Get Your Tartan to the Library!

National Tartan Day, April 6, is a celebration of Scottish heritage and the cultural contributions of Scottish and Scottish-diaspora figures of history.

The name refers to tartan, a patterned woollen cloth associated with Scotland.

The event originated in Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1987.

In addition, April 6 starts National Library Week!

EDIT:

Nope, I had this info all wrong, my bad!

National Library Week USUALLY starts on the 2nd full week in April, but in 2026, which I just discovered, is April 19-25!

Henry Update:

He eating, just somewhat less than he normally consumes.

His right eye is still a bit closed; another three full days of drops every eight hours.

I lay on the bed with him as often as I can, and he's begun to climb on me!

❤️

Let's Hop!

Ringer

Our library system, The Suburban Library Cooperative, is having a summer contest; for every library you visit, you receive a stamp in a booklet.

Collect all of the stamps, and you earn some library swag.

In my effort to visit the twenty-one libraries, peruse the stacks, AND chat up the workers, I was at the Ray Township Public Library, which is housed in the 1863 schoolhouse pictured above.

The library director let me ring the school bell; I pulled on the rope three times...ding ding ding!

A box that I didn't know was on my life to-do/bucket list has been ticked.

Am thankful for that unexpected but darn thrilling experience.

No one would wake up to think, 'gosh, today I hope to ring an antique bell!'

🔔 📚 🙀

However, I should have known it was going to be a special day, since Thomas visited me while I walked that morning.

Thomas was a stray cat, who was taken in by a family after he got stuck 'way up a telephone pole.

They keep him inside mostly, and I see him in the window from time to time, yet he was outside this day.

 I'm thankful he allowed some lovin', and allowed a photo shoot too.

He's a Paddy O'Malley look-alike, no?

❤️

Let's Hop!

Dol dhan bhòrd-leabhar

Tartan Day is celebration of Scottish heritage and the cultural contributions of Scottish and Scottish-diaspora figures of history.

"Dol dhan bhòrd-leabhar" is Scottish Gaelic for Go To The Library (according to Google), as this week is National Library Week, which is always the second full week in April.

I love the library!

As has been mentioned in the past, I'd be without any money if I purchased all of the books that I've read recently!

I attend free lectures, and use the 3-D printer, and help with jigsaw puzzles.

I check out books, I use apps to get ebook and audiobooks.

Chat up a library worker when you are next in a library, and ask about what's new: you'll be amazed at what is going on there!

Call Me Cheap

Am so very thankful for access to my library card.

If I had to buy every book, I'd have no money.

The library allows me to read an ebook or a 'real' book, and to listen to audiobooks.

Some of the titles that I've enjoyed recently:

Joy Ellis: "Echoes On The Fens", book #15 in the DI Nikki Galena series, police procedurals in Lincolnshire.

Kelley Armstrong: "Cold As Hell", book #3 in the Havens Rock series, a secluded and exclusive town in the wilds of Yukon, Canada.

K. L. Armstrong: "Every Step She Takes", a thriller that moves from Rome to New York, with twists and turns when a past social media fiasco is splashed across the news again, with a very different ending.

Mason Cole: "William", artificial intelligence in ways you've never thought about, and they will scare you to death, with a complete surprise ending.

Dana Thomas: "Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes" is an overview of worldwide clothing manufacturing, the pollution caused by dyes, fabrics, the sweatshop mentality in all parts of the world, and those entrepreneurs who are rethinking the process to make clothing humans sustainable, healthy, economically viable, and aid a societal uptick in recycling, minimal waste, and healthy environments for workers and buyers.

Gillian McAllister: "Famous Last Words", a novel in which a London-based writer ends up in a hostage situation at the office building where he rents an office, but he's the one holding the gun. 

Let's Hop!

❤️📚❤️📚❤️

February 14 is not only Valentine's Day, it's also Library Lovers Day!

❤️📚❤️📚❤️ 

I Read Like It's My Job

I love to read and to listen to audiobooks.

Am so very thankful for the public library, otherwise I'd have to get a second job to fund my reading habit.

Some books that I've enjoyed recently:

Ray Clark's DI Gardener Series, Books #1 to #6 (#7 to #11 are not yet available at the library)

Kelley Armstrong's "Finding Mr. Write"

Ron Chernow's "Alexander Hamilton"

Andrew Cartmel's "Death in Fine Condition", Book #1 in his The Paperback Sleuth Series

M. A. Frick's Fate Unraveled Trilogy

Fez Inkwright's "Botanical Curses and Poisons"

Nicci French's "Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter?"

J. Bree's The Bonds That Tie Series

Give me a good mystery, whether it's a police procedural from the UK, a fae princess defending her kingdom, thrillers, wizards fighting crime, true crime, dragon-riding soldiers fighting dark forces, or magical cats who catch the baddie!

Let's Hop!

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Sacred Ground Operatives

9 April, 2024 is National Library Workers Day!

The Library staff are operatives who dole out information, assist with copiers and 3D printers, jigsaw puzzles, checking out materials, checking in materials, replacing materials on shelves, signing up new library patrons...or those who've lost their card (I used mine as a bookmark once, then forgot which book I'd put it in...).

I hope to be a library worker; libraries are the bestest places on Earth...well, besides where I am a human cat bed...and I visit libraries wherever I roam.

Libraries are not silent; they are full of youngsters and oldsters, having conversations about books, films, making a video using the library green screen.

There is research, there are stories, there are folk from everywhere...rubbing elbows, and enjoying a newspaper, an audiobook, a discussion about history, or writing a class report.

 

Visit your local library, and thank a Library Worker for their help.

Loving ❤️📚

❤️ 14 February is both St. Valentine's Day and Library Lovers Day ❤️

❤️📚❤️📚❤️

😹