages to keep it secret from her parents, but they start to worry when they notice wounds on their surviving daughter. With the gang on their backs for payment, an ongoing police investigation into Shire's death, and the casting tournament, Aza desperately fights for her life - but first, she must decide what's more deadly, magic or the truth. Like this book? Check out book two, Spell Starter. Panic by Lauren Oliver Small town, nothing to do, no prospects of moving away, sounds like a great place to be, right? The boredom proves too much for some, and thus the high-stakes game Panic is born. Graduating seniors of the local high school can compete in the game, but they must be brave, fearless even, to have a chance of winning. While the stakes are high, the payout is even higher. Protagonist Heather finds herself competing in the game, even though she thought she never would. But now, she has something to fight for. Dodge has always known he'd compete in the game. He has a secret that fuels him, one he knows will see him through to the end. Both Heather and Dodge have their reasons for competing in the game, and as they do, they will discover so much more than they bargained for. Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz (Blazewrath Series #1) Ever since she can remember, Lana has dreamed of representing her home country of Puerto Rico in the Blazewrath World Cup. In this sports championship, 16 countries send a dragon and its rider to represent them in a savage relay. And this is Lana's year to shine, the first year Puerto Rico is allowed to compete in the games. As Lana prepares to compete, she finds out that a former Blazewrath contestant has partnered with a legendary dragon, cursed to remain in human form, to end the World Cup. To save her beloved sport, compete in the world cup, and save the world's dragon sanctuaries, Lana must navigate through an international conspiracy that could prove more dangerous than her revered game. Like book one? Check out book two: Dragonblood Ring. We hope you enjoyed this list. Do you have a favorite deadly games book or series? Let us know in the comments!

Hi everyone, I am Lea, and I am the Volunteer Coordinator at the Caldwell Public Library. I am so privileged to work with and get to know a great bunch of volunteers. Our volunteers play such an important role in our library and our community. We have volunteers in so many different parts of the library. Volunteers help with programs for kids and adults, shelving our materials, and helping get crafts and kits together. Volunteers not only are in the library helping but they are also in an organization called The Friends of the Caldwell Public Library. The Friends of the Library are generous volunteers that raise funds and help support the library. The Friends group not only volunteers their time and energy with book sales but they also volunteer in the library. Volunteering is such a big part of helping our library reach our community. In the years before the pandemic, volunteers put in over 1,200 hours a year helping the library and reaching our community. Many volunteers feel a sense of pride in giving back to their community and a sense of belonging to the community. They make a difference every day in big and small ways. If you would like to become a volunteer, please consider the library. Come in and see how we can help our community together. Some of our volunteer positions include: Summer Reading shelving organizing donations helping with programs adult literacy computer classes and so much more! Find out how you can get involved here.

It’s time to get good! If you follow any amount of gaming news you've no doubt heard that the developers of the famous (infamous?) Dark Souls series have released their newest game, Elden Ring. Combining many elements from their previous games including the Souls series, Elden Ring will no doubt be regarded as From Software's greatest and most influential game. If you’re seeking an escape into a fantasy world filled with danger and craving a rewarding challenge, you need look no further than your library! Below will be links to Elden Ring on every available system as well as many of From Software’s back catalog of games all available for reservation or check out to our patrons. Commonly known for their crushing difficulty, the Souls series - as the games have come to be known - began with the PlayStation 3 exclusive release of Demon’s Souls in 2009. With the success of subsequent Souls series games it has since been remastered as a launch title for the PS5. Demon’s Souls was not From Software’s first release, nor was it their first action RPG. However, in conjunction with its spiritual successor Dark Souls, Demon’s Souls would introduce many of the core concepts and mechanics that continue to define Souls series games and their imitators. Due to their popularity and influence, these games have created a sub genre often described as hardcore action RPG or “Souls like.” Experience points that need to be recovered upon death or they are lost, check points that respawn enemies, cryptic story elements, deep lore, and tough as nails boss battles are the defining features of the Souls like genre. These unique features combined with precise combat mechanics that reward not only reaction time but strategy, add depth and challenge to what would