Cozy Up With These Heartwarming Fantasy Adventures
Like cozy stories AND fantasy fiction? Now you can get both in these fantastic cozy fantasy novels.
Best Books on Crafts You Didn’t Know Existed
Bored with traditional crafting possibilities? Have we got the books for you! Check out these great books on unusual (yet still delightful!) ways to be creative and find your next favorite hobby.
20 Books to Inspire You to Get Outside More Often
Power down the screens, get outside, and enjoy the wonders of nature in our own backyards. Here are some great ways to do just that.
Hit the Road With These Day Trips in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana
Spring is a fantastic time to venture forth on a great day trip. Here are some great ideas for jaunts in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. Let's roll!
Tales with Tails: The Best Adult Fiction with Animal Narrators
Ever wonder what animals are thinking? With these great novels narrated by animals, we can finally know and enjoy a whole new perspective on storytelling.
15 Shades of Slay: the Best Fantasy Assassins
Fantasy novels featuring the rise and fall of the best assassins in fiction make some unputdownable reads. Here are the best fantasy assassins to watch out for.
Best Novels Retold from a Different Character’s Point of View
Retelling a classic story from a new point of view can be a wonderful way to revisit old favorites. Here are some of the best different point-of-view novels to try.
Modern Takes on the Golden Age Mystery Novel
If you enjoy early 20th century golden era detective novels, you'll love these modern versions of classic mystery themes.
Fun Books to Identify Your Treasured Collectibles
Older collectibles books are great places to find pictures of unusual items that can be difficult to find online where image searching can be hit-or-miss. We try to keep a selection on a variety of collectible themes, and they can also be fun ways to see and remember old toys or things you had as a child. Take a look!
Comfort Food Rewind: Ultimate Nostalgic Cookbooks to Savor
Vintage recipes are making a comeback! Here are the best nostalgia cookbooks in the collection for a yummy walk down memory lane.
Enjoy the Magic of London in These Must-Read Urban Fantasy Novels
The history, beauty, and dark whimsy of the city of London make it a perfect setting for some of the best urban fantasy novels. Here's a list of favorites to try.
Resources for Helping Young People with Eating Disorders
It can be tough to know how to support a young person with an eating disorder. Here are some great resources that can help.
Uncommon Knowledge: The Funniest Weird Trivia Books You Didn’t Know You Needed
Pub trivia nights are all the rage these days. Here are some great, fun trivia books from which to pull some great content, or just to amuse and enlighten you!
Intriguing Locked Room Mysteries to Challenge the Keenest Armchair Detective
In the best locked room mysteries, the reader has the same clues as the wily sleuths who solve impossible crimes; the fun part is seeing how they all get put together. Here are some of the best locked room mysteries to challenge devoted armchair detectives.
Top 10 Books on the Creative Pulse of Street Fashion
Street fashion is the venue for the bravest among us to show their personal style and possibly start a whole new trend. Here are the best photography books capturing these amazing people in action.
Swoony Sports Romances
Romances with one or both of the main characters as athletes (or athlete-adjacent) continue to be super popular. Here are some great new/er titles for those who enjoy a great romance with a sporty slant.
Top Thrillers With Neurodivergent Perspectives
Neurodivergent people are those whose brains process information in a way that is not typical of most individuals. There are many wonderful mysteries and thrillers with characters on this spectrum that provide a unique and fascinating perspective in problem-solving and investigation.
Chillax with the Best Books on Pop Culture Life in the 1990s
It's always fun to look back at pop culture from the decades and wonder what the heck we were thinking at the time. Here's a great list of titles on the 1990s sure to make you nostalgic if you were there, or puzzled and amused if you weren't. As if!!
Cozy Reads That Aren’t Excessively Saccharine
These cozy reads are like hot chocolate for your brain, sure to leave you warm and happy.
Best Books on Home Decorating Without Remodeling
Tired of seeing ridiculously out of reach home decorating books? Here are some great titles with low-cost decor ideas well within the range of most people. You got this.
