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Millennial memories of Christmas past

If you had a magical snow globe that you shook and suddenly was filled with your Christmas memories from the 1980s, what scenes would be found there? Perhaps yours would be similar to mine, filled with loving family, giggling children, and lots and lots of iconic 1980s décor and gifts. I am sure visuals are appearing in your head as you read this, but just in case you need a few reminders, let’s take the next few moments to stroll down a red velvety memory lane. You know the kind of velvet I am referring to, don’t you? Not the plush soft type, but the cardboard, stiff kind that ...

Rainbow leads to children’s room

In our Library History lesson, we stopped in 1966, after Mifflin County Library moved into South Brown Street and grew in the number of books we had; so much so that we were at the point of bursting at the seams. I want to write about how we ended up in Woodlawn at 123 North Wayne Street. But so much is happening at the present-day library that I also want to write about that as well. I’m jumping ahead to 1975, after the library moved to Wayne Street, to talk about the Rainbow. But first, when the library was built we once again marveled at how big the building was and how many ...

Do you pay for eBooks? That can end today using Libby!

EBooks, which are books you can read on a tablet, smart phone, or computer, are free to you with your Juniata County Library card. Why pay for your eBooks, either per book or through a subscription, when you can get them for free? We have over 20,000 free eBooks and eAudio titles you can borrow. eAudio titles are books on CD only without the CD. You can download them to your tablet, smart phone, or computer and listen to them. I know people who listen to audiobooks all day while at their desk and they say it’s one of the best things the library offers! You can also listen to them ...

God is with us this Christmas

“Men are just happier people.” That assertion was made in an anonymous essay posted on the internet some years ago. The essay was titled, “The joys of being a male.” Why? The author pointed out some of the advantages with regard to being male: “Your last name stays put. Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack. You can never be pregnant. Same work, more pay. Wrinkles add character. Wedding dress: $5,000. Tux rental: $100. New shoes don’t cut, blister or mangle your feet. “Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. A five-day vacation ...

Christmas cookies and other goodies

Hello from the kitchen! Happy December! For you holiday bakers, it’s time to make that list for what you want to bake. I bake year round so a whole day of baking is nothing new. I do enjoy a sand tart with a nice cup of hot coffee. My kids’ favorite cookies are chocolate chip, chocolate crinkles and molasses, so I’ll share those tried and true recipes with you. It may be because I wasn’t in the kitchen growing up, but I have no memory of my mom making cookies for Christmas. My Gram and Aunt used to bring potato candy, white fudge and all kinds of nutty cookies. If you are in ...

Record players and renovations

A couple of weeks ago, in our Library History lesson, I wrote about the huge number of books the library had in its collection in 1966; almost twice the number of books that the library had shelves for. Books were everywhere. There was also a record player in the basement on Brown Street. I have a photo of a teenage girl sitting with headphones, listening to a record. No name is given but I’ll have it posted to the library’s Facebook page this morning and if you know who she is, let us know. She’s listening to an old 33 rpm record, one of the big ones. There are enormous ...