As a library patron you have access to numerous databases, digital archives, and staff help for your genealogical quests and queries. Find out more about our History & Genealogy Department. 

There's never a bad time to dig into your family history or discover the great stories and women from our local community. You can discover gravesites, marriage and death certificates, historical photos and much more.

Nonfiction and Historical Fiction for Women's History Month-KCPL Janice

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Pregnancy brain getting you down? Too busy to even think about what to read next? There are plenty of reasons to keep on top of reading during pregnancy and into postpartum. We know there’s so much to do and research during this sensitive time so don’t be too hard on yourself if you’re not reading right now. Here are some options that might get you out of a reading slump, into reading for the first time, or something to keep the brain fog at bay.  

Insomnia and hormonal changes have contributed to my steep reading drop-off for the year. Though I’ve been a reader my whole life this isn’t my first time facing a reading slump. As a first-time mom, I’ve been doing plenty of research (this is reading!) to help determine the kind of parent I’ll be, how to keep a newborn alive and thriving, and on how parental literacy and engagement benefits children.  

From modeling reading to your little one to spending quality time reading books with them, it encourages little minds, strengthens bonds, and is a great indicator of your child’s future academic success.  

With that in mind, here are some books and types of reading that might get you reading and take you through post-partum. Short books, audiobooks, articles, poetry, graphic novels, and picture books all count! It’s okay to not have the mental energy or time to sit with a physical novel. All reading is good reading.  

Most of what I’ve been reading lately are Consumer Reports articles on baby equipment which you can access via our website. This has helped me select sleep safe equipment for baby including a bassinet, crib, and products to avoid. Even if I haven’t ended up selecting an item from the CR lists, I’ve weighed my decision with the information they’ve provided, like selecting a car seat.  

Here are some reading lists to help you get started: 

Hoopla Audiobooks with No Wait Time

Great Audiobooks You Can Stream or on CD

Books to Help You Read More

Popular Graphic Novels for When You're Busy

Cozy Fantasy Books

Indie Romance Books

Short Books

Board Books for Newborns

Board Books for Babies & Toddlers

Chapter Books for Reading Aloud

Books about Pregnancy, Post-partum, and Labor

Parenting Baby & Toddler Books

Dear reader, 

As a recent Pittsburgh Eras tour attendee, here are a few tips to make the most of your upcoming concert experience: 

