Blog Entries

So let me first start this out with the fact that, at first I was slightly embarrassed by my obsession with K-Pop. And I use the word obsession because that's exactly what it is. Clearly I'm no longer afraid to express my love of K-Pop. Why you ask? Because it's awesome! Like no joke, the best thing in existence. So let me to take you to the beginning:

I’m letting the world know for the very first time: I am an introvert and I’m proud of it!  Introvert is a misunderstood word in our society.  The extrovert is what people love to see; an outgoing, gregarious person.  Schools have arranged classrooms into circles and work places have open areas to facilitate ideas to hone in on the skills of the extrovert (this isn’t a negative thing but it leaves out the strengths of the introvert).

Each January, most of us make resolutions we hope will result in a better version of ourselves.  Generally, eating less and exercising more top the list.  For those of you who may want to save money, volunteer, get smarter, meet new people, and read more, don’t forget about the public library.  We can help you accomplish all these things and probably a few you never thought of.

Did you start off January with a bang full of great ideas and resolutions for improving your life? Are you getting to the sagging middle of the month unsure of whether or not you will complete your resolutions? Why do we start of the new year with such energy only to have it waver by February?

Our library has overdue fees, also known as “fines”  It’s certainly not a favorite aspect of my job. I’ve seen people who recognize me from the library panic at the sight of me and skip aisles in the grocery store only to later approach me in the checkout line to confess: “I know I have overdue fees!  I promise I’ll get that book back next week, I just couldn’t find it and then I had to travel with my son this week to chaperone baseball games and I just keep forgetting! I’m the worst!” 

We asked our staff to tell us about some of their favorite holiday traditions. What started out as a fun post on social media turned into staff sharing some of their favorite memories with each other. We hope you will share your favorites with us too!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Krampus, everywhere I go.  

In recent years, Krampus has been catching on in the United States, but not in the correct way.  There are many movies and books that scratch the surface of our horned friend and blow his reputation out of proportion.

Regardless of what you call those special days at the end of the year – Christmas, Hanukah, holidays (even Festivus!) – you are being encouraged to shop, spend, give, party, and visit. Commercials give you unsolicited advice about the purchase that will make you a winner to friends and family alike; the Hallmark Channel implies true love will come at last; and everyone has a manic fascination with snow that they will then complain about once it starts falling.

With the holidays upon us, it's time to think about buying presents for our people, right? Some of the best gifts you can give a reader are ones related to authors and titles they love.  The following is a list of websites that will help you locate a unique literary or book themed gift idea for the bibliophile in your life. Have fun! Buy a little something for yourself...or perhaps, your favorite librarian?

Dreading the shorter days? Wondering how you will survive the holidays? Let me help you with some simple skills I use myself to cope with stress and “dark days.”

Let me preface this list by stating that I am not a professional. My experience is purely personal. However, I have been in treatment for mental health disorders for nearly 20 years, and these are some of the things I have found that work for me and other people in the mental wellness community.

Due to elevated mold counts in the Missouri River Regional Library Annex, the Library staff must relocate. The administrative team will be moving to 308 E. High Ste. 208, while the Tech Services, IT, Adult Services, and Teen Services staff will be relocating into previously public spaces and other staff space in the Main Library.

Sometimes you can’t help but feel paranoid.

One such instance is when your library card is scanned and the librarian pauses and squints to read the screen.

What’s going on? Is the FBI about to close in? Am I the millionth customer?  In this installment of “What’s going on behind the desk?” we will examine some of the reasons for “The Squint.”

There are a lot of reasons for that pause and fortunately, that's not necessarily bad!

For example, you could have an item on hold that’s ready to pick up. Hey, you’re a winner!

Music is universal.  We may not all have the same tastes in music, but we can experience music in any language.  Music is said to move mountains. I know it feeds my soul.  The sound and style of music often changes to mirror the events of the world.  

The weather has finally cooled off, pumpkin spice is officially in everything, and Halloween is quickly approaching! We don’t know about you, but this is one of our favorite seasons, and we are celebrating all month long at both branches! Make plans to attend one (or all!) of our programming, and be sure to check out your favorite Halloween-inspired film or book!

Main Library (Jefferson City, MO)

We’ve made it through Labor Day, school has started, and Missouri River Regional Library has wrapped up Summer Reading! The MRRL Summer Reading program encourages community members of all ages to read through a variety of challenges and earn prizes. Summer Reading kicks off in May, and wraps up in August each year.  The State Library of Iowa reports that “children who don’t read over the summer tend to lose literacy skills while children who do read during the summer actually improve their reading ability.”