Tag Archives: library

Books for Kids to Give as Mother’s Day Gifts

April 23, 2013 By in love books Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Mother’s Day will be here before you know it, so I started researching books to give to my own mama. In the process, I stumbled upon so, so many cute books for children to give to their moms as gifts. As a kid, I would have loved to give my mom a Mother’s Day themed book that I could read to her. Heck, I still might read her a children’s book and I’m 27, ya’ll. Who doesn’t love story time?!

Here’s my top 5 picks:

5. what not to give your momWhat NOT to Give Your Mom on Mother’s Day
Martha Simpson (Author), Jana Christy (Illustrator)

A list-based book that tells the story of a child giving his mother Mother’s Day gifts better suited for animals.

Easy-to-read for the beginning readers, but this book may be a little childish for kids over 6.

4.  Mother’s Day Surprisemother's day surprise
Stephen Krensky (Author), Kathi Ember (Illustrator)

Violet the snake is stumped! Her forest friends are all making gifts for their mothers for Mother’s Day. But Violet doesn’t have any arms or legs or teeth! What’s a snake to do?!

Reptilian-loving kids will love this story. We all know those kids! But they may point out that snakes do have teeth (or fangs) and Violet’s teeth are showing on almost every page. A small flaw in an otherwise cute story.

the night before mother's day3. The Night Before Mother’s Day
Natasha Wing (Author), Amy Wummer (Illustrator)

One in the many and well-liked “Night Before” series, this book shows dad and the girls setting up a spa day and making a cake for mom.

What mom doesn’t want a spa day?! ‘Nuff said.

happy mothers day!2. Little Critter: Happy Mother’s Day!
Mercer Mayer (Author, Illustrator)

Mercer Mayer books are true classics. And this book is no different. This time, Little Critter has a special surprise in store for Mom. This interactive book encourages kids to lift the flaps of the pages to see what Little Critter has created for his mom. Fun for kids that need that tactile stimulation!

we love our mom

1. We Love our Mom!
Jan Berenstain (Author, Illustrator), Mike Berenstain (Author, Illustrator)

And for my number one choice, my sentimentality won out. I have such fond memories of my mom reading my sister and I Berenstain Bears stories when we were small. She even had a special voice for each bear!

In this recent addition to the Berenstain Bears collection, Brother and Sister look for a way to show their mom they care.

My mom is definitely getting this one for mother’s day. Maybe with a spa gift certificate as a bookmark?!

What are you giving your mom on Mother’s Day?

love,
melanie

It’s National Library Week!

April 16, 2013 By in love libraries Tags: , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

April 14 – 20 is National Library Week. We are having lots of activities to celebrate at my library, including fine forgiveness and a drawing for an iPad mini! In other words, posts might be a little sparse this week. Forgive me!

During tough economic times, library use skyrockets. We offer free Internet access, computers, books, homework help, instructional classes, a safe space and a plethora of other resources. (I’ve become a tax expert lately!) Libraries are also hit hard during budgetary constraints. I encourage you to call your local government representatives and tell them how important libraries are to you!

How have libraries helped you lately?

love,
melanie

The Biggest Before and After EVER!

April 3, 2013 By in love libraries Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments
librarybefore2

The old library shelving

libraryshelves3

beforelibrary

We had our reference section sitting on our study carrels for 6 months because the shelving collapsed when we tried to move it : /

 

I’ve been absent ’round these parts because… (dun, dun, dun!) I’ve had a huge project at work (whomp, whomp). But this is no ordinary project. Last year, I wrote a request to the senior leadership team at my school to fund new library shelving. The old shelving was falling apart. Literally. The furniture in the library was all original to the school, so it has been there since 1969! After much fighting, scraping and the occasional tear, we got the go ahead for new shelving!

Today I am happy to bring you the biggest “Before and After” this blog has ever seen!

AFTER!

AFTER!

I no longer feel like I might get assaulted when I re-shelve books!

I no longer feel like I might get assaulted when I re-shelve books!

Our new bright, airy stacks!

It has been a long process. We weeded 6,000 books from the collection. We researched and designed shelves. And we physically moved and re-shelved 24,000 books.