otherwise be a more traditional action RPG. These defining characteristics may also make the games feel inaccessible, daunting, or even unwelcoming to new players. Elden Ring is not an easy game. But, I would argue that it’s a more approachable and forgiving entry for new players looking for a Souls experience. Due in large part to Elden Ring’s open world setting, new players have the freedom to explore and find challenges more suited to their skill level. Find a group of enemies or a boss that’s too difficult? Go somewhere else and find some other castle to siege. The ability to forge your own path early in the game allows novice players the opportunity to practice and become familiar with the game mechanics without getting stuck at some seemingly insurmountable challenge. While Souls games have always given players multiple paths and routes in their level designs, Elden Ring is the first entry to provide players with an open world experience with seemingly endless options for progression. If you’re a fan of Souls games you’re already playing Elden Ring. If you’ve been intrigued with the series but have been intimidated by the games’ reputation, there’s no better time to take the plunge. I’ve barely scratched the surface of what these games have to offer but a Souls game must be experienced to be truly understood. Elden Ring is a remarkable game that will surely be a point of influence for many games to come. Follow the links below to request one of the games, or check out some of the library’s many Souls related books, graphic novels, and other media available in our catalog. Elden Ring for PS4 Elden Ring for PS5 Elden Ring for XBOX One and Series X Other From Software Games: Demon’s Souls Remastered PS5 Demon’s Souls PS3 Dark Souls Remastered Switch Dark Souls 2 XB1 Dark Souls 3 XB1 Bloodborne PS4 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice XB1

I’m usually not one who does reading challenges. I tend to go through phases of reading where I will read a bunch of books, then not read anything for a few months. This means I usually don’t meet challenges that require you to read a certain amount. This year, however, I decided I wanted to change things up a little bit by giving myself my own challenge. I tend to read books from the same categories. They are typically teen books that are either fantasy, mystery, or romance. While there is certainly nothing wrong with sticking to similar styles of books, I wanted to change things up. I decided my challenge this year would be to focus on reading books that I wouldn’t typically read. This means pretty much anything in adult fiction or non-fiction. So far, I have read four books and am currently reading number five. A couple have been in genres I know I already like, mystery and fantasy, but I have also read a couple historical fictions and discovered that is another genre I enjoy. Below are some of the books I have read. I have been tracking them on Goodreads, which is a great site for looking up books and tracking what you have read or want to read. The Forgotten Garden - Kate Morton This is my favorite book of 2022 so far. The story follows Cassandra as she tries to unravel the mystery surrounding her grandmother, Nell, who was found alone on a ship in Australia when she was 4. She had no memory of who she was, so she was adopted by the local family who found her. She doesn’t learn she was adopted until adulthood and was then determined to discover who she is. Unfortunately, she passes before she can solve the mystery. After inheriting an unexpected cottage from her grandmother, Cassandra decides to travel to Australia to investigate the mystery surrounding her family. The story shifts perspectives as the reader learns what happened in the past that led up to Nell being on the ship, and the present where Cassandra solves the mystery. The book offers many twists and turns ad the reader tries to guess who Nell's family actually is. The Tattooist of Auschwitz – Heather Morris I just recently finished this book after talking about the series with my family. I always meant to read it, but never got around to it until now. It’s a historical fiction surrounding the protagonist, Lale Sokolov a Jew from Slokavia, who is sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1942 to work in the camps in attempt to protect his family. He is put to work as the tattooist, or Tätowierer in German, who tattoos the numbers onto the prisoners. After arriving, and seeing the cruel treatment the prisoners faced, he becomes determined to stay alive and one day escape. He meets a woman named Gita and she strengthens his determination as they form a relationship. Through Lale, the reader experiences some of the harsh treatment and cruelty the prisoners faced. Two more books are a part of this series, Cilka’s Journey, and Three Sisters. The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini A big reason I chose The Kite Runner was because I was unsure if I would like it or not. It was the opposite of what I would normally read, so I decided I needed to read it. It did not disappoint. The story follows Amir throughout his life, from childhood to middle-aged adulthood. A big part of the book is him reflecting on how his life went and how he could have done things differently. The first half of the book largely focuses on his relationship