Looking to explore interesting places or find information about a new career? How about learning a new language or crocheting a beautiful blanket? Whatever your interests, there’s one place you can find what you need, and best of all, it’s free!
The Grosse Pointe Library system, from its Central location to its Ewald and Woods branches, has a vast collection of resources. Of course, when most people think of libraries, the first thing that comes to mind are books – those wonderful tomes that can take us out of our everyday lives and expose us to new experiences.
“You can travel into the past through historical fiction, go to various conceptions of the future with science fiction, and discover completely different worlds through fantasy,” says Danis Houser, manager of the Ewald branch in Grosse Pointe Park. “It’s just limitless.”
If you’re looking to travel in person, they have you covered. “We have a vast collection of all the big travel industry guides, including Lonely Planet and Fodor’s,” she says. They also carry a substantial amount of travel videos. And, to help you prepare for your trip and be ready to converse when you there, sign up to learn a language through Mango.
With many people changing or losing jobs in the last couple of years, the library also provides materials to help find new ones and learn new marketable skills. “All patrons have free access to LinkedIn learning, which is a series of courses published by LinkedIn for job skills,” says Danis. There are resources on resume writing as well, and the ability to research publicly held businesses and companies, which can help job applicants prepare for interviews.
Niche Academy has tutorials on just about every topic, and other tutoring subscriptions include Brainfuse and BrainHQ, online databases with everything from how to fix your car to investing in stocks. A database called CreativeBug has books and video classes taught by designers who can assist with learning how to paint and do other arts and crafts, whether just for enjoyment or to make money.
You can also spend time delving into your family’s genealogy with MyHeritage and Ancestry.com or look up historical facts and figures through Local History Archives.
People may not realize just how much the library can provide to allow us to not only explore the world around us but to also have fun. With warmer weather coming our way, families can borrow and delight in backyard games like giant Jenga. “We also have our tool collection, which now encompasses household and garden tools,” she says. So, go ahead and plant that garden and enjoy flowers and vegetables all summer long.
Of course, the library continues to offer magazines, newspapers, and audio books on CD for all ages, as well as movies on DVDs and music on CDs. Movies can also be downloaded from Hoopla and Kanopy.
Children can enjoy story times and other youth-oriented programs that are fun and educational. “We have story kits for little kids, which include a picture book and some toys and/or puppets and other things that go along with the story,” says Danis. “We have STEAM kits too. We’re constantly adding things - it's just amazing.”
There’s also a new parent outreach program. “We're taking the model of our outreach for older citizens and people who are disabled where we work with them to create a list of books they want, check them out, and then deliver them,” she says. “Now, we're doing similar things for new parents. It's very popular.”
Danis is also excited to announce that the library’s annual Books on the Lake is returning in person this spring. “It’s an author luncheon held at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. Our authors this year are Tayari Jones, Bethany Ball, who is originally from Metro Detroit, and local author Kelsey Ronan.” The event will be held on Saturday, May 7, from noon to 2:00 pm, and tickets go on sale April 7.
“There are also other events, various podcasts, and books clubs coming up as well, so there's something for everybody,” she says. To explore all your local library system (the Woods location is set to re-open later this spring) has to offer, go to https://grossepointelibrary.org/.