I am tired. My body hurts. I didn’t know being a librarian often involves so much physical labor. I actually soaked in Epsom salts last night. I am an old lady, but a happy old lady who knows that hard work pays off.

love,
melanie

On Ruined Library Books

July 23, 2012 By in love books Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , 2 Comments

I have a confession to make: this past weekend I ruined a library book. It was unintentional and my first time desecrating library material, but I still feel a twinge of guilt. After all, I am the keeper of the books. (Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.)

Like many great stories of loss, this story begins at the shore. After settling my chair comfortably in the sand, and  flipping the carefully book-marked copy of The Memory Keeper’s Daughter open, the clouds opened up and poured– quenching the white-hot sand and my precious library book. I could dry out, my clothes could dry out and my hair needed to be washed anyway. But I know from my preservation course, books, on the other hand, don’t fare as well.

In that four minute dash from the seaside to the safety of a warm dry car I ruined a piece of property that was not my own. A little reminder of how fast things can change. One minute you’re on a sunny beach and the next you’re in a car driving 12 hours to visit a sick relative.

And that’s exactly what I’ll be doing tonight. George and I will be driving through the night to visit family who are no longer lucky enough to be warming their bodies on the shore. Because sometimes the clouds open up and it pours.

love,
melanie

Love Libraries: A New Direction?

June 29, 2012 By in love libraries Tags: , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

At ALA

I’ve been out of the blog-o-sphere for about a week now attending the American Library Association Conference. Ok, I posted from my phone at the conference, but that doesn’t really count. Taking a forced break has given me the chance to really think about this blog, the direction it is going, my future, etc., etc., blah, blah, blah. (Side note: Can you believe hotels and airports still charge for Wi-Fi?! LONG LIVE LIBRARIES!)

What has really surprised me is how much I love writing about my job. The place I work sometimes gets the best of me, but I am so incredibly thankful that I found librarianship.

I love doing reader’s review here on the blog– which I rarely get to do in “real life.” I love scouring the Internet for new and interesting projects in the world of libraries. I love getting people excited about technology, and yes, excited about books too. Librarianship never bores me, unlike so many other hobbies I dabble in.

I know I probably worry unnessarily about the “direction” of this blog. I started it off as a wedding blog for Christ’s sake! But I may be taking a turn toward writing more about books, technology, and you guessed it, libraries.

I hope you’ll join me in this journey.

love,
the sometimes indecisive librarian,
melanie

Love Love, Love Books: Children’s Books to Read at a Wedding

June 14, 2012 By in love books, love love Tags: , , , , , , , , , , 3 Comments

Wedding vows are pretty important. Vows are intended to be public declarations of love and promise to one person. Vows are meant to be kept FOREVER. Vows are a pretty big deal. And lately I’ve been thinking about how best to do them.

I might be able to say the standard “’til death do us part” vows in front of my immediate family, but I don’t want to say our “real” vows in front of anyone else. It feels too private to me.

George and I are going to say our “real” vows before we do the legal ones. And before I put on makeup because I’m a huge sap and I’ll probably cry my eyeballs out. But that’s ok.

Since I’m a librarian and a great lover of books, I’ve been looking for a passage or a book that best expresses my feelings. This NYPL post from Kristy Raffensberger, a children’s librarian, has some great suggestions.

But in some ways I want to find my own. It’s the thrill of the hunt.

Here’s the few books I’ve found so far…

Debi Gliori

This book was obviously intended for the love between a parent and a child, but I think it describes romantic love, as well.

Small, a little fox, questions Large, a big fox, if he would love her (or if she would love him– it’s quite androgynous) in increasingly silly scenarios.

“If I were a grumpy grizzly bear, would you still love me? Would you still care?” “I’d always love you, no matter what,” responds Large.

I can definitely be a grumpy grizzly sometimes and I’m sure George could relate to this one.

Guess How Much I Love You
Sam McBratney (Author), Anita Jeram (Illustrator)

Again, probably meant for parental love, but relevant regardless.

This lovely bedtime tale follows Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare through a series of charming declarations.

It begins with “I love you as high as I can hop!” said Little Nutbrown. And ends with Big Nutbrown’s declaration “I love you right up to the moon.”

A Lovely Love Story
Edward Monkton

I cried at work reading this one. So embarrassing.