Totally Tubular Books about Pop Culture Life in the 1980s
Living in the 1980s was truly the end of an innocent era when we could take the phone off the hook or just go outside and be completely unreachable by anyone. Seriously: people would dial our number (which they either had to already know or get from something called a phone book), get no answer or a "busy signal" (look it up) and they'd think, "Gosh, I'll just have to call back later." It was AWESOME. Here are some great books on other bizarro aspects of life during that amazing era.
Jive Turkeys Everywhere: Best Books on Life in the 1970s
The 1970s bridged the hippie/New Frontier 1960s to the Shoulder-padded/New Wave 1980s.
Must-Read Holiday Cozy Mysteries
Is there a better way to get into a holiday mood than to dive into a cozy mystery novel? How about diving into two! Wear your comfy pants, sip a hot beverage, and boom! Holiday self-care accomplished.
Best Books on Fall Entertaining: Food, Fun, Friends and Family
Need some ideas for fall and Thanksgiving entertaining? Check out these great books!
Sketchbook Secrets: How to Cultivate a Daily Drawing Habit
Keeping a sketch journal is a wonderful way to keep track of your life, spark creativity, and keep your brain sharp. Here are the best books we offer on this fun and inspiring endeavor.
Pew! Pew! BwaHaHa! The Best Science Fiction Horror
The combination of horror and futuristic settings provides a wonderfully eerie sense of unease that should appeal to those who enjoy either genre alone.
Best Travel Guides for Great Road Trips
Fall is a wonderful time to hit the road and see what's around us. Here are some great guides to plan anything from an afternoon drive to a long vacation on wheels.
Laugh Yourself to Death: Top 10 Darkly Humorous Horror(ish) Novels
For those who want to get into a Halloweeny mood, but can't do scary without psychic damage to themselves, try one of these for a fun, spooky, amusing, and possibly weirdly unsettling reading (or viewing!) experience …
Easy and Fun DIY Ideas for a Spook-tacular Halloween
There are so many fun crafty ideas for spooky holiday DIY fun - here are some great places to start.
Engaging Cozy-Adjacent Mystery Reads for Fans of The Thursday Murder Club
If you enjoyed "The Thursday Murder Club" by Richard Osman, here are some great similar mysteries and thrillers with wry humor, feisty elderly sleuths, and fun cozy-adjacent stories.
Beyond ‘The Women’: Must-Read Books for Fans of Kristin Hannah
"Women can be war heroes, too" - While you're waiting for "The Women" by Kristin Hannah or if you want read-alikes, try one of these great titles with strong women in wartime themes.
The Fright Stuff: Top 10 Funny Horror Films
Dark comedy is a great genre for people who are not quite into horror. Here are the top 10 funny horror films/series to entertain, scare a little, and still get to sleep at night.
Imagining a Brighter Tomorrow: The Best Solarpunk Fiction to Read Now
Solarpunk is a literary genre that envisions a sustainable future interconnected with nature and community. I want to live in this future, how about you?
Scary Monsters and Superfreaks: Witcher Read-Alikes You Can’t Miss
Sick of waiting for the new seasons of "The Witcher" Netflix series to premiere? Here are some great read-alikes to tide you over.
Dive into the Olympics: Best Books to Get Ready for the Summer Games
The Olympics bring so many great things together - athletic excellence, international fellowship, and so many amazing stories of how the athletes got there at all. Here are some great books to get into the spirit of the games.
Epic Adventures: Best Crew-centered Science Fiction and Fantasy
Perfect for lovers of Farscape or the Firefly series, this list of crew-focused sci-fi/fantasy is guaranteed to make you wish you had friends like these.
Discover the Best Short Reads: 20 Books Under 200 Pages
Looking for a quick read? It's the quality not the quantity that matters in these fantastic short books!
Be Transported by the Top 20 Titles for World UFO Day
June 24th AND July 2nd are both referred to as World UFO Day (it's complicated). Whichever one you celebrate, shine up your tin foil hat and Mork up your Nanoo, we have a lot of great books and documentaries on extraterrestrials and unidentified objects to share the wonder.
