Indiana Room Helps Rediscover Lost Treasures

Black and white scan of an illustration of an open book with stars, a butterfly, balloons, and a rainbow. Illustrated text reads "Discover a great book at the MCPL!" by Amy Heeter, Binford 5th

After rediscovering pieces of writing from her daughter, Ariel, during her time as a student at University Elementary School in Bloomington, Amanda Ray shipped a box of various childhood gems—including an award winning piece that had been published locally in the The Herald-Times in 1995—all the way to Ariel’s new home in Maryland. She was hoping that Ariel would be able to share the pieces with her young children to inspire them to write stories of their own, “because readers inspire reading and writers inspire writing,” said Amanda.

Unfortunately, Ariel didn’t get to open the box before a thief stole the package from her front porch.

“Needless to say it was a big disappointment,” said Amanda. She regretted not snapping photos of the contents of the box before shipping it to Ariel. In an attempt to recover what she could, Amanda visited The Herald-Times’ archives, but was unable to find exactly what she was looking for.

Relentless, Amanda decided to visit our Indiana Room. Luckily, the Library staff had taken the time to scan each page of the newspaper all those years ago, and kept them in an archive for preservation and safekeeping. Christine, the librarian in the Indiana Room, scrolled through microfilms until she found Ariel’s short story “The Shadow,” the piece that Amanda had originally set out to find. In addition to the short story, Christine also came across various other newspaper mentions of Amanda’s children.

The Indiana Room is located on the second floor of the Downtown Library. Patrons can visit the room to find information about the history of Monroe County, limestone industry archives, obituary indexes, digital copies of Bloomington yearbooks, and other historical records and documents. Our knowledgeable and dedicated staff members are available to help navigate the records and assist patrons in finding what they need. Beyond just physical archives, patrons can also visit the eLibrary. We’re excited to show this as a prime example of how Monroe County Public Library and the Indiana Room have a reach that goes beyond the county boundaries; even those who have been away from Monroe County for decades can revisit their time here.

Black and white scan from The Herald Times Creative Kids, March 8, 1995 of The Shadow

Slash Subscriptions in 2024

Slash Subscriptions in 2024

With so many entertainment platforms, it’s easy to stack subscriptions and blow your budget. We’re here to help you save your hard earned cash! Put away your credit card, pull out your library card, and try some of our Library services.

Instead of Netflix, plan your movie nights with Kanopy, a high-quality video streaming service with over 30,000 films. Don’t miss Kanopy’s selection of brand-new titles from BBC Film!

Instead of Audible, try Libby. With its intuitive app, Libby makes it simple to listen to audiobooks and read eBooks when, how, and where you want. Plus, Libby is compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth!

Instead of Hulu, binge watch with Hoopla. Hoopla is a one-stop shop for TV shows, movies, eBooks, audiobooks, comic books, and music. Borrow and stream thousands of titles with no waiting.

Instead of Spotify, explore Freegal Music. Freegal offers unlimited streaming of over 16 million songs, including Sony Music's entire catalog of legendary artists.

Instead of Skillshare, try LinkedIn Learning. Learn whenever and wherever you want with thousands of easy-to-follow video tutorials on web development, graphic design, audio engineering, video production, photography, marketing, business skills, and much more.

Don’t forget—our deals go beyond digital! Before you turn to Amazon, check out our Library of Things. It’s a collection of items you might not expect to find at a library, including seeds, baking equipment, ukuleles, role-playing games, and much more.

Want to see how much the Library can save you in 2024? You can track your savings when you check out physical materials from the Library. Check your receipt (print a physical copy or choose to receive one by email) to view your amount saved for the day, year, and the lifetime of your library card. While you’re at it, snap a pic and share your savings with us on social media by tagging @mcplindiana on Instagram and Facebook!

Button Pusher

Tyler was the kind of kid who couldn't sit still at school and couldn't explain why he was acting the way he did. But when he started a new medicine called Ritalin, he was able to pay attention in class and focus. At the time, he hadn't heard the term "Attention Hyperactivity Deficit Disorder" (it was actually called Attention Deficit Disorder when he was growing up), but that's what he was experiencing.

This autobiographical memoir of one kid's experience growing up with ADHD is such an eyeopening read. Throughout it, we not only get the story of Tyler's struggles with ADHD, but the story of his rocky home life with a parent who experiences adult symptoms of ADHD. Peppered throughout the story, Tyler offers information about ADHD, what happens in brains with ADHD, how the medicine affects the brain, and some history on ADHD as a diagnosis.

I loved reading Tyler's story! It held my attention the whole way through, and the informational elements were carefully explained and hit the story at the perfect time. I'd recommend this book to anyone interested in mental health education, growing up in the 1980s-1990s, ADHD, or anyone who loves to read great books! This book is recommended for ages 10–14.

Reviewed by Kim B., Children's Librarian.

Great MCPL Kid’s Bake Off

A cake decorated with blue candy waves, a lightning bolt, a trident, and icing writing Percy Jackson.

The first Great MCPL Kid’s Bake Off is a wrap! We challenged 17 children to make their best book-inspired dessert. The catch? They had to include a mystery ingredient–beet root powder!

Each participant received a kit that included measuring spoons, beet root powder, some suggestions for baking books, and a copy of The Complete Cookbook for Young Scientists: Good Science Makes Great Food: 70+ Recipes, Experiments, & Activities to keep.

According to children’s librarian Kate Duneman, the participants had two main charges in creating their dessert–to use the secret ingredient and to tie in a book they’ve read, by decoration or taste.

“While I enjoyed seeing the different ways kids used the mystery ingredient, I think my favorite aspect was the literary tie-in and how wildly creative people were with it,” Kate said.

