News and Reviews
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Location, Location—Film & TV with a powerful sense of place
by SaraP
I savor a film where the storytelling and the setting are inseparable. The locations for these picks scratch that itch and leave you with visuals that are hard to forget.
The Woman King | Request DVD or Request Blu-Ray
Buckle up for a riveting epic based on the real life, all-female warriors of the kingdom of Dahomey. While some of the characters were real, others are fictional, including Viola Davis’s knockout performance as a general training a new cohort of warriors. The sweeping South African filming locations, coupled with the history and a production centered on women of color, give this dramatic saga a powerful vibrancy and visual timbre that leaps from the screen in what might have otherwise been a straightforward action epic.
Detectorists | Request DVD or Request Blu-Ray
This TV series—written, directed, and starring Mackenzie Crook (who was new to me in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Black Pearl, stealing the show with his false eye)—follows Andy and Lance and their group of fellow metal detectors (detectorists!!!), as they search for treasure. The tone is both comedic and effortlessly touching, thanks to the duo’s self-induced entanglements with family, jobs, and life in general. With an unassuming premise and modest budget, the quiet shots of the British countryside, flora, and fauna have all the more room to breath depth and grounding (pun intended) to this romp through the briar and bramble. You may just want to check out a metal detector after this, too!
Little Bird | Request DVD
The forests, farms, and sweeping vistas of Canada serve as backdrop, but also a kind of lifeblood in this miniseries. As the main character, Bezhig Little Bird, searches for her biological family, the series slowly unpacks the trauma of the Sixties Scoop on Bezhig and her two families. It’s a mystery, a search for self and history, and a brutally wrenching portrayal of systemic forced adoption of indigenous people. Bezhig travels from Montreal to Saskatchewan, taking the viewer through grass, hills, trees, road, wind, time, and layers of complexity. You might expect a dip into melodrama here, but the brutal realism on the screen is more than enough to deliver a gut-punch on its own.
Thelma & Louise | Request DVD or Request Blu-Ray
On a totally different note, scenes of the southwest in Thelma & Louise are inextricably linked to the escalating desperation of two friends on the run after a vacay gone horribly wrong. I love the shifts in Thelma and Louise’s friendship over the course of the film—their bond tested and intensified as the all-or-nothing stakes increase. The darker themes of the film are balanced by moments of satisfyingly reckless (and downright funny) unrestraint. As green mountains and cattle country give way to dust and desert, the chase heats up too and the women blaze an unexpectedly brazen, feminist trail across the southwest in a road movie as grand as the view.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Celebrate Women’s History Month With Great Biographies of Fascinating Women
by eapearce
March is Women's History Month and one way to celebrate is to pick up a biography about a woman—or women—who changed the world in ways big and small. Maybe you've heard of her, maybe you haven't, there are always amazing new things to discover about the fantastic things women have achieved in their lives. Below are a few suggestions for titles about women who changed the course of history in their own very special ways. And of course, our biography sections at all of our locations have many more titles to help you celebrate women's history this month, or any time!
Agent Josephine: American Beauty, French Hero, British Spy, by Damien Lewis | Request Now
Dancer, singer and actress Josephine Baker fled racism and poverty in St. Louis, Missouri to travel to Europe to seek fame and a better life in the years before WWII. Though she gave many a riveting performance in theaters and ballrooms across France, author Lewis believes that Baker gave “the performance of her life” as spy for both the British and the French during the war. She was recruited in 1939 by French officials to befriend Italian embassy representatives to gather information about Mussolini’s intentions for his alliance with Hitler. From there, she was involved in helping determine Japan’s strategical positions, identifying Nazi agents in Paris and in smuggling classified intelligence across enemy lines. How did she manage that last part? The information was written in invisible ink on musical scores! Lewis does an excellent job both painting a portrait of an amazingly courageous and intelligent woman who truly altered the path of history and of interspersing her story with interesting facts about intelligence activities during WWII in general. This thrilling biography is a page-turner.
The Exceptions: Nancy Hopkins, MIT and the Fight for Women in Science, by Kate Zernike | Request Now
In 1999, MIT molecular scientist Nancy Hopkins and 15 other female scientists forced the insinuation to reconcile with its long history of discrimination against women in the sciences. Despite claiming to support and encourage women scientists, in the mid-1990s, women made up less than 8% of the faculty across MIT’s science departments. Hopkins herself, who had arrived at MIT in 1973 as an assistant professor, had endured decades of mistreatment, slights and derision while still conducting important genetic research. Fed up, Hopkins began reaching out to her female colleagues to hear more about if her experience was unique—of course, it wasn’t. Working together, the women ultimately formed the Committee on Women Faculty, which then went on to compile a report detailing the marginalization of women in the sciences. Readers will struggle not to feel infuriated along with Hopkins and her colleagues, and will cheer on their determination to make changes in institutions of higher learning.
All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family’s Keepsake, by Tiya Miles | Request Now
MacArthur fellow and former University of Michigan professor Tiya Miles revolves this stunning history around a single item. Now displayed in the Smithsonian, the titular cloth sack was first packed in 1852 by Rose, an enslaved woman, for her nine-year-old daughter, Ashley. Rose gave Ashley the sack, filled with a few keepsakes, when Ashley was sold to a new master in South Carolina and mother and daughter were separated. Ashley held onto the sack as a precious reminder of her mother, and in 1921 her granddaughter Ruth embroidered it with Rose and Ashley’s story. From there, the sack was lost to the family and not rediscovered until 2007. It is Miles herself who dissects plantation records to identify Rose and and Ashley and in the process explores the lives of enslaved Black women of the era. Miles analyzes how the original contents of the sack, which included a handful of pecans, a dress and a braid of Rose’s hair, tell a larger picture of what Black women endured at the hands of their enslavers. This is a difficult but deeply moving and important read.
A Life of One’s Own: Nine Women Writers Begin Again, by Joanna Biggs | Request Now
This title is a blend of memoir, literary criticism and biography. Harper’s Magazine editor Biggs draws inspiration from eight fellow writers who dedicated themselves to their work and made difficult choices in their relationships despite societal expectations. Biggs shares how she struggled in her 30s as her marriage faltered and her mother’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis upended the family. Seeking solace, Biggs turned to books by women who defied tradition when it came to love, sense of self-worth and creative pursuits. Mary Wollstonecraft, for example, opted to spend most of her life happily unmarried despite the social norms of the time period. George Eliot inspires Biggs too; Eliot found both success in love and writing in midlife after losing both of her parents and experiencing a series of romantic disappointments. Janie Crawford, the protagonist of Their Eyes Were Watching God, fortifies Biggs with her refusal to settle for a mediocre romantic relationship. Publisher’s Weekly wrote of the book: “The sharp analysis and biographical sketches testify to how literature has long served as a site of reinvention for women.” Book lovers and anyone who wishes to take inspiration from the wide range of choices talented women have made throughout history will find much to enjoy in this thoughtful meditation.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Best Biopics of the Last Few Years
by SaraP
It's been a big few years for biopics. Maybe you loved A Complete Unknown in the theaters and need a marathon. Maybe you missed Oppenheimer (did anyone?). Maybe you just love a good story. Well, here's a whole slew of mostly-true ones about fascinating people. I learned something new in each of these!
Cabrini | Request DVD or Request Blu-Ray
A stirring tale of Italian immigrant Francesca Cabrini's fight for better living conditions and justice in 1880s New York City. Winner of several Septimius awards, and a film fest favorite, this period piece is full of drama and pathos.
Bob Marley: One Love | Request DVD or Request Blu-Ray
Follow Marley from the assassination attempts before the Smile Jamaica concert in 1976, to the One Love Peace Concert in 1978. Kingsley Ben-Adir is worth the watch, if, for some wild reason, the award-winning soundtrack wasn't enough to entice you.
Piece by Piece | Request DVD or Request Blu-Ray
One of the best biopic genre-benders to hit theaters in 2024, but a commercial flop. I loved it for the heart, humor, and super fun Lego animation style—a new approach to the music bio for sure and as charismatic as Pharrell Williams' music!
The Iron Claw | Request DVD or Request Blu-Ray
This powerbomb of a biopic surprised me (perhaps unsurprisingly as someone who knows next to nothing about wrestling) with both the Von Erich family's story—the action-packed rise to wrestling fame, laced with tragedy—coupled with the emotional heft it pulls.
Oppenheimer | Request DVD or Request Blu-Ray
Did anyone fail to see this in the theater?? We have it, if you did. It's a big biopic chronicling an even bigger moment in human and scientific history: J. Robert Oppenheimer's work on the first nuclear weapons during WWII. Tough subject matter, but superb performances.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Pie, Pi and Pies
by erin
Pi day is March 14, so let’s mix a little mathematical constant fun with some delicious sweet, savory, and pizza pies!
The Book on Pie: Everything You Need to Know to Bake Perfect Pies by Erin Jeanne McDowell | Request Now
McDowell starts with an in-depth tutorial, complete with troubleshooting tips for decorating pies, before delving into recipes for every kind of pie imaginable. Whether you're partial to fruit, custard, cream, chiffon, cold-set, or savory, McDowell offers an endless arsenal of pies for your kitchen. You'll learn how to make the flakiest crust, the tallest swoops of meringue, and even how to cut the pies for the perfect slice
Pie Squared: Irresistibly Easy Sweet & Savory Slab Pies by Cathy Barrow | Request Now
Made in a sheet pan, a slab pie can make enough dinner or dessert for a crowd. PIE SQUARED includes more than 60 savory and sweet pie recipes, along with 20 crust and topping recipes and step-by-step techniques for rolling and decorating that will appeal to baking aficionados as well as occasional bakers. This fresh, uncomplicated take on pie will encourage those of you who have been reluctant in the past to now take out your rolling pin and try it.
Humble Pi: When Math Goes Wrong in the Real World by Matt Parker | Request Now
This tour of real-world mathematical disasters reveals the importance of math in everyday life. All sorts of seemingly innocuous mathematical mistakes can have significant consequences. Exploring and explaining a litany of glitches, near misses, and mathematical mishaps involving the internet, big data, elections, street signs, lotteries, the Roman Empire, and an Olympic team, Matt Parker uncovers the ways math trips us up
Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi: A Math Adventure by Cindy Neuschwander | Request Now
When Sir Cumference drinks a potion which turns him into a dragon, his son Radius searches for the magic number known as pi, which will restore him to his former shape.
Perfect Pan Pizza: Square Pies to Make at Home, From Roman, Sicilian, and Detroit, to Grandma Pies and Focaccia by Peter Reinhart | Request Now
Starting with recipes for three master doughs that can be made with commercial yeast, as well as a brief intro to sourdough starters, Perfect Pan Pizza illustrates how to make several styles of pan pizza, including Detroit-style deep-pan pizza, focaccia, Roman, and Sicilian. Totaling forty-four classic and unique recipes.
Dinner Pies: From Shepherd's Pies and pot Pies to Turnovers, Quiches, Hand Pies, and More, With 100 Delectable & Foolproof Recipes by Ken Haedrich | Request Now
Dinner Pies includes 100 recipes for two-crust, one-crust, and no-crust pies. As a recognized master in the art of making pies, Ken Haedrich includes updated and perfected versions from the great savory pie traditions, including British, New England Yankee, and Southern Ư- recipes for classics including cottage pie, shepard's pie and a best-ever chicken pot pie.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Oscar-Winning Movies
by lucroe
The 97th Academy Awards will take place on March 2 so we bring you some movies in our collection that were underdogs in the Best Picture category of years past. Read on to discover just a few that were not considered favorites during the time they were nominated and maybe you will discover a new favorite film among them or rewatch ones you haven’t seen in a while.
How Green Was My Valley (1941) Directed by John Ford | Request Now
How Green Was My Valley is a moving family drama set in a Welsh mining town, directed by John Ford. The film resonated with audiences during a pivotal time, tackling themes of tradition and sacrifice shortly after Pearl Harbor. Despite being an excellent film, it often gets overshadowed by classics like The Maltese Falcon, Suspicion, and Citizen Kane. Although Kane received nine nominations, it only won for Best Original Screenplay, while Valley claimed five Oscars, including Best Director for Ford.
