https://www.toledolibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/olympics-300x199.jpgThe Olympics bring so many great things together - athletic excellence, international fellowship, and so many amazing stories of how the athletes got there at all. Here are some great books to get into the spirit of the games ..read more

https://www.toledolibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/pexels-photo-19228326-300x200.webpNot a big fan of Westerns? Check out these nontraditional comics that push the boundaries of the genre ..read more

https://www.toledolibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/country-music-blog-post-featured-image-300x160.jpgBeyoncé isn't the first artist to experiment with a detour into country music. She's just the Beyoncé-est ..read more

Hair confidence is important for youth of color as they navigate their social world. High top or low fade, frizzy, curly, or coiled, our crown comes in all different styles, shades, and textures. Celebrate the unique diversity of Black hair with these books. my fade is fresh crown don't touch my hair! my hair is beautiful curlfriends the coolest beard bedtime bonnet frizzy cool cuts wash day diaries bippity bop barbershop hair love princess hair uncle jed's barbershop ..read more

July is National Hot Dog Month, and the third Wednesday in July is National Hot Dog Day! Celebrate and pay homage to the frankfurter, footlong, and wienie. Whatever you call this summertime staple on a bun, enjoy one piping hot and add some relish and mustard to go! One thing we want to know – is it a sandwich, or not?! the pigeon finds a hot dog! stick dog wants a hot dog hello hot dog! hot dog and bob and the seriously scary attack of the evil alien pizza person hot diggity dog hot dog! halal hot dogs two hot dogs with everything the sausage situation ..read more

In recent years, AI has become a subject of major discourse, with deeply concerning ramifications for art, technology, ethics, labor, economics, and probably countless other areas.  But instead of worrying about whether all our creative endeavors will be replaced by computers or the events of Terminator will come to fruition, let’s instead focus on what sci-fi fans have known for decades: self-aware robots are really, really cool (at least, in fiction).  Of course, few media embrace these quite like comic books. We’ve selected some of our favorite sentient androids, A.I.s, and other ..read more

Given her iconic career in movies, it’s maybe surprising that Shelley Duvall had no intention of going into acting until members of director Robert Altman’s film crew noticed her at a party in Houston and contrived to get her in front of their boss. What isn’t surprising is that she got noticed. With the lithe and angular silhouette of a Jules Feiffer cartoon character, limpid eyes as big as planets, and a voice like a musical instrument that hasn’t been invented yet, Duvall wasn’t built to be overlooked. And her most famous performances didn’t so much defy expectations as ignore them entire ..read more

William Anders, a lunar module pilot and one of the first three people to orbit the moon, died on June 7 at the age of 90. Although you may not know him by name, you’ve probably seen his iconic photograph, “Earthrise,” which was taken during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968. Anders once said that despite all the training and preparation for an exploration of the moon, the Apollo 8 astronauts ended up discovering Earth. Here are some photography books to help you discover our own planet (and beyond!) infinite wonder you are here view from above the planets hubble legacy ..read more

For many young people, an essential part of their summer experience is the summer sleep-away camp. The bonds and identities formed at camp can be fundamental in their growing up. It can also make the campers pretty slick storytellers. Therefore, it’s no wonder that the act of telling scary stories around the campfire– an arguably integral component of a successful camp stay– has become a point of contention. While some feel the stories act as a rite of passage, others are worried about the effects scary stories have on the campers. While these books are probably a bit too long to read in one ..read more

During this Disability Pride Month read inspiring stories of those who don’t look at themselves as disabled. These titles are relatable to all, thought-provoking, inspirational, and eye-opening. haben by Haben Girma Haben defines disability as an opportunity for innovation. She learned non-visual techniques for everything from dancing salsa to handling an electric saw. She developed a text-to-braille communication system that created an exciting new way to connect with people. Haben pioneered her way through obstacles, graduated from Harvard Law, and now uses her talents to advocate for ..read more