Do you want to learn how to design websites or make a custom phone app? Need some help getting there or just want to meet up with other amateur coders to learn and work together? We’re working to develop code clubs and events at BCPL, and we’d love to know what interests YOU!
Uncategorized
Fall in Love with the Library
Fall is finally here, and with it cooler temperatures, changing leaves, and—of course—Halloween and Thanksgiving! This year, between our Halloween Costume Swap, Pumpkin Walk, Spooktacular Saturday, and dozens of other fun events, we are absolutely batty about Halloween. (Stay tuned for Thanksgiving event announcements later this month!)
But the fall season is about so much more than the holidays. There’s pumpkin spice lattes to drink, orchards to visit, and bonfires to enjoy. In honor of all the fun fall traditions, we’ve compiled a Fall Checklist of our own to showcase some of the ways BCPL can help you enjoy the season to its fullest.
1. Pick your Halloween costume
Join us at Central Library on Sunday, October 15th for our Halloween Costume Swap! Or if you have costume items you no longer use and can’t attend, drop your early donation at any BCPL location. If you miss the costume swap (or don’t find your perfect Halloween ensemble there), we still have lots of books for inspiration or you can use a BCPL sewing machine to make something yourself in our Maker Lab or at CrafterSpace. We even have a sewing machine you can check out from our Library of Things!
For the final touch to their Halloween look, teens can attend our Gore Galore: Create Chilling Looks event for a crash course in SFX makeup!
Learn More About the Costume Swap   Check Out a Sewing Machine
2. Knit or crochet a hat or scarf
Prepare for late fall and winter by knitting or crotcheting your own hat or scarf. Check out a book, watch a video tutorial with Creativebug, or join our Twisted Stitches group at Hillview!
Find Classes on Creativebug   Join Twisted Stitches
3. Bake a pie or make soup
Grab a cookbook to spice up your fall menu! You can also find a variety of cooking and baking tutorials and recipes on Creativebug.
4. Decorate a pumpkin
Attend one of our four Pumpkin Decorating events! We’ll supply the pumpkins, paints, and other decorations; you supply the creative spark to make your pumpkin light up. We also have books you can check out for inspiration and pumpkin-carving kits in our GO! Totes collection.
Find a Pumpkin Decorating Event
Check Out a Halloween Fun GO! Tote (with pumpkin carving kit)
5. Wear (or craft your own!) seasonal socks
Make something adorable and seasonal in our Maker Lab. One of our drop-in projects for October is creating fall-themed socks using our sublimation printer! We have a selection of sizes available while supplies lasts. As a drop-in project, participants must choose one of four pre-selected sock designs, but you can also schedule an appointment with a Maker Lab Assistant and learn how to make something with your designs and materials.
Explore the Possibilities in Our Maker Lab
6. Watch a scary movie
Spooky season isn’t complete without a scary-movie night! Check out youe favorite scary shows and movies on DVD or Blu-ray, or discover a new favorite to stream in Kanopy’s 31 Days of Horror collection or browse the Best of Hoopla Horror (you can filter to find kid-friendly titles!).
Explore The Best of Hoopla Horror  Explore Kanopy’s 31 Days of Horror
7. Enjoy a nature walk
Take a walk outside the Central, Hillview, or Lebanon Junction locations to experience our new StoryWalk® installations. Or find your own local hiking adventure with our Hiking Kenutcky GO! Tote.
Walking not your thing? Just get outside to enjoy some fresh fall air! The backyards at our Hillview and Lebanon Junction locations and the garden courtyards at Central Library make especially nice spots to settle for a cozy read while the weather stays nice.
Learn More About BCPL Story Walks®   Check Out the Hiking Kentucky GO! Tote
8. Create fall crafts
We have SO many fun fall crafts to choose from! Plus, we have a Monster Puppets drop-in activity happening at all locations all October long.
Browse All Upcoming Arts & Crafts Events
More to do:
- Check out our S’mores Maker.
- Create your perfect fall candle when you learn candle making with our Candle Making GO! Tote.
- Go on a Pumpkin Walk on October 27th!
- Cozy up with a good book, of course!
Psst… Starting Friday, October 6th, you can pick up your own checklist bookmark at any BCPL location!
