Today in news around the world, music fans mourn Eddie Van Halen, hurricane season poses interruptions, and the presidential fight for the country continues on. Articles and news courtesy of Newseum.

One of the biggest challenges in making a space more accessible for people with hearing, vision, or mobility loss is awareness. Many disabilities are often hidden or invisible, and not everyone who experiences them feels comfortable coming forward for help. Contacts, glasses, hearing aids, and other discreet accessories or technology make it less obvious that someone might need support, plus they may be shy or unable to speak up. It's easy to assume that others around you can hear, see, stand, walk, or perform other every day activities at the same pace or ease that you can. Being mindful o...

(Illustration courtesy of Mental Health America)Since schools have adapted to virtual education over the last several months, many teachers have noticed their students becoming more easily discouraged and frustrated with themselves, seeming more melancholy or irritable than usual, and being more distracted or forgetful. Right now teachers have an opportunity and obliga...

As a follow up of my previous post exploring why libraries are such perfect environments for cats and why so many librarians around the world adore them, I asked some of our librarians at Gottesman Libraries to talk about their cats, what they love about them, and what they love about their jobs. Get to know our team and add some new titles to your reading and movie lists on the way! Do you have a beloved pet at home you want to share with us? Please post about them in the comments!

Photo: Lisa ShafferLibrarians have long been stereotyped as cat lovers, but where did the association come from, and how accurate is it? There are some similarities that can be drawn between the two; both prefer a quiet, orderly environment, and each knows the value of a cozy, comfortable chair for...

This week I want to share some biographies and items from our e-book collection that offer an intimate look at some of the most influential and beloved cultural figures in music, comedy, and literature. The ways these artists persevered to constantly reinvent themselves, revolutionize their industries, and influence generations continues to inspire and encourage, even decades later.Barry Cooper's

Lantz Hall, Massanutten Military Academy, Woodstock, VirginiaAs students and teachers everywhere adapt to the virtual classroom, I often wonder how this transition affects the individual and collective educational process. I asked a relative of mine, Christina Blakely, whose ninth through twelfth grade history classes are now instructed through Canvas, for feedback from...

I compiled some of the best cookbooks of our collection that are available as e-Books. Use our catalog to search for books.Enjoy!Cook up some literary nostalgia with comforting and cozy recipes from Melissa Gilbert's

Everyday public spaces- schools, libraries, stores, transportation ports- have the ability to transform themselves into sanctuaries in times of danger, to serve as a safe place for those seeking shelter. Libraries in particular are a place the public looks to for information and facts, resources, for help solving problems. But what about when the enemy is something invisible, such as disease? What happens when being in a public space agg...