Blog Entries

What’s Red, White, and 1’s and 0’s All Over?

The publishing industry is continually changing. You have no doubt noticed that many newspapers are now smaller, with others shuttering entirely. Many magazines have transformed from print-only to become digital or use a print-digital hybrid format.That changes how our library serves you as well. Over the past year, we have consolidated the number of newspapers and magazines we carry, but still offer several dozen with back issues available. Patrons can browse these at either branch.

Maybe you know the oldies enough to remember the song “A” You’re Adorable, popularized back in the late 1940’s by Perry Como and the Fontaine Sisters. 

I don’t know if “adorable” is the right word, but it certainly is nice to discover a new author, or perhaps a previously unknown short story by a favorite author. 

Did you know that recycling materials such as paper, plastic, and electronics are good for the environment? However, did you also know that a low percentage of those materials are actually able to be recycled? One of the reasons for that is something called “wish-cycling,” people placing something in a recycling bin because they hope that it can actually be recycled, or it looks like it should be able to be recycled.

Recently I helped someone who was looking for news articles about a childhood friend. Could the library help with that?

Yes. Yes we can.

If you have ever searched for a newspaper article online, you probably have run into the paywall that protects much of that information.

One way around that is to get a free account to Newspapers.com. Only trouble is, that is a one-time (and one week) option and if you forget to cancel it (if you’re like me!) the meter starts running pretty quickly.

When you read the phrase “invisible library,” you might think that this post is somehow Halloween-related.

Not true. Instead, it refers to something that may not be on our shelves, but is still available to you.

Interested? Read on!

(updated 3/22/22)

Last fall the front of the library had a strange sign: We are not currently accepting donations. 

When we recently had our March Used Book Sale (and the pop-up sales we held in the Art Gallery) it has allowed us to once again take donations. Even then, we do not take everything. Encyclopedias, textbooks, magazines, VHS tapes (except for Disney movies in the original cases) are some of the items that we say "No thanks" to.

(Spoiler Alert: No)

Many of our phone calls and more than an occasional patron ask variations of the same question:

I was trying to (insert action here) and it said – voice rising questioningly -- my library card had expired?

Sometimes it is followed by the secondary question: Have you guys canceled my account?

Good news! Unless it has been a number of years since you have last used your library card, the answer is “no” – you are not canceled, just in a time out.

So what happened?

I like presents, but confess I am a horrible wrapper. No matter how much care I take in positioning the gift, getting the folds just right, even finding a bow that matches, it’s a disaster. The edges don’t line up, the tape bunches up, the corner rips through the paper, I’m still 1/8 of an inch short — trust me, it’s not a pretty sight.

Fortunately, a lesson my mom taught me about wrapping presents for the holidays not only minimizes the paper carnage, but it is a lot of fun as well:

Don’t.

Has the global pandemic caused you to never again want to deal with being stuck in a confined space?

Hold on there; consider the wonders of an escape room.

You may not know MRRL has access to much more than you can see on the shelves. 

And that’s not all! We have ways to help you -- even when you’re not sure what you’re looking for.

It’s really satisfying when we can help point you to something you want  -- and you can always ask us to help!

DIY’er? Use the library catalog, in the library or online.

Have you ever watched “Let’s Make a Deal?” It’s fun watching contestants try to make the correct decision to win a nice price and avoid getting zonked.    

April, designated as National Humor Month and Holy Humor Month, is home to a lot of funny business.

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.

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!