Can you think of more fall library activities we’ve missed?
E-mail Tracy at [email protected], and we might add your suggestion to our online list. Check back later this fall or follow us on social media for more falltasic things you can explore with BCPL this season.
SummerQuest Survey 2023
We need your help planning for SummerQuest 2024! As we look forward to next year’s program, we’d love to hear what you did (or didn’t) love about your 2023 SummerQuest experience. We appreciate any feedback are are willing to share.
Contact Us: Katie Morrison
Use this form to send questions or comments to Katie, the teen services programmer at our Mt. Washington location.
Contact Us: Destiny Stuhler
Use this form to send questions or comments to Destiny, the children's services programmer at our Hillview location.
Celebrate Spring
Let BCPL help you celebrate Earth Day in a meaningful way!
From the bustling activity of spring cleaning to the weather warm-up, spring is the season of renewal. Flowers bloom, wildlife prospers, and spirits lift. BCPL wants to help you enjoy the season to its fullest, beginning with sharing a variety of programs and resources all about protecting and appreciating nature. From gardening events to upcycled crafts to an online Ecology 101 course, we’ve got you covered!
Earth, Nature & Gardening Activities
- Beeutiful Spring | Every Thursday (@Nichols)
- Paint to Pot | Monday, April 10th
- Clay Earrings | Monday, April 10th
- Teens & Terrariums | Wednesday, April 12th
- Stamping into Spring | Thursday, April 13th
- Seed & Plant Exchange | Saturday, April 22nd
- Paint to Pot | Monday, April 24th
Plus….
- Follow our progress as the wildflower garden at Nichols Branch Library blooms, and take a peek at our bee hives as they come out of dormancy. (No worries, we’ll have binoculars available!)
- Visit the Spring/Wind garden at Central Library. We can’t wait for our seasonal plants to start popping up.
- Enjoy themed scavenger hunts at our Hillview and Mt. Washington locations.
- Browse our Earth Day, spring, and/or gardening displays at all locations to discover inspiring reads for the season.
Recommended Resources
- Environmental Sciences film collection on Kanopy
- GreenFile from EBSCOhost Web
- Nature-themed Go! Totes, including Hiking Kentucky and Trees and Plants
- Protecting Our Planet audiobook collection on Hoopla
- Self-paced courses from Universal Class including: Ecology 101, Gardening 101, Landscaping 101, Vegetable Gardening 101
Contact Us: Library Administration
Use this form to send questions or comments to BCPL's Administration Team.
Resolution Solutions
New Year’s resolutions can be much easier to make than to achieve. Sometimes we don’t even know where to begin. We have to step back from the emotional side of setting resolutions and create a step-by-step plan for making them happen. Doing so can lessen anxiety, improve focus, and boost confidence—making success far more likely.
This year, BCPL wants to help you set and keep your New Year’s resolutions! Throughout the month of January, we’ll be exploring some of the most common resolutions people make and sharing how you can use your library resources to reach your goals.
No one is perfect, and the path to keeping your goals won’t be either. If you fall behind, be kind to yourself and get right back on the path. Set your plans, but be flexible, too. And remember, small victories lead to big goals!
RESOLUTION #1
We all have that friend that always seems so calm, cool, and collected. They work full time, maintain perfect relationships with their family, never miss an event, and have it together so well they’d give you the shirt off their back if you needed it.
But here’s a secret you may not know—that exterior is a myth. Nobody lives a completely balanced life. Even the person you think has everything figured out! But we have tips and strategies on how you can feel a little more balanced.
Recommended Solutions:
- Check out a family-themed GO! Tote like Family Classic Games, Family Game Night, Hiking Kentucky, or Jumanji Escape Room!
- Plan some couples’ time with GO! Totes like Date Night, Dungeons & Dragons, or Hunt a Killer: Death at the Dive Bar.
- Take some “me” time with GO! Totes like Knitting & Crochet or Painting with Acrylic.
- Make family time with Family Bingo, Family Bunco, Family Movie Night, Family Storytime & more!
- Join a BCPL book club and/or our 2022 Book Binge challenge!
