NEWS

Reading Through the Pandemic

From Page One

Reading books, according to research gathered by Healthline.com, strengthens the brain, increases empathy, builds vocabulary, prevents cognitive decline, reduces stress, aids sleep, alleviates depression and lengthens lifespan.

Reading as Therapy

“Reading is definitely therapeutic,” said Hoover librarian Justin Rogers. “Not only does it expand your vocabulary and knowledge, but it allows for some healthy escapism.”

A good book will take its reader on a journey, Rogers added. For instance now, reading can shift focus from the pandemic and socio-political stressors to the books’ main characters and their journeys, their struggles.

Hoover Public Library Director Amanda Borden noted that she typically travels quite a bit, but she wasn’t able to for much of 2020.

“Books allowed me to venture to other locations while remaining safe in my home,” she said. “I read 109 books in 2020.” That’s 25% to 30% more than she normally reads.

According to local librarians in the Over the Mountain area, it’s all about finding something that interests you. What interests a reader can be a moving target, changing with the environment around them.

Hoover librarian Krysten Griffin said she spoke with a lot of people online who had trouble reading over the past year.

“I did too until I found a genre that really clicked for me,” she said. “For whatever reason, fantasy is exactly what I needed right now. It’s a genre I have always enjoyed but never really read much of, but about 50% of what I’ve read over the last four months has been fantasy.”

Both during and in the wake of pandemic shutdowns in the spring, library staff had a firsthand view of just how much people needed to read in times of crisis.

Facilities scrambled to organize new curbside services to supply nondigital readers with physical books.

“When we opened for curbside service, we had 250 cars that first day,” Borden said.

Upon reopening the Hoover Public Library in July, Borden and her team witnessed people shedding tears of happiness.

The Homewood Public Library team built on the curbside service, offering Bonus Bags filled with books and activities curated by staff based on the patrons’ likes and dislikes.

Recommendations and Interests

Lifestyle books that focus on baking, knitting, organization and such are increasingly popular since people are sheltering at home and have more time to focus on hobbies and activities.

Staff at the O’Neal Public Library in Mountain Brook noted that they now have a request form on their website, “My Reads,” that helps parents connect with a librarian for personalized recommendations for their kids. In addition, their “Shelf Care” page is packed with suggested titles for adults and teens.

Hoover library assistant Samm Hamilton surmises that people are looking for more recommendations because they simply have more time on their hands for reading.

“I helped a sweet gentleman (recently) who specifically wanted to try Faulkner, ‘because it’s about time and if not now, when?’” said Samm Hamilton, library assistant at Hoover. “I’ve also helped people put a finger on what exactly it is they like.”

What people are looking for during the pandemic varies based on their interests.

Hoover library specialist Pam Bainter found in her interactions at the library and via book groups that what people have been reading during the pandemic has fallen into two distinct categories.

“Those who read for information/ understanding seem to gravitate toward history,” Bainter said. They are reading to try and understand what is happening, whether that be past pandemics or other times of crisis.

Readers who are looking to escape gravitate toward genres such as travel books, true crime, biography and fiction.

At the Vestavia Hills Public Library, light-hearted books have been

the big contender.

“Throughout the pandemic, we have had some patrons say that they specifically are choosing more lighthearted, feel-good books such as romance, chick lit and beach reads,” said Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest Deputy Director Daniel Tackett. “These feel-good books allow them to escape, if only for a little while, from the reality of the pandemic and its effects.”

According to data collected by Hoover’s library staff, fiction was a leader in 2020, especially on digital services.

“We had 70,000 more checkouts of fiction titles in 2020 than in 2019, while nonfiction only increased by around 13,000,” Rogers said.

O’Neal children’s librarians noted that there has been an uptick in requests for more nonfiction to support at-home learning.

Homewood cited a rise in people searching for more diverse books in response to rising social movements.

“A lot of our patrons are also asking for social justice books,” said Judith Wright, Homewood Public Library assistant director and teen librarian. “People have always turned to books during times of uncertainty and we saw that more than ever in 2020.”

Leslie West, head of adult services for Homewood’s library has noticed a large number of requests for historical fiction, cozy mysteries, beach reads and suspense thrillers. Nonfiction readers have opted for crime, cookbooks and self-help most frequently.

Kids followed the social justice trend, said Laura Tucker, head of children’s services for Homewood’s library, as well as requesting graphic novels and books about animals, humor and space.

Journal photo by Jordan Wald

Staff at the O’Neal Public Library in Mountain Brook noted that they now have a request form on their website, “My Reads,” that helps parents connect with a librarian for personalized recommendations for their kids. Above, O’Neal staff members Anthony Vacca and Michelle Cheng with a few suggestions.

‘Throughout the pandemic, we have had some patrons say that they specifically are choosing more lighthearted, feel-good books such as romance, chick lit and beach reads.’

VESTAVIA HILLS LIBRARY IN THE FOREST DEPUTY DIRECTOR DANIEL TACKETT

STAFF PICKS

We asked local librarians to list some of their favorite and most popular books of 2020:

HOOVER LIBRARY - contributed by Amanda Borden, Pam Bainter, Stephanie Beaver, Krysten Griffin and Samm Hamilton

For adults:

“His Truth is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope” by John Meacham and John Lewis

“Mrs. Everything” by Jennifer Weiner

“Leave Only Footprints” by Conor Knighton

“The Dutch House” by Ann Patchet (2019)

O’NEAL LIBRARY - contributed by Gloria Repolesk, Amanda Westfall, Matt Layne, Michelle Cheng, Anthony Vacca and Lindsy Gardner

For adults:

“Transcendent Kingdom” by Yaa Gyasi

“Dear Edward” by Ann Napolitano

“Pew” by Catherine Lacey

“Deacon King Kong” by James McBride

For teens:

