Salute to Social Workers

Every day across the United States, hundreds of thousands of social workers work to support, protect and empower millions of people as they struggle to deal with and solve problems in their day-to-day lives.  According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the job outlook for social workers is growing rapidly and “is projected to grow 16% from 2016-2026, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.” Sadly, the important work of social workers is often underappreciated and frequently underpaid.  The month of March has been set aside to pay tribute to all the dedicated social workers out there and to acknowledge their important contributions to society.  “Elevate” is the theme for this year’s National Social Work Month and this theme was chosen in an effort to call attention to social workers endeavors to elevate people and also to point out the need to elevate the pay of social workers.  To find out more about the social work profession, check out the National Association of Social Workers website.  And go to the WU Reads Reading Guide for some interesting books on social work and social service.


Oregon: The Early Years

One hundred and sixty years ago, on February 14, 1859, Oregon was officially admitted to the union as the 33rd state.  In the grand scheme of things, that really isn’t that long ago but the years leading up to and shortly after becoming a state are jammed pack with interesting stories.  Long before traders, explorers and pioneers began showing up in the state, many indigenous tribes called this area home.  The history of Oregon and the stories of the Native Americans and the settlers who ventured here along the Oregon Trail make fascinating topics for exploration.  In tribute to Oregon’s statehood, it seems appropriate for us to learn more about the native peoples of this land and the early Westerners that settled the Oregon Territory and eventually created this state.  To start you out on this exploration, check out the WU Reads Reading Guide for some interesting books on early Oregon history.


Wonderful World of Winter

Winter is coming and we’re not talking about The Game of Thrones.  No, we’re talking about the time of year when the days are shorter, the nights are longer, and the weather is cooler.  In Salem, it’s a time of blustery days, soaking rains, and perhaps even the occasional snow storm.  This time of year can be a wonderful time to head for the coast to watch wild waves while avoiding the summer crowds.  If you don’t mind the rain, hikes at Silver Creek Falls can be rewarding–the falls are impressive with all the rain and the crowds are greatly diminished.  Or head to the mountain for snow fun of all kinds.  It is also prime time for wearing cozy sweaters, sitting by the fire, drinking cocoa, and–you guessed it–reading a good book!  If you need some good winter-themed reading material, check out our WU Reads Reading Guide.


Writers of the World, Unite!

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 Beauty of Book Groups

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.


Ode to Wilderness

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!


A Tribute to Water

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.


Here Comes the Sun

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.

 

 


LGBT Pride Month

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.


Pedal Power

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!