Get Planting! Seed Library Returns March 1!

Get Planting! Seed Library Returns March 1!

Just in time for spring planting, Algonquin Area Public Library, is excited to offer the Seed Library which provides seeds to local gardeners free of charge!

How It Works

Take a look at the Seed Library Catalog. Each listing includes photos and descriptions of plant varieties, along with helpful details on when, where, and how to plant them. Seed packet quantities range from 2 to 20 seeds, depending on the plant type.

Visit the Adult Services desk at the Main Library on Harnish Drive to explore our Seed Library collection in person, and take up to 20 packets/household, one per variety.

What Seeds Are Available?

garden fresh vegetables Carrots, cauliflower, tomatoes, leeksChoose from over 130 varieties of vegetable, fruit, flower and herb seeds! Options include:

  • Vegetables - Cucumbers, lettuce, onions, peppers, squash, tomatoes
  • Herbs- Basil, chives, cilantro, parsley, thyme and more
  • Garden Favorites- Carrots, beans, leeks, melons and cauliflower
  • Flowers and Landscaping- Daisies, zinnias, sunflowers
  • Annuals & Perennials- Plants that bloom for a season, or return each year

 

Do I Have To Return The Seeds?

Although we call it a "Seed Library," no library card is required and you don't need to return seeds from your harvest. However, we'd love to see photos of your garden and crops! Email them to us at info@aapld.org

If you have leftover seeds, simply store them in their packets in an airtight glass jar, and keep it in a cool dark place like your basement or garage, for future planting.

Photography Club Returns to AAPLD!

Photography Club Returns to AAPLD!

The popular Worth 1,000 Words Photography Club returns to AAPLD on Sunday, March 2, at 2 p.m.

The monthly gathering will include discussion of photography techniques, style, and more. We look forward to offering photography challenges, field trips, and other opportunities to learn and grow as a photographer. Whether you’re a veteran or new to the art, use digital, film or cellphone cameras, this is a chance to share photos, display your work, learn, teach and connect with others in the community.

Meetings will be held on the first Sunday of the month, at 2 p.m. at the Main Library on Harnish Drive. Register for the next meeting today!

Meet This Month’s Featured Artist!

Meet This Month’s Featured Artist!

In February, AAPLD is delighted to welcome fine art photographer Kirsten Barry to the Art Wall in the Adult Services Department. Learn a little more about this talented artist.

The Artist: Kirsten Barry
Background/Experience:  I am a fine art photographer who enjoys exploring the world around me whether out in nature or working indoors. Although you can find me with a camera most any time, my predominant genre is still life photography. It is where I return to most often to showcase many of the treasures I have collected through the years.
What inspires me: I have always found the world to be endlessly fascinating and I love trying to capture
what I discover in my travels. My goal is always to present the inherent beauty I see in my subject. If I can make someone smile, see something in a new way, or bring back a long forgotten memory, I have succeeded.

I feel it is the heart, not the eye, that should determine the intent of the photograph. What the eyes see is its own. What the heart can perceive is a very different matter.” – Gordon Parks – photographer

Contact her at kirstenbarry2004@yahoo.com

If you’re a local artist interested in exhibiting your work, please submit samples of your work and contact information to social@aapld.org

 

Spice Club – February 2025 -Nutmeg

Spice Club – February 2025 -Nutmeg

Nutmeg is a warm, aromatic spice derived from the seed of the nutmeg tree (Myristica fragrans), native to the Maluku Islands (now part of Indonesia). It has been valued for centuries for its flavor, aroma, and medicinal properties.

Flavor Profile: warm, sweet, and slightly nutty flavor with a hint of spiciness.

Culinary Uses: baking (pies, cookies, cakes) and beverages (eggnog, mulled wine), savory dishes (soups, stews, curries, and sauces). Pairs well with cinnamon, cloves, and ginger.
Health Benefits:

Digestive Aid: May help reduce bloating and indigestion.

  • Anti-inflammatory: Contains compounds that may reduce inflammation.
  • Sleep Aid: Used in traditional remedies to promote relaxation and sleep.
  • Rich in Antioxidants: Protects the body from free radical damage.

Note: Nutmeg should be consumed in moderation, as large amounts can be toxic.

Fun Facts: Nutmeg was so valuable in the 16th century that wars were fought over its trade. The Dutch, Portuguese, and British all sought to dominate the lucrative nutmeg trade, leading to conflicts such as the Anglo-Dutch Wars. The nutmeg tree also produces mace, a spice made from the red covering of the seed.

Download Recipes

Spice Club - February 2025 - Nutmeg

7 Tips for Reading Marathon Success

7 Tips for Reading Marathon Success

Get ready, get set, go!

Reading Marathon, AAPLD's newest reading challenge starts today, and we're excited! Beginning February 1, AAPLD cardholders, 18 and over, will have the chance to stretch their reading muscles by reading 26 books! With 26 different reading themes-- like 26 miles in a marathon-- there's plenty to keep you reading all the way to the end of November.  Even better, any Reading Marathon books read during Summer Reading, count towards both programs.  To read more about how the Reading Marathon Challenge works, check out our page.

Now if you're thinking, "26 books? Easy peasy!" be sure to stop by the Adult Services desk and tell us what you're reading!  (The rumors are true...library staff love to talk about books.) But if you're thinking, "26 books? You've got to be kidding!" Read on. You can do this, and we're here to help, with 7 tips for success.

  1. Review Your To Be Read List- if you keep a list of books you'd like to read, pick up a Reading Marathon log sheet at the Adult Services desk and note which books fit the themes. Use Goodreads or NoveList to see covers, page counts, author info and more.
  2. Attend a book club meeting - Many AAPLD book clubs will read at least one book this year that fits a Reading Marathon theme. A few suggestions: The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo (Title = Family; Unicorns & Spaceships, February) Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld (NYT Bestseller; Happily Ever After, April), The Nigerwife by Vanessa Walters (Set overseas; Nail Biters, June), I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai (Illinois Author; Fiction Addition, July); Confessions by Kanae Minato (Translated Work; Oh, The Horror!, August); Trippy: The Peril and Promise of Medicinal Psychedelics by Ernesto Londono (Road on the Cover; Stranger Than Fiction, September)
  3. Browse our displays - Each month, we'll feature two Reading Marathon themes on display in the Adult Services area by Study Room D.
  4. Look Around Your House- The "Own It, Haven't Read It" theme lets you choose a book from your household collection. You might find unread books that fit other themes too.
  5. Try an E-book or Audiobook- While there's nothing like curling up with a print book, ebooks and audiobooks are great for reading on the go. Listen on your commute, while working around the house, or on a road trip. Download ebooks so you always have a book handy.
  6. Ask us! Need suggestions for what to read, or want to learn to use our reading apps? Your friendly library staff is ready to help.
  7. Make reading a healthy new habit - For many of us, the problem isn't what to read, but finding the time. Ebooks can help you fit reading into the small pockets of time you're likely to spend scrolling. Combine audiobooks with walks, or workouts at the gym. Swap your phone, social media and news apps for a book-- especially before bedtime. Your mind and body will thank you!