1. Listen to your favorite Taylor eras on the Hoopla app with your library card to prep for the concert! There's never a wait on Hoopla. Albums I'm listening to: Reputation, Lover and Midnights. Songs on repeat: ... Ready for It?, King of My Heart, Cruel Summer, The Archer, Lavender Haze, Bejeweled, Midnight Rain and Karma. Favorite eras: 1989, Folklore, Evermore and Midnights. 
2. Be flexible. Plans are delicate so try to shake it off if everything doesn't go the way you expected.
3. Be prepared to stand for 5+ hours. Make sure you have shoes that are comfortable not just for standing for the 3.5 concert but travel time, waiting in lines (merch lines can take hours to get through outside or inside of the stadium, food lines, bathroom lines,) the opening acts, and the time it takes you to get to transportation or home. Typically, Taylor comes on at 8 p.m. and the show ends at 11:30 p.m.
4. Bring earplugs! Better to have them and not need them than to not have them and need them.
5. Remember to check the stadium requirements for bags, etc. Most don't allow anything over a certain size and usually it needs to be clear.
6. Most merch is available on the official Taylor Swift site, there are only a few tour exclusives, merch trucks will be available at the venue throughout the day prior to each show. 
7. Have an end game for how you're leaving the show, there will likely be a gridlock on roads, rideshares will be competitive and likely expensive, walk if you can, or be prepared to wait for things to clear out. I've heard some people say to leave during Bejeweled. That's a personal call, but I was willing to wait the extra 60-90 minutes after the show to get home and don't regret staying for the whole show.
8. Make bracelets if you have the time and resources! Fans bring them to share, and so many brought bags full of bracelets to give out before the show. You can attend a bracelet making event at the library. All supplies are provided.
9. Download your tickets to your wallet so you can easily access them even if you lose service around the stadium.
10. In Pittsburgh, there was a Capital One photo/video booth in the stadium right when you walk in after getting your tickets scanned that anyone could use, but for cardholders there was a social media contest component for upgraded seats. We won and got floor seats! 
11. Phones: some people upgraded their phones before the concert if they could (I didn't so there was definitely a quality difference when it was light out vs after dark, but it wasn't a big deal to me), take a portable charger (my phone died before the 1989 set ?) or put your phone down and just enjoy your favorite songs in the moment!
12. You'll receive a light up bracelet when you get in the stadium, they're timed to the songs throughout the show and will glow certain colors at certain times so be sure to wave your arms around when they do, it makes the stadium magical. They're recyclable and there are hampers in the stadium to dispose of them after the show. Don't forget!
13. Dress how you want, whether that's in a bedazzled costume, your favorite era or comfy clothes! I was a Folklore girly in a thrifted dress, cardigan, and braid buns. Some trends: Lover colors and makeup, white sundresses and cowboy boots, red tops and black shorts, bubble braids, hair gems and snake tights.
14. If you have floor seats it might be tough to get back in through the stadium, in Pittsburgh they wouldn't let us after a certain time and all drinks had to be poured into plastic cups. We only had access to porta-potties and by the end of the show most didn't have toilet paper. Bring napkins just in case!
15. Checkout the setlist prior to showtime if you want to make sure you don't miss your favorite era or song: Lover, Fearless, Evermore, Reputation, Speak Now, Red, Folklore, 1989, Surprise songs and Midnights.
16. Taylor changes outfits and microphones for each era, each night some of the outfits will change, if you're interested in design/fashion it's worth looking at the different looks she's done, there are already several articles, Youtube videos and Tiktoks about it. She wore the green Folklore dress at the show I went to, and I was screaming, "We got the green!!!!!" 
17. She wears the Eras mani, each nail represents a different album. I tried to replicate it and it was really fun to get into the concert spirit a few days before the big show.
18. Make sure to eat, drink plenty of water, and apply sunscreen prior to the show.
19. Rest and relax the day after! 

KCPL EVENTS

Make Swiftie Friendship Bracelets at our Covington Branch Wed, June 28 anytime between 2 and 4, or in the evening from 6 to 8. (All ages)

Join us for Taylor Trivia and make friendship bracelets at our Erlanger Branch Sat, July 1 from 2-3:30. (Tweens & Teens)

ERAS ROMANTIC FICTION READING LIST

By your neighborhood Swiftie librarian,

Janice Shepherd, Adult Collection Services Librarian II 

P.S. you can borrow Taylor Swift CDs or stream her music for free. Click on the list below to put an item on hold. 

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Find your next couple or couple of dozen indie/indie vibes romance reads here:

Click here for the full list: Library Unlimited Romance

Explore the complete list here: Cozy Fantasy Genre Guide

Legends & Lattes

A Novel of High Fantasy and Low Stakes

by Baldree, Travis

 

The House in the Cerulean Sea

by Klune, TJ

 

Uprooted

by Novik, Naomi

 

Poison Study

by Snyder, Maria V.

 

An Enchantment of Ravens

by Rogerson, Margaret

 

Paladin's Grace

Saint of Steel Series, Book 1

by Kingfisher, T.

 

Sorcery of Thorns

by Rogerson, Margaret

 

The Goblin Emperor

by Addison, Katherine

 

Ascendance of A Bookworm, Part 1, Volume 1

by Kazuki, Miya

Janice Shepherd

Patron Experience Librarian II

If you're a voracious romance novel fan or new to the genre you might be in need of a new book to read...or 10. Fear not, I have a bingo that will have you reading your favorite tropes and ones you've never heard of in the best meet-cute of the New Year. Pick your own or choose a few from one of our lists below. If you get a bingo, be sure to tag us and tell all the book lovers in your life. 

Take a chance on romance! 

Need any inspiration? Take a look through any of our lists: Romance Bingo, Is This a Kissing Book?, LGBTQ+ Romance, Contemporary Romance

List created by KCPLJanice

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Janice Shepherd

Patron Experience Librarian

& Lover of Love