March 2021
Hello friends, and welcome to another issue of Connect, a newsletter made for YOU.
 
Our library building is open for grab & go! Please stop by to browse the shelves, use a computer, or chat with us. We’re happy to see you again. Until then, please enjoy this newsletter. Remember you don't need to live in Batavia to subscribe!
Let's Laugh
Create Something
Spring is in the air, and after the winter we’ve had (holy snow, batman), it’ll be a relief and a joy to see the birds again. Here are some links on how you can make your own birdhouse.
  • From Bob Vila: Make a traditional, wood birdhouse.
  • From Robin's Nesting Place: Learn how to create an one-of-a-kind birdhouse using a teapot and an old dresser drawer.
  • From Dream a Little Bigger: Not into the act of building a birdhouse? Looking to decorate a premade one? Check out this tutorial on creating a pretty penny roof.
  • From The Idea Room: Check out this awesome under-a-planter birdhouse.
  • From Eamon Walsh DIY: Looking for a more Lincoln-inspired birdhouse? Check out this very cool log cabin inspired one.
Learn Something
March is Music in our Schools Month. Learn about what that means and how you can help to keep music in our public schools.
  • From National Association for Music Education: Read up on the official initiative of Music in our Schools Month. This site has a large list of resources, including its history.
  • Also from Radio Disney: Watch this short video and learn a bit about the Music in our Schools tour.
  • From our catalog: Put the movie, “Music of the Heart” on hold. The film is a dramatization of the true story of Roberta Guaspari, who co-founded the Opus 118 Harlem School of Music and fought for music education funding in New York City public schools. Then brace yourself for this throwback music video.
  • From the Kaufman Music Center in New York: Read articles and watch videos showing the importance of music education for all.
Read Something
March is Women’s History Month. Now is the perfect time to read up on some phenomenal women and their accomplishments.
  • The Amazons: Lives and Legends of Warrior Women Across the Ancient World by Adrienne Mayor
  • Amelia Earhart: A Biography by Doris L. Rich
  • Becoming by Michelle Obama
  • I am Malala: The Girl who Stood up for Education and was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai
  • Joan of Arc: A Life Transfigured by Kathryn Harrison
  • "Keep the Damned Women Out:" The Struggle for Coeducation by Nancy Weiss Malkiel
  • The Lady in Gold: The Extraordinary Tale of Gustav Klimt’s Masterpiece, Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer by Anne-Marie O’Connor
  • Making Motherhood Work: How Women Manage Careers and Caregiving by Caitlyn Collins
  • Margaret Thatcher at her Zenith: in London, Washington, and Moscow by Charles Moore
  • Martha Washington: An American Life by Patricia Brady
  • My Life on the Road by Gloria Steinem
  • Our House is on Fire: Scenes of a Family and a Planet in Crisis by Greta Thunberg
  • The Preacher’s Wife: The Precarious Power of Evangelical Women Celebrities by Kate Bowler
  • Reading Lolity in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi
  • The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Jill Lepore
  • The Slow Moon Climbs: The Science, History, and Meaning of Menopause by Susan P. Mattern
  • Vanguard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, and Insisted on Equality for All by Martha S. Jones
  • The Woman who Smashed Codes by Jason Fagone
Watch Something
I Am Big Bird
 
Grab the tissues, this one even made my tall, manly husband cry.
 
This documentary tells the story of Caroll Spinney, also known as the puppeteer of Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street. 
 
Viewers go on this amazing journey of how he came to live on the street, the complicated mechanics of the Big Bird puppet, the rise and fall of Big Bird’s popularity, and the passing-of-the-torch. It’s an emotional roller coaster. 
 
“Bad days happen to everyone, but when one happens to you, just keep doing your best and never let a bad day make you feel bad about yourself.”
Big Bird.
 
Go Somewhere... safely
Kane County is in phase 4! Here are some fun socially distant activities for you and your family to do. Remember, unless the event is virtual, wear your mask!
  • Every Tuesday in March, 7 pm: Curvy Yoga: Mindful March 4-Week Series at SOMA Studios.
  • Every Saturday in March, 9 am - 2 pm: Shop Artist Made at Water Street Studios.
  • Every Saturday in March, 9 am - 12 pm: Indoor Farmer’s Market.
  • Fri, 3/5 @ 10:30 am: Ribbon Cutting at WindMill Grille & Pizzeria.
  • Fri, 3/5 & Sat, 3/6 all day: Spring Vintage Shop Hop at Red Hive Market.
  • Sun, 3/7 @ 3 pm: Back to the ‘80s Virtual BINGO hosted by the Batavia Mother’s Club Foundation.
  • Fri, 3/12 @ 7:30 pm: Rhythm of the Dance pay-per-view event through BFAC.
  • Sat, 3/20 & Sun, 3/21, varied times: Maple Fest at Red Oak Nature Center.
As always, check our library calendar for virtual events happening for all ages.
In Conclusion
Stay happy. Stay healthy. Wash your hands. 
 
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Batavia Public Library
10 S. Batavia Ave.
Batavia, Illinois 60510
630-879-1393

www.bataviapubliclibrary.org/