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Teens, it’s not that I hate summer. Some parts of it are very nice, like pools, fireworks, and socially acceptable inertia. But when temperatures top 100 degrees for more than two days in a row, I immediately demote it to my least favorite season.

But this summer is different…even triple digit temps will not get me down. Why, you ask? Because the 2022 Summer Reading Program is kicking off at A.K. Smiley Public Library, and it promises to be awesome.

Our 2022 theme —“Read Beyond the Beaten Path”—has an outdoorsy, summer camp feel (another great thing about summer), which is cool for obvious reasons, but the sentiment is exciting too. What could help you survive these long, hot days better than reading something out of the ordinary, something that backpacks you out of your sweat-filled life and expands your perspectives in unexpected ways?

If you’re looking for more than mind-opening reading, we’ve also got free events up our sleeves for teens, including “The Hunger Gang,” a cooking workshop with local chef extraordinaire Lee Burton (which, fingers crossed, unlike “The Hunger Games,” everyone will come out of alive), and an anime drawing workshop with professional artist Carlos Nieto III. On top of that, there’s an amazing line-up of teen reading challenge prizes on the line, like a day pass for you and a friend to scale the walls at Flowstone Climbing here in Redlands, a pint of gelato from Happy Camper Creamery, and many more.

I must mention one last element of our summer reading program: the competition. This summer, it’s the literary version of “Capture the Flag,” with kids and teens taking on adults to see who can read the most pages. Of course this is a friendly competition, but it would be very fun to amicably dominate the adults. We can’t do this without you, teen reader.

Alright, alright, I’m reconsidering my position on summer, as there is another big thing summer has going for it: the glorious month of June…Pride Month! Teens, if you are looking for books that feature LGBTQIA+ characters and experiences, we’ve got them. In fact, we have a whole blog post dedicated to helping you find them if you’re interested. You can check that out at www.akspl.org/teens, and of course, this article would not be complete without at least one YA book recommendation (and our library community would not be complete without you).

Erik J. Brown’s “All That’s Left in the World” requires nerves of steel from its readers. The setting? The U.S. after a deadly pathogen has swept through the country, annihilating most of the population. For some, this plot will hit a little too close to home, but if you can stomach it, here’s the set-up: teenagers Jamie and Andrew somehow survive the pandemic, but are barely scraping by in its aftermath. Each is alone, facing dangers both from the raw, natural world and other desperate survivors.

Their paths cross and they team up to take on this new and treacherous reality, where threats, including the secrets they are keeping from each other, lurk around every corner. It’s the kind of post-apocalyptic/survival/friendship/love story that makes you wonder how you might redefine yourself if everything you knew to be real and important was suddenly erased.

Teens, we’d love for you to come read beyond the beaten path with us this summer. We’ll be having so many good times, with so many good books and events, that maybe, just maybe, we won’t even notice those triple digit temps…

The “Read Beyond the Beaten Path” Summer Reading Program isn’t just for teens! Toddlers, kids, and yes, okay, even adults are encouraged to join in on the fun. Visit A.K. Smiley Public Library for all the details.

Geology, wilderness, wildlife, seasonal weather, and vivid memories may come to mind when thinking about the Sierra Nevada mountain range. There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts to explore the mountains and surrounding regions. Our new book section can expand your knowledge and appreciation for the geology of these areas.

A passionate fan of the Sierras is science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson. He shares history, science, and his adventures in “The High Sierra: A Love Story.” Having made multiple treks into the heart of these mountains, and being a capable storyteller, his knowledge and enthusiasm for the Range of Light shines through in vivid detail. Color photographs enhance the reader’s experience for areas in the high country that few of us will ever see.

The drive up Highway 395 along the Sierra range is noteworthy for the evidence of volcanic activity in the region. Ancient cinder cones, old lava flows, craters, earthquake faults, and Mammoth Mountain are just a few of the geologic wonders of the area. Volcanologist and science journalist Robin George Andrews goes back in history, underground, above ground, and undersea in “Super Volcanoes: What They Reveal about Earth and the Worlds Beyond.” Andrews brings the reader up close and personal to all things volcano, including Hawaii’s Kilauea eruptions, the supervolcano Yellowstone region, the ocean floor, Krakatoa, and the volcanism on Mars, Venus, and the Moon. This is truly an educational adventure through time and space by a very capable guide.

Since we are already in rocky territory, if you will pardon the pun, our new book section can also take you from the enormity of mountains and volcanoes down to the basic and infinitesimal building blocks of geology. “Rocks & Minerals” by Chris and Helen Pellant educates the reader on basic rock and mineral composition, formation, hardness, origin, texture, classification, and more. Detailed color photographs assist with accurate identification of over 500 rocks and minerals. There are also suggestions for equipment and tips for collecting and organizing a collection.

A.K. Smiley Public Library rocks!

The long hot summer months are upon us and what better way to spend them than staying inside and reading. It is my job here, at A.K. Smiley Public Library, to order books for the fiction collection, which includes horror, supernatural, and fantasy, some of my favorite genres. Here are some new titles that will be released this summer that will make you want to sleep with the lights on.

Just Like Mother by Anne Heltzel is one of the most anticipated books in horror fiction this season. This book will have the reader reconsidering a family reunion with a long lost cousin that may have been involved in a cult in their youth.

Hide by Kiersten White will have the reader rethinking visiting an amusement park any time soon. Fans of the hit Netflix show Squid Game will want to check this title out for sure.

Just Like Home by Sarah Gailey shows how, sometimes, home isn’t where the heart is. This book will have the reader reluctant to visit their family home. If you enjoyed the Netflix show The Haunting of Hill House, then this book should be on your summer reading list.

