The large glass display case at the Solon Public Library has housed a multitude of items that are unique, educational, inspirational, and just plain fun! Alexis Kurth, former adult services librarian, filled the display as a last official act of service at the Library and you don’t want to miss it. Over the past five years Alexis collected all of the bookmarks and items that were inadvertently left behind in Library books as they were returned. These traditional bookmarks and not-so-traditional items make for a great discussion, when you didn’t have a bookmark handy what did you make use of? What is the most obscure item you’ve ever had to use to mark your place in a book? During your next visit to the Library take a look at the “Museum of Forgotten Bookmarks” and you just might find something you’ve left behind.
Library Events
Register to join us on Saturday! Teens and young adults are invited to Auto Repair 101 Saturday, February 1, at 12:30 p.m. We’ll learn from guest speaker, Charlie Christie, the basics of what’s under the hood, common car problems, and basic maintenance. Participants will leave with a better understanding of their car and gain confidence at the mechanics. Space is limited so head to our website calendar to register or call the library.
Take a chance and try something new in February! Blind Date with a Book aims to break the habit of judging books by their covers or titles and encourages readers to step out of their comfort zones. You could discover a hidden gem and explore literature you might not have come across otherwise. Books are selected by library staff, wrapped in plain paper to conceal what’s inside, and a few clues are added to pique your interest. Books will be available for 3rd graders and up in February.
We’re sharing stories, songs, and games all about shapes and shadows at February Storytimes. Join us on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 for weekly Storytime, and Saturday, February 8, at 10:30 a.m. for our monthly Saturday Storytime.
February’s Fun For All Night is Saturday, February 8, at the Solon Community Center. Join us at 6:00 p.m. for gym games, and stick around for the movie, Migration [PG] at 7:00p.m. with popcorn! This free night of all-ages fun is perfect for busting the cabin fever! Fun For All Night is provided in partnership with Solon Public Library and Solon Recreation.
The Fourth Annual “Put A Bid On It” Art Auction hosted by the Solon Public Library Foundation opens Monday, February 24. Bid high and bid often at the Foundation’s silent art auction. With generous donations from local artists and art collectors the meeting room and display case will be bursting with art pieces. All proceeds will help to fund the replacement of the meeting room dividing wall. Bidding closes at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 15. Thank you for supporting the Foundation and Library!
Library Access
Regular Library hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. and Friday-Saturday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Closed Sundays. Please always refer to our website calendar or call to check hours as winter weather may impact our ability to be safely open.
Don’t forget, the digital library is always available! Find an eBook, eAudiobook, magazines and more with Bridges, or with the Libby app on your favorite smart device. You can even stream classic films, discover new favorites, and more with Kanopy on your favorite smart device.
Everyone is welcome at the Library and our programs. Please contact us with access needs.
What’s New?
Cabinet of Curiosities by Aaron Mahnke. From the creator of the long-running, smash-hit podcast Aaron Mahnke’s Cabinet of Curiosities comes the book–a riveting look inside some of history’s strangest stories. Learn the fascinating tale of where the invention of the croissant actually happened and relive the adventures of a dog that stowed away and went to war. Along the way, readers will pass through an unfamiliar American state, watch Abraham Lincoln’s son be rescued by someone surprising, and learn how too many crash landings inspired one pilot to leave the airline industry and shift his thirst for flight to new heights.
For the first time ever, Aaron Mahnke has gathered scores of his favorites into print and curated them–along with some fresh oddities–into a beautiful, topical collection for devoted followers and new fans alike.
How We Heal by La June Montgomery Tabron. From a vivid portrait of her childhood in 1960s Detroit to her leadership of one of the world’s largest philanthropic institutions, La June shares her full-circle, American story–a coming-of-age journey where she gains a firsthand understanding of how systemic racism prevents our children and communities from thriving and learns about the transformative role healing can play in helping all of us transcend the legacy of racial inequity.
As she rises to her position as the first female and first African American leader of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, La June experiences the healing power of sharing and listening with empathy. And with the help of mentors and colleagues, she refines the message that will guide the foundation’s mission for years to come: Healing can begin only with truth-telling.
Empowered by the mission set forth by its founder to support children and families “without regard to sex, race, creed, or nationality,” the foundation explores a racial healing framework that transforms communities and individuals around the world–from small rural towns and big cities across the United States, including La June’s own beloved Detroit, to Mexico, Haiti, and beyond.
This book serves as a testament to the power of transformation and a blueprint for how each of us, no matter who we are or how we lead, can use racial healing to bridge the empathy deficits in our communities.
How We Heal illuminates a path that all of us can follow–from trust to empathy, from understanding to repair–one conversation and one connection at a time.
Meet Me at the Library by Shamichael Hallman. America is facing an epidemic of loneliness and isolation, with troubling effects on our mental and physical health. We live in one of the most divisive times in our history, one in which we tend to work, play, and associate only with people who think as we do. How do we create spaces for people to come together–to open our minds, understand our differences, and exchange ideas?
Shamichael Hallman argues that the public library may be our best hope for bridging these divides and creating strong, inclusive communities. While public libraries have long been thought of as a place for a select few, increasingly they are playing an essential role in building social cohesion, promoting civic renewal, and advancing the ideals of a healthy democracy. Many are reimagining themselves in new and innovative ways, actively reaching out to the communities they serve. Today, libraries are becoming essential institutions for repairing society.
Libraries have a unique opportunity to bridge socioeconomic divides and rebuild trust. But in order to do so, they must be truly welcoming to all. They and their communities must work collaboratively to bridge socioeconomic divides through innovative and productive partnerships.
Drawing from his experience at the Memphis Public Library and his extensive research and interviews across the country, Hallman presents a rich argument for seeing libraries as one of the nation’s greatest assets. He includes examples from libraries large and small–such as the Iowa’s North Liberty Library’s Lighthouse in the Library program to bring people together to discuss important topics in a safe and supportive space, to Cambridge Cooks, an initiative of the Cambridge MA Public Library that fosters social connection by bringing people together over shared interest in food.
As an institution that is increasingly under attack for creating a place where diverse audiences can see themselves, public libraries are under more scrutiny than ever. Meet Me at the Library offers us a revealing look at one of our most important civic institutions and the social and civic impact they must play if we are to heal our divided nation.