Kramer vs Kramer (1979) Directed by Robert Benton | Request Now
Kramer vs. Kramer is an intense drama about divorce and the ensuing battle over child custody that took home several top awards at the 52nd Academy Awards. It's hard to dispute that Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep deserved their wins for lead actor and supporting actress, as the film is really a showcase for incredible performances. However, when it comes to the Best Picture and Best Director awards, things get a bit tricky, especially since it beat out Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now, which is often hailed as one of the greatest films of all time. Plus, Bob Fosse's stunning work in All That Jazz might have made him a more deserving choice for Best Director than Robert Benton. Maybe the Academy thought Coppola had already had his moment with The Godfather, but not recognizing Apocalypse Now is still a hot topic of debate.
Crash (2005) Directed by Paul Haggis | Request Now
Writer-director Paul Haggis weaves together interconnected stories reflecting on race, class, family, and gender in post-9/11 Los Angeles. While some critics feel this movie is a superficial look at racism that only makes some pat conclusions, others found it worthy enough for best picture in 2005. Up against it was what was considered a shoo-in, Brokeback Mountain, the groundbreaking gay love story between two cowboys. In contrast, Crash had some critical acclaim but lacked a Golden Globe Best Picture nomination. The only other film to win an Oscar for Best Picture without a Golden Globe nod was The Sting in 1974. Both films had similar nominations—Brokeback with eight and Crash with six—and each won in the screenplay category. Ang Lee’s directorial win for Brokeback made it seem like a frontrunner for Best Picture, yet Crash took the award instead, sparking ongoing controversy and criticism of the Academy.
Moonlight (2016) Directed by Barry Jenkins | Request Now
Director Barry Jenkins’ profound coming-of-age story follows a young Black man as he explores his sexuality and identity over the course of his life. It was not heavily favored to win best picture at the 2017 awards, whereas the movie La La Land was, having received 14 nominations and already winning six awards, including Best Director for Damien Chazelle. However, in a shocking turn of events, presenters Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty mistakenly announced La La Land as the winner due to being given the wrong envelope, and Moonlight was later revealed to be the actual Best Picture winner.
Parasite (2019) Directed by Bong Joon-ho | Request Now
In 2020 there were nine movies up for best picture, some with big names attached like Scorsese’s The Irishman and Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in...Hollywood. However, it was a little black comedy from Korea that unexpectedly beat out this heavy competition. Parasite not only became the first non-English-language film to win Best Picture, it won the most awards of the night with four, including Best Director. Parasite is both an outstanding thriller and an emotionally charged drama which includes some dark comedic touches. The film tells the story of two families divided by their social classes and highlights the unexpected fallout of the poorer family’s efforts to bridge that gap. To preserve its surprises, keep summaries vague, as the film’s unpredictability is a key strength. With stellar pacing and outstanding performances, Parasite rightfully stands among the top Best Picture winners, cementing its place as a unique entry in the realm of award-winning comedies.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: At Sea—The Wager Readalikes
by evelyn
Did you love David Grann’s thrilling book The Wager: a Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder? Want more stories of shipwrecks? Try these nonfiction books for excitement on the open sea (and sea floor).
The Ship Beneath the Ice, by Mensun Bound | Request Now
Perhaps one of the most famous shipwrecks of all time is Endurance, Sir Ernest Shackleton’s barquentine. In 1914 Shackleton and his crew set sail for Antarctica, but the ship sank during her maiden voyage. Shackleton ordered his crew to abandon ship. He then launched a daring multistep escape from the ice, in which his crew first camped on the sea ice, then launched lifeboats over an 800 mile journey, first to Elephant Island and then to South Georgia. Shackleton was able to keep all 28 of the ship’s crew alive for almost a year, until they were ultimately rescued by a Chilean mission. In 2022, Endurance was located on the floor of the Weddell Sea, nearly perfectly preserved by ice. The Ship Beneath the Ice beautifully weaves together the stories of Shackleton’s doomed voyage to Antarctica and the mission to find Endurance a century later.
Empire of Ice and Stone, by Buddy Levy | Request Now
If Shackleton was lauded for saving his crew, explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson, leader of the Canadian 1916 Arctic exploration, was perhaps his opposite. When his ship, Karluk, became stuck in ice, Stefansson took five men with him and left. He successfully reached safety but declined to try to rescue Karluk, choosing instead to continue hunting caribou. Ship Captain Bob Bartlett was left to attempt a rescue for his crew, taking one of the Inuit hunters who had been aboard the ship and traveling 1000 miles to find help. Empire of Ice and Stone traces this daring journey, contrasting the characters of two leaders- highly selfish and completely selfless.
A History of the World in 12 Shipwrecks, by David Gibbins | Request Now
Can’t get enough shipwrecks? Check out A History of the World in 12 Shipwrecks. Maritime archaeologist David Gibbins traces world history through 12 shipwrecks, each of which represents something about the world at the time of the boat’s sinking. Starting with the Bronze Age and progressing through to World War II, the book also details the danger and complications in searching for and exploring shipwrecks. The book traces human migration, hopes, danger and loss through thousands of years.
The Underworld: Journeys to the Depths of the Ocean | Request Now
If you want more oceanography in your shipwreck book, check out Susan Casey’s The Underworld: Journeys to the Depths of the Ocean. Casey takes the reader on a journey to the deepest parts of the ocean, meeting strange creatures and curious humans along the way. There are shipwrecks here, as well as myths and legends, marine scientists and more.
Blog Post
Fabulous Fiction Firsts #849, A Many-Splendored Thing
by muffy
Homeseeking * * by Karissa Chen (also in downloadable eBook and audiobook)
“From heart-wrenching regrets to breathtaking redemptions, Chen's debut novel seamlessly crosses geographical, cultural, and temporal barriers to deliver a love story that touches all extremes of the human condition.” (Booklist)
Zhang Suchi and Wang Haiwen met as children in Japanese-occupied Shanghai during the 1930s; and fell in love as teenagers. During the war between Mao's Communists and Chiang Kai Shek's Nationalists, a misguided Haiwen secretly enlisted in the Nationalist army in 1947 to save his brother from the draft, leaving Suchi his violin and a note: Forgive me. Soon after Suchi and her older sister were sent to Hong Kong as the fighting intensified in the Mainland.
Meeting only briefly in the 1960s, they crossed paths again at a 99 Ranch Market produce section in Los Angeles in 2008. Though they follow different paths and marry other people, they remain emotionally "tethered to each other," as predicted in 1945 by a fortune teller.
“Over a decade in the making, Homeseeking embodies the ambitious scope of James Michener’s historical novels or (while not nearly as long) Vikram Seth’s A Suitable Boy. Chen’s ability to navigate effortlessly across cultures and eras reflects not only the depth of her research, but also her natural gifts as a storyteller.” (BookPage)
Water Moon * * * by Samantha Sotto Yambao (also in downloadable eBook and audiobook)
For generations, the Ishikawa family owned and ran a pawnshop down a quiet alley in Toyko’s Asakusa District. It does not have a name and not everyone can find it. Most will see only a cosy ramen restaurant, but for the right clientele, it’s a place to pawn one’s life choices and deepest regrets.
Hana Ishikawa wakes on her first morning as its new owner to find the pawnshop ransacked, the shop’s most precious acquisition stolen and her father missing. And then into the shop stumbles a charming stranger Keishin, a brilliant physicist looking for ramen but insists on staying to help Hana find her father.
“So unfurls a story that is equal parts adventure and romance, lighthearted and devastating, philosophical and emotionally resonant. Hana and Kei embark on a journey through Isekai, jumping into puddles and coming out in other realms, folding into paper, climbing ladders through clouds and witnessing the release of the stars”. (BookPage)
“...(a) lovely, cozy fantasy reminiscent of Erin Morgenstern's The Starless Sea (2019). This book is charming, fresh, and difficult to put down.” (Booklist)
* * * = 3 Starred reviews
* * - 2 starred reviews
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Black Voices
by evelyn
Do you know about our Black Studies collection? This unique collection started in 1969, primarily to assist local teachers who taught Black Studies courses in the local high schools. At the time of its opening it was not a circulating collection, but it is now. You can browse the collection online or visit the collection in person on the second floor of the Downtown library. Check out some of the selections below!
The Fire Next Time, by James Baldwin | Request Now
The Black Studies collection contains many classics of Black American thought, including works by luminaries like W. E. B. Du Bois, Toni Morrison and bell hooks, as well as modern writers like Ta-Nehisi Coates and Ijeoma Oluo. James Baldwin’s classic 1963 book The Fire Next Time contains two of his most influential essays: "My Dungeon Shook: Letter to my Nephew on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Emancipation" and "Down at the Cross: Letter from a Region of My Mind." Pair this classic book about race and religion with the modern response The Fire This Time, edited by National Book Award-winner Jesmyn Ward, for an incisive look at race in America that spans more than half a century.
You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey, by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar | Request Now
You may know Amber Ruffin from her hilarious segments on Late Night with Seth Meyers (for which she is also a writer) or her own show The Amber Ruffin Show. Ruffin has also been announced as the host of the 2025 White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Written with her sister Lacey Lamar, You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism, is a darkly hilarious take on race. Unlike Ruffin, Lamar still lives in their home state of Nebraska and according to both sisters is a lightning rod for interactions with white people that range from clueless to truly terrible. If you listen to the audiobook (which is great) I implore you to also look up the pictures of Lacey imitating some of the women that white people have told her she looks like: Harriet Tubman, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Rae Dawn Chong, and Condoleezza Rice. And if you’re thinking wow those women don’t really look anything like each other… no. No they do not. Ruffin describes the stories as those in which “no one gets hurt. No one dies… [these are] the stories you’re expected to swallow or forget.” The book is funny, horrifying, and a quick read- check it out today!
The Sisterhood, by Courtney Thorsson | Request Now
From 1977 to 1979, an incredible group of scholars met to talk over and promote their work. Founded by novelist Alice Walker and poet June Jordan, the group supported and promoted the work of many important Black women intellectuals of the 20th century, including Toni Morrison, Audre Lorde, and Margo Jefferson. Author Courtney Thorsson started the research for this book when she came across a photograph of Nana Maynard, Ntozake Shange, Audreen Ballard, Vertamae Grosvenor, Alice Walker, Lori Sharpe, Toni Morrison and June Jordan. Thorsson spent years researching the history behind the photograph and the interactions between these intellectual giants. The result is a fascinating book that showcases both a moment in history and how it influenced the rest of 20th century American literature.
BLK MKT Vintage, by Kiyanna Stewart and Jannah Handy | Request Now
As above, a photograph of eight towering intellectuals. A Tuskegee airplane, or the bus upon which Rosa Parks was arrested. These artifacts from Black History loom large in museums but don’t exactly represent the history of everyday Black Americans. And few vintage stores revolve around Black American life in the way that the store BLK MKT Vintage does. Named after their store, BLK MKT Vintage by curators (and real life couple) Kiyanna Stewart and Jannah Handy shows off their collection of ephemera and vintage wares. Some of their pieces represent famous figures, such as a handwritten Christmas card from Shirley Chisholm or a canister of Madam C. J. Walker hair product. However, much of what they show in the book has to do with regular life- a sign from a 1960s NAACP parade, books and magazines from personal collections, posters and vintage hair tools. The book is a visual feast and also includes interviews with other Black collectors and archivists.
Blog Post
Staff Pick: Books from 2024 You May Have Missed
by emjane
Great Books from 2024 You Might Have Missed
It’s IMPOSSIBLE to read all the good books that come out in a single year (don’t spend too much time dwelling on that thought, and instead, just pick up a good book!). Here are some of my favorites from last year that may not have made it to your To Be Read pile!
Come and Get It by Kiley Reid | Request Now
Set in a college campus in Arkansas, Come and Get It, focuses on Millie—an RA who dreams of owning her own house— while also delving into the lives and desires of some of the students and a professor who touch Millie’s story. Given the opportunity to earn some extra money by sharing personal details about some of the young women who live in her dorm, Millie jumps at it, even if it involves potentially questionable behavior. As morally complicated situations often do (especially in books), things eventually spiral.
