Posts

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.”

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.

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.

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.