After a year of working behind closed doors, the phased reopening of the library is a refreshing reminder of just how special our community is. We are delighted to see so many people coming into the library during browsing hours and we wish to thank everyone for practicing safe social distancing, sanitizing hands before browsing the collection, and wearing masks while inside the library. It is heartwarming to hear just how important the library is to you and to be able to say hello in person!

It is gratifying to be responsive to the ever-changing needs of our patrons and based on the popularity of curbside service combined with the new browsing hours, we will continue to provide a hybrid of services to meet your needs as we inch towards a return to "normalcy."

One of the reopening highlights is that we can resume art displays inside the library. Barbara Harmon from the Loomis Basin Quilters Guild, brought some beautiful quilts from her collection to brighten the display area and make the library feel cozy at the same time. We are looking forward to more shows from the quilters guild and to featuring artwork from local artists.

First, there is Cherie O’Boyle and her novel Missing Mom—An Estela Nogales Mystery (2016). O’Boyle has written four Estela Nogales novels and a set of short stories. On Goodreads, the book gets an overall rating of four stars—not bad at all. Reviewers say that the town of Arroyo Loco seems all too familiar as does its small-town community and characters. While many reviewers found the title a bit perplexing, they found the plot twists and the novel’s resolution quite satisfying. Perhaps you will too!

We have two novels by our next local author James L’Etoile—At What Cost (2016) and Bury the Past (2017). While O’Boyle’s books are more homey mysteries featuring an amateur, female sleuth, L’Etoile’s books are hard-hitting procedurals. L’Etoile uses his “twenty-nine years behind bars” to give his books a genuine quality. He is quick to add that those years were as the “former associate warden in a maximum-security prison . . . and director of California’s state parole system.” His novels are set in the West Sacramento Police Department and the main protagonists are Detective John Penley and his new partner, Detective Paula Newberry. The action, not surprisingly, takes place in and around Sacramento so local readers quickly recognize many of the locations adding more substance to the novels. Reviewers find his works fast-paced, action-filled thrillers that don’t “sugar-coat” the events or the characters who are both believable and flawed.

Last, but certainly not least, is Todd Borg now on his 18^th novel featuring the tough PI Owen McKenna. Borg and his wife moved from Minnesota to Tahoe in 1990 and, after his fourth novel, he turned to writing full-time. He has won numerous awards and his McKenna mysteries have appeared on Library Journal’s prestigious Top 5 Mystery list. We have two of his novels—Tahoe Heat (#8, 2010) and Tahoe Skydrop (#16, 2018). Borg’s novels always feature Lake Tahoe as a prominent character and, as reviewers note; you see all your favorite, familiar places and learn about new places to explore. With never less than a four-star rating on Goodreads, reviewers find his novels “satisfying.” They are pulled in by the dialogue, the characters, the well-crafted plots, and, of course, the ever-present beauty of Lake Tahoe.

Community Corner - real reviews from real people!

Have you read something that you want to tell the world about? Have you fallen in love with a book or a new author? Have you discovered an overlooked subject or genre? We want to hear from you! Send reviews to collection@loomislibrary.org. We will include selected reviews in our community corner. We want to thank Myrtle Adams for sending us this review:

Let the library come to you 24/7 with a HOOPLA Digital account. Go to HooplaDigital.com and look for the Loomis Library. You will need a Loomis Library card to sign up for an account.

You can get one here.

Please Note: The AARP TAX AIDE program has canceled its remote income tax preparation services for the 2020 tax year.

IRS Free File provides free online tax preparation for taxpayers with income less than $69,000 a year. You can file at an IRS partner site with the IRS Free File Program or use Free File Fillable Forms.

Enjoy reading 1,000 books with your little ones! Log reading, earn badges, and unlock prizes along the way. Reading and storytelling with your child promotes brain development and imagination, teaches your child about language and emotions, and strengthens your relationship. Anytime is a good time for a book or story! Try to share at least one book or story each day.

Ready, set, take the challenge! If you have questions about the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge, please email us: collection@loomislibrary.org.

Basic membership is only $15 a year or $25 for your whole family.

Higher levels are always welcome. All memberships are tax deductible per IRS 501(c)3 charitable rules.

Friends of the Loomis Library

PO Box 610

Loomis, CA 95650

Thanks in advance! You are helping to support the library and our community for today and the future.

When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you'll find the exact same low prices, vast selection, and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to your favorite charitable organization- That's US!

Simply go to:https://smile.amazon.com and select Friends of the Library Loomis as your recipient and then shop as you normally would!