ocarroll's blog

Harry Potter and the Domino Effect

  • Posted on: 2 May 2022
  • By: ocarroll

When Bloomsbury Publishing decided to publish an unknown author with a story that seemed to go against every rule in children’s publishing at the time, they set off a domino effect of global societal impacts that are still felt today. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, otherwise known as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, was published June 26, 1997. The first movie by the same name later debuted November 14, 2001. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final installment in the Harry Potter franchise, was published July 14, 2007. The final movie debuted July 15, 2011.

5 Reasons To Love Your Local Library

  • Posted on: 5 April 2022
  • By: ocarroll

 

Where can you find an unlimited number of worlds to explore, the newest technology at your finger tips and the latest songs and movies— all for free? That's right, the library!

Unfortunately, libraries remain one of the best kept secrets of many cities. Community members are often not aware of all of the services available to them through their local library. To so many, the library starts and ends with books. Though the books offered are a wonderful resource, and are enough of a reason to get a library card, there are plenty of other reasons to love your local library.

In honor of National Library Week, here are five reasons to visit your local library:

Anonymous was a Woman

  • Posted on: 1 March 2022
  • By: ocarroll

 

"I would venture to guess that Anon, who wrote so many poems without signing them, was often a woman." – Virginia Woolf

 

This quote from Virginia Woolf is more commonly recognized in its iconic rephrasing, “For most of history, Anonymous was a woman.” But why is that the case?

Simply put: Female writers were often denied the freedom of claiming their own words.

A New Tale as Old as Time

  • Posted on: 26 February 2022
  • By: ocarroll

 

Contemporary Retellings of Fairy Tales

The tale may be old as time, but there are new ways to experience these rhymes! It is in the nature of fairy tales to be retold as time goes on. There are new lessons to teach, new messages to shape and new ways to frame these dearly beloved characters. Contemporary authors have not shied away from this challenge, continuing the longstanding tradition of retelling fairy tales by putting their own spin on classic stories.

Black Authors You Should Know

  • Posted on: 4 February 2022
  • By: ocarroll

 

Literature has always consisted of Black authors. These authors helped to shape literary movements, open the door for other Black authors in their genre to be heard and they made impactful changes in the world around them. However, many are still not well known today. As we enter Black History Month, we invite you to take time to check out some of these impactful Black authors and their contemporaries.

 

Octavia Butler

 

        

2021 Staff Favorites

  • Posted on: 18 January 2022
  • By: ocarroll

 

2021 brought readers all new stories to add to their "To Be Read" lists. Whether a new story or old, we all found a favorite read that we can't wait to share. The HMCPL staff had plenty of favorite books they read throughout 2021 and we wanted to share a few with you!

 

Children’s (Juvenile) Books

 

Don’t Hug Doug written by Carrie Finison Illustrated by Daniel Wiseman