Reid’s dialogue is a highlight of this reading experience, giving the reader a peek into the life of college women, and how money (and lack of it) deeply impacts behavior and identity. This was my first 5-star read of 2024, and it’s one I know I’ll return to in a reread a few years down the line.
Real Americans by Rachel Khong | Request Now
Told in three parts, Real Americans centers on three generations of Asian Americans. The book begins with Lily, a young New Yorker struggling to balance her tight finances, her job where she is often tokenized, and the complexities of being in a relationship with someone much richer than her. Part two centers on high schooler Nick, his complicated relationship with his mother (and lack of relationship with his father), and figuring out his college plans. In a short third section, one more character’s perspective is revealed (I’m being purposefully cagey!) giving the story one more layer of depth.
Readers expecting the epic storytelling typically associated with multi-generational family sagas may be disappointed. However, I found all three perspectives lovable despite their flaws and the fast pacing a refreshing shift from the genre’s standards.
Bite by Bite: Nourishments & Jamborees by Aimee Nezhukumatathil | Request Now
Poet and essayist Nezhukumatathil focuses on food in Bite by Bite, her second collection. (If you haven’t read it yet, her first World of Wonders is also a gem!) With each short essay, most no longer than a few pages, Nezhukumatathil focuses on a particular food or ingredient, weaving together facts and histories with personal stories for an engaging bite of information and connection. These tastes are further enhanced by the beautiful watercolor illustrations accompanying them. The structure of the book makes it a great fit for dipping in and out of, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself taking in the whole feast at once!
Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K. Reilly | Request Now
Though Greta & Valdin was originally published in 2021, it got its US publication in 2024, so I’m counting it—particularly because it was one of my favorite reads of the year! Siblings and roommates Greta & Valdin have always supported each other. But, both facing their own versions of identity crises (Greta, uncertain with her role in academia and her romantic relationships; Valdin coping with anxieties, how his Indigenous identity meshes with his on-camera job, and getting over a defining breakup), the two are not always there for each other.
Reilly does an excellent job of writing lovable characters with realistic challenges and flaws, not to mention the book is incredibly funny! Though I loved reading it so much, I was disappointed when it was over, it came to a beautifully satisfying conclusion.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Black History Month Films
by erin
Celebrate Black History Month with a selection of compelling films about real people and historical stories told from a variety of viewpoints.
Bessie | Request Now
This biopic about American blues singer Bessie Smith stars Queen Latifah as Bessie and Mo'Nique as Ma Rainey. Bessie came out in 2015 on HBO and focuses on her transformation as a struggling young singer into "The Empress of the Blues". Born in 1894 Bessie died in 1937 and was incredibly beloved during the Jazz Age. She was the most popular Blues singer in the 1930s and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989.
Daughters of the Dust | Request Now
Set in 1902, Daughters of the Dust, is about three generations of Gullah (or Geechee) women from the Peazant family on Saint Helena Island, South Carolina, as they prepare to migrate from the rural South to the North. Released in 1991 the film was written and directed by Julie Dash.
Fences | Request DVD or Request Blu-ray
Based on August Wilson's Pulitzer prize-winning masterpiece, Fences, was released in 2016. Fences stars Denzel Washington, and Viola Davis. A black garbage collector named Troy Maxson in 1950s Pittsburgh is bitter that baseball's color barrier was only broken after his own heyday in the Negro Leagues, Maxson is prone to taking out his frustrations on his loved ones. The film earned four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor (for Washington), and Best Adapted Screenplay (for Wilson), at the 89th Academy Awards, with Davis winning Best Supporting Actress.
If Beale Street Could Talk | Request DVD or Request Blu-ray
Based on the novel by James Baldwin, If Beale Street Could Talk, is a timeless love story set in early 1970s Harlem involving newly engaged nineteen-year-old Tish and her fiance Fonny who have a beautiful future ahead. But their plans are derailed when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit. Now the pair and their families must fight for justice in the name of love and the promise of the American dream. The film received numerous accolades, including Best Supporting Actress wins for Regina King at the Academy Awards and Golden Globes. It was also nominated for Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Screenplay at the 76th Golden Globe Awards, and Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score at the 91st Academy Awards.
Loving | Request DVD or Request Blu-ray
Loving is the story of Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple, whose challenge of their anti-miscegenation arrest for their marriage in Virginia led to a legal battle that would end at the US Supreme Court. Loving was nominated for numerous awards, including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor for Joel Edgerton and Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Ruth Negga.
Blog Post
Request for Proposals - HVAC & Mechanical Maintenance
by eli
Ann Arbor District Library
Request for Proposal
Full-Service Maintenance Agreement for
HVAC, Related Equipment and Other Equipment
The Ann Arbor District Library is soliciting bids to provide preventative maintenance and repairs for the Library’s heating, cooling, ventilation and related equipment. The Library’s facilities are located at:
- Downtown Branch, 343 S. 5th Ave. Ann Arbor, 48104
- Malletts Creek Branch, 3090 E. Eisenhower Pkwy, Ann Arbor, 48108
- Traverwood Branch, 3333 Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, 48105
- Westgate Branch, 2503 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor, 48103
- Archives, Acquisitions and Logistics Facility, Ann Arbor, 48103
- Pittsfield Branch, 2359 Oak Valley Drive, Ann Arbor, 48103
Scope of Service: The vendor must provide everything that is needed in order to maintain equipment in running condition so that it is operational and performs within manufacturer’s specifications at all times, including but not limited to the following:
- The cost of all labor, including overtime pay.
- Travel and vehicle expense.
- All parts, supplies, materials and equipment.
- State of Michigan mandated inspections and disassembly for governmental agencies.
- Diagnosing and testing.
- Specialized equipment or personnel. All startup costs.
Service:
- Overtime and/or premium wages will not be paid by the Library for service calls.
- The contractor shall notify the Maintenance Supervisor or Facilities Manager before performing preventative maintenance or repairs to any equipment.
- Equipment should be operational and ready at all times unless it is out of service because of preventative maintenance or repairs.
- The contractor will furnish a detailed written report to the Facilities Director at the completion of each job outlining the service or work.
- The contractor shall respond to service calls of a non-emergency nature in a timely manner.
Emergency Service:
The contractor shall respond immediately to service calls of an emergency nature.
- An emergency is defined as a call for service when delaying action would cause further damage to equipment, closing of any Library building(s), injury
to staff or patrons, or place staff or patrons of the Library in a hazardous situation.
Bidding Process:
- Contractors wishing to bid MUST schedule a site visits. Please arrange with Andra Williams (734)327-4288, williamsa@aadl.org or Len Lemorie (734)327-4281. lemoriel@aadl.org
- Questions can be emailed to lemoriel@aadl.org
- Late bids will NOT be accepted.
- All bidders must include the following information along with the sealed bid:
- The returned bid must contain at least (3) references where like services have been performed within the preceding (12) months.
- Include the names of the business or government entity, the address, the name of the contact person, and the contact person’s telephone number.
- Indicate when you last performed service at that location.
- Bids submitted without references will be rejected.
- Bids must provide Labor/Union affiliations if applicable.
- Contractors are bidding on a three-year contract beginning July 1, 2025 with an option for years four and five.
- Contractors shall submit a bid covering all locations.
- NOTE: The Ann Arbor District Library reserves the right to reject any or all bids.
Proposals MUST be received no later than April 4, 2025 at 5:00PM.
Proposals can be emailed to lemoriel@aadl.org , mailed to, or hand-deliver to the Downtown Branch, 4th Floor Administration Offices 343 S. 5th Ave Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Terms and Conditions
Rights of Library:
The Ann Arbor District Library retains the right to call another vendor to perform maintenance or to diagnose and make necessary repairs if the contractor fails to carry out maintenance as specified by the manufacturer, conduct repairs, or respond to any service call to the satisfaction of the Library. The expense of such maintenance, diagnosis, and repairs will be deducted from the total amount of this agreement and the monthly payment to the contractor will be adjusted accordingly to equal the new balance. If at the time of service or repair, the contractor agrees to reimburse the Library for any additional cost over and above that amount.
Equipment and Supplies: The contractor shall furnish all labor, materials, equipment, and other items necessary to perform the herein specified work.
Contract Price: Rates include all costs of labor, materials, equipment, overtime pay, supervision, travel, vehicle expense, taxes and insurance required to fulfill the specifications as outlined in this proposal.
Compensation: Payment shall be due on the last day of each month in which servicers are performed.
Change in Work Performed: The above price is based upon the specifications as outlined in this request for bid. If there are changes in services, the Owner agrees to negotiate a reasonable price adjustment with the contractor.
Modification: The parties may from time-to-time request changes in this agreement. Such changes, including any increase or decrease in compensation, shall be effective when incorporated in written amendments to this agreement.
Insurance: The contractor shall maintain insurance coverage in the forms and at least the amounts specified below during the terms of this agreement and until (2) years after the completion of the services as outlined under this agreement and the policies shall name the Ann Arbor District Library as an additional insured.
General Liability:
General Aggregate_______________________________________$2,000,000
Products/Completed:
Operations Aggregate___________________________________$2,000,000
Bodily Injury/Property:
Damage Liability_________________________________________$1,000,000
Fire Damage______________________________________________________$50,000 any one fire
Medical Expense_________________________________________________$10,000 each occurrence
Workers Compensation and Employer’s Liability:
Bodily injury each accident____________________________$100,000
Bodily injury by disease________________________________$500,000
Bond: $25,000
The contractor shall furnish to the Library certificates of liability and worker’s compensation insurance. Policies must show the coverage and limits of liability and that the Library is named as an additional insured party, where needed. The contractor’s insurance shall be primary and not entitled to contributions from any insurance maintained by the Library.
Companies shall write all insurance with an AM Best rating of “A” or higher. Such certificates shall require that policies shall not be cancelled or reduced in coverage until the contractor and the Library have received 30-days written notice of such cancellation or reduction.
If the contractor neglects or refuses to provide any insurance required in the agreement, or if any insurance is cancelled, the Library may, at its option, procure such insurance and adjust the contract downward by the reasonable amount of the premiums paid or to be paid.
Indemnification: The contractor shall indemnify, hold harmless and, at the Library’s option, defend the Library, its present and future employees, representatives and agents from and against any and all claims, losses, damages, liabilities, and expenses (including costs of defense, arbitration, settlement, and reasonable attorney’s fees) for death or bodily injury to any person, destruction of or damage to any property, loss of any property rights or entitlements, contamination of or adverse effects on the environment, or violation of Government laws, regulations, or orders, if and to the extent they result from, arise out of or are in connection with the contractor’s performance of these services described in this agreement. In addition, the contractor promises to comply with all applicable laws regulating employment, conditions of employment, equal protection and unemployment and worker’s compensation.
Handling and Disposal of Generated Waste: The contractor shall store, transport, manage, or dispose of waste materials generated in the course of performance of the services in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including obtaining all necessary permits, if any. All use and disposal of chemicals or other agents must conform to current OSHA health and safety standards. An OSHA, Hazard Communication form must be provided to the Facilities Manager at the inception of this contract- per CFR.1910.1200.
Right to Terminate: This agreement shall be for a period of 3-years from the effective date with an option for years four and five. Not withstanding any other section or provision of this agreement, either party may terminate this agreement upon 30-days written notice sent to the other party’s address of record.
Independent Contractor: The parties intend that the contractor in performing services herein specified shall act as an independent contractor and shall have control of the work and manner in which it is performed. The contractor shall select its own employees or agents and such employees or agents shall be responsible to the contractor. The contractor may perform the services by any reasonable means and shall not be responsible for delays in performance caused by strike, lockout, act of God, accident, or any other circumstance out of the contractor’s control.
Contractor’s Employees: The contractor agrees that it will not permit its employees to violate any of the use rules of the Library, nor disturb the privacy of any of the Library employees or patrons; nor disclose the contents of any document, correspondence, communication, report, or record to anyone; nor permit smoking inside or outside of any Library building.
