Taking Care of Yourself
It’s hard to maintain balance in your life when you are experiencing stress and anxiety, but that is often when it is most important to take the time to care for yourself. Whether you are looking for a little inspiration, some sage advice on achieving inner peace, or a step-by-step guide to self-care practices, we have books that can help.
June is Pride Month, and in celebration, we wanted to share some of our favorite memoirs and autobiographies from the LGBTQIA+ community. Reading about other people’s experiences can help us make connections and build empathy. The authors featured here come from a wide variety of backgrounds and lead different lives with unique experiences, occupations, and perspectives.
In stressful times, children as well as adults can benefit from interacting with nature. According to a study by the University of Exeter’s European Centre for Environment & Human Health, spending a minimum of 2 hours per week in nature reduces stress hormone levels, decreases heart rate and anxiety, and reduces feelings of social isolation. Nature can also be a platform for teaching children about the environment, and inspire young ones to love the world around them. For tips on how to integrate nature into your family’s schedule, check out these resources on Hoopla.
Juneteenth celebrates the end of the institution of slavery in the United States, commemorating the date a Union general issued an order to free all enslaved persons in Texas on June 19, 1865. If you are interested in celebrating Black lives this Juneteenth through literature, we have created a list of excellent Black authors for adults and young adults, whose work you can explore free at the library. If you are interested in learning more about anti-racism, we have also included a list of recommended resources. We hope you all find a way to celebrate and contemplate this Juneteenth, and because we know reading has the power to change the world, we hope that this literature will inspire you.
Need to escape for a little bit? Dive into a fantasy world and be whisked away by conjured beasts, join in a timeless battle between good and evil, or get lost in fairy adventures. Explore the unknown and meet mystical creatures who may be more relatable than you believe. These reads will excite your imagination, and inspire you to make our world a better place.
Join us on Saturday, June 20 for our virtual LibraryCon. We are hosting online D&D workshops for gamers at any level, and you can enter to win our cosplay contest!
A great deal of research has been done concerning how young children become aware of race. It all points to a very clear fact: kids pick up on racial differences during the very first years of life. Our librarians have pulled together a list of books that are helpful for having conversations about race and culture. They are a starting point and will hopefully be a support for our Henrico families.
The One Henrico Reading Challenge started as a fun way to share reading activities during the stay-at-home order, and starting June 15, it is the official Henrico County Public Library Summer Reading Challenge! If you haven’t already, sign up to participate in our fun weekly activities designed to help you grow your love of reading and discover a great big world of learning. Logging your reading and learning will earn you chances to win cool prizes, provided by the Friends of Henrico County Public Library.
In a challenging job market, you may need assistance reworking your resume, refreshing your skill sets, or exploring career alternatives. HCPL has free online resources and print books to help you in your job search – all you need is a library card.
Reading to young children as early as possible can help strengthen the bond between parent and child, increase vocabulary, and teach kids about the wider world. HCPL offers storytimes for all ages, from birth to preschool, and we wanted to share tips caregivers can use to read like a librarian.
If you’re missing D&D or your gaming group, Henrico Library’s collection has you covered. Between books, audiobooks, and graphic novels, there are plenty of fantastic stories featuring swords and sorcery to choose from. If you want to lose yourself in an epic story about a distant land, delve into forgotten crypts, or get inspiration for your own games, keep reading and take a look at the titles below.