with the two closest people in his life, his father, and the family servant Hassan, whom Amir befriends and the mistakes that were made. It shows his way of life in Afghanistan, and how that changes after they have to flee when the Soviet Union invades. I enjoyed the book and plan on reading more of his books. Daughter of the Moon Goddess – Sue Lynn Tann I am currently reading this book and it’s very hard to put down. It’s loosely based off the Chinese Legend of Chang’e, a woman whose husband shot down 9 out of 10 suns, and was rewarded with an elixir of immortality, but there was only enough for one. He decided not to drink it so that he could stay with his wife, but Chang’e ended up drinking it in secret and was then sent to the moon. There are several versions of why she drank it and if she was banished or went to the moon willingly, but the core elements stay the same. Daughter of the Moon Goddess follows her daughter, Xingyin, who lives on the moon after Chang’e was banished for drinking the elixir. No one knew Chang’e was pregnant, so Xingyin’s existence was kept secret. After being forced to flee the Moon without her mother, due to the threat of the Celestial Kingdom discovering her existence and punishing her mother, she begins living in the Celestial Kingdom without revealing who she is. She becomes determined to somehow find a way to free her mother an earn a pardon from the Celestial Emperor. I am about half-way through the book as of right now, but so far it has been worth the read. Are you wanting to do your own reading challenge? Try reading something different and see how you like it. Also check out Laure's blog post on different reading challenges, including ones staff are participating in. Also be sure to check out the year long Ultimate Book Nerd Challenge going on at the library.

The origins of witches are largely unknown, but one of the earliest recorded references of a witch is in 1 Samuel (of the Hebrew Bible) believed to have been written between 931 B.C.E. and 721 B.C.E. Witches have practiced magic for thousands of years while facing persecution, as well as several witch trials throughout Europe and North America (most notably the Salem Witch Trials in 1692 C.E., which targeted several women accused of being witches). Many modern-day witches in the Western world openly practice Wicca, an official religion in the United States and Canada. Other modern-day witches continue to be persecuted and killed in certain countries in the world. You can read more about the history and origins of witches in this History.com article. While the witches in the following books don't necessarily follow a particular religion, they practice their own style of magic - both ancient and modern. Each of these stories will enchant readers and leave them wanting more (and some of them DO give you more in sequels). So without further ado, here's our list of recommended witchy reads for teens. Titles were chosen by Ellie Epperson, Youth Services Supervisor. The Once & Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow (2020) The year is 1893, and the Eastwood sisters - James, Agnes, and Beatrice - decide to join the suffragists of New Salem. The town of Salem, Massachusetts is known for its historic witch trials, but in 1893, the witch hunts have ended and the power of witches has been eradicated - or has it? The Eastwood sisters join the suffragists to help further the women's movement and give a voice to women in America. But the sisters find themselves pursuing the forgotten magic of witches to lend power to their movement ultimately blending the women's and witch's movements. The sisters, however, find more than they bargained for - there are dark forces that don't want witches to thrive, and the sisters must delve into more complicated, older magic if they want the right to vote and, maybe even, to live. A Wicked Magic by Sasha Laurens (2020) Dan and Liss have a friendship built on their witchiness - that is to say, they've both been given the unbridled power of witches. And without any set of guidelines to follow, what could possibly go wrong? The girls used The Black Book to gain their powers and practice magic. But things go south when one of their spells misfires. Specifically, Liss's boyfriend completely disappears, and subsequently, Liss and Dan's friendship falls apart. They each try to move forward but find themselves forced to work together when Liss realizes her boyfriend is alive but trapped by an evil entity. When Dan reenters Liss's life, Liss's friend Alexa is pushed to the side - but Alexa has magical secrets of her own... As Dan and Liss try to bring back Liss's boyfriend, another teenager disappears, and the girls must find out what power they have awakened and how to undo whatever madness they've unleashed. The Babysitters Coven by Kate Williams (The Babysitters Coven Series #1) (2019) Having a babysitters club is one way to make some cash without having a REAL job. At least that's how 17-year-old Esme feels about the babysitters club she's in charge of, plus she enjoys babysitting, so it's a win-win. But she's going to need a lot more babysitting gigs if she's going to pay for the destruction she seems to be causing lately... Rebellious and gorgeous Cassandra is dying to get into Esme's babysitter's club - she will do whatever it takes. Cassandra seems like an odd choice for the club, but there's a simple reason she's trying so hard - a note left from her mom: "Find the babysitters." Although seemingly opposite, Cassandra and Esme find common ground in their shared lineage of superpowers and their goal to protect the innocent from the ever-present powers of evil. Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin (Serpent & Dove Series #1) (2019) "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." These are the words Reid Diggory, a Chasseur (hunter) for the Church lives by. Lou is on the run and in hiding - she is a witch who has forsaken her magic so that she may live. Lou and Reid cross paths and, in a bizarre turn of events, end up married. How can they reconcile their deep-seated differences to let their love blossom? Hard choices must be made in this fantasy-romance blend of a novel. The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith (2021) Frances Hallowell is a 17-year-old seamstress in New York City. She mourns the recent death of her brother and wants answers to the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death. After an altercation with a strange man who ends up dead at her feet, Frances is whisked off to the Haxahaven Sanitarium to treat what she believes to be a deathly illness. But when she arrives at the Sanitarium, she finds not a hospital, but a school for witches. The rules at Haxahaven are clear: 1) Mind Your Instructors 2) No Unsupervised Spellwork 3) Don't Leave After Dark The headmistress warns Frances of the dangers that magic can hold. But Frances is determined to find answers to her brother's death, and the safe magic of Haxahaven won't produce those answers. As Frances' powers grow she attracts the attention of a power-hungry leader, desperate to control Manhattan. And ultimately, she must choose between the safety of her fellow witches and revenge for her brother. We hope you enjoyed this list. Do you have a favorite witch book or series? Let us know in the comments!

What's love got to do with it? Pretty much everything, if you look to your local libraries! For Valentine's day I decided to browse through our catalog and see what is available for checkout with just one keyword search "love." Book With 42,260 hits, I have decided to refine this search to just what is available now at only the Caldwell Public library. That narrowed down the selection to 7,735 items. Since I can only talk about a few items in this blog, I decided to narrow it down to only the books published this year. I came up with 6 books. Serendipity, Ten Romantic Tropes Transformed, edited by Marissa Meyer, is a collection from 10 authors of love stories with various topics and narratives. A short read with illustrations included, this book sounds like a lot of fun for those who love the Young Adult genre! DVD Looking at the 4,317 DVDs available in our collection that showed up in my "love" keyword search, I decided to narrow the collection yet again to "available now" and "at Caldwell Public Library." Now I am seeing 250 items. I am going to go ahead and refine one more time and just select the most recent, which is "2021." This brings us down to 11 items. One movie stands out to me, and that is Queen Bees. In Queen Bees, our leading lady has to move into a retirement home as her own private home is in need of repairs. Described as "fiercely independent," she encounters a strong group of queen bee style women running the retirement community. But perhaps, she also discovers love. I immediately put this book on hold. It looks like just the type of vibe I am looking for when I'm ready to relax after a long week. Music CD Not surprisingly, a bulk of the music CDs popped up for the keyword search "love." Imagine that, so many songs about love, who would have guessed! I refined it all the way down again to what's available at Caldwell Public Library, and decided to concentrate on the latest release. Only one CD showed up on my list, Now and Then, by Paul Stanley's Soul Station. First of all, I didn't even know this band existed. Second of all, I loved listening to this album as I was writing this blog. I listen to a lot of music, from various genres, and after recently doing some research on Diana Ross, soul was just what I was craving for my work environment this afternoon. With beautiful vocals, harmonies, and soothing yet grand musical interpretations, this album is beautiful, graceful, and brings back a time that, for me, reminded me of my mom singing classics around the house or on drives. Man, did she love to sing and dance to anything she's ever heard on the radio. I would 100% go enjoy a night of listening to this band perform just to dance and enjoy some vintage soul in a live environment. Thank you, Paul Stanley, for continuing your musical journey! Your Turn! I had fun looking up some materials on the subject "love," and seeing what was available just at our library! Now I encourage you to try it out and do the same. Maybe even explore some other materials, such as an audio-book or an e-book that we may have available. Who knows, you just might find your next favorite author, narrator, or movie. Don't forget, too, the more you explore our catalog and read variety, the more titles you can add to your Ultimate Book Nerd Reading Challenge this year. Happy reading and have a wonderful holiday!

