'grief and loss'

8/15/2022

Our Library of Things collection is now open! It is a collection of non-traditional library materials available for checkout for free with an active all-materials adult library card. Explore the collection...

A Hole in the World by Amanda Held Opelt

Finding Hope in Rituals of Grief and Healing // This book is a testament to the idea that when we carefully and honestly attend to our losses, we are able to expand our capacity for love, faith, and healing.

204.42 OPELT

Learning America by Luma Mufleh

One Woman's Fight for Educational Justice for Refugee Children // A visionary leader and gifted refugee activist shows how she grew a soccer team into a nationally acclaimed network of schools by homing in on what traumatized students need to learn and making the school for those most in need.

371.826914 MUFLEH

Nistisima by Georgina Hayden

The secret to delicious Mediterranean vegan food from the Sunday Times bestselling author // No fads, no frills, just 120 vegan recipes that have stood the test of time from award-winning food writer Georgina Hayden, currently appearing on Channel 4's The Great Cookbook Challenge.

641.56362 HAYDEN

Build by Tony Fadell

An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making // Tony Fadell led the teams that created the iPod, iPhone and Nest Learning Thermostat and learned enough in thirty plus years in Silicon Valley about leadership, design, startups, Apple, Google, decision-making, mentorship, devastating failure and unbelievable success to fill an encyclopedia.

658.4 FADELL

If you need help accessing any of these titles or using front door pickup, email or call us and we will be happy to assist you!

View Book Notes PDF archive

8/1/2022

Sorry everyone, but there will be no Storytime with Miss Andrea on Monday, August 8.  Don't worry, though, you can still join us on Thursday, August 11!

A Hole in the World by Amanda Held Opelt

Finding Hope in Rituals of Grief and Healing // When Amanda Held Opelt suffered a season of loss-including three miscarriages and the death of her grandmother and culminating in the unexpected death of her sister, New York Times bestselling writer Rachel Held Evans-she was faced with sorrow she didn't know to face. This book is a testament to the idea that when we carefully and honestly attend to our losses, we are able to expand our capacity for love, faith, and healing.

204.42 OPELT

The Last Days of the Dinosaurs  by Riley Black

An Asteroid, Extinction, and the Beginning of Our World // In this book, Riley Black walks readers through what happened in the days, the years, the centuries, and the million years after the asteroid impact, tracking the sweeping disruptions that overtook this one spot, and imagining what might have been happening elsewhere on the globe.

576.84 BLACK

Verissimus by Donald J. Robertson & Zé Nuno Fraga 

The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius // The remarkable story of Marcus Aurelius' life and philosophical journey is brought to life by philosopher and psychotherapist Donald J. Robertson, in a sweeping historical epic of a graphic novel, based on a close study of the historical evidence, with the stunning full-color artwork of award-winning illustrator Zé Nuno Fraga.

188.0207 AURELIUS

Joan by Katherine J. Chen

A Novel of Joan of Arc // In Katherine J. Chen's hands, the myth and legend of Joan of Arc is transformed into a flesh-and-blood young woman: reckless, steel-willed, and brilliant. This stunningly-researched novel is a sweeping narrative of her life, from a childhood steeped in both joy and violence, to her meteoric rise to fame at the head of the French army, where she must navigate both the dangers of the battlefield and the equally treacherous politics of the royal court.

CHEN

If you need help accessing any of these titles or using front door pickup, email or call us and we will be happy to assist you!

View Book Notes PDF archive

What should I do? How can I help? 

Uff, the news is tough now. When we hear about people being hurt and killed, there is a tremendous amount of sadness our communities share. When the lives of children and our vulnerable are ended or permanently damaged, we feel a loss that can’t be easily removed.

So what do we do? How can we help?

Did you notice how the questions changed from the first line? From I to we. Yes, first I take care of myself. Then we look beyond ourselves and care for our community.

There is no fixing what has already happened, but we can look around us and see who needs our support, our consideration, patience, time and a fair shake. Even as I write this, tears build from the losses in our beautiful nation. 

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
--Soren Kierkegaard

Between backwards and forwards is now. Might I suggest we take the moment to pause. Breathe. Sincerely reflect on what has happened and consider what we’re going to do next. Let’s make conscious choices that will lead to a peaceful and beautiful place for all of us to live in safety. 

Our library offers materials that give ideas on how to locate peace during chaos or at least be reminded of its existence. The library shares these materials with patrons in hopes that there is a bit of comfort found in them. There is not an easy journey through tough times, but a smile goes a long, long way. Here are a few suggestions to find at the library:

Kids

• Can you Say Peace? by Karen Katz
  Children around the world wish in many different languages for peace // Easy KATZ
• When We Are Kind by Monique Gray Smith
  How the simple act of being kind affects all aspects of a child's life // Easy GRAY SMITH
• Peace by Wendy Anderson Halperin
  How to promote world peace and find peace within oneself // Easy 172.42 HALPERIN
• Wangari’s Trees of Peace by Jeanette Winter
  How one woman’s passion, vision, and determination inspired great change // Easy 333.72 WINTER

Adults

• Human(Kind) by Ashlee Eiland
  How reclaiming human worth and embracing radical kindness will bring us back together // 241.4 EILAND
• The Power of Kindness by Piero Ferrucci
  The unexpected benefits of leading a compassionate life // 177.7 FERRUCCI
• Wild Communion by Ruth Baetz
  Experiencing peace in nature // 155.91 BAETZ
• A Walk Around the Block by Spike Carlsen
  Explore the ordinary things we take for granted in our everyday life // 031.02 CARLSEN
• World of Wonders by Aimee Nexhukumatathil
  In praise of fireflies, whale sharks, and other astonishments // 590 NEZHUKUMATATHIL

Even a painting!

• Peace and Quiet by Mrs. Paul L. Burd
  Oil 20 1/4" x 24 1/4" // ART #067

We can all be strong at times and have other times when a shoulder is needed. I have confidence in our community to offer that shoulder when needed. If each of us finds and offers a tiny bit of peace each day, our actions will help guide our elected officials, school administrators and employers to focus on keeping our communities safe.