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Tag: first2know

  • Kickstart Your Summer Reading with NoveList Plus

    By: Charissa Diethrich, Information Services Assistant

    Summer is upon us, and with it, summer reading! Whether you’ve signed up for a challenge at The Library or you’re just looking for a good book to bring on vacation, it can be daunting to figure out what to read next. Look no further than NoveList Plus! Read on for a brief introduction to this fantastic reader’s advisory tool. (You can find NoveList Plus on the Research page of The Library’s website, or under “Find a Good Book” on The Collection page.)

    Maybe you’ve finished rereading your favorite book for the umpteenth time, and you want to find more like it. Type the title into NoveList’s main search bar, bring up the book’s profile, and scroll down to see a selection of “Read Alikes.” Click on a cover, and you can find an explanation from a real person about why the two books have been paired together. Drawing on character types, plot points, and other elements, NoveList’s team makes thoughtful connections between titles – and also pairs some unexpected books! (You can find “Author Read-Alikes” using this same method.)

    On NoveList’s homepage, explore a carousel of “Books with Buzz.” These are titles that have been featured in the media, from mentions on Good Morning America to screen adaptations. Find out what’s all the rage in pop culture by exploring this list! You can also browse the “Curated Lists” found in the column on the left-hand side. Click on “For fans of” to see lists especially created for those who enjoy certain shows, movies, games, or authors. Enjoy the board game Ticket to Ride? There’s a list for that! Or maybe you loved KPop Demon Hunters? Check out a selection of books with similar elements! You can also explore other lists like “Seasonal Reads” or “Exploring Identities.”

    But perhaps the most personally tailored way to search for books is using “Story Elements.” NoveList tags books based on what readers commonly connect with when reading them. You can explore titles by genre (legal thrillers, magical realism, historical mystery), theme (coming-of-age, forbidden love, time loop), and appeal factors (lyrical prose, brooding characters, intricate plots). Check out the Story Elements tool on NoveList’s home page. Mix and match story elements as much as you like to generate reading recommendations. The more elements you select, the narrower your results will be.

    As a bonus, NoveList Plus is linked directly to the DCLS catalog. You can see at a glance if a recommended title is owned by The Library or not. Click on the “Check catalog” button to go to the item’s catalog record, where you can view availability or place a hold!

    Make summer reading a breeze with NoveList Plus! Using the stories and elements you already love, let NoveList’s skilled team suggest some new titles. And who knows? You might end up falling in love with a book you’d never have picked up otherwise!

  • Healing, One Knot at a Time

    By Samantha Lowe, Youth Services Coordinator

    Last year, I wrote a piece for First 2 Know about my experience with mental health and attending Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). I wanted people to know it’s okay to ask for help and that they’re not alone.

    This year, I’d like to talk about the healing process.

    I think there’s often a desire, maybe even a longing, for healing to be a clear, linear journey, with defined phases we can predict and plan for. Unfortunately, that’s simply not the case. No healing process, whether physical, mental, or related to grief or trauma, is linear.

    Think of a skein of yarn. You want to pull the end smoothly and easily so you can get to work. But how often does that actually happen? You pull a few inches, and then it stops. You tug a little harder and (pop!) out comes a huge tangle. No knitting yet. You have to work through that knot before you can move forward.

    You don’t throw the yarn away. You detangle it, because you’re excited to make something beautiful.

    Mental health needs to be more like that. We need to pause, work through the tangles, and keep going. Otherwise, we end up knitting the knots right into the fabric, and that makes everything more difficult in the long run.

    Everyone’s healing journey looks different. For me, I’m nowhere near “healed,” and that’s okay. Honestly, I’m not sure any of us ever fully are.

    The truth is, I’m back in DBT. It’s common to need a second round, and despite my stubborn willfulness, I had to admit that while I could recite the skills I learned, I wasn’t actually using them.

    Maybe life is just one long scarf we’re knitting; working through the knots as we go.

