1. Blogs
  2. Off the Shelf

Off the Shelf

Check out recent book columns by FVRLibraries staff, including the weekly "Check it Out" column that first appears in The Columbian and the monthly "Book Beat" column that first appears in The Messenger.

Check it Out: Hail to the Chief(s)

B. Wood
Our librarian columnist shines a light on fiction by or about U. S. Presidents.

Check it Out: Healthy New Beginnings for a New Year

B. Wood
Our librarian columnist explores health topics in the collection and beyond.

Check it Out: A Life of Danger and Mystery

B. Wood
Our librarian columnist takes us into the dark alleys and secret rooms in search of spies.

Book Beat: In Service to Others

J. Alder
In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service, our Book Beat columnist serves up some titles about people who have dedicated themselves to serving others.

Check it Out: Attitude of Gratitude

B. Wood
Our librarian columnist explores how traditions engender gratitude.

Check it Out: Japanese Slice-of-Life Novels

B. Wood
Our librarian columnist introduces us to a style of cozy Japanese fiction, perfect for mid-winter, evening reading.

Check it Out: On the Seventh Day of December

B. Wood
Our librarian columnist provides seasonal gifting suggestions in the shape of books.

Check it Out: Travel: Real, Bucket List and Imaginary

B. Wood
Our librarian columnist spirits us around the globe and into our imaginations through travel guides.

Parent & Caregiver Tip from Vroom: Outside Adventures

Youth Services Librarian
Read this month's Vroom tip to help your early learner's growing brain learn about nature!

Book beat: All About Snow

J. Johnston
Our Book Beat columnist leads us into the winter season with snowy titles.

Check it Out: The Art & Science of Cookery

B. Wood
Our librarian columnist takes us into the stacks--specifically Dewey's 641 section--in search of cookbooks.

Check it Out: Is There a Writer Hiding Inside You?

B. Wood
Our librarian columnist provides a list of titles to inspire and build writing skills in honor of NaNoWriMo.

Check it Out: Home Is Where the Hygge Is

B. Wood
Our librarian columnist explores the concept of hygge and branches out into all kinds of interior design guides.

Check it Out: Happy 70th Birthday, Godzilla!

B. Wood
Our librarian columnist celebrates a specific giant, reptilian monster in all its iterations.

Parent & Caregiver Tip from Vroom: Rolie Polie

Youth Services Librarian
Read this month's Vroom tip to help your early learner's growing brain learn about motion!

Book Beat: It Happened on a Train

J. Alder
Our Book Beat columnist takes us on a journey by train.

Check it Out: True Crime

B. Wood
Our librarian columnist delves into the darker side of non-fiction with True Crime.

Check it Out: All You Need is Love

B. Wood
Our librarian columnist offers up a romantic bouquet of authors who populate the genre with relationship reads.

Check it Out: Possums and Beavers and Owls, Oh My!

B. Wood
Our librarian columnist explores fauna native to the PNW through nonfiction reads.

Check it Out: Look! Up in the Sky! It's a...

B. Wood
Our librarian columnist looks to the sky and sees...dragons! You, too, can see dragons in the titles on this list.