To say that 2020 was a tumultuous year would be a gross understatement, so I think it’s only natural that most of us are hoping for a fresh start in 2021. While the pandemic continues to impact our lives as we ring in this new year, I hope you won’t let that dampen your optimism for healthier, happier times ahead.
If you’re struggling to find the inspiration, your friends at Orange County Library System are here to help. We’ve got events and programs of all sorts that are perfect for helping you press the restart button. Take your first yoga class with us, or get serious about your physical and mental well-being with the help of a consumer librarian who’ll join us to talk about making healthy resolutions that will stick with you all year long. We’ll also host a certified professional organizer who can help you get your head around decluttering your life. All of our events and programs are currently virtual, which makes it even easier to take part. Just sign up for the event you’re interested in, log in with Zoom and follow along from the comfort of your own home. We’ve also got a New Year, New You reading challenge for adults this month – read along with us as we explore some new and inspiring titles for a chance to win prizes.
This month, we also embrace the U.N.’s desire to foster peace, trust and mutual understanding by declaring 2021 as the International Year of Peace and Trust. At the U.N. level, that means a focus on international diplomacy and constructive political dialogue between nations. But we can foster peace and trust in our own communities every day by taking small steps to better understand one another and learn to accept the differences that make our community unique.
To that end, our Collection Development librarians have selected 12 titles – one for each year of the month – that address subjects that support that goal. We’ll highlight one book every month, and we encourage you to check them out with your library card. If any of these titles moves you to do so, share your thoughts with us on social media – you can find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and we love hearing about what you’re reading!
Here’s hoping that 2021 brings all of you much peace, trust and good health. Happy New Year.