20 Best Cookbooks for Summer Outdoor Entertaining
International Picnic Day is June 18! We've got great books to inspire your al fresco feast. No ants or rain allowed!
Commemorating Juneteenth
Juneteenth celebrates the official date, June 19th 1865, when all slaves in Confederate states were officially freed. It has become America's second Independence Day holdiay, and we've gathered some great books to learn about this important day.
Embrace Enlightenment: A Beginner’s Guide to Mindfulness and Buddhism
The idea of Mindfulness is tossed around as the answer to every problem in the universe, but what exactly is it? Here are some great books to help us understand this life-changing concept and how to effectively practice it in daily life.
20 Purrfect Titles for National Hug Your Cat Day
After dodging that grouchy skibbety-pap from a formerly napping feline friend, what better way to celebrate National Hug Your Cat Day than with a fun book?
From Midnight to Mourning: 25 Dark Books for Goths
World Goth Day is May 22nd, which means we're in for some super fun summer reading/viewing/listening! Re-dye your fading darks and unearth your bleakest makeup, dark times lie ahead.
20 (Maybe) Heartwarming Books to Celebrate Mom This Mother’s Day
Mother's Day is basically every day! Here are some fun reads to celebrate all things Mom-ish.
10 Books for Recovery and Mental Health That Can Help
When a loved one is in crisis, it is hard to know where to turn or what to do. Here are some recent titles that can help…
Sibling Synergy: Best Books and Movies About Brothers and Sisters
A sibling relationship is unique in that you can go from being mortal enemies to best friends multiple times in a day. Here are some great viewing ideas to celebrate the joy and pain of having a brother or sister.
Transform Your Midwest Yard into a Breathtaking Oasis with Natural and Prairie Garden Techniques
Forget mowing! Plant a prairie garden to replace wasteful grass and benefit local wildlife.
Why Aren’t You Drawing a Bird Right Now? These Books Will Help
April 8th is Draw a Bird Day! Stock up on some of these great books to inspire your best avian art.
From Fear to Eternity: 5 Horror Novels That Deserve Better Movie Adaptations and 5 Chillers Begging to be Adapted
Horror done well is awe-inspiring, thoughtful, and mesmerizing. Horror done poorly is... well, pretty horrible. Here's a list of 5 misfires and 5 great titles that need to be adapted pronto.
Pitch-Perfect Picks: Best Books on Baseball to Celebrate Opening Day
Just in time for Opening Day in Major League Baseball, here are some of the best books on the old (and new!) ballgame.
11 Fantastic Historical Novels to Read Now
If history is your thing, try one of these great historical fiction titles!
Get Your Irish On for St. Patrick’s Day
No matter where you're from, everyone is a little bit Irish. What better way to celebrate than by diving into a great book or film celebrating Irish culture?
Smart and funny Romances for People Who Hate to Admit they Might Like Romance
Romance novels are kind of the kid sister of the fiction genres. People claim to be annoyed by/hate/bored by them, but when given a chance they usually win even the staunchest detractor.
Level Up Your Role-Playing: Essential Books for Games Masters
Check out these fantastic books to make your best-ever RPG campaigns. Games night will never be the same!
Cooking and Storytelling Unite: Discover the Most Entertaining Cookbooks on the Shelves
The Library has so many cookbooks it can be hard to keep up! We have so much more than the usual famous chefs and social media empire offerings.
Prepare for the Ultimate Adrenaline Rush with These Captivating Survival Thrillers
It's one thing to survive against another person who's out to get you, and quite another to get past Mother Nature when she's got you in her sights.
20 Fantastic Mystery and Science Fiction/Fantasy Blends
Mystery and science fiction/fantasy go together like the peanut butter cup of the universe - great stories with fantastical elements make for delightful reads.
10 Books to Be Yourself and Stay the Same You This New Year
Forget the resolutions! You already have everything you need to live a good life. Here are some books that can help you find your way.
15 New Cute and Cozy Holiday Mysteries
Few things go together like murder and the holidays. Here are the newest cozy mysteries with a chilling holiday theme. And some of the punniest titles ever!