- Nourish your hobbies and enjoy time with others with similar interests. If you’re crafty, consider attending Crafting with Gayle, Scrapbooking Club, or Twisted Stitches!
- Universal Class
Courses to consider: Building Self-Esteem, How to Be Your Own Life Coach, Pursuing Happiness: Successful Strategies, Relaxation 101, Single Parenting 101, Stress Management, Time Management 101, & more! - Wellness Momentum Facebook | YouTube
Begins January 2nd. Watch Life in Perspective, Grief & Loss, Wellness from the Woods, and more!
RESOLUTION #2
Life is so hectic! You get up, take the kids to school, and go to work, then after a long work day, it’s time to pick the kids up, cook dinner (or let’s be honest, it’s probably take out, right? Who has time to cook?), go to bed, and then do it ALL over again the next day. Where are you supposed to fit in being healthy and active?
According to Harvard University, it’s important to our health to stay active. Physical activity keeps our hearts, bodies, and brains healthy and functioning. We all pretty much understand this, but finding time to exercise, eat better, and take care of our mental and emotional needs is difficult in such a fast-paced society.
Recommended Solutions:
- Check out a health-themed GO! Tote, like Hiking Kentucky or Weight Watchers.
- Chair Yoga
- Nutrition 101
- Universal Class
Courses to consider: Anti-Aging Techniques, Depression Management, Diabetes 101, Drug & Alcohol Abuse 101, Emotional Healing 101, Nutrition 101 & 201, Weight Loss Management, Weight Training 101! - Wellness Momentum  Facebook | YouTube
Begins January 2nd. Watch Yoga and more!
RESOLUTION #3
Humans have a deep-seated desire to create, learn, and connect to the world around us. Even if you aren’t an artistically inclined person, everyone has hobbies that give them a sense of satisfaction—whether it’s painting a mountain landscape or collecting back issues of National Geographic. Many of us have hobbies we would love to pick up, but can’t seem to find the chance (or the time) to do so.
Believe it or not, your library is a hotbed of opportunities for you to finally check out that hobby you’ve always been interested in.
Recommended Solutions:
- Check out a themed GO! Tote that speaks to your interests or hobbies (or your kids’ interests!), like Gross Biology; Mars & the Universe; or Louisville for foodies, travelers, and amateur historians.
- Learn an instrument—including voice classes!–with ArtistWorks.
- Learn a new language with our Intro to Sign Language series (begins February 1st) or explore dozens of languages with Mango.
- Learn DIY skills and ALL THE CRAFTS with Creativebug.
- Universal Class
Courses range from business skills to UFO Studies!
RESOLUTION #4:
Money is an unfortunate necessity in life. We need it to pay for simple living necessities, like a home to live in, water to drink, food to eat, and electricity to keep us warm. People also have an innate desire to make memories, and while there are many things you can do that don’t cost money, a lot of things we enjoy do.
But man—keeping your finances in order is HARD! Saving money, budgeting money, investing your money: these are things they don’t always teach you in school. There are methods we can use to keep our finances in order, but without the knowledge, we don’t know where to start.
Recommended Solutions:
- Schedule an appointment with a reference librarian. You can get help with a job search or your résumé, build computer skills to boost your employability, learn to use Excel to create a budget, and more.
- Universal Class
Courses to consider: Accounting & Bookkeeping 101 for Everyone, Business Budgeting 101, Debt Reduction, Investing 101, Investing 201, Investing 301, Personal Finance 101, Retirement Planning, Understanding Insurance Types & more!
Do you have a SPECIFIC resolution in need of solutions?
Contact us, and we’ll offer possible solutions to aid your progress.
Say Goodbye to Late Fees!
Late fees are so 2019…
In December 2018, we eliminated overdue fines on all youth materials. Then at the start of the pandemic in early 2020, we suspended late fees altogether.
Now we’re making it permanent!
Effective immediately, BCPL no longer charges fees for late materials. All pre-existing late fines are also forgiven. Simply bring your materials back. Patrons are still responsible for replacement fees if items are lost or damaged.
Why have we eliminated fines?
We believe no one should be denied access to library materials based on their ability to pay fines. Eliminating late fees removes an access barrier to ensure all BCPL patrons can explore, learn, and enjoy equally.
