18+ hour, 41+ min ago (115+ words) Find the perfect books for your holiday gift list (and yourself) at the Friends & Foundation of the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library's annual holiday book sale. Traveling along Highway 99W, it also goes north to McMinnville. Here's what you need to know. A Benton County judge sentenced a Corvallis man to more than a decade in prison for raping and sexually abusing his girlfriend in 2023" when " The fire may have resulted from a relationship breaking up. It was an emotional vote. At one point, police were summoned to the Corvallis School District headquarters. His defense attorney filed a notice with the court that he may rely on a self-defense claim....

1+ day, 3+ hour ago (459+ words) Jane Austen chronicled the rigid English society she was born into in 250 years ago, yet her novels remain beloved today. "She wrote these wonderful books that drew people in" and "also is one of the most brilliant and funny writers I've ever read," said Helen Davis, an English professor at Wilkes-University who specializes in British literature. Davis will lead a celebration of Austen's 250th birthday at Hazleton Area Public Library on Dec. 6 from 1 to 3 p.m. Her talk, illustrated with slides, will lead into a conversation followed by a light tea. Guests can reserve a spot at the free program by calling 570-454-2961. Laura Russell, head of circulation at the library, started party planning more than a year ago. "I am a big Austen fan," Russell said. "She was a great woman. She was a pioneer." When Austen was born on Dec. 16, 1775, poetry was…...

1+ day, 6+ hour ago (71+ words) [ An illustrative photo of religious books. (photo credit: SHUTTERSTOCK)]Three titles garnered the recommendation of the Association of Jewish Libraries: "Construction Site, Hanukkah Lights," "Banana Menorah," and "Lost and Found Hanukkah." From golems to Horton to banana menorahs: This year's Hanukkah kids' books light up the imagination Three titles garnered the recommendation of the Association of Jewish Libraries: "Construction Site, Hanukkah Lights," "Banana Menorah," and "Lost and Found Hanukkah."...

1+ day, 18+ hour ago (489+ words) A former teacher for Huber Heights City Schools has turned her lifelong love of writing into a new venture as she is set to release her first children's book this month. Andrea Mikusa always wanted to be a teacher. "As a kid, I would hold "summer school' for fun and I'd teach my Barbie dolls if I didn't have anyone to play as my students," she said. As an adult, Mikusa taught writing classes for Huber Heights sixth graders, along with college students at Sinclair. The age difference in her students became apparent through their writing, but not in the ways one might assume, Mikusa said. This contrast was one of the reasons she was especially fond of teaching younger students. "My sixth grade students were phenomenal; there were things they accomplished that even my college students couldn't. It was…...

1+ day, 18+ hour ago (489+ words) A former teacher for Huber Heights City Schools has turned her lifelong love of writing into a new venture as she is set to release her first children's book this month. Andrea Mikusa always wanted to be a teacher. "As a kid, I would hold "summer school' for fun and I'd teach my Barbie dolls if I didn't have anyone to play as my students," she said. As an adult, Mikusa taught writing classes for Huber Heights sixth graders, along with college students at Sinclair. The age difference in her students became apparent through their writing, but not in the ways one might assume, Mikusa said. This contrast was one of the reasons she was especially fond of teaching younger students. "My sixth grade students were phenomenal; there were things they accomplished that even my college students couldn't. It was…...

1+ day, 20+ hour ago (775+ words) Explaining book bans to those eager to understand, parental beliefs on library safety, and more book censorship posts to revisit. Kelly is a former librarian and a long-time blogger at STACKED. She's the editor/author of (DON'T) CALL ME CRAZY: 33 VOICES START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH and the editor/author of HERE WE ARE: FEMINISM FOR THE REAL WORLD. Her next book, BODY TALK, will publish in Fall 2020. Follow her on Instagram @heykellyjensen. View All posts by Kelly Jensen How To Explain Book Bans to Those Who Want to Understand, November 2024 "Here are several talking points you can and should use with the people in your life who may otherwise not understand the complexity and seriousness of book bans happening in school and public libraries. It will not include everything, nor can it. Instead, this is meant to be…...

1+ day, 20+ hour ago (204+ words) The Friends and Foundation of the Corvallis-Benton County Public Library will host its annual Holiday Book Sale Dec. 5-6 in the main meeting room at the Corvallis Library, organizers announced. The sale will feature hundreds of high-quality used and new books suitable for gift-giving with selections for all ages, including a large collection of children's books. CDs, DVDs, book bags and children's backpacks also will be available for purchase with all items individually priced. New additions this year include a craft activities table and refreshments. Customers who purchase a children's backpack can select a free children's book. Sale hours are noon-6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. Those who have donated $20 or more to the Friends and Foundation in the past year will have early access from noon-2 p.m. Friday. Donations can be made at the door to qualify for early entrance. The…...

1+ day, 21+ hour ago (1255+ words) The inimitable Nikki DeMarco is as well-traveled as she is well-read. Being an enneagram 3, Aries, high school librarian, makes her love for efficiency is unmatched. She lives in Richmond, Virginia, and is passionate about helping teens connect to books. Nikki has an MFA in creative writing, is a TBR bibliologist, and writes for Harlequin, Audible, Kobo, and MacMillan. Since that leaves her so much time, she's currently working on writing a romance novel, too. Find her on all socials @iamnikkidemarco (Instagram, Twitter, Threads) The inimitable Nikki DeMarco is as well-traveled as she is well-read. Being an enneagram 3, Aries, high school librarian, makes her love for efficiency is unmatched. She lives in Richmond, Virginia, and is passionate about helping teens connect to books. Nikki has an MFA in creative writing, is a TBR bibliologist, and writes for Harlequin, Audible, Kobo, and…...

1+ day, 23+ hour ago (1142+ words) I speak to the picture book maker about his Christmas-themed projection. Famed picture book illustrator Oliver Jeffers is known for his warm-hearted, beautifully illustrated books, some of which contain a social or political message. I asked Oliver what had drawn him to this project with Apple. "It's keeping good company, David Hockney did the first one, Aardman last year. And Battersea is such an iconic building that it just felt like a good thing to be associated with," he said, before adding that Apple had supported him for a number of years on his climate change work. The idea for a fish-mas tree is based on an underwater spread in his acclaimed book Here We Are (above), which inspired both an Emmy-winning animated film and an installation that's currently showing at the Brooklyn Museum in New York, called Life at…...

2+ day, 17+ hour ago (847+ words) Dearest gentle reader, the ton is gathering in Southgate, and you are cordially invited. On Thursday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m., the Southgate Veterans Memorial Library will transform into a Regency-era world of intrigue, elegance, and mystery for its "Bridgerton-themed escape room, a free, handicap-accessible event open to everyone ages 12 and older. No registration is required, no "Bridgerton knowledge is necessary, and costumes (including Regency ruffles) are encouraged. The event is the second installment in the latest creation of Adult Services Librarian Barbara Keresztury, whose elaborate, immersive programs have become a beloved staple of the library's seasonal offerings. Each year, Keresztury designs a Summer Spectacular. It's a wholly original, handcrafted interactive experience that can't be found anywhere else. This year's Summer Reading Program theme was "Color Our World, and Keresztury knew she wanted to build an escape room that blended color-coding, storytelling, and…...