Such a cute premise. Two dinosaurs meet and fall in love. One is an emotionally distant dino and the other dino has a penchant for shopping. Regardless of flaws, they learn to accept one another as they are.

“Together they stand on the hill, telling each other stories and feeling the warmth of the sun on their backs. And that, my friends, is how it is with love.”

Have you stumbled across any good wedding readings? I’d love to hear them in the comments!

love,
melanie

 

 

Love Friday: June 8th

June 8, 2012 By in love friday Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

This weekend I’m traveling to the mountains to get wedding mess ironed out. I sound excited, right? I love traveling, but I’ve been doing a little too much of it lately. I need a long, homey rest.

10. 

This roasted peach lemonade by The Naptime Chef sounds so good right now.

9. These awkward, old school dance photos are far too real for me. I might have to dig out some of my dance photos when I’m home this weekend. So embarrassing.

8.  

I love this picture of Lauren Bacall from Filmjournalen magazine. I wish I looked that chic at work!

7. The annual American Library Association conference is coming up! This year it is in Anaheim. I’m attending, are you?

6.

I go through phases where I’m obsessed with gold. I adore this stationary by Brown Paper.

5. Gorgeous paper wedding backdrop on Style Me Pretty.

4.

I’m dying over the Dear Creatures Fall 2012 line. The cat ears! Spied via: Oh So Lovely Vintage.

3.  Erica Elizabeth Designs on Etsy may be changing my mind about wedding veils. Her designs are so dreamy!

2. 

These “Embroidered” cookies by SweetAmbs on Etsy are gorgeous.

1. Have you seen the trailer for The Perks of Being A Wallflower? It was one of my favorite books as a teen and the movie looks rather promising!

love,
melanie

Love Books: Ray Bradbury

June 7, 2012 By in love books Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

I was terribly sad to hear of Ray Bradbury’s passing on Tuesday. Although the man was 91 and lived a rich and full life (presumably), I’m still sad to hear of a great author’s passing. As with most the passing of other famous folk, I always seem to learn something new about the person post-modem.

I was delighted to learn that Mr. Bradbury was such an outspoken advocate for libraries. He even wrote Fahrenheit 451 in a library!

After watching this video, I felt such a kinship to Mr. Bradbury. We both love libraries and books and cats and life. And isn’t that what it’s all about?

Rest in peace, Mr. Bradbury. You will live forever in the pages of your novels.

love,
melanie

A Simple Love

March 1, 2012 By in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , 4 Comments

Although I decided against working in an archive, I still love moseying through boxes of old documents and photos. Luckily, more and more photos and documents are being digitally archived and shared with the public through the magic of the Internet!

In “A Simple Love” I hope to post my archival, love-related findings. This week while browsing through the National Archives (on Flickr!), I came across the following images.

I adore these photos. The bridal party looks grumpy, there are minimal decorations and the reception appears to be held in a gym. But the couple looks so young and genuinely happy. It all just makes me think about the unimportance of centerpieces and flowers and cake. Sure, those things are lovely. But what makes the wedding is the couple.

I hope this couple is still together. I hope she still loves his slightly crooked nose and I hope he still looks dreamily into her eyes–even if it is just over a bowl of Beefaroni.

I’ve obviously thought way too much about these photos. Do you have vintage wedding photos of your relatives or loved ones? I’d love to see them! Email me at lovelibrarymelanie@gmail.com.

P.S. These photos were taken by Art Hanson for the Documerica Project. The Documerica project emerged when the “Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hired freelance photographers to capture images relating to environmental problems, EPA activities, and everyday life in the 1970s.” You can see the whole project here.

xoxo,

melanie

Love Notes

February 28, 2012 By in Uncategorized Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

 

I find it easy to be hard on myself– which sounds like a contradiction. But it is much harder to tell myself: “Self, you did a crazy-good job today. Way to help that patron, do that load of laundry and nail that presentation.” Instead I often find myself thinking: “Self, you need to be wedding planning now! You should have remembered to use that resource when helping that patron. You should have done another load of laundry. And you should have said this instead of that.”

So, this little love note goes out to myself. Because I taught myself enough Photoshop to create this affirmation. And because remembering that I am enough is some of the best love I can give myself. I deserve it. I am enough.

xoxo,

melanie

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