The inviting spaces in this Buzzfeed blog--The 30 Best Places To Be If You Love Books--makes you want to put down that Kindle/iPad/smartphone and read a good old-fashioned physical book!

Below is the Liyuan Library, near Beijing:

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs offers opportunities to host people visiting the United States. It's a chance to welcome visitors from abroad, learn about their culture, and make international friendships.

Several different hosting opportunities, both long- and short-term, exist. Learn about them here, and in the video below, with Olympic skating champion Michelle Kwan:

Of course, UMUC's Library, which is primarily online, will always be the most beautiful library in our eyes.

But, if you're into amazing architecture, old and new, that honors the treasure house of human knowledge stored in books and other media, you might want to take a look at these college libraries, among the most beautiful in the United States.

Below is the Karl and Mary Ellen von der Heyden Pavilion, Duke University.


Image source: http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/americas-most-beautiful-college-libraries/6

The Library of Congress and other government agencies join forces every February to present a Web site celebrating African American History Month.

This year the Web site includes an online exhibition commemorating two landmark events in African Americans' struggle for freedom: the Emancipation Proclamation (1863) and the March on Washington (1963).

Below is an image from the exhibition, a flyer calling participants from Virginia to the March on Washington.



Image source: Library of Congress http://americanhistory.si.edu/changing-america-emancipation-proclamation-1863-and-march-washington-1963/1963/lincoln-memorial

Google might be a quick solution for your easier research questions, but what about when you're looking for more obscure topics? The truth is that most of us ignore Google's advanced capabilities on a regular basis.

If you've wondered how to use Google more effectively, you might be interested in Power Searching with Google, a free, two-week course from Google starting January 23rd. Registration is still open.

This free Web site helps you look up clues and answers that appeared in The New York Times crossword from 1996-2011. It will help you when you are tackling almost any crossword puzzle, not just ones in The Times. More info here.

Interested in ancient, priceless books from cultures around the world: Hebrew, Christian, Islamic, and Indian texts that testify to humankind's search for knowledge and spiritual inspiration?

Visit the University of Cambridge Digital Library, where you will find a treasure house of digitized manuscripts.


Image source: http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/

Meet the winners of this prestigious national award. They are K-12, public, and academic librarians who have made their communities better, more learning-friendly places.

Are you looking for things to do in DC this December for the holidays?

Check out this site for information on what is going on.

http://dc.about.com/od/hoildaysseasonalevents/a/WinterBreak.htm

Happy holidays from the librarians at UMUC.

As the nation mourns the mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, we at the UMUC Library extend our deepest sympathies to the families, friends, and neighbors of the victims.

Here are some links containing advice about how to talk with your children and help them cope when this kind of terrifying, traumatic event occurs:

• National Child Traumatic Stress Network
• American Academy of Pediatrics
• American Psychological Association
• Mr. Rogers
• PBS Parents