Did you know that the LYNX! Consortium recently launched a new app? Its name is "Ida – An Idaho Library App", and its available for both android and IOS devices. It offers a bunch of convenient features, including self-checkout, right from your phone! You can look at your account, search our catalog, access our online resources, look to see where the nearest library in the LYNX! Consortium is, access our calendar of events, and access our social media. Below I have gone over some of the features and how to use them, but if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to give us a call or come to the library. My Account This lets you see any items you have checked out or on hold, fines, self-checkout receipts from the app and linked accounts. You can also change account settings from here. The checkout field will show you when items are due, how many renewals each items have, and give you the option to renew right there. If any accounts are linked to yours, you can also see what they have checked out. The same will apply to holds, fines, and self service receipts. Note: you will need to manually link accounts in the app. Any accounts already linked in the system do not automatically become linked in the app. You can do so by clicking on “linked accounts” and clicking “add” on the top right hand corner and entering in the card information. Self Checkout Are you tired of waiting in line to check out your materials? Then the self-checkout feature is for you! This allows you to check out materials right from your phone. Simply click on self-check-out in the app, scan the library barcode, then click finish on the top right-hand corner. You don’t need to come to the front desk to use this feature, just check out as you browse. When you click on my account, you can see when the items are due by looking at checkouts or self service receipts. Other Features Ida has other awesome features as well. “Scan ISBN barcode” lets you scan the barcode of any book you come across to let you know if it’s available at any library in the consortium. It will take you to the catalog and show you which libraries have it and let you put it on hold. The “nearest libraries” feature shows you which libraries are closest to you, if the app can access your location. You can use your card at the Nampa Library and any library in Ada County. “Online resources” will show you the list of some of the resources we have access to. Clicking on the resource you want to use will take you to that resource’s website. More resources can be found on our website. “Events” will take you to our calendar on our website and show you all our events scheduled for the month and “follow us” will take you to our social media accounts. Have you used Ida already? Let us know what you think and what your favorite features are!

