Staff ePicks

Major League Baseball is set to resume later this month, but the abbreviated season is already shaping up to be a strange one. While fans might not get the games of their dreams, there’s still plenty to look forward to. To help pass the time until the action begins, we’ve devoted this week’s Staff ePicks to some of our favorite eBooks and other digital resources about baseball, whether you’re looking for a history lesson, documentaries or books for kids. Don’t forget to sign up for the Summer Reading Program and start reading your way toward a free Washington Nationals ticket!

eBooks and audiobooks

The Play Ball! collection on OverDrive and the Libby app features new biographies about Willie Mays and Yogi Berra as well as plenty of fiction, nonfiction and titles for sports-loving kids exploring the history, artistry and nuance of baseball.

eComics

Immerse yourself in America’s pastime with historical cartoons as well as illustrated adventures for kids on the Hoopla Digital platform.

• Willard Mullin's Golden Age Of Baseball Drawings 1934-1972
• Fuzzy Baseball
• The Baseball Adventure of Jackie Mitchell, Girl Pitcher Vs. Babe Ruth

Streaming movies

These documentaries on Kanopy give a voice to little-known stories from baseball’s past.

• Diamonds in the Rough: Legacy of Japanese-American Baseball
• A Long Way From Home: The Untold Story of Baseball’s Desegregation
• Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel

Play Better Baseball features 70 minutes of instruction by former University of Arizona head coach Jerry Stitt.

eMagazines

ESPN The Magazine ceased publication in 2019, but you can catch up on every issue dating back to 2013 through the RB Digital platform.

If you have a Minecraft fan in your household, you know it’s more than a hobby: Minecraft is a passion. Luckily, there are tons of ways for Minecrafters to disappear into the imaginative world they love through the pages of a book, not just through a screen. We’ve pulled together some of our most popular game guides, coding eBooks and other digital resources that you can access from home with your library card. (Parents: If you don't know your creepers from your ghasts, you might want to check out some of these titles, too!)

eBooks

• You’ll find the official Minecraft guides plus other fun adventures in our Minecraft Madness eBook collection on OverDrive or the Libby app.
• Instantly access the official Minecraft comics plus the Unofficial Minecraft Diary series on Hoopla.
• Search for “Minecraft” on the EBSCO MasterFile Complete database to explore even more eBooks about Minecraft.

Streaming movies

Take a deep dive into the creation and evolution of Minecraft with the documentary Minecraft: Through the Nether Portal on Kanopy.

Streaming music

Your gaming soundtrack is here! Listen to the Minecraft theme and other classic video-game tunes on Freegal.

STEM eBooks

Turn your home into a coding classroom with these school-level textbooks.

• Reinforce basic coding concepts and learn about the logic behind Minecraft in Understanding Coding with Minecraft on the Gale Virtual Reference Library database. (Search for “Minecraft.”)
• In Unofficial Minecraft STEM Lab for Kids, you’ll find a collection of 48 creative, collaborative projects that make STEM learning exciting for the whole family. Get it on the Safari Tech Books database.
• Coding with Minecraft is a hands-on resource that teaches you how to program bots to do cool things in the Minecraft world. Get it on the Safari Tech Books database.

The universe through the eyes of an astronomer is a fascinating place, and a good book can give you a glimpse of that world without requiring years of study. Our librarians have rounded up some of their favorite eBooks and other digital resources about astronomy and space that you can access anywhere on the planet. BONUS: Tune in Thursday, June 25, at 3 p.m. for a live stream with Loudoun County Public Library’s own NASA ambassador!

eBooks and audiobooks

• Explore a variety of titles about astronomy and astrophysics for all interest levels on OverDrive or the Libby app.
  • Astronomy titles for adults
  • Astronomy titles for kids and teens
     
• Search hundreds of astronomy eBooks and eAudiobooks available instantly on Hoopla.
   
• ​​Get complete text of books in the STEM field on the Gale Virtual Reference Library database. Search for topics like “astronomy" and “astrophysics.”

Virtual library event

Space News and Views: Join Loudoun County Public Library NASA Ambassador Amit Sircar live as he explains the latest happenings in the solar system and shares astronomical wonders that you can view from your own backyard. Thursday, June 25, 3 p.m.

