Library Outreach Services During a Pandemic As Caldwell Public Library's Outreach Librarian, providing library services during this last year has been such a challenge. My calendar for events went from being fully booked and in demand, to nothing but cancellations or postponements. The library team was disappointed in how the pandemic was changing our services and our reach to our population, and it took some time to reassess how we were going to proceed. Once we realized that the closures were going to last longer than a few months, we decided to focus on our community's immediate needs and then go from there. Internet Services As we struggled with going in and out of being open and closed and adjusting our services to the community that needed us, we used our Mobile Makerspace to help us deliver internet services in the Summer. Setting up and tearing down the equipment every day was tiring and a lot of work but it was so worth it. Even though providing internet services outside had its own unique set of complications, the entire staff pulled together to make sure that we were able to assist people with printing, job applications, school work, and other important personal business and career needs. While our library staff has always known that our patrons rely on our computer services, it was a real eye-opening experience for many residents, and our services became essential farther than providing a safe space for children and families and checking out books. While we still did curbside checkouts and assisted patrons the best we could over the phone and virtually, figuring out how to create a workable computer space outside was crucial. Thank goodness we had our Mobile Makerspace to assist us during those difficult times! Summer Reading Prizes Our amazing Youth Services team came up with a brilliant plan on making sure that we could safely get our Summer Reading sign-ups and prizes to our community. By utilizing our Mobile Makerspace we were able to create to-go bags with our patrons prize picks. Our Youth Services team created a way for our patrons to pick out their summer reading prize books by utilizing the app Library Thing. It made it really easy for staff and patrons to explore our collection while still keeping everything clean and safe. Even though our Summer Reading was a lot smaller than we are used to and we couldn't group up for events like we normally love to do, we were still able to assist so many patrons by using our Outreach vehicle as a safe and effective outdoor service point. Why Outreach is Important Outreach sometimes seems counter-intuitive for a library. We have everything a community would need, right in the building, right? Why would we have to leave the library to be able to serve our community? While outreach is important to all libraries, it is essential to ours in particular. With the way that our city has expanded, the limitations of our public transit system, and the reality that not all residents have reliable transportation, it is easy for us to not be able to reach all of our community members. Some of those community members really need our services. This is why library outreach services are so essential for Caldwell. We make the best effort that we can to meet community members where they are so that we can ensure that we are doing our very best to reach everyone. While outreach cannot take the place of another branch location (or two), it allows us to do better than we could than if we were to never leave our building. Homebound and Delivery Services Some of the people that I visit regularly as an Outreach Services Librarian are our homebound patrons. These patrons have signed up to receive their items at their houses on a bi-weekly rotation. The library selects materials based on their preferences and bags them up, drops them off, and picks up their items that they have finished! I don't have as many patrons as I used to have using this service, but I am always taking more homebound applications! Utilizing CDA guidelines for borrowing materials and a strict cleaning and sanitizing approach while on the road, I made sure that our library patrons were still able to get their materials during the closures. We have also introduced delivery services for our vulnerable population recently. Trying to again find the right ways to meet our patrons needs and utilizing the best methods we can find to provide services with a small staff and budget, we have options for patrons who just can't make it into the library. If you believe that you qualify for delivery services, go ahead and fill out our delivery application and you can have your library books dropped off and picked up at your door. Feel free to ask anyone at the library for more information on these services! Thank You for Supporting Your Library! We have been fortunate to have such amazing support of our library and our efforts as we have had to adjust our services for the safety of staff and patrons and we appreciate everything that people have done for us. Even just some supportive words and appreciation has gone a long way, our staff has worked hard to morph services and troubleshoot through all of the change and our library regulars who rely on our internet and our other computer services have been so patient and understanding. We would not be able to do what we do without a community who feels invested in what libraries provide for all its residents, no matter if they are fortunate enough to have their very own home library and entertainment systems or if they use the library for every single service that we offer. If you are interested in supporting your local library, check out our Gala and virtual action event coming up soon!

