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A New Year, New Challenges, & New Triumphs! |
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For many people, January 1 is a time to reset goals, draft resolutions, and start working towards bettering oneself. Every year, I set the same resolution as a reminder of how I want to live my life. It is “meet up with a friend more often, learn to cook something new-to-me, schedule a little more exercise, learn something new, read one more book than I did last year.”
The Library is here to help you, this new year and always. If your goal is to meet up with friends or make a new one, join us at our board game nights, book clubs, discussion groups, Pathfinders Society, crafts & knitting, or whatever interests you. When you walk into a room full of people with common interests, conversation is easy. In a library, you can always ask “Have you read anything good lately?” We're restarting the Big Conversations series from the past two winters in a new way—we're going to try to run it in person instead of online. It's a potentially great little moment of connection with another person. If you want to use the library as a free place to hang out with the friends you already have, we love that too! As I often say at Board Game Night, if you meet your friends here no one has to vacuum their living room! If your goal is to improve your diet and exercise, we have books, videos, and other resources ready to help you. Ask a reference librarian for help! That’s what we’re here for. The same is true for learning something new. Where to start? If you have a particular thing in mind, pop in and find a book, magazine, or film. If you are not sure, check out our event listings, browse our databases, take time to browse the shelves in person, or again, ask a librarian! We can help you learn new job skills or start a new hobby.
For the second year in a row, we’re offering a January reading challenge to kick off 2026 right. Read five books in the month of January, write them down on a raffle ticket, and potentially win a prize! Those who don’t win will still have read five books and will win the sense of accomplishment that comes with it. Sounds like a win to me! All ages are welcome to participate.
Elsa Rowe
Community Engagement Manager
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Backpacks Welcome: Why After School Happens Here |
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If you’ve visited the library on a weekday afternoon, you’ve probably noticed… well, you’ve definitely noticed… that we host a small migration of kids. Many of these young people are middle schoolers—some as young as 11 who descend upon us with backpacks, snacks, and enough energy to power our Wi-Fi. And honestly? We love it! These kids are our future community members; our next voters, volunteers, parents, business owners, and yes, maybe even our future “shushers.” Research on youth development shows that teens and tweens thrive when they have safe places to go, caring adults in their lives, and opportunities to belong. (If you’re curious, the Search Institute’s Developmental Assets Framework outlines why these supports matter). With limited nearby options for students staying on campus between school, sports, and activities and with many families relying on the library as a safe pick-up spot- we’re proud to be that steady, welcoming place in their day.
Kids also need a “third space” that isn’t home or school—a place to decompress, connect, and be themselves before the next commitment. At the library, that might look like a Dungeons & Dragons group, drawing with friends, reading manga, or simply enjoying some free time with their peers in a safe and supportive environment. And let’s be honest; we’d much rather see kids spending that in-between time in a well-lit building full of caring adults than home alone or wandering the town. So while weekday afternoons can get a little lively, they’re also full of growth, connection, and community—and that’s something Scarborough can be proud of.
Deanna McNamara
Youth Services Manager |
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