Looking For A Good Book or Film?

Millions of Jews around the world observe Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. This begins 10 days of prayer, self examination and repentance, ending with Yom Kippur, the “Day of Atonement.” Learn more about the Jewish High Holy Days - or get some new ideas about what to cook for them - with these books and DVDs.

Currently devastated by two hurricanes, Puerto Rico has long been a vacation paradise of mountains, beaches and multiple islands, as well as the source of political wrangling back here in DC - and also the home to 3.4 million Americans. Get a quick overview of Puerto Rico's current situation in the Sept. 25 New York Times article, Puerto Rico: What Other Americans Should Know.

"If you cannot or will not imagine the results of your actions, there’s no way you can act morally or responsibly... Imagination has to be trained into foresight and empathy.” - Author Ursula Le Guin in an interview with The Guardian in 2005.

Voting is a powerful act, but it's easy to take for granted. Reading these books about the women and men who worked to secure the right for all Americans to take part in our governance is a great way to remember how valuable that right is.

Start Quoting Him Now… Or at least take his 450th birthday as a chance to learn more about his life, his work, and some of the many people he inspired – in good, bad and bloody ways.

Students and adults head out every day with packed lunches, which can get pretty boring week after week. Find ways to spruce up your own lunch, inspire kids to eat theirs, and keep everyone well fed (and laughing) with these books.

We just can’t get enough stories about corruption in the halls of power… Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall trilogy is the latest historic novel to jump to the small screen. Keep busy between episodes with more shows featuring beautiful people, struggles for power, and political intrigue.

Even before Asimov’s “I Robot,” humans were fascinated by the idea of artificial intelligence. Check out our favorite books and films that explore the idea of humanity in a world where the line between humans and robots gets closer all the time.  

Looking for something new yet familiar? Try one of these contemporary novels – each author starts with a well known plot, and then updates or retells the story for a modern audience.

Celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day by studying proper high seas grammar with Mango Languages, an online program available with your library card. In between sessions on pirate vocabulary, these books and movies will help get you in the spirit.

RIP Leonard Nimoy, 1931 – 2015 Nimoy was best known for playing the pointy-eared Vulcan on the show that created a fictional universe. But his career spanned decades, and ranged from acting and directing, to photography and poetry.

Public concern over AIDS continues to fall, but the disease hasn’t stopped. Held December 1 of each year, World Aids Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV, and commemorate those who have died.  

‘Tis the Season for Frozen Ponds and Sharp Blades... The weather outside is frightful, which makes this a perfect time to strap on your skates and hit the ice – or to curl up inside with these ice-skating books and films.

Are You Cactus or Grapefruit League? It may not yet feel like spring, but Major League Baseball’s spring training doesn’t wait for warm weather – even in Florida and Arizona. So celebrate one of baseballs’ great traditions by flexing your baseball-fan muscles with these books and films.

  What’s your favorite film about Thanksgiving? These are some of ours. The best, and the worst...

Funky, Fun DIY Ideas Do you love making stuff by hand, but are getting tired of the same old knitting and crochetting projects? These books will show you how to create something totally new.

Do you get unreasonably excited over what an incoming cold-front means? Curl up with a good book or film about just how crazy the weather can get, the people who get stuck out in it, and the even crazier people who chase it.

Don’t know how to build a fire, read a compass or preserve food? Put these books on hold!

…With a Good Book! Okay, yes, that was a terrible joke. But since you know they’re watching you, so you may as well read about them, right?

Help create a culture of increased diversity and integration in society, school and work. Explore these books and DVDs to learn more about what Down Syndrome is, and what everyday life is like for those who live with it.

More than just Fabric and Thread Have you seen the doll quilts donated to our American Girl Lending Program? Check out the display at the Central Library, then learn more about the history of quilting in the United States, and women’s history as it is revealed through quilts…

Everyone from journalists and political cartoonists, to politicians and pundits continues to grapple with the boundaries of freedom of expression. Check out these books to learn more about the history of political cartooning and free speech.

Check out more tales of alternate and sometimes magical history, full of power struggles, political intrigue, duty and thwarted love. Whether epic or short, these books are all the first in a series.