“You Should See Me in a Crown” by Leah Johnson

“Furia” by Yamile Saied Méndez

“Dragon Hoops” by Gene Luen Yang

“Fable” by Adrienne Young

For children:

“The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver” by Gene Barretta

“96 Miles” by J.L. Esplin

“Class Act” by Jerry Craft

HOMEWOOD LIBRARY - contributed by Judith Wright, Leslie West and Laura Tucker

For adults:

“Untamed” by Glennon Doyle

“Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud and The Last Trial of Harper Lee” by Casey Cep

“The Guest List” by Lucy Foley

“An American Marriage” by Tayari Jones (2019)

For teens:

“Stamped” by Jason Reynolds

“Clap When You Land” by Elizabeth Acevado

“Cemetery Boys” by Aiden Thomas

“We Are Not Free” by Traci Chee

For Children:

“You Matter” by Christian Robinson

“When Stars are Scattered” by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed

VESTAVIA HILLS PUBLIC LIBRARY - Joi Mahand

For adults:

“The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett

“Ring Shout” by P. Djeli Clark

“The Mountains Sing” by Nguyen Phan Que Mai

NEWS Vestavia Hills Applauds

First Responders

On Feb. 8, the Vestavia to help victims of the EF-3 Hills City Council honored tornado on Jan. 25 in recent heroic efforts of local Fultondale. first responders. “The ability to effective-

Among them were mem- ly assist with shoring of bers of the Vestavia Hills damaged structures, grid Fire Department who searches and overall incident responded during the mitigation measures would Fultondale tornado rescue not have been possible withefforts, as well as Vestavia out our well-trained personHills Police Officer Daniel nel, coupled with the availHolly. ability of proper equipment, A commendation letter written by Lt. Joseph Dease recounted Holly’s rescue efforts on Jan. 12. He responded to a call at approximately 8:40 p.m. reporting a vehicle crash in which the car had entered the Cahaba River. “After Officer Holly then checked all portions of the Cahaba River within our Photo courtesy Vestavia Hills Police Department specifically the Heavy Rescue vehicle that was put in service June 2020,” officials stated in a Jan. 26 social media post. “VHFD was honored to have the opportunity to assist a neighboring city in their time of need.” Among the victims was Arnoldo VasquezHernandez, who has worked jurisdiction; he took it upon Vestavia Hills Police Officer Daniel Holly responded to in Vestavia Hills municipal himself to continue checking a call reporting a vehicle crash in which the car had buildings as a custodian. the river into a neighboring entered the Cahaba River. An oak tree collapsed city,” Dease wrote. and landed on his leg as he

Holly eventually located an emergency appendectomy. was ushering his wife and the car in Mountain Brook, with the “The professionalism and dedica- three children to safety. He had to elderly male driver still in his car with tion to duty exhibited by Officer receive an emergency amputation by water from the river up to his mid- Holly are highly commendable,” first responders on the scene as the section. Dease said. “I take pride in knowing house crumbled from tornado dam-

It was a chilly night, with temper- that the men and women of the age. atures at 28 degrees. Holly waded Vestavia Hills Police Department In the wake of the catastrophic into the approximately 41-degree stand ready to meet any challenge event, Vestavia Hills city employees water to rescue the driver and placed upon them.” organized a community drive to colremained with him until medics lect needed items for the tornado vicarrived. tims as well as more than $3,000 for

Holly was rushed to Grandview Fultondale Response the Vasquez-Hernandez family. Medical Center shortly afterward for Vestavia Hills fire was called out – Emily Williams-Robertshaw

Mountain Brook Earns Tree City Designations

By Emily Williams-RoBERtshaW

For the 27th year in a row, the city of Mountain Brook has maintained its status as a Tree City USA.

This year, the foundation also has tapped the city to receive the 2020 Tree City USA Growth Award, according to a release, “for demonstrating environmental improvement and higher level of tree care.”

“Our residents are very environmentally aware and know that a healthy urban forest contributes to the quality of life in Mountain Brook,” city manager Sam Gaston said.

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.

“Tree City USA communities see the positive effects of an urban forest firsthand,” Dan Lambe, president of the foundation said. “The trees being planted and cared for by Mountain Brook are ensuring that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of life. Additionally, participation in this program brings residents together and creates a sense of civic pride, whether it’s through volunteer engagement or public education.”

The urban forest has been essential during the COVID-19 pandemic,

especially during lockdowns when gyms were closed and people needed a safe place to exercise and socialize.

The effects of city investment in urban forestry could be witnessed as people used the city’s greenspaces, Gaston said, “especially among our walking trails, in Jemison Park, Watkins Branch Park and the Irondale Furnace; along our sidewalk system; and in some of our passive parks, such as Overton Park, the Crestline Tot Lot and Canterbury Park.”

The city will celebrate Arbor Week 2021 from Feb. 22 to Feb. 26, with activities including a first grade tree giveaway Feb. 22 and a fifth grade Arbor Week poster contest.

Festivities will conclude with a ceremony at 10 a.m. Feb. 26, during which the Alabama Urban Forestry Association will present Mountain Brook with the State Arbor Day Community 2021 Award.

Gaston noted that a focus on not only maintaining but also building on the existing urban forest is an investment in the city’s future.

“It ensures that we will have replacements in place when some of the old stock trees die or have to be removed,” Gaston said.

The Feb. 26 event includes the ceremonial planting of an oak tree donated by Hunter Trees in front of City Hall, and 100 dogwood trees will be given out for free.

Attendees are required to wear a mask and social distance.

For more information, visit mtnbrook.org.

‘Our residents are very environmentally aware and know that a healthy urban forest contributes to the quality of life in Mountain Brook.’

SAM GASTON, CITY MANAGER

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