Streaming music

Your stargazing soundtrack is a click away! Head to Freegal to hear music about and inspired by planets and the night sky.

• Holst The Planets
• One Giant Leap: Moon Tunes
• The Planets (Aqua Rex)
• The Planets (London Symphony Orchestra)

eMagazines

Catch up on current and back issues of popular magazines on RBDigital.

• Astronomy        
• National Geographic (July 2019)
• National Geographic (March 2019)
• Smithsonian (June 2019)
• Time/Life Bookazine: Neil Armstrong

Streaming videos

Embark on fascinating adventures to all corners of the cosmos through these in-depth series on Kanopy.

• Life in Our Universe (The Great Courses)
• The Remarkable Science of Ancient Astronomy (The Great Courses)
• Radio Astronomy (The Great Courses)
• NOVA (PBS)

Online learning

Take your love of space to the next level with free self-paced courses.

• Using Mobile Apps for Amateur Astronomy (Lynda.com)
• Astronomy 101* (Universal Class)
• Cosmology 101* (Universal Class)

* NEW USERS: Register here if you’re using Universal Class for the first time.

It’s easy for workout routines to veer off-course when unexpected changes occur – as was the case this spring, when we found ourselves spending more time at home. If you’re looking to get back on track or you just need some new motivation, the library’s digital collection has you covered. Use your library card to access streaming workouts, sports magazines, cardio music playlists and, of course, tons of eBooks about health, fitness and local recreation.

Streaming films and videos

Take a deeper dive into your favorite sports and activities with these films on Kanopy.

• Yoga for a Healthy Mind and Body (The Great Courses)
• Pilates
• Backyard Golf
• Sports & Fitness: Movies and documentaries for motivation

Follow along with popular workout series from Gaiam, Jillian Michaels and others on Hoopla.

• Yoga workouts
• Cardio workouts
• Dance workouts
• Tai chi workout
   

Online courses

These Universal Class courses are like being at the gym – minus the fees and sweaty strangers.

• Weight Training 101*
• Yoga 101*

* NEW USERS: Register here if you’re using Universal Class for the first time.

eBooks

• Explore a variety of fitness titles, plus guides to local hikes and bike rides, in the Get Active collection on OverDrive or the Libby app.
• Search hundreds of Health & Fitness titles available instantly on Hoopla.
   

eMagazines

Catch up on current and back issues of popular magazines on RBDigital.

• Backpacker
• Bicycling
• Men's Health
• Outside
• Runner's World
• Tennis
• Women’s Health
• Yoga Journal
   

Streaming music

Get your heart rate up by moving along with these playlists on Freegal.

• Cardio
• Dance
• Aerobics

Got gaming on the brain? You’re far from alone. New research from Nielsen found that 82% of global consumers played more video games amid the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This week, our staff is highlighting some of our favorite digital resources on playing, celebrating and even creating video games. From documentaries to online courses, you’ll find all of these tools right at your fingertips.

Streaming movies and shows

• Documentaries and movies about video games and gaming culture (Kanopy)
• Movies about video games (Hoopla)
• Pokemon and other shows based on games (Hoopla)

Playing video games

• Instantly access guides for popular games, including Minecraft and Pokemon. (Hoopla)
• Check out the official Minecraft handbooks and related eBooks. (OverDrive/Libby app)
• Explore a variety of eBooks for computer gamers. (OverDrive/Libby app)

Stories about video games

• eBooks: Fiction titles include Ready Player One (OverDrive/Libby app)
• Audiobooks: Unofficial Minecraft Diary series and more (Hoopla)
• eComics: Plants vs. Zombies, Mega Man, Halo and others (Hoopla)

Creating video games

• Safari Tech Books features the most in-demand guides for game programming and design. (See the “Game Programming” category.)
• Discover a variety of eBooks on coding and game development for both kids and adults using the Gale Virtual Reference Library. (Search for “video games”)
• Online learning: Game Design Foundations (Lynda.com)
• Online learning: Game Development Foundations (Lynda.com)

Research

• “Best Mac Games of the Year” (Macworld, Feb. 1, 2020)
• “Best Video Game Subscription and Streaming Services” (Consumer Reports)

Streaming music

• Music from classic and new video games (Freegal)
• Stream Tron and Call of Duty soundtracks (Hoopla)