Some of the books and stories that inspired the desserts included The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Dewalt, Snow White, Wings of Fire: The Lost Heir by Tui T. Sutherland, The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, Pinkalicious! by Victoria Kann, and Fablehaven by Brandon Mull.

With so many creative submissions, our children’s services staff had a tough time choosing a favorite. After deliberating, Amelie’s ocean-themed cake was selected as the winner! Inspired by Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, the red velvet cake featured blue candy waves decorated with Zeus’ lightning bolt and a trident.

“The waves on top are made with isomalt,” Amelie told us. “I’ve never used isomalt before, but it was really fun to shape and I like how the waves look. Isomalt comes from another kind of beet, sugar beet!”

Amelie’s use of isomalt helped their submission stand out. “It really impressed me that kids could try out and use these techniques that many adults can’t even master,” said children’s librarian Ginny Hosler. “I am so proud of and inspired by the kids of Monroe County!”

To view photos of all of the amazing submissions, check out this Flickr album. Make sure to read the photo descriptions, which include details kids shared about their desserts, including the books that inspired the creations.

Did you miss out on registering for the Bake Off or our recent Chopped program? Subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook to learn about future programs like these.

Miss Quinces

Sue (Suyapa) does not want to have a quinceañera where she'd be required to wear a poofy dress and dance around, so when her mom surprises her by having planned one and invited guests during a family trip to Honduras, Sue isn't happy. That is, until she makes a deal with her mom: 1 quinceañera for 1 overnight sleep camp with her friends. However, preparing for the celebration takes a tragic turn when Sue's beloved grandmother passes away suddenly.

I love this sweet (and sad) coming-of-age graphic novel. I especially loved seeing Sue gain some of the independence she desperately craves while making connections with her family and her heritage. Recommended for readers ages 8–12.

Reviewed by Kim B., Children's Librarian

Pony

When Silas's father is taken away in the middle of the night by a group of outlaws who seem to mistaken him for someone else, Silas knows he has to do something. With his best friend, a ghost named Mittenwool, Silas heads out to rescue his pa while riding his beautiful bald-faced pony. Will Silas be able to rescue his pa? And what's so special about his pony? Read this book to find out!

I didn't know too much about this book before I started reading it and thought it would be a horse story more than anything else, but there is so much more going on here; it kept me guessing and surprised me! I also loved the daguerreotypes leading each chapter and feel these and the discussions of photography throughout the book would make this a great read for anyone interested in photography and history! Recommended for readers age 10 and up.

Reviewed by Kim B., Children's Librarian

Both Can Be True

Ash is a middle schooler who loves music, is a synesthete who can see sounds, and is figuring out their gender identity after being bullied at their last school for being a “flip flop freak.” It doesn’t help that Ash’s dad is putting more and more pressure on them to just choose a gender and “stick with it.” Then Ash meets Daniel at their new school. Daniel is a photography fan, kind, in-tune with his emotions, scared his parents are going to get a divorce, and mourning the loss of his dog. When Daniel saves an older dog who is about to be euthanized because the owner doesn’t want to care for the elderly dog, their worlds collide and suddenly, Ash and Daniel are pinned together in this mission—save Chewbarka at all costs.

This unapologetic look at the real struggles and triumphs that are a part of middle school life is funny, poignant, and emotional in all the right ways. While the book contained a few missed opportunities of verbalizing and giving a direct challenge to transphobic behavior, overall it showcased a very realistic experience that a LGBTQ+ child might go through and can be a fantastic conversation starter on taking up the space you deserve and claiming your own identity.

Fans of the realistic fiction genre, Alex Gino’s Melissa (George), or the Sunny Series by Jennifer L. Holm will find relatable moments in this book. Readers who are especially sensitive to the concept of animal euthanasia may want to proceed with caution. Suggested for ages 9-12+

Reviewed by Ginny H.

Living With Viola

Livy is starting at a new school and that's just the tip of the iceberg for her! She's growing anxious about making friends and fitting in when she feels different because of her culture as well as family expectations for her to achieve great things. Then there's Viola. The little voice in her head that tells her she's not good enough and that no one likes her. Sometimes Viola's voice is so loud that Livy has trouble expressing her own. She has to find some way to live with Viola.

This fun and funny graphic novel gives life to the concept of anxiety by featuring it as a real figure (Viola) in which Livy can interact with. Negative self-talk, worries, and feelings of overwhelming pressure plague Livy on a daily basis, but as soon as she asks her parents for help, she begins to feel relief as she learns to coexist with her anxiety.

Fans of Raina Telegemeier's Smile Series or Cece Bell's El Deafo will love the humor, real-life scenarios, and relatable characters. Recommended for ages 8-12.

I Love You Because I Love You

This children's picture book contains simple, poetic words but it expresses powerful emotion. The beautiful illustrations depict diverse characters experiencing the joys and security that unconditional love offers. I recommend reading this book with someone you love just because you love them.

Reviewed by Christa S., Senior Information Assistant

Shirley & Jamila Save their Summer

Jamila has to find a way to avoid going to boring old Science Camp and spend more time shooting hoops! So when oddball Shirley Bones offers a deal that will keep Jamila out of camp, Jamila jumps at the offer. There is only one problem - Shirley is weird. But soon, Jamilia realizes that Shirley isn't just weird, she's a detective! The two girls set out to solve the case of the missing gecko and save their summer!

This book is a wonderfully fun mystery with a lovely tale of friendship. If you fall in love with Shirley and Jamila like I did, then be sure to take a look at the sequel Shirley & Jamila's Big Fall.

Fans of books about friendship like Shannon Hale's Real Friends and for fans of mysteries like Kate Petty's The Leak: For the Love of Truth.

Recommended for ages 8-12.

Reviewed by Kim B. Children's Librarian

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