There are so many influential women throughout history that have motivated many of us to choose career paths, show kindness and generosity to others, and get through tough times or even traumatic experiences. While it is hard to narrow down or highlight all these women in a single post, some of us at Caldwell Public Library have decided to share about a few women who have personally inspired us, shared incredible stories, or have accomplished amazing things. Submitted by Lea: Immaculée Ilibagiza- survivor of the Rwandan genocide. Immaculée suffered the death of most of her family by Hutu Interahamwe soldiers. She hid for 91 days in a small bathroom no larger than 3 feet with seven other women in a Hutu pastors’ home. She went on to survive and author Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust (2006) and Led by Faith: Rising from the ashes of the Rwandan Genocide (2008). She described her survival and how God kept her going as she found her place in the world again. Through unbelievably horrific circumstances to a place of power and faith. She embodies the inspirational life of a survivor. She went on to be the recipient of the 2007 Mahatma Gandhi Reconciliation and Peace Award. Submitted by Megan: Dr. Betty G Miller is known as the mother of De’VIA, a genre of art that represents the Deaf experience and culture, both good and bad. She was born hard of hearing to two deaf parents and they didn’t realize she was hard of hearing until she started school. Dr. Betty G Miller obtained a degree in art education at Pennsylvania State University and taught at Gallaudet University for 17 years. She is known as a “resistance” artist, a De’VIA artist who shows the oppression that the Deaf community have faced. She has held many art shows all over the country, her first one being “The Silent World”. Submitted by Monique: Christine Nofchissey McHorse was an incredible artist and highly influential within the Native American community. She was also my aunt. Her work can be seen in various galleries and has been seen in many exhibitions throughout decades. While I cannot speak for all my family members as to what she meant to them, I can tell you what she meant to me. One of the things that I relate to the most when I study my Aunt’s work is her use of abstract shape. Often my own artistic work is done in abstract and I believe it is influenced from her work - and the way that my family always tends to express themselves with music, art, and craft. The story of her work with clay is known throughout all the generations of family members. My aunt passed away from COVID this year and will be mourned by many. The family will have a memorial when the time is right. The COVID virus has hit the Navajo community deeply and disproportionately - and will continue to endure hardships with access to healthcare and water - until we find lasting solutions. I will always remember Christine as a bright force of inspiration, determination, and non-traditional exploration, as well as an extremely influential community member. You may not be able to find her book on our shelves here in the Treasure Valley, but you can find a copy through Interlibrary loan if you wanted to see more of her work. “I learned the basics, but then after that I had to experiment. You try this, and if you make a mistake, don’t quit. Because you learn from your mistakes as well. And they stick. You remember those mistakes.” - Christine Nofchissey McHorse. Who inspires you? Are they well known, less known but incredible still, or someone you know personally or locally that you would love to recognize? Let us know in the comments! Looking for more books on women for Women's History Month? Come by the Caldwell Public Library and let us know what you are looking for and we can assist you with your search, or browse our display section for books we have already collected for the occasion. We can also assist you over the phone, through our website, or through email as well. Happy reading!

Northstar is one of the best bands you’ve never heard of. Their star burned brightly, if only for two studio albums. Is this Thing Loaded is the band’s debut album and an impressive release both in performance and production. Taking Back Sunday, in the liner notes for their genre defining album from the same year Tell All Your Friends, claims Northstar is “the greatest band ever”. Not a recommendation to ignore. Released in 2002 through Triple Crown records, the same label that issued Brand New’s first two albums, Is this Thing Loaded should have placed the band in the same epic tier of their aforementioned peers. It didn’t. But if you’d like to hear what could have been Northstar’s albums are free to stream for our patrons on Freegal. If you haven’t noticed by now I’m a little obsessed with this period in alternative rock. Something magical occurred just as the new millennium was kicking off. There seemed to be a convergence of the best elements of emotional hardcore, pop punk, and alt rock. Is this Thing Loaded is that sound in all its angsty glory. The up-tempo assault of distorted guitars and pained vocals are simultaneously formulaic and inspired. More than a sonic barrage of thick guitars and aggressive back beats, Is this Thing Loaded displays some excellent songwriting chops by breaking up the wall of sound with some more reserved intros, outros, and transitions. Passages in many songs take on an almost Midwestern clean tone with sparkly guitar chord deconstruction, reminiscent of some of the genres mid period bands. The song, "My Wishing Well Disease" in particular displays the band's ability to seamlessly transition between these softer sections into a more thundering and intense chorus or breakdown. It’s clear that Northstar constructs these songs very deliberately, leaving nothing to circumstance. The drumming across the album supports the structure of these songs wonderfully, often exploring some interesting rhythms and fills. The drum outro on the track "Broken parachute" may not be Neal Peart levels of complex, but the groove is infectious and a fun way to lead out the song. There are many subtle structural decisions across the album that reflect the band’s commitment to their craft in every instrumental choice. The production is just as intentional as the song writing and supports the band’s sound well. The panning on the guitars helps to highlight the more subdued melodies and bring them out in the mix so they’re not buried behind the rhythm guitar and bass lines. The vocals are seated somewhat deep in the mix but remain prominent enough that the lyrics are intelligible. If I had one complaint here it would be that the softer passages tend to sit too low in the mix. That is, there’s a little bit too much dynamic range between some sections where more compression is needed to sustain a comfortable listening level. Another weak point lies with the lyrics. While lightyears from bad, this may be where Northstar’s more celebrated peers earned their spots at the top and what distinguishes a good band from a great one. The metaphors and imagery are creative and engaging but lack any personal character. Pain, pleasure, drama, and strife are where the lines point, but a clear sense of voice is lacking. This makes the very emotional experiences behind the songs feel too abstract. All in all Is this Thing Loaded is a fantastic release that deserves a little more attention and I hope this post has found it some new fans. As always, if this style is your jam please check out this album and their second release, “Pollyanna” on Freegal. Also, be sure to check out my other album reviews and leave me a comment. Until next time, farewell!