On International Literacy Day, Learn About Adult Literacy Challenges and Opportunities
September 8 is International Literacy Day, and guess what: the Library has literacy resources for you.
Hallmark Channel Read-Alikes: 15 Uplifting Romance, Family and Friendship Stories
If you love Hallmark Channel programming, these authors are for you!
Everything You Need to Read and Watch if You Like John Wick
The John Wick films have melded martial arts and vengeance action into an art form. Here’s what to read and to watch after seeing Wick take down an army of assassins.
10 Exercise Books for People Who Hate to Exercise
"Anyone who loves to exercise is either delusional, lying, or selling something" - Me
15 Books on Mending and Upcycling for Sustainable Fashion
Mending and upcycling clothes is a great way to contribute to sustainable fashion. Here are some books with great ideas to make beautiful new creations out of second-hand or old, worn clothes and home goods…
Top 12 Holiday Themed Mysteries
Light the fire and curl up with one of these holiday-themed mysteries.
You’re Going to Get Old: These Books Help You Embrace It
“Nature gives you the face you have at twenty; it is up to you to merit the face you have at fifty” – Coco Chanel
Celebrating World Religions: Books to Help You Understand Buddhism
With 360 million followers, Buddhism is the fourth largest religion in the world. There is no single foundational text, so it can be difficult to know where to begin learning about Buddhist beliefs. Here are some great places to start…
Stepping Out Into the World – Top 10 True Adventure Books
Adventures aren't only for characters in novels. Here are some great real-life escapades that are better than fiction!
5 Really Great Dinosaur Books for Adults
Who says dinosaurs are only interesting for kiddos? Check out these recent books on dinos for adults!
Pride for Quiet Gays: Great Reads
If you find parades and crowds overwhelming, there are still a lot of ways to celebrate Pride! Here are some great ideas for quiet gays (or introverts in general).
Pride for Quiet Gays: Great Movies
If you find parades and crowds overwhelming, there are still a lot of ways to celebrate Pride! Here are some great ideas for quiet gays (or introverts in general!)
The DREAM Project: Disability Representation, Education and Awareness in Media resources for Preschool/ Kindergarten; Early Elementary (1-3)
The Library has partnered with the Ability Center to increase awareness of literature that focuses on, includes, and/or is created by people with disabilities. Take a look at these great books for children!
Great Reads in Popular Science – Nuts for Nature edition
Why should kids have all the fun when it comes to learning about animals? Here are the latest and greatest books for adults on the amazing creatures in nature.
Great Ideas for Teachers and Parents: Resources for Teaching Grades K-8
Calling all teachers (professional AND/OR parental)! We’ve gathered the most recent teaching support materials in print to help get everyone through learning at home. Nature Play Workshop for Families A Year of Forest School:
Homeschooling Resources for Grades PreK-12
Below are just some of the materials that may be helpful to teaching children at home. Whether you’re new or experienced, there are resources available to help you. The Independent Learner’s Guide to Successful
Love You, Hate Your Politics
It would be the understatement of a lifetime to say that political disagreements are problematic for most people these days. From friends to relatives to lovers, no relationship is immune to this crisis. Fear not, there are resources that can (hopefully!) help.
New Year, Same You
After the dumpster-fire of year of suffering that was 2020, start off fresh in 2021 by rethinking the urge to make resolutions and embrace who you already are.
Upcoming Best-sellers For Winter 2019/2020
Here’s the list of upcoming bestsellers for winter 2019/2020.
Best Reads for Winter 2019/2020
Baby, it’s cold outside, so now’s the perfect opportunity to cuddle up with a great book! And earn an awesome prize!
A Blue Christmas: Dealing With Sadness During the Holidays
Holidays can bring a lot of anxiety and even sadness into many people's lives. Here are some resources that can help.
What (Else) to Watch and/or Read if You Like John Wick
Did you know we are in the midst of a massive Keanuaissance? If you are a fan of the John Wick series we have a lot of reading and viewing suggestions you are gonna love.