Through every challenge, your library remains an important resource for education and information. Reading provides a window to the past in order to understand the present, and to amplify and listen to the voices of those affected by racism. Our staff has brought together a wide range of antiracism resources that we hope you'll find helpful. Whether you're discussing current events with children or teens, or you're learning for yourself, these eBooks, articles, films and courses are here for you.

eBooks

• Guides to Antiracism: Books for Adults: Explore our collection of nonfiction and fiction titles on OverDrive or the Libby app.
• Conversations on Race: Adults Reads: You’ll find a variety of fiction, memoirs and nonfiction among these titles on Hoopla.
• Guides to Antiracism: Books for Teens: Explore our collection of nonfiction and fiction titles on OverDrive or the Libby app.
• Conversations on Race: Teen Reads: This assortment of titles – which also includes audiobooks and eComics – is specifically geared toward young adults on Hoopla.

Streaming movies

• The Talk: Race in America (Kanopy)
• I Am Not Your Negro: James Baldwin and Race in America (Kanopy)
   

Online learning

These courses from Lynda.com are designed to help foster diversity and inclusion in the workplace: 

• Managing Diversity
• Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

eBooks for children

BookFlix: This site pairs animated storybooks with related nonfiction eBooks and learning activities to build a love of reading and real-world knowledge.

• Amazing Grace and Jackie Robinson
• Coretta Scott and Martin Luther King Day
• Martin’s Big Words and Martin Luther King, Jr.
• The Other Side and Ruby Bridges
• Rosa and Rosa Parks
• Show Way and Harriet Tubman​​
   
• Guides to Antiracism: Explore a variety of nonfiction and fiction eBooks for children and tweens on OverDrive or the Libby app.
• Talking to Kids About Race: This collection of audiobooks on Hoopla can help start a conversation with the children in your life.
   

Research

• Gale in Context: Elementary: Access news and magazine articles, encyclopedia entries and biographies about racism and implicit bias in this database for elementary-school students.
• EBSCO MasterFile Complete: This comprehensive database features hundreds of scholarly articles and full-text eBooks about racism in America.
• Newspapers (daily and historical): Search five major American papers for current news and background.
• Scholastic Go! A collection of world news sources.

Like adults, kids are struggling right now. Schools are closed, routines have changed and uncertainly seems to be part of everyday life. Now more than ever, it’s important to check in and make sure kids have all the resources they need to manage their physical and emotional well-being. 

Our children’s specialists have rounded up some of their top resources for helping kids and teens cope with the stress of life, from calming yoga sequences to teen-friendly mindfulness workbooks.

For children

eBooks

Explore these digital collections:

• Slow Down, Be Kind, Breathe (OverDrive/Libby app)
• Mindfulness for Kids (Hoopla)
• Yoga for Kids (Hoopla)

Audiobooks

• Meditation for Kids (Hoopla)
• Mindfulness for Kids (Hoopla)

Research

Your Mini Mindfulness Toolbox (Kids InfoBits)

Streaming video

• Yoga for Kids (Hoopla)
• No Yoga for Con (Kanopy)

Streaming audio

Guided meditations for kids and parents:

• Mindfulness for Children (Freegal)
• Meditations for Children, Tweens and Teens (Hoopla)

For teens

eBooks

Explore these digital collections:

• Keep Calm (OverDrive/Libby app)
• This Moment Is Your Life (and So Is This One) (OverDrive/Libby app)

Streaming audio

Meditations for Children, Tweens and Teens (Hoopla)

eMagazines

Yoga Journal (RB Digital)

Research

• The Magic of Mindfulness (Teen Health & Wellness)
• Learning the Practice of Meditation (Teen Health & Wellness)
• Curing What Ails You: Yoga Poses to Help with Cramps, Headaches and Asthma (Teen Health & Wellness)

Streaming video

Yoga for a Healthy Mind and Body: The Great Courses (Kanopy)

Birding is gaining flocks of new followers amid the coronavirus pandemic, as more people take note of the fascinating world outside our windows. After all, when you can’t be with the ones you love, a feathered friend just may suffice.

If you’re looking to explore the delightfully passive hobby of birding, all you need are eyes, ears and curiosity – plus a few handpicked library resources that you can access anywhere.

eBooks

Calling All Birders: Explore our top birding eBooks on OverDrive or the Libby app.