Plus, studies show that eliminating fines encourages patrons to return overdue materials—making them available for others to borrow once again!
Wait… Does that mean I can just keep all the things?
Materials will still have a due date when you check them out, but you will now have up to THREE opportunities to renew items* as long as they haven’t been requested by someone else. If an item reaches 45 days overdue, patrons must either renew or pay a replacement fee; otherwise, patrons will be suspended from checking out additional material until the overdue items are returned.
*Please note, some items, including Blu-rays, DVDs, and Playaway Launchpads, are not renewable.
When will the charges be removed from my account?
Overdue fees should already be cleared from your account, but if we missed something on your account, let us know. If items were not returned, your account will still have charges for the lost item(s). Simply bring your “lost” materials back to the library and all fines will be forgiven.
Has your library card expired?
You can visit any BCPL location to get your account updated or even request a renewal online! If you don’t have a library card, you can apply for a Digital-Only account online or drop by any of our five neighborhood locations to sign up for a full-privileges account.
E-mail an Open Records Request
You may use this online form to e-mail your records request. For additional submission options or requirements, please refer to our Open Records Request page.
Take & Make Activity Kits
Bring home the excitement of some of your favorite library programs and events! Our various Take & Make Activity Kits are designed to provide you with everything you need to enjoy fun hands-on crafts, experiments, and other activities at your convenience.
Craft Takeout
Are you hungry for a new craft? Order up a delicious new project every month. Ages 18 and up. Kits are typically released on the 1st of each month. Supplies are limited.
MONTHLY TAKEOUT MENU:
- September – Pumpkin Jar
- October – Boho Hoop Wreath
- November – Decoupage Coasters
Storytime Crafts Kits
If your kiddos are wanting to take the storytime experience home, these kits may be just what you’re looking for! Our Storytime Crafts Kits are a great way to build on your in-person storytimes at the library or to replace hands-on storytime craft activities if you can’t make it to one of our regular storytimes. They include everything you need to craft your weekly projects, and you have the perfect recipe for at-home family fun and learning for the littles.
- Monthly kits for each new month are available beginning at the end of the previous month. Pick them up at any BCPL location anytime throughout the month while supplies last!
Contact Us: Kat Gillespie
Use this form to send questions or comments to Kat Gillespie, a reference clerk at Central Library. You can also call the shared reference line at 543-7675 ext. 4.
Contact Us: Kirsten
Contact Us: Nichols Branch Library Manager
Enjoy Holiday Celebrations
This holiday season, Bullitt County Public Library is delighted to present a variety of free programs we hope will entertain, elevate the holiday spirit, and, of course, excite the kiddos. From visits with Santa to special community gatherings and holiday-themed movie nights, we’ve got something planned for all ages!
Crafty Holiday Fun
- December 2nd- Holiday Crafting Afternoon, Holiday Wreaths for Kids: Christmas Cheer
- December 5th- Holiday “JOY” Frame Trio, DIY Santa’s Cookie Plate
- December 12th- Holiday Wreaths for Kids: Christmas Cheer
- December 14th- Breakfast with Santa, PJs & Pastries with Santa, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, DIY Wood Ornaments
- December 16th- DIY Santa’s Cookie Plate, DIY Wood Ornaments
Holiday Community Gatherings
- December 2nd- Holiday Crafting Afternoon
- December 7th– Holiday Stories by the Tree
Holiday-themed Movies
- December 2nd- Family Movie Night: The Grinch
- December 7th- Hanging with the Clauses (also showing: A Year Without Santa Claus)
- December 12th- Family Movie Night: Christmas with the Kranks
- December 14th- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
- December 16th- Merry Grinchmas!
- December 19th- Family Movie Night: A Christmas Story
Holiday Stories
- December 2nd- A Winter’s Evening Storytime
- December 6th- Storytime with Hoopla
- December 7th– Holiday Stories by the Tree
- December 9th- A Winter’s Evening Storytime
- December 10th- Brown Bag Book Club: Finding Noel by Richard Paul Evans
- December 14th- Breakfast with Santa, PJs & Pastries with Santa
- December 17th- Toddler Time & Storytime (Jingle Bell Parties @Mt. Washington)
- December 18th- Toddler Time & Storytime (Jingle Bell Parties @Hillview)
- December 19th- Toddler Time & Storytime (Jingle Bell Parties @Ridgway Memorial)
- December 20th- Toddler Time & Storytime (Jingle Bell Parties @Ridgway Memorial)
Visits with Santa
- December 7th- Hanging with the Clauses
- December 14th- Breakfast with Santa, PJs & Pastries with Santa
Check It Out!
