It’s winter, it’s cold, and we’re cooped up indoors. Why not put a dent in those 2026 reading goals while you’re already snuggled up on the couch? Introducing Warming Up: A Cozy Little Reading Challenge to kick start your year and commitment to reading.

January 2 is National Science Fiction Day, which honors the significant contributions to the genre by prolific author and editor Isaac Asimov born on January 2, 1920. Asimov is also credited with coining the term “robotics” in a 1941 short story he wrote, and robots do indeed populate a number of the titles in our collection. Read on for kid, teen, and adult science fiction recommendations to help you commemorate the occasion!

Ships have long been an object of cultural fascination, due to both their massive size and their potential for massive problems (onboard and overboard!). Both cruise ships and swashbuckling pirate ships have frequently captured the American imagination. Once a luxury enjoyed by the upper classes, cruise ships are a vacation enjoyed by many today. Pirate ships are a popular trope of modern storytelling, with plenty of historical information to inspire authors and readers alike. Feeling the call of the sea? From romance to murder, these titles offer readers a chance to sail away to another world.

The winter solstice is an astronomical phenomenon that occurs when the Earth's axis is tilted the farthest away from the sun in the Northern Hemisphere and closest to the sun in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. The winter solstice usually takes place on December 20 or 21.

Mental health plays an important role in how we navigate life’s everyday challenges. For teens, it can be stressful juggling school, extracurricular activities, friendships, and family, let alone planning for your future. To help support your wellness, the library offers resources specifically geared toward teens about mental health topics. Read on to learn more.

Soccer, robots, mad scientists, and more, this year we read about all kinds of characters, worlds, and real-life wonders. Read on to see what we enjoyed most in 2025! Plus, be sure to check out our Staff Picks lists for teens and adults too.