By Monroe Public Library Team
Cover to Cover
Things you didn’t know you could check out at the library:
● Wall art
● Mobile hotspots
● Curiosity kits: a way to explore new hobbies
● Thermal leak detectors
● Watt meters
● Console video games
● American Girl dolls
● Downloadable e-books
● Downloadable audiobooks
● An iPad with hundreds of Marvel comics
A few end-of-the-year recommendations from our team:
Have you noticed the staff picks wall above the indoor book return slot? It’s a great way to find library resources that you may not be aware of. Sometimes they have a common theme, and sometimes they do not. They’re curated by our whole team for quality. We’re also happy to have you visit our desks and ask for suggestions for your next check-out.
Rachel H. recommends:
The Love Interest (fiction book)
Cale Dietrich
This queer teen SPY drama rarely makes any suggested reading lists — which is a shame because it has fabulous characters and a totally unique premise.
Carrie F. recommends:
Rebecca (fiction book or DVD)
Daphne Du Maurier/Alfred Hitchcock
Whether you read, watch, or listen to it, ‘Rebecca’ is just one of those works that truly stands the test of time.
Laura S. recommends:
The Line Becomes a River (nonfiction book)
Francisco Cantú
Starting with the author’s experience as a patrol agent on the U.S.-Mexico border, this book is an intense, dreamlike, and powerful look at how human beings incur both physical and emotional trauma from divisions, both real and imagined.
Rachael R. recommends:
Final Girls (fiction book)
Riley Sager
This fast-paced edge of your seat thriller will keep you guessing until the very end.
Brooke B. recommends:
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (Blu-ray)
Quentin Tarantino
Tarantino does it again in this story of a Hollywood actor, his sidekick and their role in one of the most famous Hollywood murders.
Janel K. recommends:
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek (fiction book)
Kim Michele Richardson
This story about a 1930’s era pack horse librarian in the Appalachian Mountains amazed me to consider what people will do to be able to read.
Andrea S. recommends:
A Place to Belong (fiction book)
Cynthia Kadohata
Witness young Hanako’s philosophical awaking in this historical novel of family life in Hiroshima after American internment; powerfully written and beautifully narrated.
Jeff P. recommends:
Mending Matters (nonfiction book)
Katrina Rodabaugh
Very clever repairs that transform dead jeans into new old favorites.
Rita G. recommends:
The Coincidence of Coconut Cake (fiction book)
Amy E. Reichert
A delightful novel about a chef, a food critic and a case of mistaken identity that takes place in downtown Milwaukee.
Summer G. recommends:
Lost December (fiction book)
Richard Paul Evans
It’s a modern-day version of the prodigal son story proving just how strong a parent’s love can be, and it’s a feel-good read for the holiday season.
Nancy M. recommends:
Instant Family (DVD)
Sean Anders
An accurate and heartwarming tale about foster care.
Suzann H. Recommends:
Flowers for Algernon (fiction book)
Daniel Keyes
This epistolary novel about a man who undergoes a procedure to boost his intelligence will undoubtedly lead you do some deep thinking of your own.
Retirements and New Faces:
Youth Services Library Specialist Peggy Ivik recently retired. Circulation Coordinator Maggie Guralski will retire in mid-January. We have also said goodbye to long-time board president Gary Neuenschwander. All three of these great people will be sorely missed, not only because what they gave, but because of who they are. The only silver lining is being able to welcome new faces.
Rachel Holcomb has joined the team as Youth Services Library Specialist, and two other positions will soon be filled. Terry Hyland has succeeded Gary in the role of President of the Board of Trustees. One thing we can guarantee with these changes is that we will all continue to do our very best to make your library a stellar resource for you.
New Wireless Service:
We have upgraded our wireless services to provide more bandwidth and a stable connection as more and more of you enjoy connecting to it. More wireless routers were added (from two to six) and the connection is more secure. If you have any problems accessing it, please let a team member know.
Closing for inclement weather:
We sometimes get questions about this. The library is closed by the director or director’s designee based on several factors. Is there a travel advisory in effect? Will staff be able get to the library safely? Is the weather so poor that patrons are unlikely to come? Is the weather getting better or getting worse? We try to close early or open late as an alternative. There is not necessarily a relationship between the School District closing and the library closing, even though the library is part of the School District. The best ways to determine if the library is open for browsing is checking the website, Facebook and WEKZ.
— Cover to Cover is provided by the Monroe Public Library and is published the fourth Wednesday of the month.
