Each June we celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning Pride! Many Pride events in the United States are held in June to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion on June 28, 1969. Communities often celebrate with festivals, performances, rallies, parades, family events, film screenings, and other events to honor the history of the LGBTQIA+ social movement.
Think Library: Blog
May 25, 2022
The Ellettsville Branch was recently awarded a Growing Together mini grant of $1,500 in association with Purdue Extension–Monroe County!
Ellettsville Branch Garden
The garden was created as part of the Branch’s 2019 renovation. The garden was funded in part by a grant from the Smithville Charitable Foundation to install raised garden beds and a bench and provide resources to begin gardening programming.
May 19, 2022
Dive on in! The water is fine! Celebrate Adult Summer Reading with a list based on this year's theme- Oceans of Possibilities. This list includes fiction books set on or near the water and non-fiction titles exploring everything from the ocean itself to the wide variety of creatures who call it home. Check out a book from this list and hit the beach.
May 18, 2022
Mary, born into slavery in 1868, loved watching the birds fly free in the sky while she worked in the fields. She wanted to be free too! But she had to keep working. No time for rest. No time to learn. Even when Mary and her family were freed from slavery she still had to work hard.
May 16, 2022
The Monroe County Public Library Board of Trustees confirmed the appointment of Grier Carson as Director of the Library, effective May 6, replacing Marilyn Wood upon her retirement.
“I’m honored and humbled by the opportunity to lead this great library at such a unique and transformative time,” Carson said. “I’m also grateful for the chance to learn so much from Marilyn over the past several years.”
May 2, 2022
Note: Are you already registered for one of the IU Engineering Kits? The following videos and booklists will help you take part in the IU Engineering Kit Summer STEM Challenge.
May 2, 2022
In March we asked children to create original artwork using the theme of our summer reading games––Oceans of Possibilities! As usual, you did not disappoint, submitting over 70 pieces of artwork to the contest!
Our staff members were pleased to receive so many creative and imaginative entries.
“It certainly made the decision tough––we ended up choosing six winners!” said Ginny Hosler, a librarian, and the contest’s programmer.
April 26, 2022
This first-chapter book stars an adorable tuxedo cat who loves living the outdoor life! It can hang out with its friends (other animals in the neighborhood), has lots of great places to eat, and doesn't have to worry about any pesky humans. All of the cat's animal friends have human pets with the weirdest habits and flaws––one human stays in their room all day and another's group of mini-humans jumps all over it.
April 21, 2022
Ready for May flowers, sprouting gardens, and budding trees? Try this list of fiction recommendations featuring plant life!
April 19, 2022
In her ten years at MCPL, Director Marilyn Wood led Library staff through many changes, accomplishments, and awards, but nothing quite as challenging as a global pandemic.
“The past two years were challenging and scary, but rewarding,” she said. “It was humbling to watch the community in their own personal struggles, as we worked to meet their needs in new ways. Our staff were ultimately very creative and dedicated and I’m really proud of how we pulled through.”
April 19, 2022
There are now more ways to get creative in Level Up, our digital creativity space! 3D printing and memory preservation have joined our existing services, which include video and audio recording, Adobe Creative Cloud-equipped workstations, and more!
April 15, 2022
This week, we’re celebrating the volunteers that support the Library’s mission, lending their time and talent to make a difference in our community! Dedicated and knowledgeable volunteers are essential to the success of the Library!
April 15, 2022
Whip up a batch of delicious cookies with the recipes found in these cookie cookbooks. Need equipment to get your baking started? Check out one of our Baking Kits!
April 13, 2022
We're sorry, this event has been canceled. See you next year!
You’re invited to bring in an item for repair free of charge at our third Fix-It Fair, Saturday, June 10, 2023 from 9 AM–5 PM at the Downtown Library!
In partnership with the City of Bloomington Department of Economic and Sustainable Development, local professionals will provide repairs and be available to coach attendees interested in learning how to make their own fixes.
April 12, 2022
Deep in the desert, not too far from infamous Area 51, is a government facility called the Playroom. In this secret facility are a group of six kids, who are not-quite-human. While the Playroom is a refuge for them, it is also an enclosure.
April 4, 2022