Applicable Law: The laws of the state in which the services are performed shall govern this agreement. If any provision in this agreement is held by any court to be invalid, void, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall nevertheless continue in full force.
Entire Agreement: The agreement contains the entire legal agreement between the parties and takes precedence over any other written agreement signed or unsigned. All prior negotiations between the parties are merged in the agreement, and there are no understandings or agreements other than those incorporated herein. This agreement may not be modified except by written instrument signed by both parties. The terms and conditions outlined in this agreement shall be included as part of any other agreement between the two parties and shall be considered primary.
Blog Post
Fabulous Fiction Firsts #848, The Great American Road Trip
by muffy
Housemates,* Emma Copley Eisenberg’s fiction debut (also available in downloadable eBook and audiobook) is an "exceptional, keenly observed meditation on art and love in a fractured America." (People Magazine)
Bernie Abbott, a barista and photographer answers an ad (four Swarthmore grads, looking for a fifth housemate… queer preferred) where she meets Leah McCausland, a media studies PhD candidate and begins an intense and defiantly uncategorizable friendship. Both aspire to capture the world around them: Leah through her writing; Bernie through her photography.
When Bernie's former photography professor, the once-renowned but now-denounced Daniel Dunn, dies and leaves her a complicated inheritance, Leah volunteers to accompany Bernie to his home in Mifflin County to pick up Dunn's belongings, and the pair sets off on a three-week journey that takes them through central Pennsylvania.
“En route, they encounter rebellious cigarette-smoking Amish teens outside a country buffet and smarmy men lurking around their motel, and their partnership becomes not just creative but romantic." (Publishers Weekly)
“The 2016 presidential election and the Covid-19 pandemic offer temporal touchstones. Shifting mores around sexuality and gender, the complicated demands of social justice movements, how we deal with bad people who create good art, and the difference between recording and actually seeing are just some of the topics Eisenberg lays out before setting her Gen Z protagonists loose to explore them… Eisenberg has a poet's eye for truth, and her prose is gorgeously precise and empathetic while remaining cleareyed. Emotionally rich and quietly thought-provoking, this is simply a stunning debut.” (Kirkus Reviews)
Off the Books * by Soma Mei Sheng Frazier (also available in downloadable eBook) is a fresh take on the classic American road novel.”
Mei dropped out of Dartmouth just shy of graduation when her father died unexpectedly. Estranged from her mother, she leaned on her eccentric, pot-smoking, video game-playing lǎoyé (Mandarin for "grandfather") who bought her a car and convinced her to work off-the-book as a chauffeur, mostly for sex workers. Then he set her up with Henry Lee who hired Mei to drive him cross country, from San Francisco to Syracuse.
Handsome and reserved, Henry piques Mei's interest. But what intrigues her most is his devotion to the enormous black suitcase which he totes everywhere, more concerned with taking frequent breaks than making good time on the road.
“It's not long before we learn his secret: Stowed in his luggage is an 11-year-old Uyghur girl named Anna, whom he's trying to reunite with her father, who's in trouble with Chinese authorities.” (The Guardian)
“Frazier expertly weaves historic and contemporary injustices faced by Chinese Americans and Uyghurs through this fast-paced, propulsive book, which is at its most powerful when depicting the way Mĕi's family navigates life after catastrophe. She has a knack for writing funny dialogue--scathing sarcasm underpinned by a great deal of love--and there are plenty of hilarious exchanges to lighten the dark political context of the novel. A vital, enthralling debut in which devastating social commentary is delivered with a wink.” (Kirkus Reviews)
How 
Does That Make You Feel, Magda Eklund? by Anna Montague (also in downloadable eBook and audiobook) is a moving novel about love, loss, and new beginnings found on an unlikely road trip.
NYC psychologist Magda Eklund is about to turn 70 but she has no plan to celebrate, still grieving the sudden death of her life-long friend Sara. After helping the prickly widower sort through Sara’s things, she did not expect to be made custodian of Sara’s urn as well, just because the widower does not want the presence of the urn to upset his new girlfriend.
While going through Sara’s old journal, Magda discovers her friend’s last directive: plans for a road trip they would take together in celebration of Magda’s birthday. With the encouragement of her colleagues and friends, and with Sara’s urn in tow, Magda decides to hit the road.
“As Magda winds her way to the Southwest and through various touch points from their lives, she finds herself revisiting defining moments from the past, particularly her childhood and the relationship with her sister… As Magda makes her way back home, she finds herself forced to confront the realities of her relationship with Sara as well as her inner desires. Montague's debut novel imparts an affecting journey into the tricky bonds of grief and aging alongside the rewards of self-discovery.” (Booklist) For fans of Mrs. Nash's Ashes (2023)
* = Starred review
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Cultivating Friendships
by evelyn
Valentine’s Day may be soon but that doesn’t mean that romantic relationships are all that matter! Check out these books to help you make, strengthen, and center your friendships.
Platonic by Marisa Franco | Request Now
In Platonic, psychologist Marisa Franco urges readers to examine their friendships through the lens of attachment style. Generally described as either anxious, avoidant or secure, this theory tends to be applied to romantic relationships. However, Franco believes that learning about yourself can help improve all aspects of your life, including your friendships! Immensely popular when it was first published, Platonic also delves into historical aspects of friendship, how to put in the work of friendships, how to act and live with generosity, and how to be vulnerable.
The Other Significant Others by Rhaina Cohen | Request Now
Should marriage or a romantic partnership be the only relationship one orients one life around? NPR journalist Rhaina Cohen posits that friendships are just as valid of a guiding force in life. This book is a mix of personal stories and sociological research. If you are interested in reading about people who have rejected societal norms in favor of putting dedicated friendships at the center of their lives, check out this book.
The Laws of Connection by David Robson | Request Now
From science writer David Robson comes an analytical take on friendship. Robson asserts that friendship is critical to good health and extending ones lifespan. This book combines psychology and neuroscience to explain why connection is so important to humans, and what a lack of social groups costs us. Luckily, the book doesn’t stop with just science. For those who want to improve their own relationships, it also offers suggestions on how to do so. With its mix of research and practical advice, The Laws of Connection is both a useful read for anyone looking to deepen their social bonds.
Friendshipping by Jenn Bane and Trin Garritano | Request Now
If you are less interested in social science and more interested in advice for making and keeping friends, check out Friendshipping from podcasters Jenn Bane and Trin Garritano.. This light and breezy book features illustrations and direct ideas for making friends, how to navigate social media, and what to do in the case of a friend breakup. Its warm, funny tone and practical tips make Friendshipping a great choice for anyone looking to build stronger, healthier friendships.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Phenomenal Female Artists
by audreyh
Switch up your home decor by borrowing some Art Prints from the library! You can borrow prints for eight weeks at a time. This month we thought we'd serve up some art made by notable female artists. If you're curious about our other prints, you can go ahead and browse the entire collection.
Orbits, 1934 by Agnes Pelton | Request Now
Agnes Pelton was a modernist painter who used visionary symbolism in her work, especially her later work which was more spiritual in nature. She was born in 1881 to American parents living in Germany, moved to the United States as a child and studied art in the United States and Europe. Orbits is an example of her later work, which was notable for its transcendent nature rooted in the California desert landscap. Pelton was relatively isolated from the art world during her lifetime, resulting in her becoming a well known artist only after her death in 1961.
Bigger Than You Know, 2010 by Nava Lubelski | Request Now
Nava Lubelski is a contemporary American artist who currently lives and works in North Carolina. She is known for her fiber art, particularly paper sculptures, and 3D stitched pieces. Lubelski often stitches over stained, ripped, or damaged fabrics, contrasting the accidental with her meticulous needlework. Her works are often considered painterly, despite the fiber medium. Bigger Than You Know features a canvas that has been completely covered fully in different shades of green, and then ripped. Lubelski finished the work with careful, thin stitching executed in Lubelski’s signature style.
Tar Beach #2, 1990-1992 by Faith Ringgold | Request Now
Faith Ringgold was an American painter, author, mixed media sculptor, performance artist, and intersectional activist. She is best known for her narrative quilts, like Tar Beach #2. Ringgold moved away from traditional painting to working with fabric to get away from the Western European art traditions. Tar Beach #2 was inspired by Ringgold’s childhood memories of summertime in Harlem, New York, and tells the story of a young girl named Cassie Louise Lightfoot with the power of flight.
Horizontal Horse’s or Mule’s Skull with Feather, 1936 by Georgia O’Keeffe | Request Now
Georgia O’Keeffe was an American modernist painter whose career spanned seven decades. Her work remained largely independent of contemporary art movements. Landscapes, flowers, and bones were common subject matter for O’Keeffe’s work. Horizontal Horse’s or Mule’s Skull with Feather was painted while O’Keeffe lived in New Mexico, around the time that she completed a series of landscape paintings inspired by the New Mexico desert, including some of her best known works.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Bored? Games!
by ohheyitselle
There's nothing like gathering up with family or friends to play a nice lil game... but sometimes playing Monopoly just won't do! So PASS GO and try something new!
Mysterium | Request Now
If Clue and Dixit had a baby, it would be this game! Players get work together trying to solve a murder based on suspect, location, and weapon by getting hints from the "ghost"... and by "ghost" we mean another player who can only communicate via illustrated cards.
Playing as the ghost and as the psychic investigators are completely different experiences, giving this game some major replay-ability!
Sushi Go! | Request Now
This fast paced, card passing game is an absolute delight to play... plus it just plain cute! Gather the best sushi dishes (and dessert) to accumulate the most points! This is a perfect quick game to play a few rounds of, so you'll have plenty of chances to win.
The only downside? It'll certainly make you hungry.
Letter Jam | Request Now
Wordle, meet a board game format.
Letter Jam, meet AADL patrons.
Each player has a secret 5-letter word in front of them (made by another player). The goal of the game is to guess the the word in front of you based on words the other players create. This is a cooperative game so everyone is a winner... or a loser... but still a winner to us.
Everdell | Request Now
Turtles and Bunnies and Squirrels- OH MY!
Players will work their way though the seasons to make sure their little critter cities are established enough to make it through the winter! This game is easy to learn, but the more comfortable you are playing it, the more depth you can add to your strategy making for interesting replays.
The artwork in this game is stunning and cozy... so what are you waiting for??? Time is a-ticking!!!!
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Spruce Up Your Living Space
by eapearce
Making changes to the space you live in can seem daunting—and sometimes expensive! But it doesn’t always have to be. Lots of new books have come out in recent years with simple, easily employed ideas for ways to make little changes to a variety of areas in your home, whether it’s de-cluttering your kitchen countertops, adding colors to your bedroom that promote sleep and relaxation, cozy-ing up your living room or adding a plant or a piece of art in just the right spot. Check out one of the below titles to get you started if the space where you spend your days needs a little change or two!
House + Love = Home: Creating Warm, Intentional Spaces for a Beautiful Life, by Jenny Marrs | Request Now
Marrs and her husband Dave are the hosts of the popular HGTV show Fixer to Fabulous, on which they’ve re-built and remodeled hundreds of homes with the goal of having each house reflect the intentions and lifestyle of its inhabitants. In her book, Marrs shares what she has learned over the years so that readers too, can employ her techniques and ideas to make their homes a reflection of who they are and how they live their lives. The book focuses on specific aspects of the home, from lighting and light fixtures, to flooring and rugs, and emphasizes that “perfection is never the goal” when designing your home; instead, “living well is.” Readers will find inspiration in the many photos of the Marrs’ home, along with photos of a variety of different homes that they have helped design and decorate over the years.
Weekend Refresh: Home Design in 48 Hours or Less | Request Now
Home design and decoration can take a lot of time, and not everyone has a great deal of that to spare! If you lead a busy life and are daunted by trying to find the time to make changes to your home, check out Weekend Refresh! The book offers 65 different ideas for relatively easy ways to spruce up your home. If you’re looking to enhance curb appeal, try painting your front door a new color or installing a window box or two. If your kitchen is small and cramped, jazz it up with an easy-to-install backsplash or save space with a wall-mounted folding table. There are also tips for decorating with house plants, maximizing your space and keeping things clean and tidy. This is a great book full of ideas for homes of any size and for folks with even minimal DIY-skill levels—there’s no shame in that!
