Spokane Public Library

April 10-17 is Money Smart Week, a national public education program that empowers people with the knowledge and skills to make better-informed personal financial decisions around the key financial pillars of saving, spending, borrowing, and planning. Here is a list of resources from Spokane Public Library:

Know Yourself, Know Your Money: discover why you handle money the way you do, and what to do about it! by Rachel Cruze

Book

The Price You Pay for College: an entirely new road map for the biggest financial decision your family will ever make by Ron Lieber

Book

Personal Finance 101: from saving and investing to taxes and loans, an essential primer on personal finance by Alfred Mill

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The Ultimate Retirement Guide for 50+: winning strategies to make your money last a lifetime by Suze Orman

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The Buy Nothing, Get Everything Plan: discover the joy of spending less, sharing more, and living generously by Liesl Clark

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How to Make Your Money Last: the indispensable retirement guide by Jane Bryant Quinn

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10,001 ways to live large on a small budget

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Get Money : live the life you want, not just the life you can afford by Kristin Wong

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The Financial Diet: a total beginner’s guide to getting good with money by Chelsea Fagan

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Also available at www.spokanelibrary.org:

Digital Branch Subscription Databases: Linkedin Learning, Gale Presents: Udemy, Morningstar Investment Research Center, and Teen Resource Center all have information on financial literacy.

Magazine and Newspaper Resources: Full text articles from popular and business-related magazines and journals.

From our Ask a Money Doctor series about Social Security benefits featuring Bonita Bell-Andersen of Freedom Financial Coaching:

When to Claim Social Security Benefits

Qualifying for Social Security

How COLA Affects Your Benefits

Spousal Benefits

Working While Receiving Social Security Benefits

Financial Literacy Workshops are also available from Spokane Teachers Credit Union

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Posted April 1, 2021

Student Newsletter | April 2021

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~ Skyler

Posted April 1, 2021

National Poetry Month Book List for Kids

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Elementary

A Place Inside of Me: a Poem to Heal the Heart by Zetta Elliot
Book

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander
Book

Hello, Earth! Poems to Our Planet by Joyce Sidman
Book

Just Like Me by Vanessa Brantley Newton
Book

Gone Fishing by Tamera Will Wissinger
Book

One Last word: Wisdom from the Harlem Renaissance by Nikki Grimes
Book | eBook

My Hippo has the Hiccups by Kenn Nesbitt
Book

Papa is a Poet: a Story about Robert Frost by Natalie S. Bober
Book

Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks by Suzanne Slade
Book

A Portrait in Poems: The Storied Life of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas by Evie Robillard
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Once I Ate a Pie by Patricia MacLachlan and Emily MacLachlan Charest
Book

This is Just to Say: Poems of Apology and Forgiveness by Joyce Sidman
Book

Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons by Jon J. Muth
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Thanku: Poems of Gratitude by Joseph Bruchac
Book

Can I Touch Your Hair: Poems of Race, Mistakes, and Friendship by Irene Latham
Book

Out of Wonder: Poems Celebrating Poets by Kwame Alexander
Book

Echo Echo: Reverso Poems About Greek Myths by Marilyn Singer
Book

Wet Cement: A Mix of Concrete Poems by Bob Raczka
Book

Red Sings from the Treetops by Joyce Sidman
Book

Neon Aliens Ate My Homework: and Other Poems by Nick Cannon
Book

Woke: a Young Poet’s Call to Justice by Mahogany Browne
Book

Middle Grade

The Weight of Water by Sarah Crossan
Book

The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Book | eBook

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhhà Lai
Book | eBook | Audiobook

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
Book | eBook

Becoming Muhammad Ali by James Patterson and Kwame Alexander
Book

Love that Dog by Sharon Creech
Book | eBook | Book on CD

The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney
Book

The Canyons Edge by Dusti Bowling
Book

Land of Cranes by Aida Salazar
Book

Alone by Megan Freeman
Book

The Lightning Dreamer by Maragrita Engle
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You Can Fly: The Tuskegee Airmen by Carole Boston Weatherford
Book

