Resources

December 22, 2022

Librarian Archives All of the Things People Leave Behind in Books

If you've ever checked out a library book, you may have come across something that belonged to the previous owner—whether it be a scribble or a bookmark. For nearly 10 years, library director Sharon McKellar has been archiving all of the numerous diverse items left behind in books at the Oakland Public Library, creating a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the people in her community.

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October 29, 2022

You Can Download Over 10,000 Vintage Recipes and Cookbooks for Free

Why not indulge your inner chef and check out some dishes from the past? It's easier now than ever thanks to the Internet Archive, which has been digitizing vintage recipes from American history. From the late 1700s to the early 1900s, the ongoing collection now includes over 10,000 cookbooks. Best of all, they are free to view and download. Perusing the vast library shines a light on the innumerable types of guides that exist.

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March 24, 2022

Learn How Hand Lettering Can Elevate Ordinary Text Into Extraordinary Art

The world is full of text, and not all of it is designed to be pretty. Like any creative field, text can be dry and boring. One area in which it shines, however, is in hand lettering. This particular kind of letterform is drawn by hand and adds a distinctive flair to ordinary text, infusing it with personality and unique flourishes you wouldn’t find in ordinary typefaces.

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February 28, 2022

Learn to Draw Anything With These Handy Online Resources and Books

Drawing is a skill that you can practice at any point in your life. Once you know the basics, you can continually improve your abilities and challenge yourself to take on more complicated subject matter. This type of art will never go out of style, so there's no limit to the amount of drawing ideas you can sketch over the course of decades!

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