How Come I Don’t Have This Job? The Coolest Career Memoirs EVER
Careers so awesome, it is almost a crime to get paid to do these things. Now if I could just find a book written by a professional napper.
Fresh Titles to Inspire Spring Cleaning! And Maybe Fixing that Thing You’ve Been Meaning to Fix
Get your home in order ... books on cleaning, organization and home repair.
Longing for April Showers to Get the Gardens Going!
Find inspiration with these colorful and informative gardening guides.
Mindfulness and Buddhism 101
Mindfulness, meditation and other Eastern philosophical ideals are everywhere these days. It can be overwhelming to find readable basic information on what true mindfulness really means. Where does one begin? Glad you asked! Start here....
Travel via Mystery Novels
Are you unable to afford the expense or time for a vacation? Try reading one of these mysteries set in exotic cultures and/or locales where the place is just as much a part of the story as the characters and plot.
We Dig Archaeology
Archaeology is not what you find, it’s what you find out - David Hurst Thomas
Great Cookbooks for Lazy and/or Impatient People
After the usual holiday gorge-fest, most of us are ready to get back to healthier, or at least healthy-ish, eating habits. This blog post includes some really great cookbooks for lazy and/or impatient cooks as well as tasty recipes for people who hate to cook, but love to eat good food.
The Final Frontier: Great Books and Dvds on Outer Space
With NASA firmly setting sights on trips to Mars, what better time to look up and learn more about the universe around us? Fortunately, we have some fantastic books and DVDs to get us going.
Avast! Pirate History is More Swashbuckling than ever!
The allure of adventure on the high seas beckons. Check out these great stories of piracy and maritime mayhem long ago....
New Year, Same You: Reading Ideas for Realistic, Achievable Improvement
Forget the New Years Resolutions! No matter what time of year it might be, each day is a new opportunity to make realistic changes in our lives and feel better for it.
Where Fascination is Found: Great Books on Maps
Fascinating books on maps that are beautiful and chock full of curiosities and wonders.
A Blue Christmas: Dealing with Sadness and Loneliness during the Holidays
Holidays can bring a lot of anxiety and even sadness into many people's lives. Here are some resources that can help. Topics include coping strategies, mindfulness, stress management, self-acceptance, meditation and more.
Make Your Own Natural Homemade Gifts
Make your own natural, homemade beauty products and cleansers - they make great gifts too!
Handmade Holiday Gift Ideas
The best gifts are the ones we make ourselves. Here are some ideas to get you started....
Handmade Gift Ideas for People Who Love Crocheting, Knitting and Stitching
Crochet, knit and sew heartfelt gifts year-round.
Handy Handmade Gifts
Crafty projects to help inspire your creative spirit. Have fun designing and creating unique gifts year-round.
Ideas for Making Artsy Handmade Gifts
Create artsy, personalized gifts for your family and friends all year-round.
Great Escapes: Amazing Tales of the Best Breakouts of the 20th Century
Breath-taking reads featuring daring escape stories.
Reading is My Business, And Business is Good!
Good stories mean good business, and here are some great ones...
Darkly Humorous Horror
Fun, spooky, amusing and weirdly terrifying reading and viewing selections.
A Whole Lot of Fascination in A Little Bit of History
For those overwhelmed by the massive span of scientific and cultural history, there are Microhistories.
Blinding Us With Science (and Medicine)!
Science writing is hitting a new high bar in fascinating storytelling.
Armchair Travel and Adventure
Summer’s almost over, but no need to fret! There’s plenty of time for armchair adventuring - and it always fits into what’s left of your vacation budget!
Love is in the Air
Stories celebrating the power of love and human connections.
History That Reads Like Fiction
Truth is not only stranger than fiction, but often way more exciting as well.
You Do You
It's never too early or late to take better care of ourselves.
Every Day Should Be Mother’s Day
A variety of books about and for moms.
Feeling Crafty?
Summer is a great time to craftily relax and enjoy ourselves.
School’s Out, It Must Be Vacation Time
Explore popular destinations in the United States and around the world.