The Hidden Resource: You may be familiar with many of the materials that you have access to at our library, such as books, CD's, audiobooks, magazines, and DVDs. But are you familiar with the array of resources that are available electronically? Do you know what an electronic resource is? For those of you who are willing to take a journey into the vast world of electronic resources, this blog series is for you. Libby (for Overdrive - on Ideate Digital Library) It's been awhile since we highlighted this wonderful resource. While Libby has always been popular, during these days of library closures and stay at home orders, we have had more requests for this service than ever. This picture is a tool to help you remember the symbols used for checking out different items. You can check out an e-book, and e-audiobook, and and e-magazine. Sometimes the item will be available for immediate borrowing, other times you will have to place a hold. All these symbols are located underneath the picture of the item, the title and the author section on the app or website. I hope it helps! Just a reminder Our library - as well as many others now - is offering curbside checkouts for our library patrons, reading recommendations, and over the phone assistance with finding your favorite library books in traditional print form. E-Books Our electronic book collection has expanded significantly since the last time I covered this service. They are also organized in interesting ways. For instance, you can search for books by author or title, or you can search by subject. There are so many categories to choose from, you may get lost, so take your time and learn the structure. Also spend some time looking through the different categories and maybe you will find something new and interesting for your next book! You never know what will peak your interest. I love checking out e-books to keep up with my attendance at the Thursday Afternoon Read discussion. Do you ever make it to this program? We have a reading list for the year and a virtual meeting once a month. Check it out sometime, we would love to have you! E-Audiobooks As I have mentioned before, I am such a fan of e-audiobooks because it suits my busy lifestyle so well. I am often on-the-go, commuting from home and work. When I am at home, I am often doing some work with my hands (I like to paint, draw, create music, and play video games). Audiobooks are a great way for me to keep up with my reading goals. Currently I am working on my Ultimate Book Nerd Challenge - beginning by reading my "Banned Book" choice. Have you heard of our yearly book challenge? Sign up if you haven't already, you get a t-shirt when you complete it! Magazines Now to the new stuff! There are over 3,000 magazines available on Libby, covering an array of subjects. There are almost 40 categories to choose from, including "Comics & Manga" and magazines in other languages. I have just scratched the surface of this cool new feature, but I am looking forward to exploring more! I have always been a fan of electronic magazines. The images still look great and I don't have to have a million paper subscriptions to recycle each month. Especially during these times of being careful with shared items, I find checking the magazines out electronically helps me stay safe and up-to-date! Ask one of our librarians for assistance if you want to know more about this cool new feature. Up Next: We hope that you have been enjoying the materials that we have available on Libby during these stressful times. Stay tuned for another blog on our various e-resources that we have available and we hope that you continue learning and growing!

Which picture books have you enjoyed reading to your kids lately? Would you like to read a picture book that’s new and excellent? Each year the Association for Library Services to Children (ALSC) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) team up to present the “ Youth Media Awards ” in late January. There are 21 awards in all, each of which often have both winners and honor books. Some awards go to audiobooks, and one is a tribute to the body of work a creator has produced in his or her lifetime. But the most well-known and oldest are the Caldecott Medal and the Newbery Medal . The Caldecott award goes to an illustrator whose effort in a book published in the preceding year defines the best of American illustration. The Newbery is presented to the author of the preceding year’s most distinguished children’s books. The Cat Man of Aleppo by Karim Shamsi-Basha and Irene Latham, illustrated by Yuko Shimizu. 2020. It’s difficult to imagine a picture book featuring a story from war-torn Aleppo, Syria. How could such difficult material be presented in a way that would appeal to young children? Enter The Cat Man of Aleppo . Ambulance driver Alaa comes across so many abandoned cats in his travels back and forth through the city that he decides to use his meager funds to help them eat. I won’t spoil it for you, but it’s a lovely story with both clear-eyed reality and hope for the future. *Note: this book was an Honor title (runner-up) for the Caldecott Medal. Nesting by Henry Cole. 2020. Simple, lovely illustrations highlight the life cycle of the humble robin. Nesting in an apple tree, the blue eggs are laid one by one, cared for, hatch and the little birds grow and fly away. Swashby and the Sea by Beth Ferry, illus. by Juana Martinez-Neal. 2020. Something about the style of the book cover didn’t intrigue me right off the bat. There’s an old adage, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” so this dogged pursuer of excellence read through the book regardless. I loved this sweet, insightful tale with twists and turns galore. A story of friendship and determination. Lift by Minh Lê illustrated by Dan Santat. With a graphic novel feel and sparse text, the creators of Lift manage to transport us into a magical world with the touch of an elevator button. Iris LOVES to push the button on the elevator. When she finds that she has been displaced as the family’s official button pusher, she finds a way to make up for her loss. With a button to push and imagination as her guide, she travels far and wide without leaving home. Exquisite: the Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Slade, illustrated by Cozbi A. Carrera. 2020. Do you know an aspiring young poet? Gwendolyn was just that. Words flowed from her pen, even from a young age. She faced many trials in her life, enduring poverty, the difficulties of America’s Great Depression, rejection from classmates and losses due to world wars. Still, nothing could stop Gwendolyn from pursuing her dream: sharing her poems with the world. The tenacity and grit of this African-American legend kept her working until one day she discovered she had won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry of 1950. *Note: this book was an Honor title (runner-up) for the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award. We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom, illustrated by Michaela Goade. 2020. This stunning ode to water starts by sharing a seemingly simple concept: “Water is the first medicine, Nokomis told me.” Throughout the tale, both water and a mysterious “black snake” wind through Native American tribal lands. It soon becomes clear that the “black snake” is, in reality, a threat to the very existence of the water upon which people depend. There is a political angle to this work that may not appeal to everyone, but it makes clear the connection that the book’s creators feel to the land around them. A worthy read for older preschoolers and young school-age children interested in contemporary Native American issues. *Note: this book is the ALA’s 2021 Caldecott Medal winner. Next month I’ll highlight some of the other excellent titles for children and teens that won awards in the 2021 Youth Media Awards. Can’t wait that long to find out who won? You can visit the American Library Association’s Press Center for the press release listing all the winners!

