Booklist

Spring has officially sprung! And with all that warmth and sunshine comes a need to transform. So, open those windows, clear the STUFF out those corners, and shed that cramped cold-weather cocoon! While you’re at it, grab a few of these books on organizing. Whether you’re planning a big “Spring Clean-Up” or just need help with those few problem “junk” drawers and catch-all rooms… You can make the inside of your house as fresh and bright as everything does on the outside.

Developmental Disability Awareness Month raises awareness about the barriers people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) face in connecting to the communities in which they live and making sure they are included in all areas of community life. The following booklist is one place to start for building that understanding and awareness. Be sure to check out Dr. Tracy Packiam Alloway’s books. Like many of the books in the list, they are about “boosting the confidence and strength-awareness of children” with intellectual and developmental disabilities “while also allowing for better understanding and positivity among their peers.” Bonus: She’s a local author and award-winning psychologist.

Everyone has a story to tell. If you’re on social media, you’re most likely already “micro-blogging” in the form of daily updates, posting photos, and sharing milestones and moments with friends and family. Why not grab a pen and paper, open your laptop, or (heck) bring out the old typewriter if you’re so inclined and just write? Your life story may also end up being a family treasure one day, a record of you and of family history that might otherwise get lost or forgotten. If you need some inspiration or direction, these books are a great place to start.

For the last 34 years, the month of March has been designated “Women’s History Month” by Presidential Proclamation. It is designed to “celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields.” This celebration, though, is not just about honoring the past. It is also an opportunity and annual reminder to reflect, to learn, and to grow. Some of the women featured in these booklists might just change the way you see history. Others may help you better understand the current state of women’s rights and the issues facing women and girls here domestically and globally.

International Women's Day is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The first gathering was held in 1911. It’s not just a look back, though. It’s a day very much focused on the present, with specific calls to action for accelerating gender parity. The booklist below is filled with fearless pioneers of Science, bold women in Black History, and empowered breakers of glass ceilings in every profession and field. Our goal is that you read about them, learn from them, and then go do something inspiring.

Spring of 2021 promises warmer weather, vaccines, increased visits with loved ones, and a gradual return to normal. Jacksonville Public Library recently reopened the Main Library’s third floor, home of its nonfiction collection and its large, cookbook section.

We all know the basic benefits of borrowing eBooks. They are incredibly portable and available for free, 24/7 with your Library card. You have instant access to thousands of the Library’s most popular books with the push of a button and you can take them with you practically anywhere. Celebrate "Read an eBook Week" with us and check out these great eBooks popular with Jacksonville Public Library readers in 2020 and 2021:

A new month means new book releases here at Jacksonville Public Library! We're welcoming in March and the spring season with a fresh list of anticipated new reads you can borrow this month with your library card.