It’s always a good time to learn about Black History as a way to educate yourself and expand your knowledge about the contributions of Black people in American history. In celebration of Black History Month, our librarians have rounded up 31 books and other resources to guide your learning. Here are several recommendations for kids,…
Thoughts from Local Librarians: Reading Freedom & Book Banning
Freedom is a good thing. At the public library, you’re free to read whatever you want. Librarians will help point you in the right direction, but ultimately, it’s up to you. We’re experts in the field of information, and we’re passionate about getting the right information to the right person at the right time. At…
LEGO & Libraries: The Building Blocks of Imagination
Katie Kouba, children’s library associate, has been researching and designing custom LEGO creations for Grand Forks Public_ for the past several years. Starting with the library’s 121st birthday celebration and Grand Reopening in May of 2021, Katie created fun, festive LEGO kits as “party favors.” The tradition continued with various programs, and now her tenth…
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with these 25 Picks
In celebration of National Native American Heritage Month, our librarians gathered a list of top book recommendations. All titles are available at Grand Forks Public. Picture Books 1. Finding My Dance by Ria Thundercloud, Illustrated by Kalila J. Fuller In her debut picture book, professional Indigenous dancer Ria Thundercloud tells the true story of her…
7 Ways to Nurture Your Mental Health with Grand Forks Public
People come to the library for a number of reasons—to discover something new, to escape with a great story, to meet new people, to simply be a part of the community’s living room. We call ourselves “a playground for curious minds,” and allowing your mind to play is a perfect way to de-stress and give…
40 Top Book & Film Picks for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May, our librarians gathered a list of top book recommendations. The following titles are created by and/or about Asian and Pacific Americans. All titles are available at Grand Forks Public. Picture Books 1. Eyes that Speak to the Stars by Joanna Ho, Illustrated by Dung Ho…
Make Kindness the Norm During Random Acts of Kindness Week & Beyond
There’s no sugarcoating how hard the past few years have been. But here’s some good news: creating a kinder world starts with us. One small act of kindness has the power to brighten someone’s day and ripple across other lives. There is no limit on the amount of goodness we can put into the world….
Partners in Creativity: Inspiring Childhood through Art and Stories
“Think of it like the Oscars, but for picture books,” smiles Aaron Stefanich, Children’s Librarian at Grand Forks Public. “Or, like a book club where you talk about the art just as much as the story,” replies Matt Anderson, Director of Education at the North Dakota Museum of Art. Named in honor of nineteenth-century English…
Get to Know Brad Sherwood, Library Board President
For the past seven months, Brad Sherwood has served as the Library Board President. Recently, we sat down with Brad to discover his background and interests. Learn more about Brad and why he’s passionate about Grand Forks Public. Q: Tell us about yourself. A: I come from a long line of music teachers. My grandfather,…
15 Ways the Grand Forks Public Friends Give Back to the Library
Grand Forks Public Friends is a group of enthusiastic volunteers that supports the library by raising funds and promoting library programs and services. In the last five years, the Friends have raised almost $75,000 for the library. Currently over 50 individual and business members contribute annually to the Friends, and many actively volunteer their time…
The Playground 