Recomendations abound at The Library

Have you ever asked for a recommendation for a restaurant, tire shop, or car dealership on social media? It can be helpful to get input from others before spending money or time on an important purchase or experience.

This is so true for book recommendations. Even though we may gravitate toward a certain genre or format, a recommendation has the power to get us to try something new. Maybe you like to read paperback books, but discovered that you could burn through twice as many audiobooks since a friend showed you The Library’s huge “Spoken Word” collection. Some have read nonfiction their whole lives until their teenager introduced them to a Young Adult Fiction title.

If you are one of those people who like to get a recommendation before trying something new, stop by the Staff & Volunteer Picks display, located on the second floor at the Sandpoint Branch. There, you can find materials that staff and library volunteers have enjoyed with a bookmark that tells you who recommends it and why.

Most of the books displayed are hardback or paperback books, but many are available in other formats like Spoken Word (books on CD), Playaway (a preloaded audiobook device), eBook, or digital audiobook. EBooks and audiobooks can be downloaded from RB Digital, OverDrive, and Hoopla in the Digital Library at ebonnerlibrary.org. It’s easy to do, but if you haven’t done it before, it might be helpful to ask one of our friendly library staff to walk you through it the first time. I have all three apps on my phone because I love audiobooks.

Pick up something for yourself from the Staff & Volunteer Picks display or find it in audio or eBook format. Then, come back and let us know what you thought of their recommendation or post a review on the listing in the catalog online.

Check out the classes and events schedule below to see how you can get a head start on trying something new from The Library. All take place at the Sand-point Library unless otherwise noted.

East Bonner County Library District schedule

- Fridays — Explore virtual reality (reserve sessions), 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; reserve a 15-minute session in the VR room at ebonnerlibrary.org/Events on the event listing. Information: Contact the Tech Desk, 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

- Fridays — M.A.C. (Manga/Anime Club) for Teens, 3-5 p.m., Room 102. Celebrate fandom at The Library. Read, write, and watch your favorite manga and anime with other enthusiasts. Information, 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Saturday, Jan. 11 — ASL Song Signing and Poetry, 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the Innovia Foundation Room B. This standalone workshop will involve a participatory performance that will be a fun way to learn American Sign Language. The workshops are open to anyone regardless of level. Instructor: Susan Schaller. Info:susan.schaller@gmail.com.

- Saturday, Jan. 11 — SHS eSports at The Library, 10 a.m. in the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation. Making eSports available to high school gamers by facilitating healthy competition on a varsity level in a comfortable environment is the mission of the HSEL. The Library is partnering with the SHS eSports team to further that mission. Information: kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Saturdays — Explore virtual reality (reserve sessions), 2-4 p.m.; reserve a 15-minute session in the VR room at ebonnerlibrary.org/Events on the event listing. Information: Contact the Tech Desk 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

- Sunday, Jan. 12 — ASL Song Signing and Poetry, 3 p.m. at the at the Hotel Ruby conference room, 477255 N. Highway 95 in Ponderay. This standalone workshop will involve a participatory performance that will be a fun way to learn American Sign Language. The workshops are open to anyone regardless of level. Instructor: Susan Schaller. For more information, contact Susan Schaller at susan.schaller@gmail.com.

- Tuesdays — Mother Goose, 10 a.m., in Karen’s Room. Stories and singing for babies and toddlers 0-3 years old and their caregivers with stay and play until 10:40 a.m. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesdays ­— Preschool Story Time, 11 a.m. in Karen’s Room. Stories and crafts for kids and their caregivers. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Tuesdays — Explore virtual reality (drop-in sessions); 3-6 p.m., drop-in 15-minute sessions. First come, first served. All ages welcome. Under 18 must accompany parent consent form. Under 10 must be accompanied by parent/legal guardian. Information: Contact the Tech Desk, 208-263-6930, ext.1251.

- Tuesday, Jan. 14 — Library Book Club, 7-8 p.m. at the East Bonner County Library District’s Sandpoint branch library, 1407 Cedar St. in the Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation Community Room A. Participants will get acquainted, recive an overview of the club and borrow the first book, “How to Be a Patient” by Sana Goldberg. This is an adult book club, and selections may not be appropriate for those under the age of 18. There is no limit on the number of participants, however, we will only guarantee enough books for eight people. There may easily be times when we have 12 books available. If we have more participants than books, we will find a way to share or somehow accommodate participants. To sign up and borrow the first book, please call 208-263-6930 or simply attend the first meeting on Jan. 14.

- Wednesdays — Clark Fork Mother Goose, 10:30 a.m. at the Clark Fork branch library. Stories, rhymes, and music for toddlers and their caregivers followed by 20 minutes of play time. Information: 208-266-1321.

- Wednesdays — Storytime, 11:30 a.m. at the Clark Fork branch library. Stories, music, and crafts geared to ages 3-6. All welcome. Information: 208-266-1321.

- Wednesday, Jan. 15 — Robots, 2:30 p.m. in Karen’s Room. Come play with Edison and Kamigami Robots. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Wednesdays — Teen Lounge Passive Pop-Up Programs, 4 p.m. in the Rotary Teen Lounge. Teen-driven art, engineering, robots, and science projects and workshops as space allows. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Wednesday, Jan. 15 — Science Café: Mental Health, 5:30-7 p.m. in the Innovia Foundation Community Room B. Dr. Joseph Wassif, psychologist at Bonner General Health, will lead a discussion related to your questions and experiences about depression, anxiety, personality disorders, ADHD, trauma, mood deregulation, and life transitions and how to best help those you know who are suffering from these conditions. Information: 208-265-2665.

- Thursday, Jan. 16 — Girls Who Code, 4-5 p.m. in the YA Reading Area. In this 10-week program using immersive activities, you and your team will build a Girls Who Code project to solve a real-world problem. Girls Who Code Clubs are meant for girls to become part of a sisterhood of supportive peers and role models to join in the use of Computer Science to help change the world. For additional information on Girls Who Code, visit their website at: girlswhocode.com.

- Kids and Families Winter Reading Challenge — Register at ebonnerlibrary.beanstack.org for the second of three winter reading challenges. Our second challenge is a nationwide winter challenge sponsored by Beanstack (our online reading platform) and Penguin Random House. High participation from you could earn us a visit from kids’ author Max Brailler or other prizes from the publisher. In addition to helping the library compete nationally, kids will win free books and chances to win robots, while adults will earn chances to win free groceries. This challenge runs from January 1-31. A third challenge will follow in February. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1211; or suzanne@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Teen Winter Reading Challenge — Runs through Feb 29. Fun new format and great prizes. Visit ebonnerlibrary.beanstack.org for more information and to register. Information: 208-263-6930, ext. 1245; or kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org.

- Rotary Teen Lounge — Open to seventh-12th graders from any school/homeschool; Tuesdays-Thursdays, 2-6 p.m., and Fridays, 2-5 p.m. Information: kimber@ebonnerlibrary.org, or 208-263-6930, ext. 1245.

- StoryWalk — Pages from a children’s book are posted along a trail for a fun, family experience. Enjoy “Baking Day at Grandma’s,” by Anika Denise at Dover City Park and “Cat Knit,” by Jacob Grant at McNearney Park. Read, connect, and get outside at a StoryWalk, a partnership of The Library, Kaniksu Land Trust, city of Dover, and city of Ponderay. For more information, visit Facebook.com/BonnerStoryWalk.

Marcy Timblin is in charge of public relations, marketing & community development for the East Bonner County Library District. She can be reached at 208-208- 208-208-263-6930, ext. 1204.