Blog

We’re still in the midst of a pandemic so it should come as little surprise that Halloween celebrations and trick-or-treating will look different this year.

Do not let this stop you from getting into the Halloween spirit though!

Check out one of these spooky titles to get the adrenaline going and give you those frights you are looking for, all from the safety of your home.

Costumes optional.

Continue Reading "Creepy Reads for Teens to get into the Halloween Spirit" →

October brings many things—the changing of the leaves, pumpkins, new latte flavors… but one facet of October that sometimes gets missed is LGBTQ+ History Month.

This month commemorates National Coming Out Day on October 11th, as well as the first and second marches on Washington for LGBTQ+ rights in 1979 and 1987.

It’s also interesting to note that LGBTQ+ History Month directly follows Banned Books Week, the last week of September.

LGBTQ+ books are some of the most frequently challenged books in schools, from Captain Underpants to The Color Purple.

Continue Reading "Read With Pride" →

Fairy tales are generally associated with children, of good triumphing over evil. 

But what if the stories that we know and love were twisted on their head? 

What if Cinderella was actually a cyborg sent to save the world, or what if the evil queen was simply misunderstood? 

Often, fairy tales are told from one perspective, that of the hero or princess. 

But what if we heard the story from the so-called villain's perspective? 

Continue Reading "Twisted Fairy Tales: The Villain’s Perspective" →

In the wake of national protests, many customers have reached out to us.

They, like us, are looking for recommendations for books and movies that enlighten and educate us on race and justice.

Here at DPPL we strive to provide access to a broad collection that represents the diversity of our community. 

We will work tirelessly to do our part to make our library, our community, and our world a place where all are welcome and treated with dignity and respect.

Here are our picks for kids, teens, and adults that encourage critical thinking and conversation about race, as well as a deeper understanding of systemic injustices experienced by Black Americans.

The following titles are a starting place for transformation through exploring racism and inequity in fiction, fact, and film.

Many of these titles are available digitally and print copies may be placed on hold for pickup when our carry-out services begins on June 15th. 

For instant access to acclaimed documentaries like P.S. I Can't Breathe and Broken on All Sides, use your DPPL library card to access Kanopy's Social and Systemic Injustice Collection. 

Continue Reading "DPPL’s Race & Social Justice Reading List" →

Every year I look forward to May because it’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (also referred to as Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month).

It puts a spotlight on my cultural background— one that can sometimes feel overlooked during the rest of the year. It allows me to commemorate my Japanese, Taiwanese, and Okinawan ancestry. 

This May, however, felt different to me than every other May.

Continue Reading "Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month All Year Long" →