Did you know that January is Braille Literacy Month? January was chosen to celebrate Braille literacy in honor of Louis Braille, who was born on January 4, 1809. Mr. Braille invented the Braille code when he was only 15 years old! He gained inspiration for his code from a "night code" system of 12 dots invented by Charles Barbier. The six-code system invented by Mr. Braille was officially published in 1829 when he was 20 years old and is still in use today. Braille is not considered a language, so it is referred to as a code or system. The system can be used with any language and uses 63 characters, and each one is made up of one to six raised dots. This code is used primarily by the blind but can also be used by folks with other levels of visual impairment to read and write or type. You can read more about the Braille code and its history on the Encyclopedia Brittanica website or the robust Wikipedia page (Pro Tip: check out the references at the bottom of the Wikipedia page for even more information). Now that I've given you a brief history of Braille let's dive into a few free and low-cost resources for the blind and visually impaired. The Idaho Talking Book Service The Idaho Talking Book Service is the Idaho state agency for the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled at the Library of Congress. This FREE service is available to any Idaho resident with a visual, learning, or physical impairment that prevents them from reading standard print. There are several resources offered through the Idaho Talking Book Service, including a physical audio player with specially formatted audiobooks on a range of topics (both fiction and non-fiction), an online catalog of braille print and audio materials (referred to as BARD), access to over 300 newspapers on audio from across the US via the Newsline application, and personalized service from a compassionate customer service team at the Idaho Commission for Libraries. You can read more about this service and access applications on the Talking Book Service website. Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf & the Blind (IESDB) The Idaho School for the Deaf & the Blind (ISDB) campus is located in Gooding, Idaho, and offers residential and day programs to qualifying Idaho residents. IESDB also provides statewide resources for any qualified youth aged birth to 21. The organization provides services for children and their local schools and families to ensure they reach their full potential. If you know a school or a person who would benefit from their services, let them know! You can read more about the school and educational services on their website. Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired The Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ICBVI) is an Idaho state agency to help Idaho residents who are blind or visually impaired achieve independence. The Commission provides assistance through continuing education, work skill development, and coaching. Other services offered by the Commission include independent living services, sight restoration financial assistance, braille consulting services, and specialized transitional programs for youth aged 14 to 21. The organization's home office is in Boise, but the services provided are statewide. Learn more about this invaluable resource here. Blinded Veterans Association The Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) is a national organization tasked with providing information and assistance to former service members who have experienced sight loss. One of their primary purposes is to "promote the welfare of blinded veterans so that, notwithstanding their disabilities, they may take their rightful place in the community and work with their fellow citizens toward the creation of a peaceful world." One of the great things about the BVA is that it is both run by and exists for blinded veterans. You can read more about this association here. Guide Dogs for the Blind The organization Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) is based out of San Rafael, California, but there is also an Oregon campus that is much closer to Idaho for those in need of their services. GDB is a nonprofit organization that provides all services and training free of charge, thanks to generous donations and volunteers. Guide dogs provide an invaluable service to the blind and assist folks with independent living. You can learn more about GDB and apply for services using their website. Another organization that provides guide dogs and training services is Leader Dogs for the Blind, based out of Rochester Hills, Michigan. Idaho Assistive Technology Project The Idaho Assistive Technology Project provides services and information about assistive technologies for folks with a range of disabilities. This includes assistive technologies for folks who are blind or visually impaired. One of the neat things about the project is they have a lending system where you can borrow specific assistive technologies for short periods of time to see what works best for you. Check out the full range of services using this link. While this list is by no means comprehensive, we hope that it provides you with useful information. Braille resources in our local library may be slim, but there are amazing organizations in the larger community that provide invaluable resources to the blind and visually impaired, including resources in Braille! If you have questions about this list or other resources, let us know in the comments.