Multiple book awards are given every year for the best book published during the previous year, and some of these awards are specific to the Teen/Young Adult book category. The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) - a division of the American Library Association - oversees many of these awards, and the winners are selected carefully by a committee. Some of the awards from YALSA you will see on this list include the Michael Printz Award, named for a Kansas school librarian; William C. Morris Award, named for an influential person in the publishing world; the Alex Award, supported by a trust fund and named for young adult librarian, Margaret A. Edwards, known affectionately as Alex; and the YALSA Award for Non-fiction. You will also see the 2020 Award Winner for the Coretta Scott King Award - "given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values." This list highlights five award winners for 2020, but it is by no means comprehensive. You can find a complete list of YALSA awards here. You can also search award-winning titles through YALSA's Teen Book Finder. Dig by A.S. King Michael Printz Award 2020 In Dig, Gottfried and Marla Hemmings have managed to make a small fortune by investing in and building subdivisions. Being only one generation away from being simple potato farmers, the Hemmings cling to their wealth, refusing to pass any of it to their children or grandchildren. Their reason? They want their family members to pave their own paths to success. There are five grandchildren in the Hemmings family - each of them trying to make their way in the world by their own means. As the story progresses, the decay beneath the surface of the Hemmings' white suburban respectability begins to show. The Hemmings grandchildren must come together and discover the true cost of maintaining a family name. Is it worth the price they must pay? Trigger warning: multi-generational racism and abuse The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus Coretta Scott King Book Award 2020 The Stars and The Blackness Between Them is the story of two 16-year-old girls navigating large life changes and determining who they really are. Audre is forced to move to America from Trinidad when her mother discovers her with her secret girlfriend - who also happens to be the pastor's daughter. Queenie, Audre's grandmother, assures Audre that, even in America, she can stay true to her roots. Mabel recently broke up with her boyfriend, Terrell, and is now contending with mixed feelings about their relationship, as well as a moment she had with her friend, Jada, in the woods. As she grapples with these feelings, her father announces that his friend and his daughter, who recently moved from Trinidad will be joining them for dinner. It's love at first sight for Mabel when she meets Audre. Mabel helps Audre navigate American schools and adjust to life in a new country. But medical test results for Mabel turn her world upside down, and the girls must care for each other as they prepare for an uncertain future. Trigger warning: child abuse, terminal illness, homophobia The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe The William C. Morris YA Debut Award 2020 Norris Kaplan is the protagonist in The Field Guide to the North American Teenager. A black French Canadian, Norris suddenly finds himself in a new high school in Austin, Texas - not exactly the most welcoming of places for someone like him. But adjusting to the heat and the culture of Texas aren't the only things Norris has to contend with. He's ready to go back to Canada and has little interest in making new friends. So what does he do? Categorizes the students at his high school into neat little cliques - the jocks, the cheerleaders, the loners - you get the picture. But as time goes on, Norris finds out that the students he was so quick to stereotype are actually real human beings, and he may have even developed romantic feelings for that manic pixie girl... Just as he's starting to warm up to his newfound friends, Norris makes a huge mistake. As he tries to make amends, he realizes that he can no longer hide behind his snarky exterior - he must come out of hiding in order to live his life fully. Trigger warning: racism, bullying, mentions of suicide Free Lunch by Rex Ogle YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction 2020 In Free Lunch, Rex Ogle sheds light on his own school experience as a 6th-grade boy living in poverty. Rex's mother cannot afford to pay for his school lunches, so she signs him up for the free lunch program. However, Rex is in a wealthy school district, so he's the only student in the program. This leads to embarrassing moments in the cafeteria, where Rex has to loudly tell the lunch lady he's on the free lunch program before she will give him food. The book follows Rex through his first semester of 6th-grade - trying to make friends while wearing shabby clothes, battling hunger, and contending with teachers who've already decided he's trouble. On top of all that, Rex and his family must move into subsidized housing. Rex, embarrassed, takes his time going home from school, so no one will see where he lives. Trigger warning: child/familial abuse The Swallows by Lisa Lutz Alex Award 2020 In The Swallows, Stonebridge Academy's new creative writing teacher, Alex Witt, poses a writing prompt: "What do you love? What do you hate? What do you want?" But what Ms. Witt thought was a simple writing prompt turns her world upside down. The students' answers to the prompt are alarming, and soon Ms. Witt realizes there is more going on in the school than anyone on staff is willing to admit. In her quest to find answers, Ms. Witt finds female students who have been questioning the "boys will be boys" mentality of the school, and together they form a resistance. Key students take major roles in the novel - Gemma, part of the resistance, and Norman, who dislikes his role in what is known as The Darkroom, but is unsure how to combat it. The reader learns more about the top 10 social elite in the school, as well as a shady English teacher, Finn Ford, who keeps his eye on Ms. Witt as the story progresses. As events unfold, a full-fledged gender war breaks out between the boys and the girls. But this isn't your typical high school war - the consequences could be deadly. Trigger warning: sexual content/discussion, bullying Did you like this list? Stay tuned for more young adult lists or call the library to get more book recommendations!

