NASA Permanently Shuts Down Its Largest Research Library!!

 

What the everliving HECK? I am not onboard with this news at all!! Yes, I understand the need to save money on the annual cost to run  NASA's Goddard Library and the additional money needed for repairs to fix issues and the continued upkeep of such a massive library.... But isn't the expense worth it for this unique library for the future of space travel, sending telescopes into space, the development of rockets, and so on? It's not like there isn't a future for exploration outside our planet. The information provided within Goddard Library is valuable for researchers, students, historians, and more.

Additionally, there is so much material that hasn't even been digitized from the Goddard Library for future reference to be used in aiding scientists and engineers!  Goddard Library has materials which came from the former Soviet Union space program. It feels like we're erasing history by not keeping and maintaining this library's physical presence. We do not want to lose valuable material that will help future space programs.

I am fine with the concept of digitizing scientific materials for onsite and online research purposes. But I also overwhelmingly feel there is a need for the balance between digital and analog resources. Why not have both a physical and digital presence with regards to NASA's Goddard Library?

What are your thoughts regarding the shutdown of NASA's Goddard Library?

7 Libraries Set Inside UNESCO World Heritage Sites!!

After coming across an article on the Conde Nast Travel website titled, 7 Libraries Set Inside UNESCO World Heritage Sites by Navya Verma, I now I want to visit these unique libraries and see them for myself!

In the article, Navya Verma wrote the following:

For book lovers, architecture enthusiasts, and travelers who read a place through its past, some libraries offer more than quiet rooms lined with manuscripts. A rare few are set within UNESCO World Heritage Sites—meaning that whether they are perched on hillsides, embedded in historic city centers, or surrounded by forested mountains, they show how knowledge has been shaped, stored, and protected across centuries. From monastic scriptoria and Renaissance design experiments to purpose-built repositories for sacred texts, each space reflects the intellectual and cultural priorities of its time. Below are seven stunning libraries housed within UNESCO World Heritage Sites, from Portugal to South Korea and beyond.

Check to see which libraries made the list by clicking on the above link. 

I Finally Signed Up For Hoopla Account With My Public Library Card!!

 

In an effort to start using more of the services/products provided by our public library system, I signed up for a Hoopla account at the end of December 2025!

I look forward to using the Hoopla benefits in 2026. In fact, I already have an audiobook lined up for later on this month. The benefits for Hoopla are described below (information provided from the Hoopla website):

Your public library at your fingertips.

Borrow and enjoy audiobooks, eBooks, comics, movies, TV, magazines, or music everywhere you have a screen-your computer, your phone, your car, even your TV. All you need is a library card. hoopla syncs across all your devices, so you can stream titles immediately or whenever you're in the mood. Most titles can also be downloaded to your phone or tablet. hoopla offers more content, in more places, than any other digital library platform and it's all FREE thanks to your public library! Titles may vary based on library catalog.

Is anyone else using Hoopla's services? If so, how do you like using Hoopla?

Top Ten Tuesday - Best Books I Read in 2025

 

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl. Top Ten Tuesday was originally created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

I read 83 books in 2025. I surpassed my goal of reading 52 books this years. I gave a lot of both 5 star book reviews and 4 star book reviews this year. So, I had a difficult time narrowing down my choices for this post with all the great books I read in 2025! Sure, I read some stinkers, but overall a great year in reading.

I've included both fiction and nonfiction books on my list of best reads for 2026. You'll also see my rating for each book and also whether it is fiction or nonfiction below. 

I've added a link to each review should you care to read my thoughts for each book.

1. The Seas by Samantha Hunt (fiction 5 stars out of 5 stars)

2.  Pet by Akwaeke Emezi (fiction 5 stars out of 5 stars)

3. My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite (fiction 5 stars out of 5 stars)

4. Botanical Curses and Poisons: The Shadow-Lives of Plants by Fez Inkwright (nonfiction 5 stars out of 5 stars)

5. Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron (nonfiction 5 stars out of 5 stars)

6. The Case of the Velvet Claws by Erle Stanley Gardner (fiction 5 stars out of 5 stars)

7. Millionaire Mission: A 9-Step System to Level Up Your Finances and Build Wealth by Brian Preston (nonfiction 5 stars out of 5 stars)

8. Death by a Thousand Sips by Gretchen Rue (fiction 4.5 stars out of 5 stars)

9. The Greatest Gambling Story Ever Told: A True Tale of Three Gamblers, The Kentucky Derby, and the Mexican Cartel by Mark Paul (nonfiction 5 stars out of 5 stars)

10.  Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (fiction 5 stars out of 5 stars)

Have you read any of these books?

20 Must-Read Books by Filipino and Filipino American Authors

I am always on the look out for new to me books to read by Filipino and Filipino-American writers as my husband was born in the Philippines. 