My Hygge Home: How to Make Home Your Happy Place, by Meik Wiking | Request Now
You’re likely familiar with the Danish word “hygge,” which translates to “a cozy and contented mood evoked by comfort and conviviality.” Much of what we think of as Scandinavian design aims to create a feeling of hygge, and you can feel hygge in your home, too, with the aid of this fun book. Wiking draws on tips from The Happiness Institute (he’s the CEO), based in Copenhagen, and on the lifestyles of people in Scandinavian countries to share ideas for how to create comfort and joy in your home, regardless of your budget or available space. The Library Journal review from when My Hygge Home was published in 2022 may summarize this delightful volume best: “It covers the why and the how in thorough detail, and it is brimful of practical and specific design ideas, tips, advice, summaries, and checklists. It goes beyond home design to embrace lifestyles with recommendations, such as cooking a slow dish or growing one's own food to slow down and center oneself. This book is engaging, informative, timely, and inspirational, all in one.” This writer enjoyed the book so much that I actually purchased it (after checking it out from the library of course!) to keep on my coffee table and reference whenever I feel that I need a little extra comfort and peace in my life.
Your Space Made Simple: Recipes for Approachable, Affordable and Sustainable Interior Design, by Ariel Magidson | Request Now
Magidson is a professional decorator and offers behind-the-scenes looks at interior design strategies in her lovely book. She bases her designing techniques on having customers—and in the book, readers—list their daily habits and then offers suggestions for how to shape living spaces around those day-to-day activities. Each type of room in the home receives its own chapter in the book, making it easy for readers to flip through and focus on the room or rooms that they personally are working on. The book also offers helpful diagrams and a huge variety of photos for inspiration. Magidson emphasizes sustainability in her design styles, which comes through in the book in her suggestions for reusing and recycling materials and for working with sustainable materials when purchasing new. She also focuses on accessibility, cultural appropriation and social justice concepts in decorating, and it’s refreshing to see often-overlooked concepts in this genre discussed. This book may be best for folks embarking on larger design projects, but anyone can enjoy getting inspiration from a flip-through!
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Cozy SciFi
by audreyh
Science Fiction has a long history of exploring our fears about changes in the present and extrapolating them into an imagined world that is different from our own, often delivering dark warnings about the unexpected consequences of new technologies or societal choices along the way. These books take a different approach and, while there is some scary stuff floating around, focus in on characters and their individual journeys. Underlying all of these books is the promise that, in the end, everything will be okay. The result is a pleasantly cozy reading experience, a perfect tonic for the short, cold days of deep space winter.
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers | Request Now
Rosemary Harper is leaving it all behind by any means possible (who hasn't been there once or twice?). She doesn’t expect much when she joins the crew of the aging Wayfarer. While the patched-up ship has seen better days, it offers her a bed, a chance to explore the far-off corners of the galaxy, and most importantly, some distance from her past. In the far reaches of deep space, the tiny Wayfarer crew will confront a host of unexpected mishaps and thrilling adventures that force them to depend on each other. To survive, Rosemary’s got to learn how to rely on this assortment of oddballs—an experience that teaches her about love and trust, and that having a family isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the universe.
The Stars Too Fondly by Emily Hamilton | Request Now
A group of precocious teens accidentally steal a spaceship. As they try to figure out a way home they must contend with the AI ghost of the former captain and solve the mystery of the crew’s disappearance 50 years ago. Also, romance! All of your favorite things, in space.
Lying somewhere in the subspace between science fantasy and sapphic rom-com, The Stars Too Fondly is a soaring near-future adventure about dark matter and alternate dimensions, leaving home and finding family, and the galaxy-saving power of letting yourself love and be loved.
Space Opera by Catherynne Valente | Request Now
After a galactic war tore intelligent space life apart, the powers that be decreed that MUSIC would be a balm for all souls. After all, nothing brings people together like music. And this year is the year that humanity bursts onto the scene, having recently caught up with everyone else and discovered space travel. While humans expected to discover a grand drama of diplomacy, gunships, wormholes, and stoic councils of aliens, they have instead found glitter, lipstick, and electric guitars. Mankind will not get to fight for its destiny—they must sing.
Decibel Jones and the Absolute Zeroes have been chosen to represent their planet on the greatest stage in the galaxy. And the fate of Earth lies in their ability to rock.
Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki | Request Now
I loved this book, in fact it was one of my favorite books of 2024. It's about a bargain with a devil, the heart and soul of art, space donuts, and love. And the messiness of being human, family, and figuring out what is worth fighting for. It's an incredible book.
Shizuka Satomi has made a deal to deliver the souls of seven violin prodigies to the devil. She has already delivered six. But Shizuka doesn't deliver just any old soul and she's looking for the perfect person to be her final prodigy. Enter Katrina Nguyen, a transgender runaway with tremendous talent.
But in a donut shop off a bustling highway in the San Gabriel Valley, Shizuka meets Lan Tran, retired starship captain, interstellar refugee, and mother of four. Shizuka doesn't have time for crushes or coffee dates, what with her very soul on the line, but Lan's kind smile and eyes like stars might just redefine a soul's worth.
As the lives of these three women become entangled by chance and fate, a story of magic, identity, curses, and hope begins, and a family worth crossing the universe for is found.
Peri Peri Paprika by Leanne Su | Request Now
This gem was written by a local author and published by our very own Fifth Avenue Press! You can find it as a download in our catalog if you prefer to read an ebook.
Moss is sleepwalking through her life as a pilot aboard the Rusty Raccoon, a trash collection ship traveling through interstellar space. When she stumbles across her supervisor Turnip attempting to flee the ship, she's forced to wake up and start making choices about her life. By happenstance and Moss's own hesitant cooperation, Turnip technically kidnaps Moss-legally speaking-launching the pair into a true space adventure. Using Turnip's engineering know-how and Moss's piloting expertise, they travel through the stars, stealing ships from the rich, dodging the Galactic United Peace Patrol Implementers, and enjoying all the absurdity that the universe has to offer. Moss doesn't know where Turnip is taking them, but discovering herself along the way is a worthy exchange.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Folk Fest Favorites
by Sara W
The Ark's annual Ann Arbor Folk Fest has brought stellar lineups of performers to town for 48 years now. Here's a look at some albums from a few of the artists who made appearances or are scheduled for this year's festival! Happy listening!
The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions for Dreamers by Valerie June | Request Now
This album by folk-soul singer Valerie June features deep, perceptive expressions of love, loss, and the passage of time with her trademark mountain music flavor. The emotions captured here makes this a heftier listening experience than her delightful debut Pushin' Against a Stone, making it perfect company for a cold winter evening. Valerie June performed at the 2023 Ann Arbor Folk Festival.
Urban Driftwood by Yasmin Williams | Request Now
Multi-instrumentalist Yasmin Williams' incredible compositions include her simultaneous use of her voice, guitar or banjo, percussion instrument, and the rhythm of her tap shoe-clad feet. That one person can make so much happen at once, so seamlessly is a totally transporting experience. She pushes yet more limits on her 2024 album Acadia, which slips a little further from the folk foundations of her earlier recordings and into an atmospheric, almost meditative state in its later instrumental tracks. Yasmin Williams also performed at the 2023 Ann Arbor Folk Festival.
50 Years of Blonde on Blonde by The Old Crow Medicine Show | Request Now
This is Bob Dylan's beloved Blonde on Blonde album performed by Old Crow Medicine Show - if Dylan had been raised in an Appalachian holler, the original might have sounded a little something like this. Songs like "Visions of Johanna" take on a new dimension of timelessness, while the clamor of "Rainy Day Women #12 and 35" feels right at home with everything this old-time string band brings into it. Old Crow Medicine Show performed at the 2024 Ann Arbor Folk Festival and founding member Ketch Secor will emcee the 2025 festival.
Tigers Blood by Waxahatchee | Request Now
Katie Crutchfield, the singer-songwriter who performs as Waxahatchee, moves deeper into folk rock/roots territory with Tigers Blood. Her precise, confessional lyrics bring a determination and earnestness balanced out by the natural, almost-casual perfection of the harmonies between Crutchfield and her collaborator MJ Lenderman. Her spare, lamenting EP Great Thunder, featuring the unshakeable song "Chapel of Pines," is available as part of AADL's vinyl collection. Tigers Blood is up for Best Americana Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards and Waxahatchee will perform at the 2025 Ann Arbor Folk Festival.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Mystery Movies with a Twist
by SaraP
Most like their mysteries with a little something shocking—an unexpected plot twist, or a pinch of narrative surprise. Have fun puzzling out one of these newer films, or rewatching an old fave. One thing’s for certain: each one of these is to die for!
Knives Out | Request DVD or Request Blu-Ray
It’s an Agatha-Christie-style whodunit with bright splashes of comedy and a fresh take on characters. A big old house on a sprawling estate serves as backdrop to a humdinger of a family dinner party. Things go south the next morning and the Thrombey clan are given a run for their ample money. Truth, lies, alibis (and a little vomit) fly, as Daniel Craig leads a top-notch ensemble cast through this twisty romp of a mystery. And did I mention Craig’s ridiculous southern accent—he’s having as much fun as I did watching the movie.
Missing | Request DVD 
Did you miss Missing in 2023? Well don’t miss it now! It’s an edge of the seat thriller that will keep you guessing when Storm Reid’s mom, Nia Long, goes missing. Not exactly a sequel to Searching (2018), but sitting comfortably beside it, Reid deftly acts the part of a tech-whiz 20-something racing to find her mom and uncovering a web of secrets along the way.
Clue | Request DVD or Request Blu-Ray
No chance you missed this madcap cult classic (right??), but it’s always worth a re-watch! Cozy up on a dark cold night and laugh your buttered popcorn off. There’s no lack of clues here, and yet there’s always at least one thing I don’t understand. Whether it’s the multiple endings, the number of bullets, the number of corpses for that matter—two corpses, everything’s fine—or why the car stopped, I’m sure of one thing and it’s who should watch this ASAP: it’s YOU!
Motherless Brooklyn | Request DVD or Request Blu-Ray
If settling in for noir-inspired, politically meaty fare is more your style, then sink your teeth into Motherless Brooklyn. Don’t let the box office numbers fool you, there’s a lot of extremely solid acting from leads Edward Norton, who also directs, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Norton investigates the murder of his mentor. Alec Baldwin takes a turn as the scuzziest of powerful con-men. As Norton is drawn into a network of corruption in 1950s Brooklyn and Harlem, the real twist here is watching Norton’s character turn his Tourrettes-battered mind into a tour-de-force.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Indoor Plant Guides
by lucroe
With winter fully upon us, it is time to turn the gardener in us to our often neglected indoor plants. The following is just a smattering of tips available in AADL's collection to keep all of your plants alive and healthy through the cold weather and beyond.
The New Plant Parent by Darryl Cheng | Request Now
Cheng suggests that instead of just giving quick solutions to plant issues, plant parents should deeply understand how plants grow by gaining knowledge and observing them. He emphasizes that plants need light to survive. Based on the light plants receive, they can be either starving or healthy. To assess this, Cheng advises people to view things from the plant's perspective. He describes different types of light: direct, bright-indirect, and low light and mentions that all plants benefit from seeing daytime sky. Additionally, he connects light to water needs, explaining that a plant in good light requires more water, which varies monthly. The more you learn about how plants exist in their natural habitats, the better we care for them. If you like his book, check out his newest one, the New Plant Collector where those of us more familiar with their care, can get serious about the rare and unusual varieties. Here he presents care guides for such beauties as Alocasia, Hoya, Monstera as well as a variety of succulents.
