Becky Maher-Jacobson is a part-time Library Aide at the Carnegie-Stout Public Library.She is also a band director in the Western Dubuque Community School District. Q. What is the best book you have read within the last year (or ever)? A. The best book that I have […]
I was going through my ever growing “to be read” list recently, when I came across the ominous sounding The Devil all the Time, by Donald Ray Pollock. As with most of the titles on that doughty list of mine, I couldn’t remember what initially attracted me […]
Do these five simple activities to help prepare your child for future reading success.
Young children need a variety of skills to become successful readers. A panel of reading experts has determined that the following six early literacy skills become the building blocks for later reading and writing. Research indicates that children who enter school with more of these […]
Below are some ways you can get started on the next step in your career or job search. If you have questions or need assistance, the librarians at the Reference Desk on the second floor are happy to help. You can visit in person, call […]
The library is pleased to offer tours for groups interested in learning more about how to use the library and its resources. *Please Note: Tours may not be available due to COVID-19 restrictions. * The Youth Services Department conducts tours for day cares, schools, scout troops, […]
Are you planning to attend college? Check out these college prep resources to help you get started on the right foot: Preparation Checklists Are you a student? A parent? An adult thinking about going back to school? Want to know how to prepare for college […]
Looking for some fun and educational online outlets for your children? Check out these kid-friendly websites:
Take your creative projects to the next level with the PFAFF® creative™ 1.5 sewing and embroidery machine. For over 150 years, PFAFF® has supported artisans with modern technology and unparalleled power engineered in Germany. Using a PFAFF® embroidery machine will help you achieve outstanding results […]
Technology can be a scary thing. If working at the Library has taught me one thing, it’s that technology is the future, and without at least some knowledge, you will be left at the curb. Job hunting is no longer done by filling out paper […]
We do! The Maker Space is home to 2 button makers, and can make 2-1/4” and 1” size buttons. Create, print and assemble buttons for your next birthday party, social event or election. Design and print at home, or use the library computers and printer. […]
Chroma key compositing, or chroma keying, is a special effects/post-production technique for compositing (layering) two images or video streams together based on color hues (Chroma range). Huh? Let’s make this simple. We’ve all watched the weather on the local news. Your favorite meteorologist is actually […]
A Maker Space is an area with a focus on creation—everything from music and videos to 3D printing, hobby laser projects and more! It’s a space where the community comes together and collaborates on projects that would not be financially feasible for the individual maker. […]
Ever feel like you’re stuck in a rat race? Yeah, me too. RX: a graphic memoir by Rachel Lindsay explores the rat race of corporate America from the viewpoint of a woman stuck in a vicious cycle. This quick read pairs Lindsay’s basic, yet poignant drawings with her no-nonsense, […]
Adult Services Manager Bill Carroll has been selected as C-SPL Reader of the Month for June. Here he’s shared what kind of books offer him the best kind of escapism and shows what has most influenced who he is today. Q. Can you tell us about […]
xploration. The date was selected in commemoration of Alan Shepard’s successful spaceflight on Freedom 7 on May 7, 1961 which made him the first American in space. As a librarian who loves reading about space explorations both real and imagined, I thought I’d share a few of my […]
All My Colors by David Quantick is the story of Todd Milstead. Described as an egotistical a-hole— he’s a wannabe writer who talks a great deal more about writing and writers, than actually doing the work. His eidetic memory makes him able to quote books […]
Simon Muchat bares this telling sentiment near the beginning of the newly translated graphic novel Portugal by writer and artist Cyril Pedrosa, which follows the character’s journey to reconnect with his past, present, and place in the world. Simon, a fictionalized version of Pedrosa, is an aloof art […]
By Amy Muchmore, Adult Services The animated series Star Wars Rebels takes place 14 years after Revenge of the Sith and 5 years before A New Hope. Galactic forces are getting stronger and Imperial forces are hunting down the remaining Jedi Knights all the while a fledgling rebellion is forming. […]
Spoonbenders, by Daryl Gregory made me laugh more than any other book I’ve read lately. Gregory’s story about the Amazing Telemachus family has clever dialog and plot, interesting characters, a tight-knit riotous family, and suspense. All these varying elements come together in a cohesive and enjoyable read. […]
By Sarah Smith, Adult Services The British crime drama Broadchurch has an impressive cast of talented actors, and viewers are likely to recognize several faces including David Tennant and Olivia Colman, who play the main investigators. The series is set in a fictional coastal town of Broadchurch whose small […]
If you’re looking for a fun, romantic read for Valentine’s Day, I suggest you check out I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo. This book is a sweet and goofy look at first love that will remind readers of the fun of watching a romantic […]
By Amy Muchmore, Adult Services Librarian What do I do when it is really cold out and I have some free time? I hang out with my cat, Gizmo, and read cozy mysteries by the fire. Lately I’ve been on a library mystery kick and […]
By Amy Muchmore, Adult Services Binge on Law & Order: SVU? Are you crazy? That show is intense and sad*. Well, I had a vacation week and I didn’t go anywhere. USA was running a Law & Order: SVU marathon and I swear I spent nearly three days […]
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles is approaching its one-year anniversary on the New York Times bestseller list. Having just finished it, I can attest that it deserves every week it has spent there. For the crime of being an aristocrat after the 1917 Russian Revolution, Count Alexander Ilyich […]
What a trilogy! Wow. It is dark. It is brutal. There are shameful deeds, shocking betrayals, and blood feuds. Wars and reconciliations. Violence and tenderness. This trilogy really covers all areas of human emotion. A friend says it’s a cross between Game of Thrones and Hunger Games. I […]
