On March 14, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14238 eliminating the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) “to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.” IMLS is the single largest source of critical federal funding for libraries. The IMLS has been completely defunded in Fiscal Year 2026 (starting July 1st). Because of these […]
Are you mad right now? Want to feel more mad? Good! Step right up. Amitav Ghosh’s nonfiction book about the opium trade, which he researched while writing his historic fiction Ibis trilogy, is a doozy. The Portuguese Catherine of Braganza married Charles II and became the queen of England in the late 1600s. She is […]
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Mental health affects us all– learn more at the National Alliance on Mental Health’s website (NAMI). You can explore this and other booklists on our Booklists page!
April is Jazz Appreciation Month! We’ve curated a list of classic jazz albums to begin listening to, or to revisit. You can explore this and other booklists on our Booklists page! Albums shown: Somethin’ Else, Cannonball Adderley Chet Baker Sings, Chet Baker Journey in Satchidananda, Alice Coltrane Yardbird Suite, Charlie Parker Ella: The Lost Berlin […]
“Kneecap” is a new film about the Irish hip-hop group Kneecap, from Belfast. I had never heard of the group prior to watching this movie. Actually, I had no idea what the film was about–I had just heard it was good. “Kneecap” stars the three actual members of the group Kneecap, and tells the story […]
Los Angeles has always captured our imagination and provides the inspiration for so many books, movies, albums, etc.. It’s a real city with real people, but it’s also a place woven into the fabric of our national mythology. Love it or hate it, you can’t escape it (unless you’re Kurt Russell). You can explore this […]
Black history is American history! Celebrate and learn about Black history all year long–it’s as easy as visiting the library; or reading a book (Libby, Hoopla), watching a movie (Kanopy, Hoopla), or listening to some tunes (Freegal, Hoopla) from the comfort of your phone or other personal device. Need some reading suggestions? Check out our […]
January is National Book Blitz Month! Time to start (or finish!) that book you’ve been meaning to read. Need some suggestions? Check out our list below or find some other staff suggestions on our booklist page!
I’m not going to lie, I haven’t yet finished “Astral Weeks: A Secret History of 1968.” Even so, only 50 pages in, it’s one of those books you can’t wait to jump back into when you have a break from the daily grind. This book tells the story of the creation of “Astral Weeks” by […]
What books (etc.) old or new did HPL staff love this year?? Find out below! You can also access all staff booklists to see more recommendations.