We also have a number of resources available for checkout, whether you want to watch a holiday classic to boost your Christmas cheer, settle in with a holiday-themed mystery for a cozy night in, or get advice on planning the perfect holiday gathering.
Holiday Film Fest
Season’s Readings
Holiday Entertaining
Enjoy Fall Festivities
Fall is finally here, and with it cooler temperatures, changing leaves, and—of course—Halloween and Thanksgiving! This year, between our Pumpkin Spooktacular, Slightly Batty Halloween Wingding, and dozens of other fun events, we were crazy about Halloween.
But there’s still plenty to celebrate and be thankful for this fall season with Thanksgiving just around the corner. Then, before you know it, winter and Christmas celebrations will begin!
Thanksgiving Celebrations
- Cornucopia of Stories Children of All Ages & Their Families
- DIY Thanksgiving Plates  All Ages
- Feather Painting  Ages 3–5
- Fill Up Your Holiday Cup  Ages 16+
- Holiday Nailed It  Ages 12–18
- Storytime (November 26th–29th)  Ages 3–5
- Toddler Time (November 26th–29th)  Ages 0–2
Next Up: Winter & Christmas
- Breakfast with Santa  All Ages
- DIY Holiday Cards  Ages 16+
- DIY Santa’s Cookie Plate  Children of All Ages
- DIY Wood Ornaments  Ages 5–11 & Their Families
- Falling Snow Art  Ages 18+
- Fill Up Your Holiday Cup  Ages 16+
- Hanging with the Clauses  Children of All Ages
- Holiday Crafting Afternoon  All Ages
- Holiday “JOY” Frame Trio  Ages 12+
- Holiday Nailed It  Ages 12–18
- Holiday Stories by the Tree  All Ages
- Holiday Wreaths for Kids  Children of All Ages
- Louisville Ballet Storytime: Nutcracker Special  Children of All Ages
- Merry Grinchmas!  Children of All Ages
- PJs & Pastries with Santa  All Ages
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer  Children of All Ages
- Storytime (December 17th–20th)  Ages 3–5
- Storytime with Hoopla  Ages 3–5
- Toddler Time (December 17th–20th)  Ages 0–2
- A Winter Evening’s Storytime  Ages 0–5
Pumpkin Spooktacular
At BCPL, we envision an interconnected community in which every person experiences an enriched quality of life… and that’s where you come in!
Please join with us to create a Pumpkin Spooktacular for our entire community to enjoy. Enter our contests to create the most spooktacular pumpkin of them all, vote for your favorite pumpkins to determine our winners, and attend special events—including decorating parties and an illuminated tour of our pumpkin path after dark. It’s all happening this Halloween at Hillview Branch Library!
Pumpkin Spooktacular Contest
INDIVIDUAL & FAMILY PARTICIPATION
Individuals or family groups are invited to submit one decorated pumpkin for our Pumpkin Spooktacular walking trail. Decorate your pumpkin using whatever materials you like—the sky’s the limit. But no carving or puncturing of your pumpkin is allowed.
You may enter a library-supplied pumpkin from one of our decorating parties, or you can purchase and decorate a pumpkin at home.
- PUMPKIN DROP-OFF:
If you choose to decorate your pumpkin at home, submissions must be dropped off at Hillview Branch Library on Friday, October 25th or Saturday, October 26th during regular library hours between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. - PRIZE:
In addition to bragging rights, the patron contest winner(s) will receive a $25 Walmart gift card.
BUSINESS & ORGANIZATION PARTICIPATION
Bring on the jack-o’-lanterns! Local businesses and organizations can get in on the fun too. Participating organizations may submit one carved pumpkin. You bring the carved jack-o’-lantern; we’ll provide the illumination!