Say Her Name by Zetta Elliot
Audiobook

Young Adult

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Book | Large Print

Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds
Book | eBook | Audiobook | Book Club Kit | Graphic Novel

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi
Book | eBook

Everybody Looking by Candice Iloh
Book

Kent State by Deborah Wiles
Book

Solo by Kwame Alexander
Book

Clap When you Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
Book | eBook

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
Book | eBook

One by Sarah Crossan
Book

A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman
Book

Like Water on Stone by Dana Walrath
Book

Apple: Skin to the Core by Eric Gansworth
Book

When You Ask Me Where I’m Going by Jasmin Kaur
Book

Audacity by Melanie Crowder
Book

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Posted March 29, 2021

Her Story is Your Story | Finding the Women in Your Family Tree

laura-fuhrman-73ojlcahqhg-unsplash March is Women’s History Month – an opportunity to honor the women who paved the way with their contributions to history, society, and culture. Women have often been relegated to the back rooms of history, only to be mentioned when they step out of their expected roles. Daughters, sisters, mothers, aunts, wives, and grandmothers play important roles in our upbringing. This month we acknowledge them, and it is the perfect time to learn more about their lives.

As a genealogist, I often hear how hard it is to trace the maternal line, and I have encountered this myself many times. Women had few rights before the 1970s and rarely were identified on their own without a man attached to them – a father, a husband, a brother, a son. And yet, our female ancestors held the family together as they labored, cared, and nurtured our ancestors. Most of us can name our mothers, our grandmothers, and perhaps our great grandmothers, but knowing women earlier in our lineage becomes a blur. Few may know these women’s maiden names, let alone what they went through. You are missing out on half of your family if you don’t pursue these branches.

Some helpful hints when researching women is to look for records concerning the husband or the son. This may seem counterintuitive, but many records concerning the men list breadcrumbs to the women in their lives. Many birth, marriage, and death certificates ask for the names of the parents, including the mother’s maiden name. You will also need to know the name of the husband as many women were referred to by his full name, such as Mrs. John Doe. A unique record that is available from our collection is the Postal Forwarding Directory, which often included the woman’s first name to make mail delivery easier. This is especially important because before 1913, a woman was not mentioned by name in the directory unless she was widowed or a spinster. Another brick wall can be when women have multiple marriages. Because a woman changed her last name to her husband’s, following her can be difficult. You must know the previous last name to find the next one. Children are a great way to track a woman’s marriages, as they usually kept their father’s name.

Some of the best stories in my family tree come from the maternal line and have helped me to understand who I am, the strong women I am descended from, and what they went through so I could be here. This March, I encourage you to start your search. Due to the pandemic, Ancestry LE is available remotely through March 21, 2021. For assistance with your research and getting started, watch this video. By understanding her story, you can better understand yours.

-Becky

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Posted March 29, 2021

Library response to rise in anti-Asian violence and racism

The Spokane Public Library condemns the continuing acts of violence and harassment on the Asian and Pacific Islander communities throughout the US. We stand in solidarity with all of our communities of color during this trying time in our history, but today we stand stronger for our Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander communities.

There has been a pandemic-era rise in verbal and physical targeted harassment and violence against Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander individuals and communities. National conversation about anti-Asian racism was sparked last week following a violent incident in Atlanta, but we have also seen indicators of targeted harassment here in Spokane.

Our library is committed to unlearning racism, including anti-Asian racism. We are uplifting the voices and stories of Asians, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders through our collections, upcoming programming in May for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and year round. Please see our adult and youth booklists highlighting Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander authors.

We will continue through our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access work to evaluate ways we can further combat racism and xenophobia. Also, we encourage our staff, customers and community to explore these resources to join us in standing against anti-Asian racism: Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association’s Statement Against Anti-Asian Violence and 2021 COVID-19 anti-xenophobia and anti-racist information resources.