Living Wild : How to Plant Style Your Home & Cultivate Happiness by Hilton Carter | Request Now
The interior stylist and plant-fluencer (read about his PBS special recorded in Ferndale, MI here) brings his fourth book to those who are ready to go beyond the basics. He takes a deep dive into colors, textures, and statement-making combinations. Along the way, he takes readers into eight lush homes that he styled, including his own. So if you are looking for a book that takes interior design to the next level with living art as its focus, and of course gorgeous photography throughout, then this is your book. Then once you’ve immersed yourself in decorating with the plants you have, you may want to turn to adding more plants utilizing his book, The Propagation Handbook, his latest addition. As he states in the beginning of the book, plant propagation is “the gift that keeps on giving,” All the whys to propagating (its free!) to the methods of doing so like stem, tip, or leaf cuttings on soil or root cuttings in water. He also goes into soil blends, container types, and tools to use for propagation.
What is my Plant Telling me? by Emily L. Hay Hinsdale | Request Now 
Why are those leaves browning or yellowing or just dropping off? Will this plant thrive better in a southwest facing window? Low or high light or just a hint? This book covers the care of 50 common houseplants in alpha order A (African violet) to Z (ZZ plant). Great for beginners. Her other book is another great gift for the absolute beginner to indoor gardening called Never Put a Cactus in the Bathroom. This book goes over the basics of easy indoor plant care like the best lighting, watering tips, and best plants for different places in your home.
Grow in the Dark: How to Choose and Care for Low-Light Houseplants by Lisa E. Steinkopf | Request Now
Another great book for indoor plant novices especially for those that lack sunny windows in their home or office. If both points are about you, this book is a great place to start. It has 50 low- to medium-light plants and instructions on caring for them. The guide is dedicated to the best plants to grow in a dim or dark room. The author, Lisa Eldred-Steinkopf, reveals the information she has gathered from caring for her home jungle of more than 1,000 indoor plants. The reader will also learn which houseplants are safe to keep near pets.
Blog Post
Fabulous Fiction Firsts #847, Author! Author!
by muffy
The Three Lives of Cate Kay * * * (also in downloadable eBook and audiobook), debut novel by Emmy Award-winning sports journalist (and a former WNBL player) Kate Fagan, is one of the most anticipated releases in the new year, and the January pick of Reese’s Book Club.
Bestselling novelist Cate Kay, elusive author of the blockbuster trilogy The Very Best is about to discover how hard the media is trying to expose her, with the filming of the series adaptation about to begin, starring the current ‘it” girl Ryan Channing. The narrative, framed as Kay's unpublished memoir, gradually unravels her story.
Anne Marie (called Annie) raised by a single mother in upstate New York, shared the dream of escaping to Hollywood with best friend and fellow thespian Amanda, after high school. A tragic accident the night before their departure forced Annie to travel alone, taking on the identity of Cass Ford, falling in with an ambitious law student named Sydney Collins. The pair moved to New York City and Cass began writing while working as a barista.
“The story is presented as Cate Kay's memoir and sprinkled with her own footnotes, but it also offers brief chapters from the first-person viewpoints of many other characters, implying that Cass has reached out to them for their perspectives. Through this documentary-like setup, author Fagan is able to round out the picture of Annie/Cass/Cate and the way she's coped with various traumas. “(Kirkus Reviews)
“Though the pace is leisurely, the tension of the story is taut and explores how ambitions clash with genuine connection and test the humanity of compassionate relationships. It is intimate and personal and digs into the often-opaque motivations of its characters. At its heart, it is about how we deal--or don't deal--when tragedy strikes. Fagan's (All the Colors Came Out, 2021) journalism-honed observational skills make her fiction debut shine.” (Booklist)
* * * = 3 starred reviews
Blog Post
Request for Proposals for Audit Services - CLOSED
by eli
This RFP closed at 5 PM on 1/31/2025.
The Board of Trustees of Ann Arbor District Library, hereinafter called “AADL,” invites qualified independent Auditors, hereinafter called “Auditor,” having sufficient government and auditing experience in performing an audit in accordance with the specifications outlined in this Request for Proposal (RFP) to submit a proposal.
There is no expressed or implied obligation for AADL to reimburse firms for any expenses incurred in preparing proposals in response to this request.
The specific details shown herein shall be considered minimum unless otherwise shown. The specifications, terms, and conditions included with this RFP shall govern in any resulting contract(s) unless approved otherwise in writing by AADL.
Description of Ann Arbor District Library
AADL is a governmental nonprofit organization with 501(c) 3 tax status serving most of the Ann Arbor Public Schools district. AADL was established by agreement between the Ann Arbor Public Schools and the City of Ann Arbor in 1995. AADL is governed by a seven-member Board of Trustees elected at large.
For more information and a description of our major programs and services, visit our web site at aadl.org.
The administrative office of AADL is located at 343 S. Fifth Ave. in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Services to be performed
Your proposal is expected to cover the following services:
- Annual financial and internal control audit
- Completion and filing of the agency 990 tax return
- File or assist in filing extensions associated with the 990 tax return and/or 5500 filing, if needed
Type of Audits
Annual Financial and Compliance
The audit will encompass a financial and compliance examination of AADL’s basic financial statements, supplementary information, and internal controls in accordance with the laws and/or regulations of the State of Michigan and the requirements of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. The financial audit will cover state and local funding sources in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
Period
AADL intends to continue the relationship with the Auditor for no less than three years based on performance. AADL reserves the right to request proposals at any time following the first year of this contract, should the Auditor not meet the terms of the contract.
July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025
July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026
July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027
Requirements
The Auditor will be responsible for the preparation, proofing, printing, and copying of the Financial Statements and supplementary information. The Auditor will submit a draft of the Financial Statements to be reviewed in detail to AADL. This draft should be submitted in time to allow ample review and corrections.
AADL will expect a listing of requested information needed for the audit from the selected firm during prior to the audit providing finance staff with ample time to accommodate those requests. Updates to that list may be made periodically while the audit is being conducted.
The working papers prepared and/or used by the Auditor shall be retained and made available upon request for no less than three years from the date of the audit report.
In the event that circumstances arise during the audit that requires work to be performed in excess of the original estimates, any additional costs will be negotiated prior to commencement of the work and an amended contract will be provided to AADL.
Annual Financial and Compliance Audit Specific Requirements
A preliminary draft of the audit must be submitted to AADL with ample time for review prior to the September Board meeting traditionally held on the fourth Monday of the month.
The final audit report is due to AADL no later than the third Monday of the month of September.
An electronic version and ten hard copies of the audit report and management letter must be supplied to the Library Director within the period cited above.
Other Services
A presentation to the AADL Board of Trustees and Finance Committee is required and will be scheduled.
Description of Selection Process
The firm best meeting AADL’s expectations for experience, audit approach, and cost requirements will be selected.
AADL requests that no member of the governing board be contacted during this process. The Library Director or Finance Manager may be contacted via email at neiburgere@aadl.org or richmondc@aadl.org, respectively, to clarify questions concerning the RFP.
AADL reserves the right to reject any or all bids, waive technicalities, and to be the sole judge of suitability of the services for its intended use and further specifically reserve the right to make the award in the best interest of AADL.
Failure to respond to any requirements outlined in the RFP, or failure to enclose copies of the required documents, may disqualify the bid.
Proposal Requirements
- Provide a list of the firm’s current and prior government and/or library audit clients, indicating the type(s) of services performed and the number of years served for each.
- Provide a copy of the firm’s current peer review.
- Describe the relevant educational background of each person assigned to the audit. This should include seminars and courses attended within the past three years, especially those courses in governmental accounting and auditing.
- Describe the professional experience of assigned individuals in auditing relevant government organizations, programs, activities, or functions.
- Provide company name, address, a contact person, and telephone number of at least three, current or prior, nonprofit audit clients who may be contacted for a reference.
- Describe any regulatory action taken by any oversight body against the proposing audit organization.
- Proposals should include completed cost estimate sheets and any other necessary cost information.
- Organization of the audit team and the approximate percentage of time spent on the audit by each member.
- Assistance expected from AADL’s staff, if other than outlined in the RFP.
- Tentative schedule for completing the audit within the specified deadlines of the RFP.
- Specify cost for each audit year beginning with the audit year ending June 30, 2025. The costs provided will be binding,
- Please make AADL aware of any of the following ownership status of the firm.
- Minority-owned
- Women-owned
- Locally-owned
Please list any other information the firm may wish to provide.
Time Schedule for Awarding the Contract
Proposals signed by authorized officials will be accepted via email at richmondc@aadl.org until January 31, 2025 at 5:00pm. Subject line should read “Response to RFP – Auditing Services”.
AADL’s Finance Committee will review the proposals and make a recommendation to AADL’s Board of Trustees on or before February 28, 2025 at which time the contract will be awarded. Notification of the award will be emailed within five business days.
Thank you,
Eli Neiburger
Director
Ann Arbor District Library
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Great Book Club Reads
by eapearce
Looking for a great read for your book club this year? Try any of these titles, perfect for sparking discussion, sharing a new perspective, or transporting you to times and places you’ve never been!
Clytemnestra, by Costanza Casati | Request Now
If your book club enjoyed the popular Circe, by Madeline Miller, you may want to add Clytemnestra to your reading list! Most know Clytemnestra as a notorious villain-queen of the ancient world. She was the wife of Agamemnon, making her the queen of Mycenae, and the half-sister of Helen of Sparta. In some ancient stories, she murders Agamemnon and his mistress Cassandra, while in others—such as Homer’s Odyssey—her role in his death is unclear. Readers will get a whole new telling of her life in Casati’s rendition of her story. In her telling, Clytemnestra knows that queens are either hated or forgotten. She’d prefer to be forgotten, but when she’s married off to a tyrant, watches him kill their child and wage endless wars on foreign seas, she begins to plot. Her life is not the one she deserved, or wanted, but somehow she’ll find a way to take power back into her own hands. This sparkling re-telling crackles with passion, fury, and excitement. Conveniently, it even includes a reading group guide and a conversation with the author to aid your book club’s discussion!
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, by James Nestor | Request Now
In this nonfiction book, author Nestor engages in a variety of breathing techniques and exercises to improve his own physical health. He believes that breathing is a “lost art,” and travels around the world to answer his questions about why humans have—in his opinion—lost the ability to breath properly. He has a point about the importance of breathing—humans breathe on average 22,000 times a day! It should be noted that Nestor is not a doctor, nor a scientist, but his journalistic adventures and exploration into different ways to breathe are interesting, adventurous and easy to try yourself (if you’d like). He also consults medical professionals and draws upon and discusses modern scientific research that studies the benefits of different types of breathing and the health improvements that they may offer. As they always say, can’t hurt, might help!
A Girl Called Samson, by Amy Harmon | Request Now
For book clubs that enjoy historical fiction, Harmon’s Revolutionary War-set title might be a good selection. The story follows Deborah Samson, who is born in 1760 to Puritan parents in Massachusetts. When her father abandons the family and her mother can no longer support all the children, Deborah is bound out as an indentured servant. Struggling through her exhausting days, she yearns for a life of freedom and adventure as the years slowly tick by. She seizes her opportunity when the Colonies begin to prepare themselves for war against England. Luckily for her, she’s always been tall and strong and she successfully disguises herself as a man and joins the Continental Army. It isn’t long before she’s thrown into the horrors of way, and not long after that an unexpected love challenges her ability to hide who she really is. If your book club enjoys a touch of romance thrown in with historical fiction, this may be the book for you!
How the Penguins Saved Veronica, by Hazel Prior | Request Now
If you’re seeking a humorous, feel-good read, give this one a go! Veronica is an elderly woman who lives in a Scotland mansion. A lifelong curmudgeon, she’s estranged from her family and is seeking a good cause to leave her fortune to. When she sees a documentary about scientists studying and saving penguins in Antarctica, she calls these scientists to let them know she’s coming—and refuses to take no for an answer. Soon before her departure, she learns that she has a long-lost grandson, but forges ahead anyway. Upon her arrival, Veronica convinces the scientists to rescue an orphaned baby penguin and allow her to help nurse it back to health. Between aiding the baby penguin and the news that her grandson has followed her to the research station in a last-ditch effort to know his grandmother, Veronica’s cold heart slowly begins to warm. Written from different perspectives: Veronica, her grandson, and several of the scientists, along with excerpts from Veronica’s diaries from the 1940s, this is a charming read that will leave book clubs smiling.
