To maximize your enjoyment of what’s left of summer weather, and minimize time and frustration spent on homework, consider visiting the Study Zone.

Many KCLS libraries offer Study Zone, and it is a great place for students to do homework and get help with their questions. Volunteer tutors provide free homework help during Study Zone hours. Students can find help in all subject areas, including Math, Science and WASL and SAT test preparation. The program is open to all students grades K-12.  Each tutor works with 1-5 students in a group setting.  

I picked up this Two Wheels North by Evelyn McDaniel Gibb on a whim and now I seem to be telling everyone I know about it! It's the true story of two young men who biked from Santa Rosa, California to Seattle, Washington to see the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. Vic and Ray are fresh out of high school and barely have five dollars between the two of them when they set out to see the great fair. They are sponsored by their local newspaper, The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, and the Seattle P-I agreed to pay them 25 dollars if they make it there on bikes.

Is this woman sane? That's what I kept asking myself as I read Helen Thayer's Walking the Gobi. In 2001, Thayer and her husband set out to walk across the Gobi desert of Mongolia. Camels carried their gear and water while they walked for over 80 days, over 1,600 miles, in scorching temperatures as hot as 123 degrees! Why would someone do this?! Not to mention Helen's bum leg and hip which were bothering her even before she set out on the trip.

I almost had to quit reading because her decision to go on this trip made absolutely no sense to me, but as I read further I began to understand why they went -- they were able to see things that few will ever get a chance to see and make great friends. As she and her husband walked across this seemingly uninhabitable corner of the globe, they met many friendly and interesting families who make their home in the Gobi. Thayer shares the rich and interesting culture of Mongolian nomads through the story of her unbelievable trek.

Walking the Gobi is this year's selection for the Black Diamond, Maple Valley, and Covington Read Together event. Helen Thayer will present a lecture and slide show at the Covington Library on Sept 22 at 7pm, and book discussion groups will be held at all three libraries.

Book Discussion Groups:

Tuesday, Sept 8, 7pm, Maple Valley Library

Thursday, Sept 10, 2pm, Covington Library

Thursday, Sept 10, 7pm, Covington Library

Tuesday, Sept 15, 7pm, Black Diamond Library

Tuesday, Sept 16, 10am, Maple Valley Library

Wednesday, Sept 30, 6:30pm, Maple Valley Library

Or at least maybe a few less overdues with text and email reminders from Library Elf! Library Elf makes it easy to keep track of what's due, overdue or ready for pickup from one or more library accounts. If you use the library a lot and have trouble keeping track of your items out and your holds that are arriving, then Library Elf may be right for you.  It’s really easy to sign up, and the best part is it’s free for KCLS library patrons.