To our Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander communities: we stand with you. We want you to feel safe and supported in our libraries, our community, and beyond.

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Posted March 22, 2021
Tags: Anti-AsianRacism, Anti-Racism, Racism

Standing Against Anti-Asian Violence | A Book List for Kids and Young Adults

A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin

Book | eBook

A Book of Sleep by Il Sung Na

Book

A Different Pond by Boa Phi

Book | eBook

After the Fall by Dan Santat

Book

Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao by Kat Zhang

Book

A Place Where Sunflowers Grow = Sabaku ni saita himawari by Amy Lee-Tai

Book

Drawn Together by Minh Lê

Book | eBook

Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho

Book

Grand Canyon by Jason Chin

Book

Juna’s Jar by Jane Bahk

Book

The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story by Tina M. Cho

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Ojiichan’s Gift by Chieri Uegaki

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Outside Inside by LeUyen Pham

Book

Puddle by Hyewon Yum

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Skunk on a String by Thao Lam

Book

Watercress by Andrea Wang

Book

Middle Grade

Alvin Ho (Series) by Lenore Look

Book

A Thousand Questions by Saadia Faruqi

Book

A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat

Book | eBook

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee

Book | eBook

Front Desk by Kelly Yang

Book | eBook | Audiobook

Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen by Debbi Michiko Florence

Book

Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly

Book

Measuring Up by Lily Lamotte

Book | eBook

Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park

Book

See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng

Book

Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh

Book

Stand Up, Yumi Chung! by Jessica Kim

Book

Stargazing by Jen Wang

Graphic Novel

The Most Beautiful Thing by Kao Yang

Book

The Thing About Luck Cynthia Kadohata

Book

When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller

Book | eBook

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

Book | eBook

Young Adult

Almost American Girl by Robin Ha

Graphic Novel

American Panda by Gloria Chao

Book | eBook

Butterfly Yellow by Thanhha Lai

Book

Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang

Graphic Novel

Flamer by Mike Curato

Graphic Novel

Frankly in Love by David Yoon

Book | eBook

I’ll Be the One by Lyla Lee

Book

I Love You So Mochi by Sara Kuhn

Book

Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay

Book

Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Book

The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X. R. Pan

Book

The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee

Book | MP3 | Audiobook | eBook

The Magic Fish by Le Nguyen Trung

Graphic Novel

The Serpent’s Secret by Sayantani DasGupta

Book

Want by Cindy Pon

Book

We are Not Free by Traci Chee

Book

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon

Book | eBook | Book Club Kit

Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi

Book

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Posted March 19, 2021

Standing Against Anti-Asian Violence | A Book List

“Read people who are in racial groups other than your own. If you’re a man, read women. Listen to your friends who are non-white — and if you don’t have non-white friends, that’s a problem.” – Cathy Park Hong, author of Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning. If you are looking for a place to start, read some of these titles or many titles from Asian American, Asian, or Pacific Islander authors on our shelves.

Fiction

Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu

Book | Audiobook | eBook | Large Type

The Leavers by Lisa Ko

Book | Audiobook | eBook

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

Book

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Book | Audiobook | eBook | Large type

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Book | eBook

The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See

Book | Audiobook | eBook | Large Type

Non-Fiction

All you can Ever Know : a Memoir by Nicole Chung

Book

The Displaced : Refugee Writers on Refugee Lives by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Book

Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls : a Memoir by T Kira Madden

Book

Minor Feelings : an Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong

Book

The Woman Warrior : Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts by Maxine Hong Kingston

Book

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Posted March 19, 2021

Hiking in the Inland Northwest

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Spokane is a terrific place to be for outdoor recreation; particularly after the long winter months of inactivity. Opportunities abound along the trails and on the water for fun and adventure. Hiking is one of the great things to do this time of year, particularly in the lower elevations where the trails are no longer snowy or muddy. Make sure you’re equipped with the appropriate clothing and footwear – and don’t forget those 10 Essentials in your rucksack! See The Day Hiker’s Ten Essentials — The Mountaineers. Other good items to have along are insect repellant, a whistle, toilet paper, binoculars or monocular, and a walking stick or trekking poles.

