So I realized I only posted one blog entry in June and now  July is almost over and I still have yet to publish anything new! This summer is flying by, and I'll be honest —​ I've been spending my time enjoying it rather than blogging ... not that blogging isn't enjoyable, haha.

One of the latest crazes to surface during my blogging hiatus is the Pokémon Go phenomenon. And while I personally don't want to waste my time, data or phone battery playing the game, I can already tell you that I love it. Why? Because it is a perfect match for public libraries.

Perhaps the best way to familiarize people with the library's resources and services is to get them in the door. Once you get someone inside, it's almost impossible for them to not find something of interest. And Pokémon Go is definitely bringing people into the library — particularly millennials who might not regularly step foot inside a brick-and-mortar library branch.

It's that time of year again folks, National Library Week! This year's theme "Libraries Transform" could not be any more accurate of what libraries do. Looking to improve your health? Libraries have tons of books about healthy eating, diets and exercise. Want to make your daily commute more productive (and fun)? Check out an audiobook and listen to it on your way to work! Searching for technology classes to better your computer skills? Libraries offer many *FREE* programs (both technology-based and otherwise) for patrons of all ages. Not only libraries transform their patrons, they also transform their communities!

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. This year's celebration is April 10-16. The week designates a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use and advocacy. All types of libraries – be it school, public, academic or special – are recognized and participate in this honorary week of recognition.

Celebrations during this year's National Library Week include the following:
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• Monday, April 11: State of America's Libraries Report released, including Top Ten Frequently Challenged Books of 2015.
• Tuesday, April 12: National Library Workers Day, a day for library staff, users, administrators and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers.
• Wednesday, April 13: National Bookmobile Day, a day to recognize the contributions of our nation's bookmobiles and the dedicated professionals who make quality bookmobile outreach possible in their communities.

Hello, dear readers! I find myself making excuses yet again for delayed postings (I've only managed one a month since October!), but this is always such a busy time of year. On that note, I hope everyone had a happy holiday. I can't believe that tomorrow is already the last day of 2015, but you know what that means .... it's time to rank the best books of the year!

Now there are countless "best books" lists and while there's usually some overlap, there is almost never two identical lists. But there's one source that I find myself coming to year after year for the best, best books rankings: The Goodreads Choice Awards.

One of the reasons I love the top books of the year as declared by the Goodreads Choice Awards is that they're chosen by average readers like you and I! No snobby critics with potential motives for selecting particular titles, just bookworms who know the good stuff when they see (or read) it. How cool is that? Since there's voting involved, it's also fun to get to choose your favorites (or at least try to predict the winners) during each round and see if your selections make it all the way to the winner's circle.

A little over one year ago I published a post about the 2014 Goodreads Choice Awards winners being announced, so I figured I'd continue the now-annual tradition and highlight this year's champion titles:
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It looks like I'm more on my game this year - I've already read, wanted to read, or at least heard of the majority of these titles before the voting for the awards began back in the beginning of November. But of course, that is not at all surprising considering I now have more than a full year's worth of experience working in the magical public library world to help fuel my literary fire!

As you can see, I've already marked my "want to read" selections. And while there are still a few titles from last year's Goodreads Choice Awards that I have yet to get around to reading (oops), I'm not opposed to tacking on a few more books to my ever-growing "to-read" list! I hope this post helps you find a few titles that interest you as well – particularly if your New Year's resolution is to read more books!
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So I'll admit it, I've been really slacking on my blog lately, but it's all for a good reason, I swear! For the past 21 days of September I've been busy traveling around the Pacific Northwest, getting engaged(!), starting a second library job, beginning a new semester of graduate school, and anticipating the arrival of/finally meeting my good friends' brand new baby girl! Sounds like I've got a lot going on, right? Well, since I'm sure you'll be willing to grant me a pardon for my recent blogging hiatus, here's the post that I intended to write at the beginning of the month: 

It's really sad how many people tell me that they don't have a library card. More often than not, they used to have one when they were younger, but not anymore. But why? Libraries are amazing places for people young and old! And if the last time you went to a public library was as as kid, you're in for a treat, because today's libraries are greater than ever! 

Snoopy is Honorary Chair for Library Card Sign-up Month 2015 and he really wants you to get your free library card so you can access all of the amazing services and resources available at your local library. There's plenty of amazing books for you to check out, but there's also tons of eBooks and audiobooks that can be downloaded directly to your device. There's free Wifi, access to electronic databases, the latest DVDs and more!

Looking to learn a new skill? Libraries offer tons of classes and activities for their patrons no matter what the age. This month at Community Library (one of the libraries where I work) we're offering everything from free chair yoga classes to an Introduction to Facebook course, taught by yours truly. We also have lots of awesome craft activities and book discussions for a variety of ages and interests, and don't forget about the fun and educational storytimes for the kids. Interested in learning more about the fall programming at Community Library? Click here! 

