Please, Sir, I Want Some More: Oliver Twist Retellings
Oliver Twist is one of those classic novels that I always meant to read, but for some reason have not. The story of a young orphan who becomes mixed up…
Sailing on the Wine-Dark Sea: Odyssey Retellings
I minored in Classical Studies in college. This didn't exactly mean that I read classic books with a little "c" (although, I read a ton of those as an English…
Such Stuff as Dreams are Made On: The Tempest Retellings
I've read a fair share of Shakespeare in school, which means I've read Hamlet for at least three classes, and Romeo and Juliet for four. But, you can imagine my…
Author Spotlight: Jack London
Today is Jack London's birthday, so let's celebrate properly with a selection of this wonderful author's books! While London is probably best known for his cold climate tales, the author…
What I’m Reading: January 2022
It's the start of a new year, and already my resolution to only check out 5 books at a time has completely failed. If you're curious about some of the…
Health on the Shelf: Thyroid Awareness
The Thyroid is often described as a butterfly-shaped gland at the base of your neck. I always liked that analogy. January is Thyroid Awareness Month. If you are struggling with…
Teas From Around the World
Westlake Porter Public Library is exploring teas from around the world during the month of January. The New Year is the perfect time to try something new. Whether you are…
Author Spotlight: JRR Tolkien
Today is JRR Tolkien's 130th birthday! In addition to creating the magical world of Middle Earth, including all the fearsome and friendly creatures that inhabit it, Tolkien has created many…
Reading Challenge 2022
As the year draws to a close, it's time to start thinking about our goals for next year. Are you going to get active? Clean the house? Learn a new…
Kick 2021 Out With a Movie Night to Remember!
Looking for something to do on New Year's Eve? Well what better way to do it than with a movie marathon from the comfort of home? You have access to…
Alternative Holiday Films
Films that celebrate the holidays in their own special way. Sure, you can watch It's a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Story, and Elf for the 20th time...or you can get…
Health on the Shelf: Academic Testing
Are you studying for an entrance or certification exam in the healthcare field? The library has study guides in the collection that can help you to prepare for your exam.…
Noirvember Film Recommendations II: Neo-Noir
As we wrap up Noirvember, a month dedicated to enjoying film noir movies, it's about time to move into the Neo-Noir category of films. In a previous post we recommended…
Writing Prompts for NaNoWriMo
November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and writers the world over and sweating nervously and pacing about, trying to come up with the perfect idea for a story or…
Health on the Shelf: Behind the Medical Curtain
Medical dramas have always been popular shows to watch on TV or to stream. The Good Doctor, The Resident, and House are just a few examples. And I am sure…
Favorite Folk and Fairy Tales
I love, love, love folk and fairy tales! These classic stories of good and evil, clever heroes and brave heroines have been entertaining people for centuries. Whether you hear them…
Three Spooky Mysteries for Halloween
Halloween is the perfect time to delve into a spooky mystery. These books are 100% mysteries, but have supernatural or horror elements to them to make them more than a…
Environmental Wellness
.Environmental wellness is a term established by the Center for Environmental Health in 1980. Having been established approximately 40 years ago, it is a relatively new concept. Environmental wellness refers…
Resources to Help Kids Deal with Anxiety in an Ever-Changing World
School is back in session, and the routine of day-to-day is back in swing. After a tumultuous 2020 school year, this one promises to be much smoother...or maybe not. With…
Tea and Wellness
Tea and wellness go hand in hand. We were very fortunate to visit Carlos at The Tea Lab in Lakewood, Ohio. Carlos shares both the benefits of how tea relates…
Crafting for Mental Health – Finding a Balance
When I started looking for scientific/medical resources espousing the mental health benefits of crafting, I found primarily anecdotal evidence. This anecdotal evidence was mostly about knitting and crocheting and some…
The Creepy, Crazy World of Cults
What is it about cults that we find so fascinating? Perhaps it's that we're fascinated by the darker side of human nature. We want to hear all the grisly details,…
Five New Horror Novels for Halloween 2021
Looking for something scary to read? Then check out these five new horror novels. All of these chilling tales of terror, which range from unsettling to deeply horrifying were published…
31 Scary Short Stories for Halloween Month
I love a good scary short story! And even though I don't need an excuse to read them year-round, October (or, Halloween Month) is always a great opportunity to sit…