For tips on the correct gear and places to go, here is a list of resources from Spokane Public Library to get you started and answer any questions. Many of the trails in the local guides, particularly south of town, are quite level and very low impact. So – see you on the trail! And to paraphrase Henry David Thoreau – “You shall see many wild and noble sights before night, such as they who sit in parlors never dream of.”

Library Book List and Resources

Go to our catalog at www.spokanelibrary.org for many more titles on these subjects!

Day hiking Eastern Washington: Kettles-Selkirks, Columbia Plateau, Blue Mountains by Rich Landers

Book

Urban trails : Spokane and Coeur d’Alene: Spokane County, Kootenai County, Centennial Trail by Rich Landers

Book

Five-star trails, Spokane: 30 spectacular hikes in the inland Northwest by Seth Marlin

Book

Best hikes Spokane: the greatest views, lakes, and rivers by Fred Barstad

Book

Day hike!: Spokane, Coeur d’Alene, and Sandpoint by Seabury Blair

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Best easy day hikes: Spokane/Coeur d’Alene by Fred Barstad

Book

Mount Spokane State Park: a user’s guide by Cris M. Currie

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The ultimate hiker’s gear guide: tools & techniques to hit the trail by Andrew Skurka

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How to hike the Pacific Crest Trail [videorecording (DVD)]

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Magazine Resources

Explore our selection of eMagazines and articles about outdoor recreation!

Stream videos on Kanopy

Stream films from our subscription to Kanopy and watch the series Outdoor Fundamentals: Everything You Need to Know to Stay Safe. 24 insightful videos will give you the practical skills you need to set off for the water or the woods. Topics such as canoeing and kayaking skills, backpacking, navigation, and first aid are covered.

Other Resources

Spokane Parks & Recreation: Parks & Recreation – City of Spokane, Washington

Washington Trails Association: Washington Trails Association

Bureau of Land Management: Oregon-Washington | Bureau of Land Management

Washington State Department of Natural resources: WA – DNR

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Posted March 17, 2021

Student Newsletter | March 2021

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~ Skyler

Posted February 25, 2021

Women’s History Month | Book List for Kids & Young Adults

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March is Women’s History Month, a time to reflect on the struggles and accomplishments women made throughout history, and to read stories depicting female empowerment.

Anthologies

Rad American Women A-Z by Kate Schatz and Miriam Klein Stahl

Book

Little Book of Feminist Saints by Julia Pierpont

Book

Artists, Creators, and Musicians

Bon Appetit! The Delicious life of Julia Child by Jessie Hartland

Book

Dancing Hands: how Teresa Carreño played the piano for President Lincoln by Margarita Engle and Rafael López

Book

Ella Fitzgerald: the Tale of a vocal virtuosa by Andrea Davis Pinkney

Book

Frida by Jonah Winter

Book

Harlem’s Little Blackbird by Renée Watson

Book

Hot Pink: the life and fashions of Elsa Schiaparelli by Susan Goldman Rubin

Book

Imogen by Amy Novesky

Book

Lily Renée, escape artist: from Holocaust survivor to comic book pioneer by Trina Robbins

Book

Through Georgia’s Eyes by Rachel Rodriguez

Book

Strange Fruit: Billie Holiday and the power of a protest Song by Gary Golio

Book

You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer!: a very improper story by Shana Corey and Chesley McLaren

Book

Social Justice and Civil Rights Activists

Being Jazz by Jazz Jennings

Book

Clara Barton by Kathleen Deady (nurse/red cross)

Book

Fight of the Century: Alice Paul battles Woodrow Wilson for the vote by Barb Rosenstock and Sarah Green

