Children’s Renewal Project Update – March
Work has been steadily moving forward, and visitors to Cook Park Library have been greeted with a bright new view when they walk in. Here are some of the exciting updates completed in March.
Hannah’s Pick of the Week: Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
"I've seen a body taken by the sea, and the state of it will rid a man of any hubris. We are soberingly weak under its hammer. This woman, delivered by such a sea--one more powerful than most--is clinging on with a bewildering defiance." Charlotte McConaghy, Wild Dark Shore, pg. 5 The sea is many…
Erica’s Pick of the Week: Yeonnam-Dong’s Smiley Laundromat
Laugh all you want, but I like a nice laundromat, especially at night. They’re infinitely more pleasant than that creepy laundry room in the basement of your college dorm. They’re cozy, even when they’re brightly lit. They smell nice. The rumble of the machines is soothing. In short, laundromats are charming. Yeonnam Dong’s Smiley Laundromat…
Planting Seeds in America
What Do Seeds Have to Do with Our Immigrant Ancestors?! Join Daniel Smith, Genealogy Librarian, as he explores the connections between seeds and our immigrant ancestors. You may be surprised to learn that many immigrants brought seeds with them to America. These seeds were so valuable that they sometimes went to great lengths to hide…
Marianne’s Pick of the Week: The Lost House by Melissa Larsen
No one wants to be the bad guy, and so we distort facts to suit our images of ourselves, and we do this so often that eventually, the lie becomes the truth. – The Lost House There are time when I want to curl up and read a dark, complicated book. My longing for…
Growing a Family Tree from Seed
What Do Seeds Have to Do with Genealogy?! Join Daniel Smith, Genealogy Librarian, as he explores the connections between seeds and genealogy on the Cook Memorial Public Library Podcast. You may be surprised what you can learn about your family's history from seeds! During the episode, Daniel shares what he has learned about his ancestors…
Mary’s Pick of the Week: Bad Nature by Ariel Courage
Early reviews of Ariel Courage’s debut Bad Nature painted a portrait of a deeply flawed character, who, shortly after a terminal cancer diagnosis, embarks on a cross-country drive to kill her estranged father. The picture I had in my head of this story was much funnier than the book turned out to be. There are…
Children’s Renewal Project Update – February
On Cook Ave looking inside the Library. Notable Milestones This Month Walls painted Family bathroom tiled Vinyl flooring and carpet installed Temporary wall removed Color, Color, Color The space is coming to life! If you’ve walked or driven past Cook Park Library on Cook Avenue recently, you may have noticed a splash of color appearing…
Hannah’s Pick of the Week: First Time Caller by B.K. Borison
'"I host a radio show," Aiden says calmly. "Maya called in to ask for dating advice." My hand clenches around the phone. "Dating advice? She's twelve." "She didn't call for herself. She called for you." He makes a small huff of amusement. "My name is Aiden Valentine and you're live with Heartstrings, Baltimore's romance hotline.”'…
Navigating Shifting Boundaries
Have you ever had difficulty locating the name of an ancestor's county of birth? Perhaps you have noticed an ancestor's county of residence is not the same as today? This is not uncommon, as county boundaries changed a lot in the early days of each state, particularly as it became more settled and populated. In…