Well, it's officially the end of 2021! We made it through another crazy year, mostly in one piece (and mostly open at the library). To celebrate making it through 2021, we decided to review how the year went. Despite partial closures, the statewide crisis of care standards, and everything else 2021 threw at us, plenty of people still enjoyed using the library's multitude of services. Here's a peek at some services and items used over the year. While not our most popular materials (that crown goes to children's items), adult items still see a decent amount of use in our library. Check out the top 5 checked-out items across the three adult categories: Top 5 Adult Books: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens Owyhee Outpost by the Owyhee County Historical Society The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides The Idaho Traveler by Alan Minskoff The Overstory by Richard Powers Top 5 Adult DVDs: The Last Black Man in San Francisco Rookie Blue: The Complete Series Jumanji: The Next Level Pride and Prejudice The Elizabeth Gaskell Collection Top 5 Adult Audiobooks: Fair Warning by Michael Connelly Two Kinds of Truth by Michael Connelly Absolute Power by David Baldacci The Law of Innocence by Michael Connelly Outfox: A Novel by Sandra Brown Next on the list are our teen materials. Our top five lists include a mix of oldies (but goodies!) and newbies. Did you read any of the following this year? Top 5 Teen Books: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard Top 5 Teen Audiobooks: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins The Tyrant's Tomb by Rick Riordan The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Cinder by Marissa Meyer Children's titles are undoubtedly our most popular collections. And none of the library staff was surprised to see Dog Man topping the list for children's books AND overall checkouts. Dog Man: Grime and Punishment by Dav Pilkey checked out almost 100 times in 2021! Top 5 Children's Books: Dog Man: Grime and Punishment by Dav Pilkey Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls by Dav Pilkey Dog Man and Cat Kid by Dav Pilkey Dog Man: Fetch-22 by Dav Pilkey Cat Kid Comic Club by Dav Pilkey Top 5 Children's DVDs: The Croods: A New Age PAW Patro: Summer Rescues Dolittle The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part Frozen II Top 5 Children's Audiobooks: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling The Boxcar Children Collection Vol. 1: Three Complete Stories by Gertrude Chandler Warner But wait, there's more! Beyond adult, teen, and children's materials, the library has various kits, video games, and electronic materials that our users can borrow. Let's see what was used the most over the last year: Top 5 Kits: Idaho Botanical Garden Passport Ukulele Yard Dice Tie between the following: Drawing/Calligraphy Rocket Science Sensory Play Pickle Ball Top 5 eBooks: The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides Educated by Tara Westover The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer Top 5 eAudio: Cold Mourning by Brenda Chapman The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah Butterfly Kills by Brenda Chapman Daylight by David Baldacci The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey Top 5 Video Games: Red Dead Redemption II Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 Marvel's Avengers CTR: Crash Team Racing: Nitro Fueled Did you know the library offers more than just our physical and electronic collections? In addition to materials you can check out, the library offers programs and services both on and offsite to meet the needs of our community members. Although the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has prevented us from providing as many services and programs as we used to, we were able to offer a few things over the last year. Here are some of our favorites: Adult Paint 'n Sip at 2C Wine Down We tentatively planned to have a paint night at the library in November earlier this year. As fall rolled in and the statewide crisis of care standards was announced, the library had to postpone in-library programs. We still wanted to do something for the adults in our community, so we reached out to 2C Wine Down in downtown Caldwell to see if we could have an evening of painting in their facilities. We capped the registration at 15, hired an instructor, and we were off! The resulting evening was full of fun, laughter, and multiple questions about when we would offer the program again. Although we don't have another date set yet, we hope to offer this class as an annual program in the fall. Teens Take Home Kit: Water Cannons Our favorite teen kit this summer was an easy choice for us. Although it was one of our most difficult kits to put together, these PVC water cannons were a literal blast! Designed for our older teen group because of the complexity of the project, our water cannon kits came with everything necessary to build your very own piston based water blasting toy. We were elated with their performance and had way too much fun testing our prototype around the library. A Visit from the Reptile Zoo Over the summer, the Idaho Reptile Zoo visited the library not once but twice! For the first visit, we hosted the reptiles in our children's room - the room was packed with visitors, primarily kids, oohing and aahing over the reptiles. To accommodate the crowds, we held the second visit in Serenity Park across from the library. The kids, parents, and staff loved seeing the snakes and lizards, as well as the alligator and giant tortoise. The library will definitely invite the Zoo folks back again! Outreach - courtesy of Monique Gaddy, Outreach Services Librarian Outreach this year was tricky but not as difficult as the year before. We had