Category: First 2 Know

By: Dwana Pinchock

Anne Doucette reads a lot, but even for an avid reader, the library’s yearlong reading challenge pushes her to go further.

In this Q&A, she shares how the challenge works, what surprised her most and why she hopes more readers join “26 in ’26.”

Q: Tell us a little about yourself and how you got involved in the reading challenge.

A: My name is Anne, and I’m a public service assistant at the East Shore Area Library. I’m also the point person for the reading challenge committee here.

I love challenges. Anytime someone tells me there’s a new one, I’m going to sign up for it. The past challenge was especially fun because we had specific prompts to follow. I ended up reading books I wouldn’t have otherwise picked up — and some of them were really good!

Q: About how many books do you read per month?

A: Maybe five or six normally. The challenge definitely inspires me to read more than I otherwise would, which is also fun.

Q: How did the previous challenge work?

A: We had 25 prompts. Usually, reading challenges are just “read 25 books of your choice.” This time, the prompts were more specific and interesting.

For example, one prompt was to read a graphic novel where the main character has a disability. Another was to read a mystery where the person solving the crime is a woman over age 65. There was one where you had to read a book by someone from a different religious tradition than your own.

The hardest one for me was “read a book with a cover that you hate.” I eventually found one; it was a poetry book but the cover had these floating hands in the darkness. It was kind of creepy.

Q: So the prompts really stretched people beyond their usual genres?

A: Yes. It definitely pushed you out of your comfort zone.

This year, though, we’re doing something different. For “26 in ’26,” participants simply read 26 books of their choice.

Q: Was it difficult for you to step outside your literary comfort zone?

A: Sometimes. I don’t read a lot of nonfiction, and I thought it might be boring. I usually want to read about elves or something like that.

But I picked up The Professor and the Madman, about the creation of the Oxford English Dictionary, and it was actually really good. I didn’t want to read it at first, but I had to for the prompt. I’m glad I did.

Q: Did any books change your perspective or leave a lasting impression?

A: The Professor and the Madman did. It’s about a man who was in an asylum and still contributed significantly to the Oxford English Dictionary. It made me think about mental illness and bias — how someone can struggle in one area of life but still be incredibly gifted in another.

It really made me pause and think about that in my own life and about people I know.

Q: What would you say to someone considering joining a reading challenge?

A: I love being rewarded for something I’m already doing. I love to read. But even when you love to read, sometimes you don’t make as much time for it as you’d like. The challenge reminds me to sit down and take that time.

I would definitely encourage people to sign up. Even if you think you won’t finish, it’s still worth it. You’ll read some books and have a good time.

Q: How can people participate in “26 in ’26”?

A: It’s already started. You can sign up through Beanstack. If you already have a Beanstack account, go to “Challenges.” If you don’t see it right away, click “View More Challenges,” and you’ll be able to enter.

Even if you sign up now, everything you’ve read since Jan. 1 will automatically count.

Doucette hopes more readers join this year’s challenge.

“I feel like not enough people knew about 25 in ’25,” she said. “I hope more people in the public actually do 26 in ’26.” Whether you’re an avid reader or just looking for motivation to turn more pages, the challenge offers a simple invitation: Read more. Discover something new. Surprise yourself.

If you would like to join one of The Library’s reading challenges visit our Beanstack page!

By: Dwana Pinchock

When Kelsey Smoker talks about her sold-out sourdough classes, she still sounds surprised.

“I was telling one of my girlfriends how I’m always on standby trying to get my kids into programs,” she said. “Meanwhile, people are doing that for my sourdough class. We’ve kind of come full circle here.”

That full circle, from library kid to mother, from bread hobbyist to teacher of more than 1,000 students, has unfolded naturally over the past two years.

A Library Life, Then and Now

For Smoker, libraries have always been part of her story.

“My mom got me my first library card,” she said. “Once I got my license, I would drive to the library just to pick up books.”

