Best of BARD: September 2017

In September Grisham was kicked out of first place after two consecutive months.  Lee Child overtook him with a collection of short stories about Jack Reacher entitled No Middle Name.  … Continued



Best of BARD: August 2017

For the second month in a row, John Grisham’s Camino Island comes out on top with the most downloads by LBPH patrons in Western Pennsylvania.  But King Patterson, never to … Continued



On Having Animal Friends

I have almost always lived with animals: furred, feathered, and otherwise.  When I was a child, my family always had at least one pet, whether it be a cat or … Continued


Voice of the Poet

I was looking up information on T.S. Eliot and found this archival recording of him reading “The Naming of Cats”.  I instantly fell in love.  Though I’d read the poem … Continued


Me and Robin McKinley

Working in a library means I’m always surrounded by books.  I talk about books, think about books, and read about books.  This has made me acutely aware of how many … Continued


On Mindfulness

We live busy lives.  There are appointments to make, goals to achieve, and family and friends to engage with.  When we have a few moments there’s music to listen to, … Continued


The Life of Nina Simone

Have you ever listened to the music of Nina Simone?  A friend introduced me to her with the songs “I Put a Spell on You” and “Feeling Good”, after which … Continued


Pygmalion and Galatea

I’m not sure if you’ve heard about Pygmalion and Galatea.  It’s not what I consider a well-known Greek myth, though its other iterations are well known.  As the story goes, … Continued