The Hidden Resource: You may be familiar with many of the materials that you have access to at our library, such as books, CD's, audio-books, magazines, and DVDs. But are you familiar with the array of resources that are available electronically? Do you know what an electronic resource is? For those of you who are willing to take a journey into the vast world of electronic resources, this blog series is for you. LiLI - EBSCO LearningExpress Library: This is the second blog covering all the resources available in liLI's LearningExpress Library. To learn about the other sections that are available, please refer to the first blog, which covers - Career Prep, the High School Equivalency Center, College Admissions Test Preparation, and the School Center. The EBSCO LearningExpress Library that is available to all Idahoans through lili.org is useful in so many ways. It is one of the electronic resources that I like to recommend the most, and yet I still feel like not enough people know that it is around. Whether you are trying to prepare for a career, for school, or working hard to enhance your job skills, this resource is available for no cost - as long as you have internet available. Don't forget, if you don't have internet access at home, you can drop by our library and use one of our computers. To start with EBSCO LearningExpress Library, enter your zip code and city and log in. To save your work and to access some of the portals fully, you will have to create a log in. Mine is just my email and a password of my choosing. From here, LearningExpress Library will let you save your course progress, e-Books, tests, portals, and flashcards from every section that you learn or explore. You can download files or you can delete files you no longer need as well. Each section available is worth exploring, but if you are looking for specific trainings, certifications, or information, I have more information on each section below. If you run into problems along the way, feel free to call the library, visit, or message us for more information, we have training and familiarity with all of our e-resources. Sections: College Students This section reviews all the topics that you will encounter while you are in college. These topics include: Math, reading, grammar, writing and science. The math review includes: Algebra, basic math, calculus, geometry and measurement, trigonometry, statistics, logic and reasoning, and quantitative comparison and word problems. You can take the practice tests and get the answers at the end, or you can take the practice exam in learner mode and get the answers right away, along with an explanation. Reading includes practice tests and an eBook for reading comprehension, vocabulary and spelling. Grammar, writing, and public speaking come with tutorials, eBooks, and practice sets. Science reviews chemistry and biology. You can also prepare for graduate school entrance, college placement, and CLEP exams with various practice exams, tutorials, practice essays, and eBooks available. Adult Core Skills Sometimes it is hard to know where to start when you are an adult and you are interested in building up your core skills for job development or to prepare for higher learning opportunities. The Adult Core Skills section breaks down the skills you need to develop, and helps with building math, reading, writing, speaking, and grammar skills. Within these sections, you will find a lot of important tools and resources, such as flash cards, eBooks, and practice tests. There is also a section on becoming a US citizen. In this section you will find a great eBook that helps with the process of obtaining a green card. There are also resources available in Spanish. Recursos Para Hispanohablantes Herramientas de aprendizaje, carrera y ciudadanía en español. The sections include: Mejore sus habilidades escritas, orales y gramaticales, Sea mejor lector, Desarrolle sus habilidades matemáticas, Prepárese para el examen de GED®, and Sea ciudadano estadounidense. Up Next: We hope that you find some of these resources useful and that you can use them to help enhance your skill set and to develop your career. Stay tuned for another blog on our various e-resources that we have available and we hope that you continue learning and growing!

The Hidden Resource: You may be familiar with many of the materials that you have access to at our library, such as books, CD's, audio-books, magazines, and DVDs. But are you familiar with the array of resources that are available electronically? Do you know what an electronic resource is? For those of you who are willing to take a journey into the vast world of electronic resources, this blog series is for you. LiLI - EBSCO LearningExpress Library: The EBSCO LearningExpress Library that is available to all Idahoans through lili.org is useful in so many ways. It is one of the electronic resources that I like to recommend the most, and yet I still feel like not enough people know that it is around. Whether you are trying to prepare for a career, for school, or working hard to enhance your job skills, this resource is available for no cost - as long as you have internet available. Don't forget, if you don't have internet access at home, you can drop by our library and use one of our computers. To start with EBSCO LearningExpress Library, enter your zip code and city and log in. To save your work and to access some of the portals fully, you will have to create a log in. Mine is just my email and a password of my choosing. From here, LearningExpress Library will let you save your course progress, e-Books, tests, portals, and flashcards from every section that you learn or explore. You can download files or you can delete files you no longer need as well. Each section available is worth exploring, but if you are looking for specific trainings, certifications, or information, I have more information on each section below. If you run into problems along the way, feel free to call the library, visit, or message us for more information, we have training and familiarity with all of our e-resources. Sections: Career Prep: One of the best things about the materials available on liLi is that the e-books and tests are extremely current and relevant information on various careers and educational opportunities. With your liLI access you can download the e-book and read it on your PC or device instead of having to purchase it or check it out in print form. Some helpful books that are available in the Career Prep section are: the Praxis Core Prep eBooks, the ParaPro Assessment prep eBook, the TOEIC eBooks, and many other eBooks for a variety of career training sections. Also available for a lot of the fields are practice exams or exam prep areas. This can really get you prepared for a career shift or higher education decision making. High School Equivalency Center: Speaking of higher education decision making, The High School Equivalency section offers a lot for those who need to gain credentials for the GED, HiSet, or the TASC completion. In this section, you can start off by taking a skill check test, as well as start some reading that will allow you to be more familiar with the test taking structure and format of the TABE Level A test. From there you can narrow down your options to just a section of study that you want to focus on, such as just mathematics or writing. There are eBooks dedicated to those subjects, as well as flashcards, tutorials, and practice tests. Don't forget that the learning portal also saves your work, so you can come back and work on more projects when you are ready! College Admissions Test Preparation: There are five tests available in the college admissions sections, and one section dedicated to college admissions essay writing. In the college admissions essay section, there are two eBooks available, one called Proofreading, Revising, & Editing Skills, Success in 20 minutes a Day, and Write Your Way into College: College Admissions Essay. Both books have been revised within the last four years, so the information is fairly current. The five tests that are available to prepare for are the: ACT, SAT, PSAT/NMSQT, the AP Exam, the TOEFL iBT and IELTS tests. All of these sections include either of these or all of these tools: tutorials, practice tests, and test prep eBooks that are current editions and available through immediate access or download. School Center: The school center focuses on elementary, middle, and high school. Elementary has two main sections: Mathematical Skills and English Language Arts Skills Improvement. Middle school includes three more sections: Social Studies Skills Improvement and High School Entrance Exams Preparation. High school includes three more sections: Science, Technology, and Logic and Reasoning Skills Improvement. Practice tests, eBooks, and tutorials. Up Next: Next on our list of LearningExpress sections to explore will be: College Students, Adult Core Skills, Popular Software Skills Center, and Recursos Para Hispanohablantes. You can check out those sections in the Easing into E-Resources: LiLI - EBSCO LearningExpress Library Part 2 blog coming out next month!