Just over a year ago, the small town of Ferguson, Mo. was rocked by the shooting of Michael Brown. More than 365 days later, the community is still attempting to heal. At the center of that peace-seeking effort is the Ferguson Municipal Public Library and its director, Scott Bonner.

When the shooting happened just over a year ago, Bonner had only been in his position as director for five short weeks. In a recent interview with American Libraries Magazine, he discussed how the library has changed since Brown's death:

Thanks in large part to a flood of donations, increased funding allowed the library to start to address important issues through its programming, including the creation a teen newspaper, STEM/STEAM learning, and discussions about social justice and equality. Bonner told American Libraries Magazine:

When asked how the past year changed his perception of the Ferguson community and the library’s role in it, Bonner told American Libraries Magazine, "It has magnified my existing perception of what libraries are for and what they can do in a community. It’s given me a chance to take the community library idea and try it in hyperdrive."

Bonner and the rest of the staff at the Ferguson Municipal Public Library have proven just how important local libraries are to their communities. Public libraries are far more than book-lending institutions filled with old ladies saying "Shh." Instead, libraries are at the center of their communities and their staff members work effortlessly to unify, unite and better the people they serve.

I was watching HGTV the other day (well ... most days) and it featured a married couple looking to buy a new house for many reasons, including the fact their bedroom was also serving as an office. I can't imagine trying to get work done in the same room as my big comfy bed, just beckoning me to climb under the covers and stay a while. Sure, my napping rates would increase dramatically, but my quality of sleep would actually be much lower, according to various sleep centers.

You see, people need separate places to do different activities — and I'm not just talking about work and sleep. Allow me to introduce you to a concept of third places and how they make public libraries an even more necessary place to spend your time.

According to an article in Psychology Today, "Third places are where people congregate other than work or home. England has pubs, France has cafés, and Austria has coffee houses." But what about the United States? I mean we have Starbucks, where everyone is over-caffeinated and too eager to pounce on an available electrical outlet, and we have a plethora of bars, but what about people who don't drink? 

In his book The Great Good Place, Ray Oldenburg explains that third places all share common features:

• They are neutral, meaning people can come and go without penalty
• They are level, meaning everyone there is equal
• Conversation is the main activity in third places
• Third places are accessible — no reservation needed!
• Third places have many trusty regulars
• Third places are unpretentious
• The dominant mood of a third place is playful

Boy, these third places sure are sounding an awfully lot like public libraries ... am I right?!

Third places play a critical role in attracting and keeping a creative and innovative workforce. Whether you're in need of help with a research project, looking to learn a new skill or hobby, or if you're in the market for a new book, your local library is the perfect third place to spend your free time. I promise it will be fun for you and good for your head! 

PS: I certainly won't be doing work in my bedroom any time soon, but there's no way I'm giving up reading in bed. It's a great way to unwind at the end of a long day, and it's an even better excuse to lay in bed a little longer the next morning!

Waking up to horrible news is one of the worst things you can experience. Here's a brand new day, filled with endless possibilities and opportunities – that is, until the moment the bad news hits you. Hard. 

All that promise of a new day – a new start – becomes tainted by news oftentimes completely beyond your control. When I was a senior in high school, the news was that my aunt had been in a car accident and would probably not make it. A few years later, it was that my mother was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Cancer. A couple years after that, it was that my dad had been in a fatal motorcycle accident. Today that news was the shooting and death of nine innocent people in a church in Charleston, S.C.

Bad news is horrible – whether it directly affects you or not – because you know that somewhere, someone's life is being profoundly altered by a devastating and life-changing event. Having lost far too many people before their time in my short 23 years, I am heartbroken for all those affected by last night's senseless act of hatred and violence. 

Not only did people lose brothers, mothers, fathers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends in the Charleston shooting, but the community lost some very important and active members of society, including South Carolina State Senator the Rev. Clementa Pinckney, and the St. Andrews Regional Library Manager Cynthia Hurd, confirmed by the Charleston County Public Library's Facebook page earlier today.

According to The Post and Courier, "In a 2003 interview, Hurd said, 'I like helping people find answers,' adding that the best thing about being a librarian was service. 'Your whole reason for being there is to help people.'" County officials said the St. Andrews Regional Library where Hurd worked will be renamed in her honor, according to The Post and Courier.

Not only was Hurd a dedicated librarian, but Pinckney was also a tremendous advocate for libraries in the State Legislature. Clearly last night's shooting is a tragedy on many levels, but it is surely also a devastating loss for the South Carolina library community.

In the above Facebook post, Hurd was called "a tireless servant of the community who spent her life helping residents, making sure they had every opportunity for an education and personal growth." While I don't have a fix-all solution to the issue of radical violence in this country or any other (no one does), I think that if people put a little more effort into living a life similar to the one Hurd will be remembered for – a life of helping and caring for others – we'd be one step closer to a better and safer world. 

Public libraries are meant to serve everyone in their communities, and that means everyone – whether they have a fixed place of residence or not.