- PUMPKIN DROP-OFF:
Friday, October 25th & Saturday, October 26th | 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
VOTING: October 26th–30th
Voting kicks off on Saturday, October 26th during our Nighttime Walkabout! Library patrons and visitors who can’t attend the Nighttime Walkabout can still visit the Pumpkin Spooktacular walking trail and vote for their favorite pumpkin until 8:00 PM on Wednesday, October 30th. Then we’ll tally the votes and announce the winners on Halloween!
Pumpkin Spooktacular Events
Pumpkin Decorating Parties
Come decorate a fun or spooky pumpkin to be showcased in our Nighttime Walkabout!Â
- Thursday, October 24th | 6:00–7:00 PM | Registration Required
- Friday, October 25th | 12:00–4:30 PM | Registration Required
Nighttime Walkabout
Visit the library after dark to take a stroll along our pumpkin path filled with spooktacular creations provided by members of the community. Costumes welcome!Â
- Saturday, October 24th | 7:30–9:30 PM | Just drop in!
…And don’t forget to vote for your favorite pumpkins!
Saturday, October 26th (opens 7:30 PM)–Wednesday, October 30th (closed 8:00 PM)
Voting will be open during Saturday evening’s Nighttime Walkabout and during regular library hours thereafter.
Explore Your Creative Side
Explore the Spring Season
Let BCPL help you explore the new season!
From the bustling activity of spring cleaning to the weather warm-up, spring is the season of renewal. Flowers bloom, wildlife prospers, and spirits lift. BCPL wants to help you enjoy the season to its fullest, and we offer a wide variety of resources and upcoming events to help you get motivated for and excited about the brand new season!
Celebrate Nature, Gardening & More
- Paint Hive Boxes | various dates
- Make DIY Terrariums | Tuesday, March 19th
- Build a Birdhouse | Saturday, March 30th
- Earth Day Festival 2019 | Saturday, April 20th
- Seed & Plant Exchange | Saturday, April 27th
- Homemade Homegrown Fest series | Begins May 18th
Make the Most of Spring Break
- Spring Break Crafternoon | Monday, April 1st
1:00–2:00 PM @Lebanon Junction - Spring Break Crafternoon | Tuesday, April 2nd
1:00–2:00 PM @Ridgway Memorial - Random Fandom Gaming Night: Spring Break Free Play | Thursday, April 4th
4:00–7:00 PM @Ridgway Memorial, Hillview, Mt. Washington - Disney Matinee | Friday, April 5thÂ
10:00 AM–3:00 PM @Hillview
Get Egg-cited about Easter
- Bunny Bonanza (with the Bun Bun Brigade) | Saturday, April 6th
- Easter Egg Slime | Monday, April 8th
- Eggstract Art | Friday, April 12th
- Some Bunny to Love | Saturday, April 13th
- Peeps Catapult | Wednesday, April 17th
Book suggestions and more coming soon!
The Last Movie Star
Cindy says:
An aging movie star faces the ravages of time but in the end realizes that he is still important and has value.
Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward
Tracy says:
A searing work that still lingers at the edge of my thoughts more than five years later. Through the deaths of five young men in her Mississippi community over the course of four years, the National Book Award–winning author explores the realities of poverty and blackness in America. Ward’s account is candid and beautifully wrought, and she manages to maintain a light, humanistic touch without glossing over the gritty details.
Explore Black History
Take BCPL’s Black History Month Challenge this February!
February 1st–28th
Learn more about African-American history, culture, milestones, and achievements… You can choose from over 40 activities. Activities range from exploring African-American art and literature to learning more about the Black experience in Bullitt County’s past to enjoying tasty cuisine or an impromptu Motown dance party.
You can read, listen, watch, or even create for your chance to win awesome prizes! Three lucky winners will be selected in a random prize drawing, and winners will get to choose their own prize.
Prize choices include:
- Tickets to Keystone Cinemas in Mt. Washington
- Tickets to Rave Movie Theaters in Okolona
- Tickets to Jim Beam Distillery Tour in Clermont
- Tickets to Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
- Tickets to Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville
- Tickets to the Frazier History Museum in Louisville
How to Participate:
STEP 1: Register for an account in Beanstack (if you haven’t already)
If you already have an account but you forgot your login credentials, stop by any BCPL location for help retrieving your info.