If you’re looking for more reads for your book club, don’t forget about AADL’s Book Clubs to Go, where you can check out 10 copies of the same book along with discussion questions, all in one handy canvas bag.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Picture Books to Pore Over
by evelyn
Do you have a kid bored at home? Try these detailed picture books you can get lost in!
Journey by Aaron Becker | Request Now
Aaron Becker’s wordless picture book is a magical tale to share with kids. In the style of Harold and the Purple Crayon, this Caldecott honor book tells the tale of a girl who draws herself into a adventurous world. Wordless books are great for stretching the imaginations of both pre-readers and readers alike. Kids will love telling the story of what they see unfold in the pages of Journey.
Where’s Waldo by Martin Handford | Request Now
Where’s Waldo is a classic for a reason! This series has been charming kids since its introduction in the 1980s. In this new title, everything has gone topsy turvy! The wizard has lost his magic staff and as a result, no one is where they should be. There are robots in the Stone Age, surfers in the Colosseum, and a lost polar bear to keep track of. Yikes!
1, 2, 3, Off to School! by Marianne Dubuc | Request Now
French Canadian illustrator Marianne Dubuc has so many beautifully detailed books that it’s hard to pick just one! This adorable school outing is a great place to start. Pom, a tiny human child with an enviable collection of animal friends, can’t wait to go to school! But since they still have to wait an entire year before Kindergarten, they decide to tag along with their animal friends for a day. What is squirrel school like? How do turtles and bears study? Find it all in the adorable book!
The Search for the Giant Arctic Jellyfish by Chloe Savage | Request Now
Dr. Morley has a boat, a crew, and a wish- to find the legendary giant Arctic jellyfish. While she searches high and low for it, is it also searching for her? This book combines wonderfully detailed and realistic drawings of an arctic exploration vessel with the adorable hint of a jellyfish peering up. Search for the jellyfish yourself or just follow along with Dr. Morley’s hunt- either way you’re in for a fun ride.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Graphic Novels that Celebrate Food
by erin
Since we tend to eat with our eyes before we taste our food the intersection of graphic novels with food makes for some amazing reading!
What Did You Eat Yesterday Vol. 1 by Fumi Yoshinaga | Request Now 
A hard-working middle-aged gay couple in Tokyo come to enjoy the finer moments of life through food. After long days at work, either in the law firm or the hair salon, Shiro and Kenji will always have down time together by the dinner table, where they can discuss their troubles, hash out their feelings and enjoy delicately prepared home cooked meals! There are multiple volumes of the manga series to keep you salivating! It was also turned into a live-action TV show in Japan, but does not appear to available to stream.
Relish My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisely | Request Now 
Lucy Knisley loves food. The daughter of a chef and a gourmet, this talented young cartoonist comes by her obsession honestly. In her forthright, thoughtful, and funny memoir, Lucy traces key episodes in her life thus far, framed by what she was eating at the time and lessons learned about food, cooking, and life. Each chapter is bookended with an illustrated recipe-- many of them treasured family dishes, and a few of them Lucy's original inventions.
Chef's Kiss by Jarrett Melendez | Request Now
Now that college is over, English graduate Ben Cook is on the job hunt looking for something...anything...related to his passion for reading and writing. But interview after interview, hiring committee after hiring committee, Ben soon learns getting the dream job won't be as easy as he thought. Proofreading? Journalism? Copywriting? Not enough experience. It turns out he doesn't even have enough experience to be a garbage collector! But when Ben stumbles upon a Now Hiring--No Experience Necessary sign outside a restaurant, he jumps at the chance to land his first job. Plus, he can keep looking for a writing job in the meantime. He's actually not so bad in the kitchen, but he will have to pass a series of cooking tests to prove he's got the culinary skills to stay on full-time. But it's only temporary...right? When Ben begins developing a crush on Liam, one of the other super dreamy chefs at the restaurant, and when he starts ditching his old college friends and his old writing job plans, his career path starts to become much less clear.
Meal by Blue Delliquanti | Request Now
Yarrow is a young chef determined to make her mark on the cutting edge of cookery with her insect-based creations. Though her enthusiasm is infectious, it rubs some of her fellow cooks the wrong way, especially Chanda Flores, Yarrow's personal hero and executive chef of an exciting new restaurant. Her people have been eating bugs for centuries, and she's deeply suspicious of this newbie's attempt to turn her traditions into the next foodie trend. While Chanda and her scrappy team of talented devotees struggle to open on time, Yarrow must win over Chanda -- and Milani, the neighbor she's been crushing on for weeks -- or lose this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to achieve her dreams
Seconds by Bryan Lee O'Malley | Request Now
Katie's got it pretty good. She's a talented young chef, she runs a successful restaurant, and she has big plans to open an even better one. Then, all at once, progress on the new location bogs down, her charming ex-boyfriend pops up, her fling with another chef goes sour, and her best waitress gets badly hurt. And just like that, Katie's life goes from pretty good to not so much. What she needs is a second chance. Everybody deserves one, after all--but they don't come easy. Luckily for Katie, a mysterious girl appears in the middle of the night with simple instructions for a do-it-yourself do-over: 1. Write your mistake 2. Ingest one mushroom 3. Go to sleep 4. Wake anew. And just like that, all the bad stuff never happened, and Katie is given another chance to get things right. She's also got a dresser drawer full of magical mushrooms--and an irresistible urge to make her life not just good, but perfect. Too bad it's against the rules. But Katie doesn't care about the rules--and she's about to discover the unintended consequences of the best intentions
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Retellings of Classics
by walkerk
It's fun to see different spins on classic stories—here are a handful of retellings of classic teen books, specifically of Pride and Prejudice, Twelfth Night, Robin Hood, and The Legend of King Arthur. Although the books in this list are YA, many adult readers have found joy in some of them as well. There are too many good retellings to mention, so if you've read any lately, please share! The more, the merrier.
Pride by Ibi Zoboi | Request Now
Zuri Benitez has pride, but that might not be enough to save her gentrifying neighborhood. When the wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street, Zuri wants nothing to do with their two teenage sons, even as her older sister, Janae, falls for the charming Ainsley. She especially can’t stand the judgmental and arrogant Darius. With four wild sisters pulling her in different directions, some boy vying for her attention, and college applications hovering on the horizon, Zuri fights to find her place in Bushwick’s changing landscape.
While a couple of books on this list may transcend audience categories, this retelling of Pride and Prejudice is moreso for teens. Written with care and exploring issues such as race, cultural differences, and family, Pride is an imaginative, lighthearted, and refreshing take on a beloved story. Readers enjoyed the poetic elements throughout, as well as seeing how Zoboi nods to Pride and Prejudice while managing to write a unique story all the same.
The Last True Poets of the Sea by Julia Drake | Request Now
After surviving the Lyric's shipwreck, Violet and Sam's great-great-great-grandmother founded Lyric, Maine. Shipped back to Lyric while her brother is in treatment for attempting to take his own life, Violet is haunted by the shipwreck she and Sam had always dreamed of discovering. She embarks on a mission to locate the Lyric, lying hidden in a watery grave. She finds a fellow wreck hunter in Liv Stone, an amateur local historian with sparkling intelligence and guarded gray eyes. The journey Violet takes—and the bridges she builds along the way—may be the start of something like survival.
As a reimagining of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night many readers found The Last True Poets of the Sea to be comforting, like a warm hug, with witty, thoughtful, lyrical narration, and a character-focused story. This title explores heavier topics, so please take care and check for content that you would like to avoid. Though, alongside its heavy themes, it carries an adventurous and hopeful air.
Travelers Along the Way by Aminah Mae Safi | Request Now 
Jerusalem, 1192. The Third Crusade rages on. Rahma al-Hud loyally followed her elder sister Zeena into the war over the Holy Land, but all Rahma wants to do is get them home alive. Zeena refuses to give up the fight, so Rahma takes on one final mission with her sister. On their journey to Jerusalem, Rahma and Zeena come across a motley collection of fellow travelers. The teens find solace, purpose, camaraderie, and a healthy bit of mischief in each other's company. It falls to this merry band of misfits to use every scrap of cunning, wit, and thievery to foil the usurper queen, and perhaps finally restore peace to the land.
Readers describe this inclusive, fast-paced retelling of Robin Hood as clever, fun, and entertaining, with Travelers Along the Way exploring beautiful new perspectives and themes, particularly expanding upon the found-family trope. The story features good character development and playfulness that even extends to its chapter titles. If you're a fan of found families heisting and thieving with good intentions, this one's for you.
Legendborn by Tracy Deonn | Request Now 
After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews thinks a residential program for bright high schoolers is the perfect escape from her life—until she witnesses: a flying demon, a secret society of “Legendborn” students hunting creatures, and a mysterious teenage mage, a “Merlin,” who attempts—and fails—to wipe Bree’s memory. The mage’s failure unlocks Bree’s own unique magic and a buried memory. Now, knowing there’s more to her mother’s death, Bree will do whatever it takes to discover the truth, even if that means infiltrating the Legendborn as an initiate.
As a retelling of The Legend of King Arthur, many readers describe Legendborn as an adventurous, mysterious, smart, and enthralling read with fun and inventive world-building, a creative magic system, fantastic character development, and complex and layered themes. This is a popular title, but get yourself in the queue; let this book draw you into its intricate world.
Blog Post
AADL's Most Requested Items of 2024
by richretyi
What were the most requested items in the AADL collection in 2024? We've got the full list. From the most requested fiction and non-fiction titles to portable CD players, The Starry Night, and our 500-piece Lake Michigan vintage poster puzzle—AADL presents our top-20 most requested everything of 2024!