Research

Is Your Backyard for the Birds? (Consumer Reports)
Includes links to a free bird identification poster and information on birdfeeders.

​eMagazines

Let the birds handle pest-control in your garden!

• Mother Earth News
• Mother Earth Living

Streaming music

Learn to identify birds by ear.

• Bird Sounds (Freegal)
• Echoes of Nature: Bird Songs, Calls & Sounds (Freegal)

Online learning

• Birding in North America: The Great Courses (Kanopy)
• Bird Watching 101* (Universal Class)

* NEW USERS: Register here if you're using Universal Class for the first time.

As the weather warms up, many of us are looking to take our DIY projects outdoors. One yard task that’s gaining traction lately is gardening, with lots of homeowners looking to grow more of their own food.

If you’re thinking about brushing up on your gardening skills, then take a look at our roundup of library resources that you can access online to help transform your outdoor space into a thriving source of veggies. If you need to turn your black thumb into a green one or just find some inspiration, the library has you covered.

eBooks

Grow Your Own…Vegetables, That Is: Explore all of our gardening eBooks on OverDrive or the Libby app.

Online learning

• Introduction to Gardening* (Universal Class)
• Vegetable Gardening 101* (Universal Class)
• All About Herbs* (Universal Class)

* NEW USERS: Register here if you're using Universal Class for the first time.

Research

• ‘Backyard’ Oasis: Ways to Create a Better Space No Matter Where You Live (Consumer Reports)
• Gardening: Planting 101 (Consumers' Checkbook)
• Where to Shop for Plants (Consumers' Checkbook)
• What Garden Centers Should Supply When You Buy (Consumers' Checkbook)

Streaming music

Spring Into Goodness: Your gardening playlist! (Freegal)

eAudiobooks

• American Grown, by Michelle Obama (OverDrive/Libby app)
• Mister Owita’s Guide to Gardening, by Carol Wall (OverDrive/Libby app)
• The Botany of Desire, by Michael Pollan (OverDrive/Libby app)

eMagazines

• Mother Earth News
• Mother Earth Living

Virtual library programs

• How to Start a Garden: Librarian Lilly Newton from Rust Library provides tips for starting a vegetable garden.
• Virtual Storytime Featuring Growing Vegetable Soup: Brambleton Library’s Jennifer Roy shares stories and rhymes about things that grow.

These days, we're spending way more time inside, and if you're tired of your surroundings by now, there are plenty of small tweaks and projects that can reinvigorate your space, and hopefully, your spirit.

Here are a few library resources you can access from home to help guide you through spring cleaning, organization, redecorating and other spruce-ups.

Decluttering

eBooks and audiobooks

• Explore all of our home organization titles (OverDrive/Libby app)

Online learning

• Clutter Control 101* (Universal Class)

* NEW USERS: Register here if you're using Universal Class for the first time.

Research

• 10 Ways to Cut the Clutter on Your Kitchen Counter (Consumer Reports)
• Chores to Get Done if You're Stuck at Home (Consumer Reports)
• Five Ways to Get Cabinet Clutter Under Control (Consumer Reports)
• Dealing with Your Digital Clutter (Consumers' Checkbook)
• Decluttering Strategies: Ways to Shed Your Stuff and Simplify Your Life (Consumers' Checkbook)

Decorating Updates

eBooks and audiobooks

• Explore all of our home decorating titles (OverDrive/Libby app)

Online learning

• Feng Shui 101* (Universal Class)
• Housekeeping 101* (Universal Class)
• How to Decorate a Room* (Universal Class)
• Interior Decorating Made Easy* (Universal Class)

* NEW USERS: Register here if you're using Universal Class for the first time.

eMagazines

• Architectural Digest
• Country Living
• Dwell
• Elle Décor
• Family Handyman
• Good Housekeeping
• HGTV Magazine
• House Beautiful
• Old House Journal
• Veranda
• Woman’s Day

Research

• Backyard Oasis: Ways to Create a Better Space No Matter Where You Live (Consumer Reports)
• Ceiling Fans Add Comfort and Save Money (Consumer Reports)
• How to Pick the Perfect Paint for the Job (Consumer Reports)
• Pick the Perfect Paint Finish for Every Room (Consumer Reports)