The Classic of the Month: Oh Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad
This month, we're going to look at a scary short story, instead of a full-length novel. This chilling little tale will not be a very long read (or listen, if…
Tales of Friendship, Love, and Hospitality
Hospitality is a very special gift. It's a giving of yourself, from your time, your resources, and your heart. The tales included below are all stories of hospitality in some…
Andy Serkis Reads Lord of the Rings
I've been a Lord of the Rings fan for years--in that I've seen the movies (extended editions!) at least half a dozen times, and I quote it often enough. But,…
The Classic of the Month: Don Quixote
Welcome to the Classic of the Month-- an ongoing series dedicated to putting the right classic into the hands of the right reader! This month, we're looking at a really…
Libby, Hoopla, and ComicsPlus: Which Should I Use and When?
Westlake Porter Public Library has a whole host of excellent Download and Stream options. From ebooks to movies, we have a little something for everyone. But, sometimes with this much…
Hoopla MEGAPACKS
Sometimes, when you find an author you really like, there's nothing better than just sitting down and reading as much as you can by that author, one title after another.…
The Universal Monsters
I'm a big fan of classic horror and the grouping of films about the Universal Monsters are my favorites. Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolf Man...I can't get enough of these big…
The Classic of the Month: Beloved
Not all ghost are found in horror stories. And sometimes, that horror runs so deep that it's not even scary anymore...just a sickening numbness that leaves you unable to cry.…
STEAM Week: Sand and Shells
My favorite place in the world has to be the beach. The warmth of the morning, the heat of the afternoon, and the cool of the night--it's always a lovely…
Spineless, Brainless, Beautiful, and Deadly: The World of the Jellyfish
If you ask me, the jellyfish is one of the most beautiful animals in nature. These gorgeous creatures, which do not possess brains, spines, or even eyes or ears, come…
Ten 1950s Sci-Fi Films for World UFO Day
World UFO Day is today (July 2nd) and as a librarian with a passion for classic horror films, I though it would be fun to celebrate the occasion with some…
Classic of the Month: Captain Blood
Welcome to our latest installment of The Classic of the Month. This month, we're looking at one of my all-time favorite tales of swashbuckling adventure, romance, and revenge. This book…
When Life Gives You Lemons…
Or perhaps this should read "When a Librarian Gives You Lemon Books..." Regardless, the answer is very similar. In the first, you make lemonade. In the second, you make lemonade…
Ligeia, Morella, and Annabel Lee: The Women of Poe
Reading Edgar Allan Poe is like a fever dream. And the more that I read from the Master of the Macabre, the more I realize that he had a very…
I Want My Mummy: Tales of Reanimation, Reincarnation, and Revenge
I enjoy a good horror story, and there's something genuinely chilling about a mummy story. The idea of a being that has survived for hundreds, if nothing thousands of years,…
The Classic of the Month: Silas Marner
Welcome to our second installment of The Classic of the Month! Last month, we looked at the perennially popular Pride and Prejudice. This month, we'll be exploring a slightly less…
Sherlock Holmes: A Study in…
it's only logical that when someone is trying to write a parody or adaptation of a classic story, they will often try to write a title that is similar to…
The Sherlock Holmes Canon: A Celebration for Sherlock Holmes Day (May 22, 2022)
For the longest time, I've considered myself a Sherlock Holmes fan. But, until very recently (within the last two years or so) I would be forced to admit that I…
Fun and Ridiculous Adventures at Wayside School
Summer is almost here, and the last thing anyone wants to talk about is school. Summer is a time for relaxing, having fun, and forgetting all about getting up for…
Beyond Sherlock Holmes: The Other Writings of Arthur Conan Doyle
Sherlock Holmes is easily the most famous detective of all time. And I absolutely love a good Holmes mystery. A couple of years ago, I decided to read all the…
The Classic of the Month: Pride and Prejudice
Welcome to our new series: The Classic of the Month! I love reading the classics! These are a diverse collection of books written by a wide array of authors, but…
Terror in the Snow
There is something beautiful and haunting and even a little scary about the cold. The silent isolation of a snow-covered mountain, the rising unease that comes with being "snowed in,"…
Introducing Large Print Classics!
I'm very excited to introduce a new addition to our collection! Patrons have been asking and we've answered with a new selection of Large Print classics for your reading enjoyment!…
Beautiful Portraits of Our Animal Friends
Whether they're our companions or something we watch in awe from afar, animals are such an important part of our lives (and such a fascinating topic of interest). The books…