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…
Patron Portrait: Barbara Hillman
We had the opportunity to interview a long-time library user and wish to share her story with our community. Please enjoy this portrait of Barbara Hillman. Before she had 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…
Health on the Shelf: Meditative May
Adopt the pace of nature: Her secret is patienceRalph Waldo Emerson The warmer weather, the clearer skies, the birds singing, the abundant daylight - this time of year always seems…
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…
May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
In celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander culture, diversity and heritage, please enjoy this selection of movies and documentaries, some available on Hoopla and Kanopy. The Farewellavailable on Kanopy This…
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…
A Small List of Giant Books
What is it about giants that capture our imaginations? Perhaps it's just that they're so big. There's something awe-inspiring, frightening, and exciting about a creature that is so much bigger…
Introducing Northstar Digital Literacy Assessment
Westlake Porter Public Library is proud to present the Northstar Digital Literacy Assessment! Offered through WPPL, the service is aimed at helping adults acquire the technology skills they need in…
Folklore Fun! Scandinavia
What do the God of Thunder and Disney Queen Elsa have in common? Popular movie franchises? Well, yes. Flashy elemental powers? Um, also yes. However, the answer I'm looking for…
National Library Week: Connect to your Health
I confess, I have a relative who asks me every time I see him, "how are all the books?" I try my best to remind him that while books are…
April is Deaf History Month
This year Deaf History Month will be celebrated from April 1-30th, according to The National Association of the Deaf. This month shines a light on Deaf culture and its background…
Health on the Shelf: Clean Eats
Spring is here . . Spring Cleaning . . . Clean Eating! What is clean eating? According to the Mayo Clinic, clean eating is eating foods that are as close…
A Case of Mistaken Identity
At the end of 2021, I shared my yearly Reading Challenge. Throughout the year, I'm going to share some lists that might help with some of the prompts provided. Of…
Five Fabulous Films to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
I come from a proud family of Cleveland Irish Catholics, and of course St. Patrick's Day is always a time of celebration. Ever since I was a kid, one of…