STEP 2: Complete activities to earn badges.
Badges are earned by completing any activity in a selected category—and you’ll have several activities to choose from in each category!Â
STEP 3: Earn at least 3 badges to be entered in the Black History Month Challenge prize drawing! …And you can earn more badges for more chances at winning!
Resolution Solutions
Did you know that the tradition of New Year’s resolutions goes as far back as the ancient Babylonians? That’s nearly four thousand years of people carrying an unfailing belief in goal setting and new beginnings. Inspiring, right?
But unfortunately, New Year’s resolutions are much easier to make than to achieve. Sometimes we don’t even know where to begin. We have a tendency to set huge, unrealistic goals, rather than focusing on smaller, more achievable options. As a result, often people don’t actually believe they’ll stick to their goals, and by February, they’ve given up entirely. Failure in any capacity is very disheartening, and can affect our self-esteem and our drive to keep trying.
Part of that inability to follow through could be because we know what we want to accomplish, but we don’t put much thought into how we’re going to achieve it. We have to step back from the emotional side of setting resolutions and create a step-by-step plan for making them happen. Doing so can lessen anxiety, improve focus, and boost confidence—making success far more likelVisit Sitey.
Just as we did in 2018, BCPL wants to help you set and keep your New Year’s resolutions. Throughout the month of January, we’ll be exploring some of the most common resolutions people make and sharing how you can use your library resources to reach your goals. Along the way, we’ll also share some helpful tips on how to keep your momentum going!
No one is perfect, and the path to keeping your goals won’t be either. If you fall behind, be kind to yourself and get right back on the path. Set your plans, but be flexible, too. And remember, small victories lead to big goals!
RESOLUTION #1:
Money is an unfortunate necessity in life. We need it to pay for simple living necessities, like a home to live in, water to drink, food to eat, and electricity to keep us warm. People also have an innate desire to make memories, and while there are many things you can do that don’t cost money, a lot of things we enjoy do.
But man—keeping your finances in order is HARD! Saving money, budgeting money, investing your money: these are things they don’t always teach you in school. There are methods we can use to keep our finances in order, but without the knowledge, we don’t know where to start.
RESOLUTION #2
Life is so hectic! You get up, take the kids to school, and go to work, then after a long work day, it’s time to pick the kids up, cook dinner (or let’s be honest, it’s probably take out, right? Who has time to cook?), go to bed, and then do it ALL over again the next day. Where are you supposed to fit in being healthy and active?
According to Harvard University, it’s important to our health to stay active. Physical activity keeps our hearts, bodies, and brains healthy and functioning. We all pretty much understand this, but finding time to exercise, eat better, and take care of our mental and emotional needs is difficult in such a fast-paced society.
RESOLUTION #3
Humans have a deep-seated desire to create, learn, and connect to the world around us. Even if you aren’t an artistically inclined person, everyone has hobbies that give them a sense of satisfaction—whether it’s painting a mountain landscape or collecting back issues of National Geographic. Many of us have hobbies we would love to pick up, but can’t seem to find the chance (or the time) to do so.
Believe it or not, your library is a hotbed of opportunities for you to finally check out that hobby you’ve always been interested in.
RESOLUTION #4
We all have that friend that always seems so calm, cool, and collected. He/she works full time, maintains perfect relationships with her family, never misses an event, and has it together so well she’d give you the shirt off her back if you needed it.
But here’s a secret you may not know—that exterior is a myth. Nobody lives a completely balanced life. Even the person you think has everything figured out! But we have tips and strategies on how you can feel a little more balanced. And for a solid perspective on living your best life in 2019, we suggest you check out our Color Your Year Pretty series with local author Stephanie Feger.
Contact Us: Interlibrary Loan
Please use this form to contact or ask questions of our Interlibary Loan Clerk. To request an ILL, please use the Interlibrary Loan Request form.
Goodnight Batcave by Dave Croatto
Beth says:
Hilarious parody of Goodnight, Moon, featuring Batman and his most famous villains! Kids will love it, and parents will love reading it!!