"News of the Library"

February 1, 2024| Issue 22

KIM'S CORNER

National Love Your Library Month is in February, and it's dedicated to ‘Guess who’?--YOU!!

And what better way to love your library than to use it?

This is a great time to come by your library and see the new and improved facility with you in mind. It is also a great time to reunite with some old friends you enjoyed reading and are unsure why you stopped. Maybe work or time?

But reading is so important to all of us.

7 Benefits of Reading

Reduces stress and helps you relax. ...
Improves your concentration and memory. ...
Expand your vocabulary and strengthen your writing abilities. ...
Enhances your knowledge. ...
Increases your imagination and creativity and expands your understanding of the world.
Creates better listeners.
Builds empathy and understanding.

These are just some of the benefits of reading. There are so many more.

So remember these words…

“Reading brings knowledge and knowledge is power; therefore, reading is power. The power to know and learn and understand . . . but also the power to dream. Stories inspire us to reach high, love deep, change the world, and be more than we ever thought we could. Every book allows us to dream a new dream.”

Quote by Emma Chase

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WHAT'S NEW FOR FEBRUARY

February is a good month for love. Love for your sweetheart, your spouse, your family…and, of course, your library! And we show love for our patrons this month by offering a very eclectic assortment of new adult fiction.

THE COUPLE UPSTAIRS by Shalini Boland → sea-side apartment ; chance to leave troubles behind ; new friends upstairs ; things start to go wrong ; whispers and nighttime noises ; irate husband ; secrets kept?

REVELATIONS OF THE RUBY CRYSTAL by Barbara Hand Clow (Book 1 of a trilogy) → young Catholic graduate student from Boston studying at the Vatican Library ; a ring set with a powerful ruby crystal that produces visionary abilities ; memories of a past life ; possible world control by Vatican

I’LL BE SEEING YOU by Joanne Kukanza Easley (local author) → begins in 1940 Texas ; dreams of a modeling career in New York cut short ; alcohol dependence and other problems ; sobriety and a chance to rebuild back in Texas ; years later third husband appears for a reconciliation ; what does she choose?

SHARK HEART: A LOVE STORY by Emily Habeck → young married couple ; husband diagnosed with a rare condition that causes him to start turning into a great white shark ; wife has memories of her past as she yearns to stay with her husband ; what will she choose?

NEWS FROM THE FRIENDS OF COMFORT PUBLIC LIBRARY:

Help wanted:

The Book Barn still needs:

Volunteers to staff the Barn even one or two hours on Saturdays. If we get enough volunteers we would be able to open on other days.
Organizing and displaying the books could be done for a few hours on days other than Saturdays.
Researching the value of older books online could also be done any day as well as done from home.

If you're interested in helping out our "Friends" support group, give the Library a call and we'll connect you with them!

The 3rd Saturday is now "Comfort Reads" featuring our "Comfort Zone" book club and "Literary Saturday" featuring books read and signed by a Texas-based author!

In February, "Literary Saturday" features San Antonio author Lynn Dean.

Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for (audience)? Why should they care (benefit)? What do I want them to do (call-to-action)?

Create a great offer by adding words like "free," "personalized," "complimentary," or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take action, so consider inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"

This month's "Comfort Zone" Book Club selection is The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon

In this alternative-history novel, American author Michael Chabon imagines that during World War II, Jewish refugees were settled in Sitka, Alaska and that the State of Israel was destroyed in 1948. As a result, Sitka--now a thriving, Yiddish-speaking metropolitan area--is the center of the Jewish Diaspora. However, this year, the American government is due to return control of Sitka to the state government of Alaska. In this context, Sitka detective Meyer Landsman is ordered not to investigate a murder in order to avoid bad publicity, but he presses ahead with the investigation anyway. The Yiddish Policemen's Union won many awards for science-fiction writing, including the Nebula Award for Best Novel, the Locus Award for Best Science Fiction Novel, and the Hugo Award for Best Novel. It was shortlisted for several more, including the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Novel.

What's Going On in February--Classes & Events