I recently came across the following online article from Penguin Random House Books titles, Must-Read Books by Filipino and Filipino American Authors. 

I've already read Dogeaters by Jessica Hagedorn more than a decade ago. I also have several other books listed in the above article on my reading wishlist. 

I thought I'd share this post with others looking to read books by Filipino and Filipino-American writers.

Mass Market Books Are Disappearing!

I came across an interesting piece on NPR titled,  Mass-market books are disappearing from grocery store racks. It's an interesting piece, which I enjoyed listening to about the publishing industry and how book size has evolved.

As a youngster, I remember mass market books were the norm and trade paperback were definitely not a thing from what I recall.

Then things changed in the publishing industry when they flooded the market with trade paperbacks! 

I actually prefer mass market paperbacks to trade paperbacks as they are more portable to bring with you than trade paperbacks. So, what's your take? Which format do you prefer - mass market paperbacks to trade paperbacks?

Click on the above link to listen to the NPR story. It's roughly a 5 minutes listen.

Bookish Quote of the Day!!

 

I signed up to be a Social Media Ambassador for my Public Library!

I received an email from my county's public library recently asking for Social Media Ambassadors. Curious about what the role of a Social Media Ambassador entails, I looked into the program and have decided to become a Social Media Ambassador for my public library! 

Below is a description of what is being asked of Social Media Ambassadors for my public library entails.

Social Media Ambassadors

You can support public relations at the Library from the comfort of your home by volunteering as a Social Media Ambassador. You can help the Library extend its reach into the community and raise awareness of library collections, resources and programs at the same time.

No application is required. Simply sign up to receive Social Media Ambassador emails. They'll come once or twice a month. Each email will include information about library initiatives and topics. Ambassadors will be asked to post about the Library in their own words and to share stories about what they love about the Library – maybe an upcoming event, a recent blog post, a favorite branch or what they’re reading or watching. The Library is looking for ambassadors on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Nextdoor.

What Social Media Ambassadors Will Do

Add the Library on your favorite social media platforms and tag the Library in your posts
Share, like, and comment on Contra Costa County Library’s posts to help the library stay visible in the community
Tell your stories about the Library and use social media to tell the world what you love about the Library. Creativity is encouraged.

Participate as much or as little as you are able. Every post about the Library helps to grow a social media community.

Does your public library have a Social Media Ambassador program? If so, would you consider becoming a Social Media Ambassador?

Which Book Will Be Your First Read of 2026?

 

Last autumn, I received the free PDF version of The Green Baize Door by Eleanor Birney from BookSirens to read in exchange for an honest review. 

I need to have this novel read and reviewed towards the end of this month. So, this will be my first read for 2026.

The Shimmer by David Morrell

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Shimmer by David Morrell, which was nicely narrated by Phil Gigante. My only complaint is about the audio production for this novel. It is a tad difficult to hear the narrator reading this novel due to the audio quality. 

The Shimmer by David Morrell was my last read for 2025. I'd read Morrell's novel, Murder As Fine Art, in November 2024. I have been meaning to read more of his novels ever since then. In fact, Murder As Fine Art is the first novel in a series. I need to finish this series.

I like The Shimmer as it is different from what I normally would read or gravitate towards. David Morrell seems to do a lot of research for his novels, which I enjoy as it gives his books more depth due to both his research and his writing style. I especially enjoyed hearing David Morrell read the afterward he wrote for The Shimmer as he discussed how he came to write this novel.

If you are a fan of of thrillers and suspense novels, then you may enjoy The Shimmer as well. I enjoyed the writing, storytelling and the characters for this novel. There are so many layers to The Shimmer, which makes it an engaging read.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Shimmer by David Morrell from Chirp's website:

Creator of Rambo and co-founder of the International Thriller Writers organization, David Morrell has been called “the father of the modern action novel.” Now this award-winning, New York Times bestselling author delivers The Shimmer, a novel of chilling impact.

When police officer Dan Page’s wife disappears, her trail leads to Rostov, a remote Texas town where unexplained phenomena attract hundreds of spectators each night. Not merely curious, these onlookers are compelled to reach this tiny community and gaze at the mysterious Rostov Lights.

But more than the faithful are drawn there. A gunman begins shooting at the lights, screaming “Go back to hell where you came from!” then turns his rifle on the innocent bystanders. As more and more people are drawn to the scene of the massacre, the stage is set for even greater bloodshed.

To save his wife, Page must solve the mystery of the Rostov Lights. In the process, he uncovers a deadly government secret dating back to the First World War. The lights are more dangerous than anyone ever imagined, but even more deadly are those who try to exploit forces beyond their control.

With The Shimmer, David Morrell takes readers on a brilliant, terrifying journey. Suspenseful, yet thought-provoking, it is the master at his very best.

I am giving The Shimmer by David Morrell a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!