What I'm Reading for Black History Month 2023

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What I'm Reading for Black History Month 2023

I read 160 books in 2022, which was a new personal record! Part of this was because I read more graphic novels and manga than in past years. Either way, it’s more about quality and enjoyment than quantity! Whatever and whenever I’m reading, I always try to make sure I’m reading a diverse assortment of books rather than just books written by people who look like me. It’s important to read diverse books year-round and not just in whatever history month it happens to be! That being said, I haven’t written a Black History Month TBR blog post since 2020, so I thought it would be fun to share my list for 2023. 

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I Visited All 31 Libraries in the Monroe County Library System. Here's What I Learned.

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I Visited All 31 Libraries in the Monroe County Library System. Here's What I Learned.

Last September, I joined the Board of Trustees for the Monroe County Library System (MCLS).

What is the Monroe County Library System? The MCLS is an association of independent public libraries. MCLS members receive many benefits, like a shared catalog, shipping and delivery services so patrons can borrow materials from any library in the system, outreach services, admin and technical support, and more. Central Library in downtown Rochester is the operational hub of the MCLS; the Rochester Public Library is comprised of Central Library and 10 city library branches, all part of the MCLS.

As an obsessive reader and someone who’s always down for an adventure, I decided to visit every library in the system. That’s 31 libraries! I began in late September and finished in early March. In October, my client Celebrate City Living did a theme called “Celebrate: Libraries” on our Instagram, so I visited all 11 city library locations in just one month!

It’s been a fascinating journey to explore all these beautiful libraries that are so vital to our communities. Every library has its own personality and quirks. It was a joy to see the amazing work library staff are doing across Monroe County! I shared my journey on Instagram using #EmilyExploresMCLS, but thought it would be valuable to recap the experience in one convenient blog post.

I’ll be sharing my library experiences in the order in which I visited. My husband joined me for as many of the visits as his schedule allowed, so if I say “we,” that’s who I’m referring to. Without further ado, let’s dive in!

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