So head on down to A.K. Smiley Public Library to check out these titles today. For more information, please visit our website at www.akspl.org, or call us at 909-798-7565.

Shannon Harris is a lover of all things scary and supernatural. She moonlights as a library specialist at A.K. Smiley Public Library during daytime hours.

Women have been inspiring contributors to the world of art throughout history. You’ll find wonderful books in our circulating collection featuring artists such as Frida Kahlo, Faith Ringgold, Mary Cassatt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Judy Chicago, Berthe Morisot, and Alice Neel. The following titles are the latest additions to this very important and intriguing collection.

Artemisia Gentileschi is known for her dramatic and realistic paintings depicting strong, assertive female characters. Born in Rome, 1593, she was a pupil of her father, a successful painter who studied in Caravaggio’s Baroque style of painting. Much of her art revolved around biblical and mythological themes. “Artemisia Gentileschi” by Sheila Barker covers the life of this fascinating painter while examining the cultural and political backgrounds of the time. An absorbing book with beautiful color reproductions throughout.

“The Women Who Changed Art Forever: Feminist Art – the Graphic Novel” by Valentina Grande and Eva Rossetti offers a unique graphic overview of four artists who brought the struggles and inequality towards women in the art world to light. As the authors state about the artists: “Each made their mark in their own powerful way. Judy Chicago made us reassess the female body, Faith Ringgold taught us that feminism is for everyone, Ana Mendieta pushed the boundaries of identity, while the Guerrilla Girls have taken the fight to the male-dominated museum.” After reading the short backgrounds on these art activists, take a more in-depth look into their lives and art with the following titles: “Judy Chicago: An American Vision” by Edward Lucie-Smith, “Faith Ringgold” by Lisa E. Farrington, or “Guerrilla Girls: The Art of Behaving Badly.”

Maggie Doherty’s “The Equivalents: A Story of Art, Female Friendship, and Liberation in the 1960s” focuses on poets Anne Sexton and Maxine Kumin, painter Barbara Swan, sculptor Marianna Pineda, and writer Tillie Olsen. These five women were some of the first to receive fellowships to the newly created Institute for Independent Study at Radcliffe College. A requirement for applicants was to have either a doctorate or “the equivalent” in creative achievement. So this group of friends dubbed themselves “the Equivalents.” Opening in 1961, the program was envisioned to help women with children pursue their dreams of becoming scholars and artists. It gave them the support and opportunities to follow their artistic passions. Doherty delves into the friendships, personalities, obstacles, and careers of these women and the progression of feminism in this captivating story.

The next time you visit Smiley Library, please stop by our circulating art collection. These paintings were created by the talented men and women from the Redlands Art Association and are available to check out and take home for six weeks. There is a limit of two pieces of art per checkout. It’s a great way to support our local artists and enjoy a piece of Redlands culture.

People often ask why adults need help with their reading and writing. Over the last 10 years, the Redlands Adult Literacy Program has learned that each adult learner has their own unique reason for seeking help with literacy. For example, some adult learners have learning disabilities and need the one-on-one tutoring that the Redlands Adult Literacy Program can provide. Other learners were unable to complete their education because their native country or their family’s economic circumstances did not allow them to advance beyond elementary school. These learners may work on fundamental skills that will allow them to eventually work on gaining their high school diploma or its equivalent.

Some learners graduated from high school but did not master the reading and writing skills necessary for getting advanced certifications or taking college-level classes. Other adult learners have completed high school and are working, but do not have the necessary skills to respond to the ever-increasing literacy requirements of the workplace. Through individualized support and hard work, adult learners overcome obstacles to further their own or their children’s education and/or advance in their career.

The following are examples of learners who have overcome past obstacles to improve their literacy:

Isabel Vidrio grew up in Mexico and attended school through grade 6; higher levels of schooling were unavailable to her as a child because there was no middle school in her town and there was not enough money for her to go to another town for school. When she joined the program, her goals were to improve her reading comprehension and writing skills so that she could communicate with her children’s teachers and help her children with school. Her hard work in adult literacy enabled Isabel to change her and her children’s lives. Isabel earned an alcohol and drug counselor certification and volunteers her time to counsel others.  She completed adult learner leadership training, and she is able to communicate effectively with her children’s teachers and medical professionals without using a translator. Isabel shared, “this program is important for me because I improved my English and my reading and writing skills and am no longer afraid to talk with others.”

Jeanne Fortier, Isabel’s tutor, wants others to know, “The adult literacy program truly changes lives! I have witnessed tremendous growth and confidence in our learners and I am so happy to be part of this amazing program.”

Pete Smith enrolled in the adult literacy program when his work requirements changed last year. He had worked as a custodian for two decades, but last year his supervisor began assigning him work through emails. This meant that he needed to be able to read his work assignments and write an email response to his supervisor. Talk-to-text functions were not robust enough for him, so he joined the Redlands Adult Literacy Program to improve his reading and writing. By meeting with his tutor twice each week, he advanced his literacy tremendously. He is now able to communicate at work through email. He also shared that he read a book for the first time, and he “enjoyed it.”

Another adult learner (who wishes to remain anonymous) joined the literacy program with the singular goal of gaining the reading and writing skills she needed to complete her high school education. After working diligently with her tutors for several years she improved her literacy skills, accomplished this impressive goal, and graduated from the literacy program. She has been accepted to the Adult School and is working on furthering her education by obtaining her high school diploma.

The Redlands community is enriched by the hard work and dedication of each adult learner. If you know of someone who needs help in reading and writing, please encourage them to take the first step in changing their life by contacting the Redlands Adult Literacy Program by calling Diane Shimota, Adult Literacy Coordinator, at 909-798-7565, ext. 4138. All services are free and confidential.