The library recently subscribed to a tasty new database: AtoZ World Food. This resource provides food culture information, as well as more than 7,000 recipes, for 174 countries around the world. Food is an integral part of cultural identity. If you want to learn about a culture, food is an excellent way to start. Through […]
Tradition (noun): an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom) – Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, 11th edition No matter where you are in the world, December is a time of tradition. Traditions are an essential part of human culture. They connect us to one another and […]
The library provides access to a lot of useful online resources you might not be aware of – there are so many that even library staff sometimes forget! Don’t believe me? Just check out our website’s Explore page. Today, though, I’m going to highlight one particular collection of resources: BadgerLink. BadgerLink is an online resource […]
Several difficult, emotionally charged, and polarizing issues are dominating national discourse in recent weeks. As humans, we all have opinions and we all want to be heard. One of the most convenient and tempting ways to share our opinions is, of course, the internet. Shouting into the void may be satisfying in the moment and […]
The concept of “fake news” isn’t new. In fact, people have been casting doubt on the credibility of sources since the advent of free press. (Check out this Smithsonian Magazine article for some eerily familiar examples of fake news in the time of the Founding Fathers.) But internet accessibility, social media platforms, and globalization have […]
“Music is the universal language of mankind.” – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Have you ever wanted to be in a band? The first step is probably to learn to play an instrument. Instruments can be expensive, though, and you might change your mind after trying one out. If you want to try your hand at creating […]
The Eau Claire library now has adult, teen, and children’s audiobooks in Playaway format. A Playaway is a portable pre-downloaded audiobook. Each little palm-sized device holds one book. They run on AAA batteries and feature a universal audio jack compatible with headphones and auxiliary cords. Playaways are not new or cutting edge technology. They were […]
A fictional story based on true events By Stephanie It was a beautiful summer day. The sun shone, the birds chirped, the flowers bloomed, and a light breeze rustled the leaves on the trees. In the park, there were children playing, people and their dogs walking, Frisbees soaring, and picnics spread out on park […]
People don’t fall into neat little categories, but as we try to communicate to each other who we are, we tend to identify ourselves with labels. Nerd, jock, rebel. Mom, uncle, brother. Accountant, mechanic, librarian. But labels never stay so simple. We start adding qualifiers: computer nerd, fun uncle, children’s librarian. We don’t stick with […]
Like many people in our country and around the world, I watched the 2021 presidential inauguration and was absolutely enraptured by Amanda Gorman’s recitation of her poem “The Hill We Climb”. Her performance actually gave me goosebumps. It was the perfect reminder of how powerful poetry can be when given a chance. “We’ve braved the […]