Serial Listening Love listening to books in a series? Try these authors, all of whom can be found in our downloadable and streaming collections.

Did you know that there are at least 562 federally recognized tribal nations in the U.S.? You can learn more about the lives and history of Native Americans with these books and films.

Did you know that soccer is the most popular sport in the world? Learn more about the sport played by children and adults on every continent - even Antarctica.

Fun Audiobooks for the Whole Family Take along these audiobooks on your next family road trip and you’ll wish the ride lasted longer.

Stories to Remember Their Sacrifice Check out these powerful first-person accounts of war, in honor of all those who serve their country.

An Illustration is Worth a Thousand Words Expand your reading of American history with these visually powerful graphic novel memoirs, biographies and historical fiction.

Raise Your Autism Awareness These stories – by people with autism, and by authors who write from the perspective of characters with autism – provide a window into the unique experience of living with autism.

American history is full of tales of bravery, heroism and determination. In honor of Black History Month, we invite you to discover these inspiring stories about Americans of African descent.

You mean Mother’s Day isn’t for expressing your love of all things Mummy? Well, maybe it should be, because we love all of these books and DVDs.

“There are two types of people in the world: those who enjoy eating barbecued ribs and those who are turned off by gnawing on pig bones covered in goop.” – T.M. Goeglein If you’re the first kind, these books (and one DVD) are for you. If you’re the second kind, the Vegan Barbecue is all yours.

High Drama and Romance, plus Literature and History We recently noticed that the British actress Keira Knightly has made a lot of beautiful period costume films based on great books...

American history is full of tales of bravery, heroism and determination. In honor of Hispanic American Heritage Month, we invite you to discover some amazing Americans of Hispanic descent.

Taking a long trip? These talented narrators will make the miles speed by. (These are just some of our favorites – who do you love to listen to?)

On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers finally landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free – two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863. Today, June 19 is celebrated in Washington DC as Juneteenth, the day emancipation reached Texas, and is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery.

Looking for a good book for your vacation? Try one or two (or all) of these fun books! They won’t make you pull your hair with their twists and turns, but their great writing, interesting characters or fascinating histories provide the perfect amount of restful entertainment.

These books and films are a starting point for anyone who wants to explore the history of conflict between law enforcement and race in the United States - and how we can move forward from here.

What was the inspiration for that cool trailer that screened at Comic-Con? Chances are good we've got the original books, comic books, tv shows or movies in our collection:

What does it take to be an Olympian? These books and films tell inspiring stories of the hard work, perseverance and sometimes even luck involved in reaching for the gold medal.

Looking for a protagonist who doesn't fit the usual mold? Check out these inspiring Young Adult novels about teens who challenge stereotypes, expectations and their own insecurities.

68 of the Authors, Performers, Activists, Scientists and Public Figures Who Changed Our World, and Left Us in 2016.

"No man can know where he is going unless he knows exactly where he has been and exactly how he arrived at his present place." -- Maya Angelou Learn more about the American experience through the lens of black lives, with these books and films spanning the earliest days of our country to the present day.

Selected by judging committees of librarians and other children’s experts, the American Library Association's Youth Media awards encourage original and creative work. For more information on the ALA youth media awards and notables, please visit www.ala.org/yma .

In honor of George Washington's Birthday, we take a lighthearted look at American presidents as presented in fictional books, films and television.

Celebrate the greatness in all women with tales of strong, talented, brave, smart, tough, tricky - and generally awesome - female superheroes.

"Rain, Rain, Go Away..." We've assembled these books and films (fiction and nonfiction) to remind us that, no matter how much we feel like we're starting to grow mold from all the rain we've had recently, our rain could be a lot worse.

No matter how big or small, revolutions can change the course of history. Delve into these narratives about revolutions from around the globe - they shook the world, brought us to where we are today, and may grant us wisdom as we look to the future.

When Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in June of 1914, it sparked a diplomatic crises that ended in war. For nearly 100 years historians have been trying to figure out why.

George Romero (February 4, 1940 – July 16, 2017), changed the path of horror with his 1968 film, "Night of the Living Dead."