Book

History Smashers: Women’s Right to Vote by Kate Messner

Book

I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

Book | eBook | Audiobook

Lift As You Climb: the story of Ella Baker by Patricia Hruby Powell and R. Gregory Christie (soon to be on order)

Noisemakers: 25 women who raised their voices and changed the world – a graphic collection from Kazoo edited by Erin Bried

Book

Only Passing through: the story of Sojourner Truth by Anne F. Rockwell

Book

On Our Way to Oyster Bay: Mother Jones and her march for children’s rights by Monica Kulling and Felicita Sala

Book

Red Scarf Girl: a memoir of the Cultural Revolution by Ji-li Jiang

Book

Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer by Carole Boston Weatherford

Book

Women’s Suffrage Kids Books

Politicians and Judges

Eleanor Roosevelt Fighter for Justice by Ilene Cooper

Book

Elizabeth Warren: Nevertheless, She Persisted by Susan Wood

Book

I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg makes her mark by Debbie Levy and Elizabeth Baddeley

Book

Kamala Harris: Rooted in Justice by Nikki Grimes

Book

Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Jonah Winter

Book

The Beloved World of Sonia Sotomayor by Sonia Sotomayor

Book

What do you do with a voice like that? by Chris Barton

Book

Inventors, Scientists, and Mathematicians

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

Book

Nothing Stopped Sophie: the story of unshakable mathematician Sophie Germain by Cheryl Bardoe and Barbara McClintock
Book

Temple Grandin by Sy Montgomery

Book

Marie Curie by Leonard Everett Fisher

Book

Marvelous Mattie: how Margaret E. Knight became an inventor by Emily Arnold McCully

Book

Sally Ride: a photo biography of America’s pioneering women in Space by Tam E. O’Shaughnessy

Book

The Watcher: Jane Goodall’s life with the chimps by Jeanette Winter

Book

Dancers, Athletes and Aviators

Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming

Book

Breaking Through: how female athletes shattered stereotypes in the roaring twenties by Sue Macy and Muffet McGraw
(soon to be on order)

Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams by Lesa Cline-Ransome

Book

Proud: Living My American Dream by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Book

Rising Above: Inspiring Women in Sports by Gregory Zuckerman

Book

Talkin’ ’bout Bessie: the story of aviator Bessie Coleman by Nikki Grimes

Book

Tallchief: America’s Prima Ballerina by Maria Tallchief and Rosemary Wells and Gary Kelley

Book

Tillie the Terrible Swede: how one woman, a sewing needle, and a bicycle changed history by Sue Stauffacher and Sarah McMenemy

Book

Strong Female Stories in YA

Audacity by Melanie Crowder

Book

Because I Was a Girl by Melissa De la Cruz

Book

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy

Books | eBook

Girls Write Now: Two Decades of True Stories from Young Female Voices

Book

I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez

Book | eBook

Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu

Book | Audiobook

Speak: The Graphic Novel by Laurie Halse Anderson

Book

A Tyranny of Petticoats: 15 Stories of Belles, Bank Robbers & Other Badass Girls by Jessica Spotswood

Book

Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson

Book

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Posted February 25, 2021

An Artist’s Inspiration

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During this month’s Meet an Artist program, participants got to see Tracy Poindexter-Canton’s beautiful artwork and heard about famous Black artists she is inspired by. She also invited poet Stephen Pitters to share a poem he wrote in response to one of her pieces. To learn more about the artists that have inspired Tracy, you can access library materials about them and films on Kanopy. Library card holders can stream 8 films a month with a Kanopy account.

Jean-Michel Basquiat

website | Library materials | Kanopy films

Romare Bearden

website | Library materials

Jacob Lawrence

website | Library materials | Kanopy films

Toni Morrison

Library materials | Kanopy films | New York Times article about which books to read

Faith Ringgold

website | Library materials

Amy Sherald

website | Library materials