    If you’re curious about others’ journeys or looking for mental health resources, as always, the Library is here. See below for memoirs and other materials that explore these experiences:

    Calming the emotional storm : using dialectical behavior therapy skills to manage your emotions & balance your life by: Van Dijk, Sheri

    My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward: A Memoir by: Lukach, Mark

    Another Kind of Madness: a Journey Through the Stigma and Hope of Mental Illness by: Hinshaw, Stephen P

    Sometimes I Act Crazy : Living with Borderline Personality Disorder by: Kreisman, Jerold J. (Jerold Jay)

    The Way She Feels : My Life on the Borderline in Pictures and Pieces by: Cook, Courtney

    Notes on a Banana : a Memoir of Food, Love, and Manic Depression by: Leite, David

    Easy Crafts for the Insane: A Mostly Funny Memoir of Mental Illness and Making Things by: Brown, Kelly Williams

    Cudi : The Memoir by: Kid Cudi

  • Welcome New Board of Trustee Members

    At the beginning of 2026, the Dauphin County Library System had the pleasure of welcoming four new members to its Board of Trustees: Domineak Commodore, Hagir Elsheikh, Sarah DeSantis, and Amber Borreli. These new members are filling four open board roles that became available at the end of 2025. Each brings valuable new perspectives and guidance, with the goal of supporting DCLS and Dauphin County in an ever-changing environment. DCLS looks forward to working with them and to the impact they will have on the community during their tenure.

    About Domineak Commodore
    Domineak Commodore, a father of two, is dedicated to expanding educational opportunities for professional educators. He has helped more than 50 individuals enroll in teaching certification programs throughout his career. He currently holds a master’s degree in special education from Wilson College, a teaching certification from Wilson College, and an administrative certification from Shippensburg University. He is a member of the CLEAC Community Police Board and currently serves as Assistant Principal at the John Harris Campus of Harrisburg High School in Dauphin County.

    “I wanted to join the Library Board because I want to be a bridge that connects the inner city of Harrisburg with other communities to the many resources the library has to offer. Growing up, I spent many days at the library, and those experiences had a positive impact on me. I’ve seen firsthand how valuable those resources can be.”

    About Hagir Elsheikh
    Originally from Sudan, Hagir Elsheikh began her activism at a young age and continued that work after she came to the United States. She has more than three decades of experience in activism, leadership, healthcare innovation, and much more, using this experience to aid in her commitment to public services. In 2024, she founded Kareem’s Mission, a regional and national autism support ecosystem. Kareem’s Mission provides resources to families, including family support, educational resources and training, events and outreach, and awareness initiatives. Elsheikh is also the founder of HSE Staffing Agency LLC, which she established in 2013.

    “I wanted to join the Library Board of Trustees because I believe libraries are among the most important pillars of a strong community. They are places of knowledge, access, imagination, and opportunity. As someone who has dedicated much of my life to education, community empowerment, and creating resources for families, I see the library as a vital space where people of all ages can grow, feel welcomed, and find support”.

    About Sarah DeSantis
    Originally from Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, Sarah DeSantis moved to Harrisburg in 2018, where she worked for several years as a journalist before transitioning into government. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English from Penn State and her master’s degree in journalism from Syracuse University. She currently serves as district office director for Rep. Justin Fleming, continuing her commitment to public service. As a lover of books and libraries, DeSantis has had library cards from approximately eight different systems and reads around 100 books a year.

    “I’ve been a heavy library user since I first picked up a board book, and I’ve had library cards everywhere I’ve lived. I felt like it was time to give back to an institution that has given me so much.”

    About Amber Borreli
    Dr. Amber R. Borreli began her professional career at the Dauphin County Victim/Witness Assistance Program, where she got her start in human services. She later transitioned to Values in Action, where she focused on improving housing stability at the system level. Dr. Borreli holds a PhD in Philosophy from Alvernia University and a Master of Arts degree from Commonwealth University-Mansfield. Currently, she serves on the Capital Area Coalition Against Homelessness and leads the Allison Hill Blueprint Community Team. She is also the Founder and CEO of Empowerment in Action, an organization that helps local communities secure funding and resources for vital community priorities.

    “I was drawn to joining the Library Board of Trustees because of my deep love of reading and my belief in community-driven institutions that ensure free and equitable access to information, education, and opportunity for all residents. Libraries were founded not merely as places to house books, but as public commitments to literacy, lifelong learning, and civic engagement.”

    For more information about DCLS’s new board members or the board itself, visit dcls.org/about-us or email exec-dir@dcls.org.