Navigating your first pregnancy is hard, and doing so during a worldwide pandemic comes with its own set of unique challenges. I've been fortunate enough to have a great support system of family and friends, but there were still things I wasn't prepared for. Luckily, I have used a variety of resources to help me deal with the unexpected. When I found out I was pregnant in early May, I was ecstatic! The statewide lockdown had just ended, and I felt like things would start to go back to normal pretty soon. My mom bought me the book What to Expect When You're Expecting, and I started reading the early chapters right away. My doctor also gave me a book called Your Pregnancy and Childbirth: Month to Month. I've read these two books steadily throughout my pregnancy, and I've asked my mom more questions than I did as a toddler (okay, maybe not that many, but somedays it feels like a lot!). These books also helped me form questions for my doctor and helped me prepare (somewhat) for the many changes my body would go through over the course of my pregnancy. If you're experiencing pregnancy for the first (or second, or third, or...) time, I highly recommend borrowing (from the library of course!) or purchasing a pregnancy book to help you navigate your journey. I scheduled an early ultrasound to make sure everything was looking okay, and although we had to wear masks, my husband was allowed to attend the ultrasound with me. It was so neat seeing our little peanut on the ultrasound screen and realizing that, yes, I did have a little body growing in my belly! I'm so glad I got to experience that moment because, as we all know, things did not go back to normal. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find a pregnancy book that prepares you for pregnancy during a pandemic. There are too many unknowns to publish a comprehensive book on the subject, so I've had to learn how to navigate this new system in our COVID-ridden world. I attended my monthly doctor visits and had my anatomy ultrasound in late August. I was bitterly disappointed when I was told by the hospital staff that I could not bring any visitors with me to the ultrasound. My husband and I both wanted him to be there, but the hospital's safety precautions just wouldn't allow it. I texted him and sent him pictures during the whole visit so he wouldn't miss out on the whole thing - but it's definitely not the same as being there in person. First-time mothers will often enroll in a birthing class prior to giving birth, but with extreme hospital measures and strict social distancing protocols - there aren't any in-person birthing classes right now. When I asked my doctor about classes, she suggested looking online for a virtual class and highly recommended I take one. So the hunt for a virtual birthing class began! Here are some classes I found: Lamaze: Lamaze offers a variety of online birthing classes. Most of them have a small fee attached, but there is a free class called "Labor Confidence with Lamaze". Lamaze also offers classes on breastfeeding, baby care, parenting, and pregnancy in general. HypnoBirthing: This birthing method focuses on relaxation techniques that help women have natural births with less pain and tension. There are three instructors in the area - all located in Boise. You can use the instructor search feature on the website to reach out to an instructor for class offerings and fees. There are many other classes and techniques offered, but many of them were not available in this area. I focused on virtual-only and local classes to make sure I was sharing the best resources for you, our patrons. It's always a good idea to check with your doctor for recommendations, and see what is offered at your hospital, before choosing a class. I finally found a virtual class through the hospital I plan to deliver in - there was a cost for attending, but if you can find a class through your hospital, it's worth it. The staff in your local hospitals will give you a better idea of what your labor and delivery experience will be like, than someone from a class on the web. But, as with everything else this year, sometimes we have to deal with the options we are given. This blog post just touches on part of the experiences of pregnancy during a pandemic. My most important advice for you is to find a network of support to help you navigate your pregnancy journey. It is a tough road to try to tackle on your own in normal times, during a pandemic - with stress levels elevated - it's even more challenging. If you don't have a network of friends and family for support, try joining a virtual pregnancy support group. I have the app What to Expect downloaded on my phone so I can track my pregnancy journey. A bonus feature of this app is that when you create an account, you can sign up for a daily email feed from the What to Expect forum. All members of the site are grouped by the month they are due, and parents-to-be can post questions and engage with other members. It's a great way to connect with other people and know that you're not alone! You can also search for pregnancy support groups on Facebook, or talk to your doctor about support groups in your area. Don't be afraid to ask your doctor to point you in the right direction - they are there for you! It's late November - just over a month away from my due date. I'm nervous and excited, and probably more unprepared than I realize, but I feel confident in the work I've done so far, as well as the support group I've surrounded myself with. If you need resources to help you with your pregnancy, make sure to ask your doctor for help. You can also ask a librarian for a great book recommendation or online resource to get you started.

