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LGBT+ History Month is an annual celebration of the lives and achievements of LGBTQIA+ people of the past. LGBT History Month was first celebrated in 1994. LGBT History Month was first proposed by Rodney Wilson, the first out Missouri Public School teacher. Wilson's rationale behind selecting October as LGBT History Month was to honor National Coming Out Day (October 11) which was first celebrated in 1988 as well as the 1979 March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. LGBTQ History Month was declared a national history month by President Barack Obama in 2009. Click "Read More" to see a list of historical fiction, historical fantasy, biographical fiction, nonfiction, biographies, and memoirs related to LGBTQIA+ history.

Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. In this post, we will list both library events and local events that were brought to our attention. Additionally, there are recommendations for fiction authors, graphic novels, memoirs, nonfiction, and graphic nonfiction related to Hispanic and Latin-American history and culture.

The library will be closed on Thursday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth. According to the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, “on June 19, 1865, nearly two years after President Abraham Lincoln emancipated enslaved Africans in America, Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas with news of freedom. More than 250,000 African Americans embraced freedom by executive decree in what became known as Juneteenth, or Freedom Day.” Juneteenth became federally recognized in June of 2021.

Happy Pride Month to all of our LGBTQIA+ patrons! Click "Read More" for recommendations of fiction, nonfiction, memoirs and documentaries showcasing queer voices. There is also information on BCPL celebrations and other local Pride events.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to a time to raise awareness, reduce the stigma around mental illness, and remind ourselves that no one has to face mental health challenges and suffer alone. Click "Read more" for a list of Dewey numbers for common topics in mental health, some of the memoirs in our collection pertaining to mental health struggles, and resources that provide information.

Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States and their descendants. AAPI Heritage Month acknowledges their contributions in our society and influence on our culture. Click Read More to see a list of some authors of Asian and Pacific Islander ancestry in our fiction collection as well as a sampling of nonfiction and memoirs featuring Asian and Pacific Islander voices and culture.

Autism Acceptance Month celebrates and honors the experiences and identities of autistic individuals. It emphasizes moving beyond awareness towards meaningful acceptance, understanding, inclusion, and support.

Women's History Month celebrates the history, activism, and achievements of girls and women. It has been observed in the United States annually since 1987, when Congress passed a resolution to expand Women's History Week to an entire month. National Women's History Week had started in 1980 under President Jimmy Carter via a Presidential proclamation.

February is Library Lovers’ Month, a month  dedicated to people that love libraries and everything they have to offer and that lauds everyone who advocates for libraries. Show your library love by playing Bingo! Pick up your Bingo Sheet at the Library Lovers' Month display or Reference Desk. Complete library activities and cross out boxes to get 5 in a row, column, or diagonally. Bring your Bingo Sheet to the Reference Desk to enter a drawing for a library swag bag. Contact the Reference Desk if you have questions about how to do any of the Bingo tasks.

February 5 is National Girls and Women in Sports Day. According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, “This celebration inspires girls and women to play and be active, to realize their full power. The confidence, strength and character gained through sports participation are the very tools girls and women need to become strong leaders in sports and life.” Here are some books, movies, and websites to learn about and celebrate NGWSD.

Black History Month, which had its origins in Chicago during the summer of 1915, According to the Black History Month  founding organization, Association for the Study of African-American Life and History, “the 2025 Black History Month theme, African Americans, and Labor, focuses on the various and profound ways that work and working of all kinds – free and unfree, skilled, and unskilled, vocational and voluntary – intersect with the collective experiences of Black people.”

According to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, “The United Nations General Assembly designated January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a time to remember the 6 million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and the millions of other victims of Nazi persecution. We remember Holocaust victims by reading their names, lighting candles, and learning about the Holocaust.”

Monday, January 20 is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, commemorating the life and legacy of Civil Rights Movement leader, activist, and minister Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. BCPL will be open that day. Honor his memory by reading one of the many books that discuss his aspirations and accomplishments.