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Our 400th Blog Post: Looking Back at 8 Years of Great Recommendations from Our HPL Staff!

31 Mar

We first started the Hoboken Public Library Staff Picks Blog in March of 2013 with a review by Reference Librarian, Matt Latham of Garth Ennis’s Graphic Novel, The Boys.  Since then there have been some changes over the years.  The Boys is now more popular than ever since it has been adapted to a streaming series and Matt is no longer at HPL (though we are still lucky to have him in the BCCLS family as a director at another North Jersey library).  Recently with the Pandemic we’ve begun focusing on items that can be checked out as ebooks or streamed for those who are unable to physically come in to the library.  Our blog has been viewed over 70,000 times by over 50,000 people! We wanted to take a look back at some of our favorite and most popular posts.   

Our most viewed post of all times is from Matt Latham on Soul, Funk and Blues Revival: Some Contemporary Bands Sporting an Energetic Retro Sound.  Another popular post was Sherissa Salas’s post on Susan Glaspell’s play, Trifles. Several of my popular posts, are also favorites of mine written about Adult Fairytale Series, Vampire Detective TV Shows, and Mystery TV Shows based on books.  Our most popular post of last year was Steph Diorio’s post about A Midwife’s Tale and her request for Hoboken residents to share their experiences during the Pandemic so they could be included in our historical archives for future generations (she is still accepting people’s stories and photographs so email reference @ Hoboken.bccls.org if you’d like to share). Other popular posts from 2020 included YA Library Assistant, Elbie Love’s post about Brown Girl Dreaming and Children’s Library Assistant, Melissa Medina’s post about Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpre. Our most popular post so far this year was Information and Digital Services Librarian, Ethan Galvin’s post about One Night Two Souls Went Walking.

A new post goes live typically every Wednesday at 11 AM.  Thank you to everyone who is following us whether you just joined us recently or if you have been here from the beginning.  We love providing you with new picks from our staff, but we also hope that you enjoy reading through the 400 and counting posts we have in our archives.  They are a great way to find a new author or books in your favorite genre. 

Written by:
Aimee Harris
Head of Information and Digital Services

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“Do It Yourself” Face & Body Scrubs: Today at 6 PM at HPL

19 Nov

Upcycling is not only super trendy and rustic for any “Do it yourselfer” out there, it’s also very ecofriendly. With health and beauty circling back to the forefront of anyone’s lifestyle, homemade products are making a strong comeback!

I am having a Make and Take Program today (November 19) from 6 to 7:30 pm at the main branch of the Hoboken Public Library. Although it’s BYOJ (bring your own jar) encouraged, all supplies will be provided. In this program you’ll get the chance to have a hands on experience at creating your own body and face scrub to take home as well as possibly get creative and Make Your Own Recipe! You may even get the idea of creating and gifting a homemade scrub to a loved one. The possibilities of this program is that it’s a start for anyone to begin the process of caring for their own body, especially as the months get colder.

As DIYers go, the key decision in any maker project is recycling and upcycling (no waste). In that spirit, most, if not all basic ingredients you will be able to find in every kitchen. Some of the ingredients that will be used (but not limited to) are coffee, salt, oatmeal, sugar, tea, cooking oils, some spices, essential oils, fresh produce, and any recycled jar from an old candle or sauce!

We will be creating scrubs that range from using just on your face to your whole body. Thick scrubs, creamy scrubs, one time use scrubs and scrubs that can last a whole 2 months!

The benefits of Homemade Scrubs is you get to personalize it to your own body and its needs. If you need something for moisturizing, anti – inflammatory, more antioxidants and/or vitamins for skin health, then you can put together specifically mixed ingredients for exactly that. Need more relaxation and soothing properties, add some extra oils or fresh florals or produce. It’s always great knowing what you are putting on your body. Not only do scrubs promote calmer sleep, healthier looking and feeling skin, it’s also great for your mental healing when your body is cared for.

For more recipes or inspiration on how to get started on the art of making body scrubs check some of these books out:

Plant-Powered Beauty: The Essential Guide to Using Natural Ingredients for Health, Wellness, and Personal Skincare (With 50-plus Recipes) by Amy Galper

100 Organic Skin Care Recipes: Make Your Own Fresh and Fabulous Organic Beauty Products by Jessica Ress

DIY Beauty: Easy, All-Natural Recipes Based on Your Favorites from Lush, Kiehl’s, Burt’s Bees, Bumble and Bumble, Laura Mercier, and more! by Ina De Clercq

Just the Essentials: How Essential Oils can Heal Your Skin, Improve Your Health, and Detox Your Life by Adina Grigore

Written by:
Sherissa Salas
Programming Assistant

Always check with your doctor or dermatologist before using a new product and try on a small patch of skin before using it more widely.

Adult Programs at the Hoboken Public Library are first come gets a spot if space is limited; please arrive early.

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