November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo)—the goal is to actually write an entire novel in one month! National Novel Writing Month is also a nonprofit organization that “…believes in the transformational power of creativity. We provide the structure, community, and encouragement to help people find their voices, achieve creative goals, and build new worlds—on and off the page.”  Thousands of writers across the nation and the world get together in libraries, bookstores, community centers and/or virtually to support one another’s writing.  Hundreds of novels written during NaNoWriMo have been traditionally published such as Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants, Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus, and Hugh Howey’s Wool. In honor of all the novel writers out there, we offer you a short list of novels about novelists for your reading pleasure! Check out our WU Reads Reading Guide.

The weather is getting cooler, which means it is the perfect time of the year to curl up with a good book!  And when you’ve finished reading the book, why not have a great discussion about it with your book group?  National Reading Group Month is an initiative of the Women’s National Book Association (WNBA) and is celebrated each year in October.  According to the WNBA, “Reading groups are proving that good books bring people together. National Reading Group Month salutes reading groups. It fosters their growth and promotes the love of literature.”  So how about starting or joining a book group?  You can find information about local book groups at public libraries or bookstores such as the Salem Public Library or the Book Bin.  And join us in celebrating National Reading Group Month by checking out one of the titles related to book groups listed on our WU Reads Reading Guide.

There’s nothing quite like a walk on the beach, the view from a mountain top, the sound of a waterfall, the sight of a creature in the wild…  For many of us, spending time surrounded by nature is inspirational, restorative, and almost a necessity for our mental and spiritual health.  Our deep connection to nature comes with an obligation to safeguard it for the future.  President Obama said it best:

It is one of our greatest responsibilities as citizens of this Nation and stewards of this planet to protect these outdoor spaces of incomparable beauty and to ensure that this powerful inheritance is passed on to future generations.

The library is pleased to celebrate National Wilderness Month; September is a particularly beautiful time in the Northwest, so pack a lunch, put on your boots, and take a hike!  And don’t forget to take one of the wilderness-related books listed on our WU Reads Reading Guide to enjoy on your lunch break!

August is the time of year when many of us take a vacation and find ourselves heading towards a body of water.  We go wading, swimming, boating, and fishing. We walk along the shoreline, relish the beauty of the river, lake or sea, and contemplate our place in the world. Water has been an inspiration to artists and writers for centuries. About 60% percent of our body is made up of water. It is an essential element for all life and yet we often take it for granted. Clean water is crucial for everyone and yet millions of people around the world live without access to safe drinking water. In light of all this, we are taking the opportunity this month to acknowledge the importance of water…check out an assortment of water-related books listed on our WU Reads Reading Guide.

July in the Pacific Northwest is typically a glorious month of long days and wonderful weather.  This month we celebrate the primary contributor to this golden period in time…the sun!  Now is the ideal time to sit on your porch, hang out at a local park, or lounge at the beach with a good book.  It is the perfect way to stimulate your mind and soak up some vitamin D all at the same time.  So head to the library, bookstore, or your very own bookshelf, grab up a book and head to your favorite outdoor spot.  Need a little inspiration?  Check out an assortment of sun-related books listed on our WU Reads Reading Guide.

The LGBT Pride Movement began in New York City in June of 1969 when a police raid of the gay club, Stonewall Inn, turned violent. Customers and sympathizers finally had enough of the police department’s discriminatory practices and rioted…in commemoration, a year later, the first Gay Pride Parade occurred in NYC and other cities and the Gay Pride Movement was born.

All these years later, there have been great strides in the rights and treatment of LGBTQ people and there is much to celebrate.  At the same time, the struggle continues.  It is important that we understand the history of discrimination against LGBTQ people while also acknowledging how people have worked together to overcome injustice.

Join us in celebrating LGBT Pride Month by checking out one of the recent LGBTQ-related books listed on our WU Reads Reading Guide.

This time of year, we are all dealing with finals, research papers, the end of the semester, graduation, and more.  It can be exciting but at the same time, stressful!  One good way of dealing with the anxiety of the season is exercise…how about taking a walk, going on a hike, playing frisbee with friends, or better yet, riding a bike?  It’s the perfect time for biking because May is National Bike Month!  Established in 1956 by the League of American Bicyclists, National Bike Month was created to highlight “the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more folks to giving biking a try.”  To find out more about this celebration, check out the League of American Bicyclist’s website.

In honor of cycling, we’ve picked out several biking-related titles available in the Hatfield Library and listed them on our WU Reads Reading Guide.  So hop on your bike, head to the library and check them out!

Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM) is celebrated every April in the United States. JAM was created by Smithsonian Jazz at the National Museum of American History in 2001 “to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary heritage and history of jazz. JAM is intended to stimulate and encourage people of all ages to participate in jazz – to study the music, attend concerts, listen to jazz on radio and recordings, read books about jazz, and more.” Jazz is considered by many to be “uniquely American music” and in 1987, Congress actually passed a resolution designating jazz an American treasure!

Join us in paying tribute to an influential art form with cultural influences from around the world and check out some of the jazz-related titles available in the Hatfield Library on our WU Reads Reading Guide.

Creating things with our hands is an important part of the human experience. Creative activities such as baking, woodworking, quilting, beading, knitting, scrapbooking and more, bring pleasure and satisfaction to people young and old across America. According to the Association for Creative Industries “crafting can reduce stress, build self-esteem and increase physical dexterity.” Happily, March is National Craft Month so now is the perfect time to explore your creative side and get crafting!

In recognition of National Craft Month, check out some of the craft-related titles available in the Hatfield Library on our WU Reads Reading Guide.