Staying Ahead of Change Lately, we have all been experiencing an extreme amount of change in short periods of time. As we adjust to all of these changes, it is clear that some people have been able to adapt quicker than others. Why is that? Is there something that we can do to prepare for these changes, or do we have to change the way we think about change as a whole? Adaptation I have been observing and assisting our patrons as we have adjusted to our city’s response to the pandemic. While I know it has been hard on our staff, we have managed to get through each of our various stages by supporting each other and allowing ourselves time and space to adjust. It has not been easy, and many emotions arise as we adjust, but supporting each other and being patient has made a huge difference. As patrons have gotten used to all the changes, I have noticed that some adapt almost immediately, while others have to make space to accept this as a part of their new reality. The differences have been so distinct, that it had me thinking more about this topic. Why It’s Unsettling Change is one of the most natural things that we experience in our lives. In fact, our planet is always changing. As time goes through us, we are constantly in a state of flux. Every living thing on the planet, and all of the elements, are always adjusting to the continual changes that we experience. Our dormant lifestyle is actually continual flux. It would seem logical then for us to accept change, yet we often resist. Routine and familiarity are comforting and reassuring. We use these elements to make plans. When things change too quickly, it unsettles us and brings fear, anxiety, frustration, and/or anger. If the root of these emotions is not understood and managed, then we can get stuck within our emotions and express them in various forms, sometimes in unhealthy or destructive ways. If instead, we are able to adapt quickly and re-route our course of action, we thrive and spend less time on emotional roadblocks, and more on finding the road back to success. Check out these books! To learn more about the various ways change can affect our lives and all the different ways you can help yourself adapt, check out one of the following books. Do you know of any good books, blogs, or vlogs about change? Leave a comment below! Persuadable by Al Pittampalli “Persuadablility is the genuine willingness and ability to change your mind in the face of new evidence.” This book explains the seven practices of persuadable leaders, ranging from ways to consider opposite opinions, incrementally updating your beliefs, finding a balance between being too stubborn or too persuadable, and learning how to take the perspective of others. The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin Have you ever tried to concentrate on your own happiness by dedicating your time and focus on doing activities that you find fulfilling and rewarding? Gretchen Rubin spent a whole year doing just that. Check out her results in The Happiness Project and maybe you will also be inspired to make some changes in your life that bring you more happiness. The Element by Ken Robinson, Ph.D. What is keeping you from achieving your element? Is it fear, lack of motivation, misunderstanding, or life experience that make it difficult to progress? In The Element, author Ken Robinson explores the reasons why we have a hard time reaching our talents or true potential, and what we can do to help ourselves make the necessary changes to accomplish our goals. The Intelligence Trap by David Robson Immediately upon reading the book jacket description I was drawn to the term “strategic ignorance.” This term is defined in the book as, “deliberately avoiding the chance to learn new information to avoid discomfort and to increase our productivity.” Exploring the ranks of great individual minds as well as the most innovative and revered companies and organizations, Robson identifies traits that can lead even the super-smart into making mistakes that can hinder success and cause entire groups of people to be led astray. The Gift of Adversity by Norman E. Rosenthal, M.D. Life has various twists and turns that make it difficult to navigate. Sometimes these challenges arise later in life, sometimes we start with them. This book has many accounts of people who have faced adversity in their lives and how they chose to navigate through these difficult obstacles. A great read for those who draw inspiration from personal accounts. How We Decide by Jonah Lehrer “The trick is to determine when to use the different parts of the brain, and to do this, we need to think harder (and smarter) about how we think.” We know we are faced with challenges and changes that have been affecting our everyday life. We know that we must make decisions to be able to adapt to this landscape in order to survive and (hopefully) thrive. But how do we know that we are making the right choices? What are the factors that sway our decisions, and are they helping or harming us when we make these choices? Read up on how we decide and maybe shed some light on habits that are holding you back.