projects during summer, fall, and winter. For summer, we worked with the Oasis Summer Feeding Program and promoted early literacy, summer reading, and library services to all nine park locations. It was sure fun to connect with families closer to where they live! In the fall, we focused on some of these locations for more extensive outreach services, working with these locations to bring out some program kits and library promotional materials. We connected with Farmway Village and the Casa de Los Colores headstart. They have enjoyed the kits we brought out! This winter, we decided to see if there was anyone interested in partnering with us to establish a laundromat literacy center at their laundromat. We were lucky that Get the Funk Out Laundromat was interested and is now a proud owner of a literacy center that offers books to young readers and parents while they wait for their clothes to wash and dry. While our library may not be growing in the number of buildings that we have available for the public, we are always looking for creative ways to bring our library services to you! As you can see, even with restrictions and partial closures, the library was able to offer a fair amount of services and materials for our community members to enjoy. It's been a wonderful year at the library, and we hope to offer even more in 2022! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I recently became interested in a little bit of true crime. It mostly stemmed from a blog, “Talk Murder With Me”, that I found online. It goes over a variety of different cases from the past few decades, ranging from murder to missing persons. I’ve also noticed an increase in interest in true crime in general. Several of our staff members enjoy true crime and we have a particular book series, Missing 411, that is probably the most popular item we send out for ILL. With that in mind, I have compiled a list of true crime books for you to enjoy. All these items can be found either in our library or in our catalog. In Cold Blood – by Truman Capote In Cold Blood became an instant success after it was published in 1965, becoming one of the top-selling true crime books. It details the 1959 murder of the Clutter family when two individuals, Richard Hickock and Perry Smith, broke in and killed husband and wife, Herbert and Bonnie, along with their two kids, after attempting to rob them. Capote examines the murder, going into detail of the killers’ background and psychological state, and he even went so far as to interview the killers after they were caught. The author also goes into the background of the Clutter family and looks at their neighborhood. It is widely regarded as the pioneer for true crime books. Missing 411 series – David Paulides The Missing 411 series is probably one of the more popular series that we own. The series focuses on missing persons cases from all over the U.S. and even some from other countries. It all started when Paulides found patterns in cases where people have disappeared from National Parks and Forests and grew from there. Some books parallel others in the series, like Missing 411: Hunters, but each book offers its own group of cases. These are an excellent option for readers who like true crime books but may not necessarily want ones that deal with murder. There have also been documentaries made from the books, some of which can be found in our catalog. I’ll Be Gone In the Dark – McNamara, Michelle Content Warning: This book mentions multiple acts of sexual assault Michelle McNamara is determined to find the Golden State Killer, a man who committed fifty sexual assaults and ten murders in California before disappearing. McNamara pours over every aspect of the case she can to find possible clues. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark details this task as she reconstructs the case and what she finds. She includes stories from many people who have worked on the case and their thoughts and feelings. It also recounts her three-decade-long journey in completing this task, admitting that it became an obsession to her. Many readers have commended McNamara for the writing in this book. Unfortunately, she passed away before the book could be finished so some parts rely on earlier manuscripts and notes. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption – by Bryan Stevenson This book isn’t exactly a true crime book, but it does offer an interesting insight into the justice system from the perspective of a lawyer. Bryan Stevenson is a lawyer who works for a nonprofit agency that focuses on the poor, incarcerated, or wrongly convicted. Many of his clients are those who have faced injustices due to the color of their skin or the amount of money they have. This book talks about Stevenson's experiences handling these cases and the reality of those clients. He points out flaws in the system that need to be worked on, and many people have commended his writing and how he isn’t afraid to shed light on serious issues. The Stranger Beside Me – by Ann Rule Content Warning: This book mentions sexual assault Did you know Ted Bundy used to work at a suicide hotline? Pretty ironic. Ann Rule knew Ted Bundy from University and their time working at the hotline together. She considered Bundy to be kind and had a hard time believing that he could be capable of the crimes he committed. The Stranger Beside Me describes Rule’s experience finding out about these crimes and connecting the man committing them to the man that she knew. The book has been updated a couple of times to include his execution and accounts from other women that encountered him. What is your favorite true crime story? Do you prefer books or podcasts? Let us know in the comments! Be sure to check out our catalog for more true crime books.