Great for Grilling
Super helpful cookbooks and recipes sure to appeal to the grill-master in everyone.
How Does Your Garden Grow?
We’ve got oodles of gardening books with tips and ideas for growing new and traditional plants, improving designs and what to do with what grows.
Great Summer Reads
Explore librarian recommendations beyond the bestsellers this summer.
Read the Movie, Watch the Book, Spring 2018 Edition
Great books make great films … hopefully!?
Never Too Early To Think Spring!
Think spring gardens, warm sunshine, blossoms, sprouts, and gentle breezes.
Aging Gracefully
“Nature gives you the face you have at twenty; it is up to you to merit the face you have at fifty” – Coco Chanel
November Thankful Reads
Whether or not one chooses to gorge on Thanksgiving, fall is a fantastic time to reflect upon the importance of gratitude in our lives.
Super Fun Geeky Reads
A selection of books chock full of deft humor and pop culture references.
Cozy Reads for Chilly Evenings: Fall-themed Cozy Mysteries
As the nights get chilly, warm up with some great seasonal cozy mysteries!
Great Fall Biographies
Fall is a wonderful time to tackle a fascinating biography.
Just in Time for Halloween: Costumes, Cosplay, Crafts, and Cookies!
We have many titles with oodles of great ideas for a spookily festive holiday.
Great Early Fall Reads
A short list of fiction and nonfiction fall reads.
What to Read-Watch-Listen to Next!
Feel like there’s nothing interesting to read/watch/listen to lately? We can help!
Great New Nonfiction – Fall 2017
There are so many wonderful nonfiction titles just waiting for a cozy reading nook and a curious reader.
Late Summer Comfort Food
Easing into autumn is a great time to get back into appreciating comfort food and the joy of cooking for friends and loved ones.
Wonderful, Upbeat End-of-Summer Reads
A selection of great reads to help pass the time while you reflect on how much fun you had this summer.
It Could Be Worse… Great Dystopian Reads
Feeling hopeless about recent political developments? If you think we’ve got it bad, prepare yourself for some wildly entertaining perspective!
Best of Fantastic Fiction: Clever, Quirky Fantasy and Science Fiction
Fans of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman take note! Dark, clever stories with great characters, compelling plots and a wry appreciation for the weird have been gathered for your consumption.
Away We Go! Best of Armchair Travel
Love to travel if only it weren’t for the hassle and the expense? Have we got the books for you!
Mission Accomplished: True Stories of Great Spies and Spycraft
With any spy story, there’s something compellingly magical about people sneaking around and getting away with it, but the best spy stories are the ones that really happened.
Read the Movie, Watch the Book: Part Two!
Which is better - the book or the film? Each version always has its champion. For the most part, seeing a visual interpretation of a book is worth the time spent. Continue reading to explore a selection of book to film adaptations coming out in 2017.
We Shall Overcome: Great True Stories of Overcoming Hardship
Tough times call for inspiring stories of people overcoming long odds or bad situations – take a look and be amazed.
Read the Movie, Watch the Book
There are a number of popular films coming out soon based on even more popular books - check out this blog post to explore the top 11 titles due out this year.
Fascinating Stories: Science and Nature
There are so many amazing stories about the natural world around us. Prepare for fascination!
New Year, New You
No resolutions necessary! You can always work on improving (fill in the lifestyle issue of your choice); it just takes a bit of time and baby steps in the right direction. Here are some titles that will help.
Sleuthing with an International Flair
A great way to armchair travel and get lost in a great thriller is to pick up a mystery novel featuring detectives from other countries.
June Is National Accordion Awareness Month!
Hip AND Square: Accordions! From polka to zydeco to klezmer music, they’re an important (and incredibly fun) part of American culture and it’s time to appreciate them! June is National Accordion Awareness Month – so channel your inner Lawrence Welk and get those toes a tappin’.
Hot Titles For Summer And Fall 2016
Here's a look at the hot titles coming out later this year, announced at Book Expo America (BEA), the place to find out about the most anticipated titles for summer and fall.