Why Video and Online Games? Kids love games. Maybe adults love games, too. Personally, I have been enjoying a lot of online games with my friends and family during this time of "stay at home in your pajamas." I find it's a great way to keep in touch with family members who are not within my immediate household, or to escape from the normal and mundane routine of work and sleep. My sister lives in another state, and she and I love to hang out after she gets off work and slip into a reality that is colorful, beautiful, musical, or sometimes just full of mayhem and fun through online gaming. But there are other reasons to enjoy online and video games besides just having a way to socialize or relax. Sometimes you can find games that are educational and fun. There are also games that are highly competitive and require a lot of planning, strategy, and communication. Sometimes you can find games that are not meant to be purely educational, but end up adding some lore and history within their story line. Brain Food? All games teach skills that are vital for cognition. For instance, puzzle games help with memory, color recognition, strategy, and math. Certain games with historical references or in-depth story lines help with reading or word recognition (if there is a narrator) and often include choices that have consequences. Creative games encourage thinking outside of the box, and sometimes encourage collaboration on projects, allowing players to define the rules of the shared space in which they build. Team skills are extremely beneficial and every role is important, from the leader to the organizer. Outside of these benefits, people who game on a more competitive or intense level learn how to make decisions very quickly, to remain calm under stress, and to absorb a lot of information at a fast pace. They can also type, talk, follow directions, and navigate a screen (or various screens) with a mouse and keyboard quickly and efficiently. Lastly, no matter the type of device that is used, all online gamers learn how to operate their equipment. This may seem like simple task, depending on the device, but if you have ever tried to explain a technical process to someone who is used to working on their device, versus someone who has not used it, there is a definite difference in learning curve. Anything from downloading, refreshing a screen, right click, left click on a mouse, or just knowing what operating system your device uses is a step into keeping pace with the technology we use today. Want more information on the benefits of gaming? Check out the blog Online Gaming - The Benefits, from internetmatters.org. Types of Games There are so many different types of games available to enjoy. Some common styles are open world, or sandbox, which allows players to freely explore their environment. There are also first person shooters, very popular among younger gamers, especially the variety that allows for multiplayer interaction. There is rhythm gaming, these are the types of games that go along with music or beats, and can be a variety of singing, instrument integration, and/or dancing. Story games are a huge genre of their own, anywhere from extremely immersive with voice actors and cinematics, to text heavy, that allow a gamer to read along as they play. Some other common genres are: MMORPG, platformers, and real-time tactics. While this is not a complete list of all the games available, you can find a good list here at The Many Different Types of Video Games and Their Subgenres. Where to Find Them There are many places you can find online games for the family, and one place is your local library! We have a collection of console games that we loan out, and so do a lot of other libraries around Treasure Valley. Browse through our collection and check out a game for your console! You can also find a variety of games on the PBS Kids website, the Nickelodeon website, and the Cartoon Network website. For some indie games, you can explore itch.io. These games also have a good choice of free horror games, for those who love those genres. Lastly, Steam is a great place to find lots of games for every family member, and some of them are even free! A small note of advice: make sure that you plan for how you want to purchase the game, who has access to purchasing and downloading on your devices, and what type of game is appropriate. For more advice, this blog from The Federal Trade Commission is very useful. What are Your Faves? I like to play a variety of games, anything from Rock Band 4 to Minecraft to Slime Rancher, it just depends on my mood. Usually, I play games with my friends or family. Sometimes I like to play games that are single player, though, and have an amazing story. What types of games do you like to play? Let us know!

The Hidden Resource: You may be familiar with many of the materials that you have access to at our library, such as books, CD's, audio-books, magazines, and DVDs. But are you familiar with the array of resources that are available electronically? Do you know what an electronic resource is? For those of you who are willing to take a journey into the vast world of electronic resources, this blog series is for you. Resources - Idaho Resources We have organized some of our important state resources to accommodate the need for our residents to conduct their business online. The websites detailed below will help you navigate through the different areas. Please feel free to ask for assistance from a staff member at the library if you get lost. Congressional Records According to their website, "Congress.gov is the official website for U.S. federal legislative information. The site provides access to accurate, timely, and complete legislative information for Members of Congress, legislative agencies, and the public." The congressional records site also states: "After each day that Congress is in session, the proceedings are printed in the Congressional Record (CR) and available the following morning." On this site you can also download an app for your phone, sign up for email alerts, or print/save. Idaho Driving Tests "These apps have been created by the Idaho Transportation Department/Division of Motor Vehicles to assist you in developing safe driving knowledge and will test your comprehension of information found in the Idaho Driver’s Manual." You can take the driver's practice test and it is available in English and in Spanish. The Idaho Driver's Manual is also available to study. Check out the Idaho Driving Tests site today! Idaho Tax Commission "The Tax Commission informs taxpayers about their obligations so everyone can pay their fair share of taxes, and it must enforce Idaho's laws to ensure the fairness of the tax system with those who don't voluntarily comply." The Idaho State Tax Commission site includes forms and guides available to download or print. It has the option to check your refund status. It also has ways to e-file and e-pay. The website is so informative, actually, that I recommend exploring it yourself; you may be surprised at everything you can find! Idaho Voter Registration Idaho Votes provides official voting information for the citizens of Idaho. The website includes helpful tools on voting, voting accessibility, steps to becoming a poll worker, frequently asked questions, and other resources. Something that I found really helpful was all the forms that are provided right through the website. It makes it really easy to educate yourself on the best ways to become the most informed voting citizen you can, encouraging you to grow stronger with each election that passes. Your Health Idaho "Your Health Idaho is an online marketplace that allows Idaho families and small businesses to shop, compare, and choose the health insurance coverage that’s right for them." The Your Health Idaho website includes information on how to get coverage, has options to serve current customers, and includes helpful additional resources. You can also find an agent, broker, or enrollment counselor to talk to for free. If you lost your job-related insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for a special enrollment period through Your Health Idaho. See if you qualify! i-Court While Idaho is still transitioning from the ISTARS system to the i-court system, you have to search through both systems for your records. However, the website states that "i-Court will provide improved access to electronic court records, hearing schedules, court documents, e-filing and more. This new system will also provide tools to improve business practices amongst justice partners by providing around-the-clock access to court information, reduce costs from handling and storing paper files, streamline court processes, and deliver better information for judicial decision-making." Once the transition process is complete, Idaho residents should be able to check the court system entirely through the iCourt portal. Need Help? Not everyone is comfortable or familiar with online databases, and that's where your local librarians can help. Call us during our open hours and we can guide you through using any of our electronic services or drop in and use one of our computers or bring in your device and we can assist you as needed.