Tara's blog

Edward Gorey, born on February 22, 1925, is the author of over 100 books and the illustrator of hundreds more. Even though he passed away in 2000, his macabre crosshatch style of illustration has influenced many artists to this day and continues to capture the imaginations of readers everywhere.

The event known as The Miracle on Ice occurred on February 22, 1980 in Lake Placid, New York. The United States Hockey Team defeated the Soviet Union Hockey Team by a score of 4 to 3, widely considered to be the biggest upset in sports history. This win did not secure the gold medal for the team, however, it was earned after defeating the team from Finland.

What are your top ten films for Black History Month? After consulting numerous lists and sources, I have compiled a selection, in alphabetical order, of dramatic films for your viewing pleasure featuring strong African-Americans battling inequalities. Stay tuned for more lists featuring the Top Ten Biographical Films and the Top Ten Documentaries for Black History Month.

Abraham Lincoln continues to enthrall writers, readers and historians. Lincoln once said, "The things I want to know are in books. My best friend is the man who'll get me a book I [haven't] read." Have you read these fictionalized accounts of Lincoln's extraordinary life?

Born today in 1954, Matt Groening is the creator of the television series The Simpsons and Futurama. Groening's first published works were cartoons called Life is Hell and were about a pair of anthropomorphic rabbits named Akbar and Jeff.

Not sure what to do for your sweetheart this Valentine's Day? You don't have to spend a lot of money to show you care. ...Let me count the ways...

Not a fan of Valentine's Day? If the traditional romance films aren't your cup of tea this time of year, consider the line written by Shakespeare from A Midsummer Night's Dream, "The course of true love never did run smooth." While these films feature the pain of heartbreak and fall out from bad break-ups, they still manage to celebrate friendship and the (eventually) fruitful pursuit of true love.

Portland based rock-band, The Decemberists, will be rocking The Ogden tonight. Don't have tickets to the sold out show? Don't despair, the library owns many of their albums, including their latest, The King is Dead, which just came out on January 14th.

On February 9, 1964 the Beatles made their first U.S. television appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. This historic event started what was forever known as Beatlemania!

Beloved author Brian Jacques passed away earlier this week. The Redwall Abbey series, his most notable works, were originally written for the Royal Wavertree School for the Blind, his favorite stop while delivering milk. Even though he is no longer with us, the magical worlds he created will live forever.