April 2020

  • More Short Stories Online

    Short stories are the form in which many writers hone their craft. And while each year’s Best American Short Stories and Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy anthologies compile some of the best of that year, they don’t highlight all of what gets published and is worthy of note. So much depends on who edits… Continue reading

  • #BookBingoNW2020: Animal as Main Character

    There’s something about stories narrated by animals that provide a very different reading experience. Whether they are anthropomorphized or remain true to their wild selves, animal narrators give us a chance to step out of our human skin and see the world around us in new ways. Here are some titles that are in turn… Continue reading

  • Bus Reads for April: Quarantine Edition

    I’ve found that commuting by bus gave me a lot more time to focus on my reading and being at home creates so many more distractions, I have less time to focus on a book in my hand. My few little escapes to walk the neighborhood have really been the only time I can slow… Continue reading

  • The Last Note Begins with See Sharp: On Transforming Your Thoughts into Poetry

    In the first four weeks of April, Shelf Talk published the series An April Quartet in honor of National Poetry Month. Each blog post was centered around an accompanying resource list, An April Quartet: In Alto, Poets Face that Discordant Sound, An April Quartet:  Some Soprano Sops Up a Poem’s Bread (the Rising), An April… Continue reading

  • Revisit Past Events with Our Podcasts

    Was there an author event you missed out on at the library? Did you miss a Thrilling Tales adult story time? Don’t fret! The library records many of its events, everything from author readings to theatre previews. Found under the Books and Media tab on our homepage, Library Podcasts are sorted by year at the… Continue reading

  • Missing the Library? Us, Too…

    There’s a good chance you are longing for the days when you could simply walk into the library to pick up a book, watch a DVD, browse the internet or peruse the rest of the endless available services and materials. You’re not alone! So, in the spirit of the library being closed but many services… Continue reading

  • Freegal playlists to stay home and stay healthy with

    Spending all day alone in a silent home isn’t easy. Luckily, you can stream plenty of music through Freegal – for free! – with your library card. What’s more, there are some fantastic mixes already curated and available on the platform to accompany your Stay Home, Stay Healthy experience, no matter what you have planned… Continue reading

  • The Story of Film, Part 4: The Arrival of Sound

    The Story of Film, Part 4: The Arrival of Sound

    Continuing our journey through Mark Cousin’s The Story of Film, we’ve now reached the first full decade of talking pictures. Though silent films would still be made into the mid 1930’s (with some made in both silent and sound versions for a time), by the end of the decade “talkies” would be the industry standard and… Continue reading

  • Hoopla Comics: Tips and Recommendations

    Many people are now familiar with Hoopla for music and videos, but it is also an excellent place to download comic books and graphic novels! The Seattle Public Library doesn’t carry individual issues of comics, but you can find many of them in Hoopla. If there is a hot new title you want to keep… Continue reading

  • The Odd World of the Tiger King

    If you are like the rest of America, you may have seen the documentary “Tiger King” on Netflix.  The weird mix of true crime, eccentric characters, and cute tiger kittens left me wanting more. Get your quirky fix with these reads! Continue reading

  • Independent Women Creating Comics

    Like so many others I was terribly disappointed when Emerald City Comic Con announced its cancellation. Not only for fans, but for the creators that depend on such platforms to connect with the community and broadcast their works. Fortunately for us there is Hoopla, a free service that makes literally thousands of comic titles available… Continue reading

  • A Trio of Unsettling Films

    If you like to escape times of high anxiety in this world by transporting yourself to those of another, here are three psychologically unsettling films you must visit: Jake Gyllenhaal stars in Richard Kelly’s 2001 cult classic, Donnie Darko, about an emotionally unstable high school student who is visited by a large ominous rabbit from… Continue reading

  • Harry Potter at Home

    The new Harry Potter at Home project is a collective effort by Bloomsbury, Scholastic, Audible, OverDrive, Pottermore Publishing, and WizardingWorld.com to bring the magical world of Harry Potter straight to you during these troubling times. For over twenty years now, the Harry Potter universe has been a comforting and immersive place for all readers, whether… Continue reading

  • Stay at home and be inspired with the Seattle Art Museum

    With the closure of arts institutions to the public due to the outbreak, many museums and galleries are digitizing their content to be viewed online. The Seattle Art Museum is just one museum making their collection accessible and engaging, despite not being able to view art in person. The SAM blog has articles, videos, and… Continue reading

  • #BookBingoNW2020: Nature

    Today we unveil yet another Book Bingo category: nature. As someone who loves the outdoors as much as I love reading, I’m very excited for this square! Whether you’re a nature lover or not, here are some different ways to find a book that best suits your reading interests: Think Local: If you’re taking daily… Continue reading

  • Soundtrack: Chopin’s Ballades No. 1-4

    We live in a world with a barrage of information, very little of which is positive, especially right now. So I’m offering you all a bit of respite in the form of some classical piano music! The instrumental nature of this genre leaves plenty of room for interpretation, so please take whatever you need from… Continue reading

  • Communicating with Kids Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing about COVID-19

    Finding the right words and communicating with children about COVID-19 may be difficult right now. Not all the resources out there meet the needs of all children. So, below are some resources that may help with communicating with deaf and hard of hearing children. The Washington State Department of Health has created an eight-part American… Continue reading

  • An April Quartet, Part IV: Tenor, in the Tenor of these Times, Raise Your Voice High

    What do you say, to yourself and others, about these days we are living through? How are you describing the events, people, known and unknown, the circumstances and situations you witness or find yourself encountering? Your words may be heard by a few, by many or you alone, either way you give voice to the… Continue reading