Even when some friends questioned whether libraries were still relevant, she kept reading. Today, she and her husband read to their three children every night. When they visit the library, she said, her children’s eyes light up at the shelves of books waiting to be explored.

“The library has kind of met me at each stage of my life,” she said. “Now it’s somewhere I can take my kids to explore and open their imaginations.”

She hopes to pass along a simple message: Libraries are for everyone. No matter your interests, there is something for you.

What She’s Reading

Smoker gravitates toward thrillers and mysteries, often inspired by recommendations she finds online. Her current read is “Beautiful Ugly” by Alice Feeney, borrowed through the Libby app.

With three young children and a busy teaching schedule, she alternates between reading and listening to audiobooks.

“Sometimes it’s easier to just hit play while I’m driving to preschool or heading to a bread class,” she said.

Her shelves also include baking guides. She frequently turns to “The Big Book of Bread” by King Arthur Baking Company as she continues refining her craft.

“As someone who’s self-taught in sourdough, I’m always learning,” she said. “There’s no such thing as perfecting it. I’m always looking for better ways to do things, especially since I teach. It helps me meet people where they are.”

The Moment That Started It All

Smoker’s sourdough journey began at her kitchen counter. After the birth of her first daughter, she noticed a store-bought loaf of bread sitting on the counter for an unusually long time without molding.

“That kind of freaked me out,” she said. “I thought maybe I should look at alternatives.”

With a newborn at home, frequent grocery runs were not always convenient. She searched online for instructions on making bread from scratch. She began with yeasted breads before discovering sourdough.

Her professional background included managing multiple Panera Bread locations in the region. While she understood operations, she had not worked extensively in hands-on baking.

“The internet can be wonderful,” she said. “But it can also give you 100 different opinions on how to do one thing.”

She leaned into the science of fermentation and flour, experimenting and learning through online communities. She shared photos of her bread on social media, and soon friends and family began asking her to teach them.

From Church Basement to 1,000 Students

What began as a small, informal class at her church for 25 people quickly sold out.

“As of today, I’ve taught over 1,000 people how to make sourdough,” she said.

Smoker launched her classes in December 2023. By early 2024, demand had grown steadily. As of 2026, she continues to expand both her teaching and bread business.

She believes sourdough’s popularity reflects a broader desire to slow down.

“I think the world is moving so fast,” she said. “There’s a natural part of us that wants to slow down.”

Making bread creates intentional space within a busy life.

“There’s something genuine and wonderful about that,” she said. “People resonate with it.”

From Lunchables to Love

As a child, Smoker sometimes envied the ready-made snacks she saw at friends’ houses.

“I just wanted a Lunchable,” she said with a laugh. “My mom would say, ‘We have plenty of food at home.’”

Now she appreciates that most of her meals growing up were made from scratch.

“Everything at home was handmade,” she said. “Made with love and care.”

For Smoker, baking sourdough is not just about bread. It is about intention, nourishment and connection. Sometimes the most meaningful things do not come from a package at all.

Visit Kelsey’s Facebook page, Smoker Sourdough Co.,to learn more about her business and upcoming events!

By: Kelly Kautz

Did you know you can reserve a community meeting room at seven branches in the Dauphin County Library System?  Up county and down county locations offer meeting rooms to accommodate as few as three people in the Solarium at Alexander Family Library in Hummelstown to groups as large as 75 people in rooms A and B at East Shore Area Library in Colonial Park. 

Our rooms are ideal for business meetings, non-profit meetings, programs, interviews, or quiet study spaces.  While we love social gatherings and parties, we are unable to accommodate those types of events so, we can keep these spaces focused on learning and collaboration.

Need a laptop for your meeting?  You can borrow one at any of our locations, and many of our libraries also have projectors to use for your meetings.  In most cases, meeting room use is free, except for private meetings and meetings that generate revenue now or in the future.  Our Meeting Room Guidelines provide additional details. 

Learn more about policies, availability, and reservations by visiting your local Dauphin County Library System branch or online at https://www.dcls.org/services/.  We look forward to helping you find the right space for your next meeting.