The Dreaded Book Slump
Have you ever had one of those months when absolutely nothing…
Binge Watch This!
I’ve never been one to watch a good television show as it initially…
Summer Reading Recommendations
If you have been reading my blog posts for awhile you know I…
Dabble Day
Earlier this year the library unveiled the Dabble Box, a “do-it-yourself”…
A Midsummer Night’s Dream – From the Ballpark
Ever wonder why football and soccer are played in a stadium?…
Disc Golf
Discin’, frolfin’, chuckin’ some plastic. Whatever you…
Engaged on the 4th of July
My earliest memories about the 4th of July consist of a strict…
Be in the Know
There are several things I want to share with you about the library…
Read Books, Win Prizes!
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the…
Book Review: Why Cows Need Names
Do you enjoy a personal narrative full of gentle good humor?…
Smoky, Tender Deliciousness
My interest in smoking meats was first sparked by watching maybe…
Playing on a Small Screen Near You (But You Can Read it, Too)
As a reference librarian with a theatre background, I love to…
Young Adult Readers
Do you have a child who is moving from Juvenile Fiction to Young…
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
My husband and I recently welcomed our first baby, Catherine…
I’m No Michelangelo, But I Can Pretend!
Sculpting has always been an area of curiosity for me, but I…
Thank You Eau Claire Library Customers!
One of my job responsibilities as a reference assistant is to…
Local Authors Are the Best
I have always admired those people who persevere and get their…
Gardening Season is almost here!
Just the other day I received an email that it was time…
Libraries Transform
During my time here at L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library,…
Don’t Call Me Chicken
When we moved to the country the first thing we said was, "Let's…
Retro Gaming
If you haven’t guessed from my past blog posts, I’m a huge…
Instantly Access Popular Media
Are you on the go a lot? Wish you could watch some great movies…
Community Wellness and the Library
For years, our librarians have routinely assessed collections…
ArtsWest 38
On Thursday, February 23, local artists and art enthusiasts…
There’s No Place Like Home
When my wife and I moved to Eau Claire in 1987, we could have…
Memoir of a Fantasy Snob
One of my most defining moments of self realization in my life…
Dogs Need School Too!
After several years of our youngest son begging for a dog of…
Not a Reader? Try Listening!
If you had asked me even a year ago how I felt about audiobooks…
Dabble Delights
I'm so happy that the library's new makerspace is finally…
Beating the Winter Blues
It’s that time of year, when we all want to curl up with a…
Best Games of 2016
As another year passes us by, I look back on all the fun times…
Genre Alert: Historical Fiction
It’s time to admit to my readers my secret (well – not so…
Pins, Pins and More Pins
One of the things I have enjoyed over the years is collecting…
One Book, One Community
Back in 2007 the library, along with several local sponsors,…
Get To Know Your Library
Although I have been coming to the library for 30 years, I never…
Let’s Print Something, But Leave The Paper!
Ever since I first heard of the concept in the early 2000s from…
My Favorite 2016 Reads
With the close of the year coming fast, I have started thinking…
It Might Be Your Lucky Day!
It has happened to us all. We hear about the release of a new…
Forget the Fishbowl
I love my pets. They race to greet me when I come home. They…
Blizzcon and LA
After about a year of planning and waiting, a group of friends…
Some of My Favorites!
I am sure that everyone realizes by now that reading is one of…
Welcome to the “Whedonverse”
"Whedonverse" is the term used to describe the fictional universe…
Control Key Shortcuts
When a customer has trouble printing on one of our computers,…
Change Can Be Good
I’ve written about one of my favorite hobbies – genealogy…
Chippewa Valley Book Festival
The 17th annual Chippewa Valley Book Festival starts today, Monday,…
These Words that Build Me: Invisible Identities
The ancient Greeks didn’t have a word for blue. Does this mean…
Game Guides
Game Guides are a wonderful assistance to anyone playing a game…
Banned Books are a Drag
When most folks think of the library, they think books. But the…
Language Learning@Your Library
Are you traveling to a different country where the native language…
Too Much of a Good Thing
I will never forget the moment I first laid eyes on our new veggie…
Oh boy! Or, girl?
I am a pretty traditional gal, with what I consider traditional…
The Rise of eSports
eSports, or competitive gaming, is a booming industry that is…
House Research
Have you ever wondered who lived in your house before you? …
Tall Ships and Rubber Ducks
The Tall Ships Duluth 2016 event, to be held in just a week from August…
Wi-Fi hotspot! Get your Wi-Fi hotspot here!
The library is now offering Wi-Fi hotspots for two week checkouts…
Amish Romance
Amish Romance is a new genre for me and one I haven’t been…
Commuting
For years I’ve had about a 30 minute drive to and from my job…
Sleuthing Up Some Fun
One of my greatest passions in life has always been reading.…
Tech Trek
As we march into the 21st century, more and more services and…
Everyone Belongs Here
June is Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender (GLBT) Book Month, a…
Read the Book…See the Film
Growing up I always loved watching movies, but was also a fanatic…
A New Purpose
I love the transition from spring to summer: bringing the porch…
Genre Alert: Chick Lit
Summer is finally upon us and there is nothing more satisfying…
Game On!