Fiction
1. The Women by Kristin Hannah
2. James by Percival Everett
3. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
4. Funny Story by Emily Henry
5. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
6. The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
7. Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
8. All Fours by Miranda July
9. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
10. Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
11. The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
12. Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
13. Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
14. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
15. North Woods by Daniel Mason
16. First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
17. Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
18. Good Material by Dolly Alderton
19. The Hunter by Tana French
20. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Non-Fiction
1. The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt
2. The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War by Erik Larson
3. True Gretch: What I've Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between by Gretchen Whitmer
4. Attack From Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America by Barbara McQuade
5. Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results: an Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break bad Ones by James Clear
6. Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity by Peter Attia
7. An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s by Doris Kearns Goodwin
8. The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates
9. The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel A. Van der Kolk
10. How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith
11. The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny, and Murder by David Grann
12. Be Ready When the Luck Happens: A Memoir by Ina Garten
13. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
14. Says Who?: A Kinder, Funner Usage Guide for Everyone Who Cares About Words by Anne Curzan
15. Crying in H Mart: A Memoir by Michelle Zauner
16. Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI
17. The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
18. Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
19. How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen
20. Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout
Cookbooks
1. Easy Weeknight Dinners: 100 Fast, Flavor-Packed Meals for Busy People who Still Want Something Good to Eat by Emily Weinstein
2. Smitten Kitchen Keepers: New Classics for Your Forever Files by Deb Perelman
3. The Weekday Vegetarians by Jenny Rosenstrach
4. Zingerman's Bakehouse Celebrate Every Day: A Year's Worth of Favorite Recipes for Festive Occasions, Big & Small by Amy Emberling
5. The Glucose Goddess Method: The 4-Week Guide to Cutting Cravings, Getting Your Energy Back, and Feeling Amazing by Jessie Inchauspé
6. The "I Don't Want to Cook" Book: Dinners Done in One Pot : 100 Low-Prep, No-Mess Recipes for Your Skillet, Sheet Pan, Pressure Cooker, and More! by Alyssa Brantley
7. The How Not to Die Cookbook: 100+ Recipes to Help Prevent and Reverse Disease by Michael Greger
8. Ottolenghi Comfort by Yotam Ottolenghi
9. The Anti Inflammatory Diet Cookbook: No Hassle 30-Minute Meals to Reduce Inflammation by Madeline Given
10. Snacking Bakes: Simple Recipes for Cookies, Bars, Brownies, Cakes & More by Yossy Arefi
11. Smitten Kitchen Every Day: Triumphant and Unfussy New Favorites by Deb Perelman
12. The Soup Club Cookbook: Feed Your Friends, Feed Your Family, Feed Yourself by Courtney Allison
13. Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci
14. Cool Beans: The Ultimate Guide to Cooking With the World's Most Versatile Plant-Based Protein, With 125 Recipes by Joe Yonan
15. The King Arthur Baking Company big Book of Bread: 125+ Recipes for Every Baker by King Arthur Baking Company
16. Love & Lemons: Simple Feel-Good Food: 125 Plant-Focused Meals to Enjoy Now or Make Ahead by Jeanine Donofrio
17. Zingerman's Bakehouse by Amy Emberling
18. Life's too Short to Stuff a Mushroom: Really Good Food Without the Fuss by Prue Leith
19. Snacking Cakes: Simple Treats for Anytime Cravings by Yossy Arefi
20. More is More: Get Loose in the Kitchen by Molly Baz
Movies
1. The Holdovers
2. Oppenheimer
3. Poor Things
4. Wonka
5. Dune, Part Two
6. The Fall Guy
7. Barbie
8. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
9. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
10. Ferrari
11. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
12. The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
13. The Beekeeper
14. American Fiction
15. Civil War
16. Inside Out 2
17. The Wild Robot
18. Anyone But You
19. The Taste of Things
20. The Marvels
TV and Miniseries
1. Ted Lasso: The Richmond Way, Seasons 1-3
2. The Mandalorian: The Complete First Season
3. The Mandalorian: The Complete Second Season
4. Dalgliesh: Series 1
5. The Madame Blanc Mysteries. Series 1
6. Andor: The Complete First Season
7. Wednesday: Season 1
8. The White Lotus – The Complete Second Season
9. Mrs Sidhu Investigates: Series 1
10. Obi-Wan Kenobi: The Complete Series
11. Around the World in 80 Days
12. Funny Woman
13. Devil's Peak
14. Reacher: Season 2
15. Succession: The Fourth and Final Season
16. True Detective: Night Country: Season 4
17. Elsbeth: Season 1
18. Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Season 5
19. Star Trek Discovery: The Final Season
20. The Brokenwood Mysteries: Series 10
Music
1. The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift
2. Hit Me Hard and Soft by Billie Eilish
3. Midnights by Taylor Swift
4. Cowboy Carter Act II by Beyoncé
5. Red (Taylor's Version) by Taylor Swift
6. Reputation by Taylor Swift
6. Lover by Taylor Swift
7. Rockstar by Dolly Parton
8. Speak Now (Taylor's Version) by Taylor Swift
9. Folklore by Taylor Swift
10. Short N' Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter
11. Evermore by Taylor Swift
12. i/o Bright-Side Dark-Side Mixes by Peter Gabriel
13. Fearless (Taylor's Version) by Taylor Swift
14. The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan
15. Pushin' Too Hard: American Garage Punk 1964-1967
16. 1989 by Taylor Swift
17. Dark Matter by Pearl Jam
18. Saviors by Green Day
19. 1989 (Taylor's Version) by Taylor Swift
20. Now That's What I Call Music by CD Pop Now 90
LPs
1. The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan
2. Midnights by Taylor Swift
3. Spice by The Spice Girls
4. I Put A Spell On You by Nina Simone
5. Speak Now (Taylor's Version) by Taylor Swift
6. The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd
7. Let It Be by The Beatles
8. Cowboy Carter Act II by Beyoncé
9. New Blue Sun by Andre 3000
10. Reputation by Taylor Swift
11. Kind of Blue by Miles Davis
12. Sunday at the Village Vanguard by Bill Evans
13. Queen: Greatest Hits
14. Boygenius by Boygenius
15. The Beatles: The White Album
16. Legend: The Best of Bob Marley and the Wailers by Bob Marley
17. The Runaways by The Runaways
18. Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd
19. Is This It? by The Strokes
20. Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin
Art Prints
1. The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh
2. The Yanagawa (Koshu Yanagawa), 1921 by Hasui Kawase
3. Blumengarten by Gustav Klimt
4. Water Lilies, 1916-1919 by Claude Monet
5. Bank of the Oise at Auvers, 1890 by Vincent Van Gogh
6. Up in the Woods by Carrie Hensel
7. Autumn at Oirase (Oirase no Aki), 1933 by Hasui Kawase
8. Ocean Waves by Hokusai Katsushika
9. Good Harbor by Carrie Hensel
10. Starry Night Over the Rhone, 1888 by Vincent van Gogh
11. Mid Michigan by Karin Wagner Coron
12. The Studio, 1955 by Pablo Picasso
13. The Mulberry Tree, 1889 by Vincent van Gogh
14. Birch Line by Betsy O'Neill
15. Meet Me In My Garden Dreams pt. 1 by Jennifer Lommers
16. The Window by Henri Matisse
17. The Great Wave off Kanagawa, 1830-1832 by Hokusai Katsushika
18. Mont Sainte-Victoire by Paul Cézanne
19. Grove of Trees by Libby Smart
20. Basket of Oranges by Henri Matisse
Tools
1. Radon Detector
2. Thermal Camera
3. Emerald 118 Sewing Machine
4. Projector
5. Portable Disc Player
6. Telescope
7. Rotosphere Q3: Disco Style Effect Light for Event Lighting
8. PA System with Battery, Bluetooth & Two 20' Sm58 Wired Microphones
9. Colorband Pix: RGB 40" LED Bar Wash Light for Event Lighting
10. Opal 650 Sewing Machine
11. Slimpack Q12: Rgba LED Par Wash Light 4-Pack for Event Lighting
12. A2Zero Kit: for Measuring Energy Use, Indoopr Carbon Dioxide Co2, Humidity, Temperature, Ventilation, and Thermal Heat Loss
13. Theremini
14. Indoor Air Quality Meter
15. Thermal Leak Detector
16. Abyss: Underwater Effect Light for Event Lighting
17. Sm58 Microphone
18. Mobile Cube - Stereo Vocal / Synthesizer / Guitar Amplifier
19. 10' 1/4" TS M to 1/4" TS M Audio Cable
20. AKG Lyra USB Microphone
Games
1. Mega Tumble Tower
2. Giant Tumble Tower
3. Midzise Ping Pong Table
4. Mini Badminton
5. Giant Checkers
6. Cuboro
7. Wingspan
8. Ticket To Ride
9. Giant Chess
10. Air Scoop Ball
11. Magformers
12. Pickleball
13. Skittles
14. Jumbo Bricks
15. Azul
16. Catan
17. Keva Planks
18. Root
19. Sushi Go!
20. Animal Upon Animal
Puzzles
1. Explore Our National Parks - 1000 Pieces
2. What's Inside a Flower? - 500 Pieces
3. The Wondrous Workings of Planet Earth Puzzle - 500 Pieces
4. Solar System Jumbo Puzzle - 25 Pieces
5. Otters At Play - 64 Pieces
6. Cats & Dogs Double-Sided Puzzle - 100 Pieces
7. National Parks - 1000 Pieces
8. Songbirds - 500 Pieces
9. Great Lakes: Lake Michigan, Vintage Poster - 500 Pieces
10. Map of the World Geography Puzzle - 78 Pieces
11. Moonlight Moment - 1000 Pieces
12. Piece It Together Family Puzzle: Owl Aboard! - 60 Pieces
13. Sibley Backyard Birding Puzzle - 1000 Pieces
14. Construction Jumbo Puzzle - 25 Pieces
15. Lake Life - 1000 Pieces
16. LEGO Minifigure - 1000 Pieces
17. Whimsical Village - 1000 Pieces
18. Birds & Bugs Double Sided Puzzle - 100 Pieces
19. Great Lakes, Michigan, Moose Swimming at Sunset - 1000 Pieces
20. Magic of Stories - 500 Pieces
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Top-Notch Picture Books
by ohheyitselle
Some picture book are just too good to pass up, even if you're above a picture book reading level!
Pokko and the Drum by Matthew Forsythe | Request Now
This picture book is just too dang perfect. Like many parents before, Pokko's parents made a big mistake in getting her a drum... but it may be worth it. The illustrations in this book are a sell enough, but once you add the humor of Pokko's parents, intentional page layouts, and a heartwarming end to the mix... you too, will be marching along to Pokko's beat.
What's the Rush? by Yiting Lee | Request Now
This charming retelling of Aesop's The Tortoise and the Hare emphasizes the importance of patience and friendship! Bunny and Turtle are two best friends but couldn't be more different. When they decide to climb a mountain together, Bunny is quickly impatient to Turtle's slow and methodological prepping. With stunning illustrations, this story proves there is power in thinking ahead. Contrary to the teaching of this story, you should RUSH to check out this book! ;)
Bathe the Cat by Alice B. McGinty | Request Now
We have all experienced that mad rush to clean the home before company arrives, and this family is no different!! To make matters worse, the family cat is actively sabotaging the to-do list in order to avoid a bath! This picture book shows rather than tells by cleverly having the cat rearrange magnetic refrigerator letters to mess up the to-do list, resulting in a series of silly sounding and nonsense chores! This rhyming story is cute, clever, and definitely one for the books (pun intended)!
Leave Me Alone by Vera Brosgol | Request Now
Have you ever had something really important to do, but you can't seem to get the space to do it?? Well, this grandma has!! This silly story about a grandma who just can't find peace and quiet has some very cute and creative illustrations that lead you right into a heartwarming ending. Heck, while you're reading, feel free to shout out "Leave me alone!!!" in solidarity with this grandma!
Blog Post
Best of the Best 2024
by muffy
Goodreads Readers’ Favorite Books 2024
Library Journal’s (114) Best Books of 2024
NPR's staff consumed culture in every imaginable form, and now that the end of the year is upon us, it had gathered all of its favorites right here: The Best of 2024: Our favorite movies, TV, books, music and games, all in one place.
100 Notable Books of 2024, selected by the editors of The New York Times Book Review. Here are their picks of The 10 Best Books of 2024
The 2024 New York Times / New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books
The 10 winners are chosen each year by a rotating panel of three expert judges who made their selections from the nearly 800 books by authors and illustrators around the world, purely on the basis of artistic merit.
New York Times named The Best Audio Book of 2024, whether its “(v)oices, cadence, pacing: these 8 sublime audiobooks do everything right.”
The Best Book Covers of 2024 when a New York Times book review art director selects the book jackets that made a compelling impression. Feast for your eyes!
The New Yorker picked its The Best Books of 2024
Kirkus Reviews’ 100 Best Fiction Books of the Year. For the genre readers, here are: Mysteries & Thrillers, Historicals, Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy. For readers with special interests: Best Book Club Picks, Short Fiction, Debut Fiction and Fiction in Translation.
Kirkus Reviews’ Best 100 Picture Books of 2024 and the funniest.
Blog Post
Staff Picks: Stream It on AADL.org!
by emjane
Great news! There’s a ton of excellent video to stream via your aadl.org catalog! You can browse the whole collection of more than 10,000 videos, or check out some recommended picks below:
Kids Content
Brand new to AADL streaming, we’ve got a whole bunch of content made especially for kids! Watch animated classics like Arthur, Franklin, and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. Learn something from the History Kids or Kratts Creatures. Or curl up with a good book with Reading Rainbow or Storybook Classics
Nature Documentaries
There are nature documentary series aplenty available to stream. Why not check out the classic Planet Earth? Or Blue Planet? Frozen Planet? (We’ve got a lot of Planet content!) Learn about Big Cats or see what happens with Animals With Cameras
BBC Classics
Bite into a film adaptation of a book with any of these BBC literary classics! David Copperfield | Emma | Great Expectations | Jane Eyre | Lorna Doone | Mansfield Park |Pride and Prejudice | Sense & Sensibility (and many more!)
PBS Docuseries
Imagine rather than having to wait for your favorite series to air on PBS, you could just pull them up via your local library catalog? No need to imagine, it’s your reality! Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr. is always intriguing, and I’m a huge fan of the science and history explored in NOVA. Or catch up with episodes of American Experience!
And there’s so much more! HBO’s Chernobyl, A&E’s Biography, History Channel’s Modern Marvels all the Ken Burns your heart desires, and more just waiting for you to find it!