In a recent photo essay published in National Geographic Magazine, photographer Fritz Hoffmann highlights how some homeless people in California benefit from public libraries, including using them as quite places to read and learn, using their restroom facilities and using them as a place to get off the streets – either momentarily, or for good.

"Being homeless often means living off the mainstream grid, unplugged from the Internet, email, and streaming media. Public libraries provide the homeless with a way to connect, and many homeless say that browsing the stacks and reading a book there eases a weary street-level perspective of life," Hoffmann states in his photo essay.

The San Francisco Public Library was the first library in the nation to hire a full-time social worker as part of its staff. Since being hired in 2009, Leah Esguerra has helped about 150 formerly homeless library patrons find permanent housing, and another 800 have benefited from other social services provided by the library, according to PBS. Esguerra has also provided employment for formerly homeless library patrons by creating positions at the library known as "health and safety associates." These employees are tasked with monitoring the library for anyone who appears to be homeless and offering them help – be it informing them about area shelters, or working with housing agencies to find them a place of their own.

Homelessness is a major issue in this country, and many others around the world. And while some library patrons may be upset at libraries for their policies regarding serving the homeless, it is the duty of public libraries to serve and support their communities and the all of people in them.

To learn more about how libraries across the country are serving the homeless, click here.

Superheroes are sweeping public libraries across the country with this year's summer reading program! With separate categories for kids, teens and adults, summer reading programs are a great way to beat the heat and get the whole family reading. Not only will you meet new heroes and heroines through books, but you just might discover some new superpowers of your own (and win a few prizes too)!

Below are the details for the summer reading program at the Community Library, where I work. The kids and teen summer reading programs run from June 8-August 7, and the adult program runs from June 8-July 13. Similar programs can be found at your local library.

As the Community Library explains in its program brochure, this year's summer reading program theme aims to, "celebrate heroes of all ages who walk through the doors of the library each day; the heroes who have made their marks on history; the heroes who keep our communities safe, clean, and productive; and high-profile superheroes. From the youngest child to the strongest, mightiest crusader, each and every hero has his or her own story to tell."

What are you reading this summer? Tweet me @TessaFoxReads or use #TessaFoxReads.

An extra special shout out to all my librarian friends out there, as today is National Library Workers' Day!

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a nation-wide observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. All types of libraries – be it school, public, academic or special – are recognized and participate in this honorary week of recognition.

According to the ALA, "It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support." And guess what? I couldn't agree more! Libraries promote lifelong learning, equitable access to information and a love for literacy. They are safe havens and resource centers. Librarians are educators, friends, motivators, supporters and active community members. They are role models and tech support. The list goes on and on! 

In 2014 there was one particular library that couldn't stay out of the headlines – for all the right reasons. I've posted a few times about the Ferguson Municipal Public Library in Missouri, located just blocks from where racially-fueled protests took place following the Michael Brown shooting and Grand Jury ruling. It was there at that tiny public library that Director Scott Bonner and his staff embodied what librarianship is all about, which ended up bringing the small library donations totaling more than $200,000.

After the unarmed Brown was shot by a police officer in last August, the St. Louis suburb was hit by escalating protests and civil unrest. But while local businesses and schools closed their doors as riots, violence and arson raged, the Ferguson library remained open.

Bonner's exemplarily work recently won him the Lemony Snicket award, honoring “noble librarians faced with adversity.” He also put out this response on Twitter, and I think it says a lot about him as a person:

You see? This is how important libraries are to their communities! But everyone knows libraries are only as great as the people who work inside them! As part of this week's festivities, today is National Library Workers' Day. This is my first year I find myself in that category, and I can't wait to celebrate many more days like this during my quest to become a professional librarian. 

But I'll let you in on a little secret about this week: Even without it, librarians would still be more than happy to do what we are doing – to do what we love. Although I must to admit, a little public appreciation goes a long way.

For example, a few weeks ago I had an older library patron approach my desk and ask for some help planning an upcoming trip to Milwaukee. I helped her find an affordable hotel, contact information for the Mitchell Domes and the Milwaukee Art Museum, and even suggested a few restaurants for her to try out. Last Friday that patron came back to the library and rushed over to my desk, exclaiming "Oh I'm so happy you're here! I had such a wonderful time in Milwaukee! I couldn't have done it without you!" 

I couldn't help but smile and feel reminded me why I wanted to work in a public library: to help people like her and to give back to my community. Much to my surprise, she returned again the very next day, with a vase of fresh cut flowers from her garden and a thank you card reading "It's people like you who make it possible for people like me to be thankful for people like you." If that doesn't warm your heart I don't know what will.

The truth is, there are countless interactions like that occurring between patrons and library workers each and every day. Do you have a special library employee in mind that deserves recognition? Nominate a stellar library worker today as part of National Library Workers' Day. And go and pay your librarians a visit at your local library while you're at it!