February Storytimes

Hearts, love, red, and penguins usher in our February Children’s Storytime.

Celebrating Valentine’s Day stories will have your child’s creativity flowing with hearts and the colors red. R-E-D red, we can all spell red, but can we find books where the covers and spines are red or have the word “red” in the title of the book?

What better way to wind up our February Storytime than with those cute little fellows in tuxedo-looking feathers! That’s right: penguins! Look for further details on our upcoming Penguin Pals show on February 25th at the Aurora Public Library. We don’t mean the stuffed ones either! Real live penguins will be stopping by the library, so come to our penguin storytime to get ready to meet these feathered friends!

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you!

Love Your Library and Love Your Community

February is National Library Lovers Month, and we’re asking you to show your love by donating cans of food to the Aurora Public Library District. For each item you bring in, we’ll reduce any outstanding fines on your library account by $1.00. Then, we’ll spread the love by donating the food to a local food pantry. Food items must not be expired, and cans must be undented and have a label.

As most of you know, outstanding fines or fees in excess of $5.00 prevent you from checking out Library materials. That makes us sad, so this is a great way to clear some of those pesky fines and to get back the ability to make full use of the Library’s wonderful resources. Fines for late, lost, or damaged items can be reduced through this program. Fees for printing, earbuds, Inter-Library Loans, PLAC cards, or non-resident cards cannot be reduced by bringing in food items.

Please pass the word to anyone you know who may have outstanding fines, so they can start using the library again!

We will be accepting donations through Saturday, February 29th.

National American Heart Month

Going hand in hand with Valentine’s Day, love, romance, and National Library Lover’s Month, February is also National American Heart Month. The Aurora Public Library District is here for you for all of your heart questions and answers.

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease, which includes heart disease and stroke, remains the leading cause of global deaths every year, with 17.3 million deaths. And while many cardiovascular issues can be genetic, there are still many preventative steps you can take to protect your heart and your health.

Educate Yourself

Read up on all the information you can find about your heart and heart health. Learn how the cardiovascular system works so you can keep your old ticker in tip-top shape. Learn the signs and symptoms for certain heart diseases so you can be on guard for yourself and your loved ones. Visit the American Heart Association website for more information.

Dietary Changes

I’ll be the first to admit that greasy cheeseburgers and salty french fries are delicious, but we’re harming ourselves by constantly eating convenient junk foods. Check out heart-healthy cookbooks filled with recipes and tips for you to keep your heart safe. Become familiar with what you’re putting into your body and eat smarter by cutting back on portions, lowering your sodium intake, and adding colorful fruits and vegetables to every meal.

Be Active

I know, I know — it’s cold out and we don’t want to do anything but sit on the couch and binge-watch Netflix. Of course it’s perfectly fine for you to relax after a long day, but everything in moderation. Make it a personal goal to get up and move at least once a day. It’s super simple! Just start walking! You can change your life (and your waistband!) by simply walking for a few minutes everyday. And as you get healthier, you will want to walk for longer and farther. While you’re walking, running, or burning calories with an intense cardio workout, listen to an audiobook you can check out from the Indiana Digital Download Center.

Be Mindful

Your heart health journey doesn’t start in your diet or in your walking feet; it starts in your mind! It starts with the conscience decision to better your health for yourself and others. This means getting enough sleep, reducing stress (incorporate yoga and meditation into your routine), and knowing your body’s limits. Take it slow! Rome wasn’t built in a day, so why should a complete lifestyle overhaul take place overnight? It’s okay to make yourself as a priority sometimes by taking a personal day to have a massage or simply unplug your electronic distractions. And of course, don’t skip out on your yearly checkup. If you are feeling concerned about something, don’t put off that doctor visit.

Give your heart a little more love this February by celebrating National American Heart Month. As always, Happy Reading!

February is National Love Your Library Month!

February is National Love Your Library Month!

There’s so much more to do at the library than browse, check out, and read books…

You can also check out DVDs and CD audio books, as well as travel guides, magazines, self-help books, GED, SAT, and ACT study guides, and so much more! And if we don’t have what you’re looking for within the Aurora Public Library District, we can put in a request to get it here for you to check out.

You can come and use our computers and WiFi for free. And if you have to print, it’s just $.10 for black and white and $1.00 for color.

You can get involved in a program, like our Between the Lines adult book discussion, or learn more about Talk About Aurora History.

You can scroll through our Online Resources for free information databases on scholarships, travel, auto repair, AR books, and consumer reports, plus online encyclopedias, Live Homework Help, genealogy records, and numerous reading resources, like Novelist and Select Reads.

You can bring your children to Storytime or Side-by-Side.

You can research your genealogical or geographical history by visiting the Local History Library @ the Depot.

You can read other blogs to find out what the Aurora Public Library District staff is talking about, like genres, new books to read, and other programs happening at the Library.

You can have one of the staff members show you how to navigate the Indiana Digital Download Center, so you can have books, audio books, and movies to check out and download for free at your leisure!

Throughout the month of February, you can also bring in canned food items to erase your fines for the Cans for Fines program. For every can you bring in, $1.00 will be taken off of your accrued library fines. And if you don’t owe any money, you can help spread the love by donating canned food items anyway; we will gladly accept your donations! All canned food items collected at the Aurora Public Library will be donated to the Aurora Clearing House Food Pantry, and all items collected at the Dillsboro Public Library will be donated to the Dillsboro Food Pantry.

Celebrate by stopping by one of the branches today! We would LOVE to see you! Happy Reading!