Ever since I was a young boy, I have enveloped myself in all…
Book Review: It’s What I Do
It's a calling. It's something that sort of takes over who I…
Get Caught Reading
I was pursuing Chase's Calendar of Events looking for inspiration…
Roll up Your Sleeves
I can't thank my dad enough for the time he spent teaching my…
Eau Claire Marathon
I was at the Eau Claire Marathon on Sunday, but I wasn’t running.
This…
This…
Farewell Blog
After working at the public library for 38 years, I’m retiring…
Reading Behind the Wheel
When I moved to from Eau Claire to Chippewa Falls nearly two…
Enjoy Free 24/7 Access to Reading
If you had asked me 2 years ago if I would ever own an e-reader,…
47 State Parks in 6 Months
My wife and I had completed our quest to visit every Major League…
When Books Went to War
As anyone who loves to read can tell you, books have the ability…
Running Playlist
As you may already know, I have been training for the Eau Claire…
Podcasts
I grew up in a house where public radio always seemed to be on.…
Dogs, Dogs, Dogs
I have loved dogs all my life. I used to walk around my neighborhood…
Chippewa Valley Writers Guild
I have long enjoyed the vibrant literature scene here in the…
Book Clubs
Book clubs have been around for quite some time, but surged in…
Travel Wise
It’s never too soon to start planning your next great travel…
Love for Public Libraries
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I like to think…
Skill Builders Wanted!
Like most people, as the New Year approached, I started thinking…
“You ready, child? Let’s go!”
I recently spent a leisurely morning off reading a book that…
Winter Reading Program
It has been suggested by those closest to me that I may have…
Keep Moving, Body and Soul
Lately I have been hearing more and more people say that they…
Best of 2015
As 2015 drew to a close, our inboxes and social media feeds…
Happy New Year!
I know it is not quite here, but it is close. I am looking forward…
Open Mics
Eau Claire is a pretty amazing place to live if you are a writer,…
Do-Re-Mi-Fa-Sol-La-Ti-Do
If you are a music lover and enjoy singing or simply listening…
Lost and Found: Wedding Photos
Recently I received a message on my home answering machine from…
’Tis the Season…
Now that I am merely weeks away from winter break at school,…
Bad Boys and Their Toys
As I’ve delved deeper into the world of New Adult Fiction,…
From Film to Video to Disc
I have had a great love for movies that was nurtured from years…
Getting Started
I’d like you to meet my cat Ollie and his new friend Dick,…
Eat, Run, Live
After years of battling my weight and diet, a few years ago…
Hip Hop’s History
The first thing that caught my eye about Ed Piskor’s graphic…
October Happenings
When I was reminded that it was my turn to do a blog, I had no…
A Labor of Love
Earlier this year, my husband and I bought a house. But it…
Library Home Delivery Service
The library’s Home Delivery program has existed in some form…
On The Rise
Bread has been an important part of the human diet for many thousands…
Falling into Fall
Here in Wisconsin, we’re lucky enough to experience all four…
Banned! Don’t Read This!!
Each of us must confront our own fears, must come face to face…
The Unromantic Romance Writer
A decade ago, I did not like romance novels, unless you count…
Genre Alert: Women’s Fiction
For as long as I can remember I have been a romance novel lover. …
By Land, By Water, By Air
I’ve been thinking about bookmobiles lately. It all began when…
The Dog Days of Summer
I have often wondered where the phrase "The dog days of summer"…
Get the Party Started!
Get the Party Started!
In addition to planning library programs,…
In addition to planning library programs,…
Putting Pen to Paper
Writing is not a talent all of us are fortunate to have. Whether writing…
If it’s Nordic, it must be noir
Nordic (or Scandinavian) Noir didn’t begin with Stieg Larsson’s…
Calendar Girl
If the above picture looks familiar, you may recall having seen…
Car Repair Savvy
If you have ever been a car owner you know how easy it is to…
A Happy Camper
There are almost as many ways to camp as there are campers. Whether…
Beach Reads
Summer is in full swing! I admit I love summer, it’s my favorite…
Enhanced Reading
We all have a favorite chair, a preferred beverage to sip upon,…
Who Knew?
The other day our Library Director sent an email to us about…
Get Your Art On!
According to the calendar, summer starts June 21. I’ve…
Collecting People
I like people, old and young, short and tall, whomever. “My”…
Get On Your Bike, Mate!
May is just about my favorite month of the year. The cold of…
Finding Your Next Great Read
As a student, I often look forward to the end of any semester-…
Crossover Into New Adult Fiction!
“If you only read the books that everyone else is reading,…
The Incredible Edible Luffa
Every February I try to satisfy my longing for spring by browsing…
Planning your Perfect Summer Vacation
One of the highlights in my family’s year is our summer vacation.…
Free Movies!
Our library's collection of DVD's is hugely popular with our…
Will it Waffle?
We're always helping people looking for information on canning…
Welcome to Curiosity Exchange!
Welcome to our new Reference Services blog Curiosity Exchange! …