Fall

October 10, 2026

Fall has begun. On Tuesday, September 22, the autumnal equinox occurred. The word “equinox” comes from the Latin words “aequus” meaning “equal” and “nox” which means “night”. So “equal night,” simply put, is the time when daylight hours are roughly the same length as nighttime. After the autumnal equinox the daylight hours become shorter, and the nighttime hours are lengthened. This all ends with the winter solstice when daylight hours are lengthened and nighttime hours are shortened. Most of us don’t mark the passing of the season with such a scientific ...

The Art of Storytelling

October 3, 2026

Storytelling through illustration and visual arts is a practice and art. We’re fortunate to have different artists visit us at the New Ulm Public Library and showcase their talents and stories. Here are some upcoming programs that embrace storytelling through the visual arts that we’d love for you to attend! Tuesday, October 20th at 6:30 pm, photographer Jay Grammond will be presenting Ghost Signs and Grain Bins. His photography captures historic Minnesota farms and iconic advertisements displayed on agricultural features like barns and grain bins, and evokes nostalgia. On Tuesday, ...

Coming to a screen near you

September 26, 2026

As daylight fades and temperatures fall, Minnesotans naturally spend more time in front of their screens. Broadcasters respond with fuller seasonal lineups—including a fresh crop of movies and series adapted from classic and contemporary books available at the New Ulm Public Library. Check out this list, with descriptions from the publishers, if you want to read a book that inspired directors: “The Love Hypothesis” by Ali Hazelwood. “A fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction.” “Verity” by Colleen Hoover. Colleen Hoover books ...

Happier, Healthier Kids

September 19, 2026

I have recently received some requests for parenting books, so I thought I would highlight a few recent additions to our collection. Puddle Jumper Parenting is a new term for me. What is Puddle Jumper Parenting? It is raising kids that are resilient and are willing to take risks. As Brandon Webb says in Puddle Jumpers: Powerful Mental Techniques from a Navy SEAL Performance Coach and Father of Three by Brandon Webb (649.1 Webb), “Your kid doesn’t need to be perfect. They just need to be brave enough to jump.” Human Raised: Nurturing Connection, Curiosity & Lifelong Learning in ...

Recent Reads

September 12, 2026

There have been so many great releases this summer, and the trend will continue into fall. Here are a few that I’ve enjoyed recently. It’s the summer of 2000, and AJ Graves and Noah Drew are stuck working together at the local video rental store. Noah is the youngest of a family of legendary actors; his aunt and uncle just happened to star in AJ’s favorite show. AJ ends up joining Noah for acting lessons, and the two have immediate chemistry. Their attraction grows over the summer until Noah disappears suddenly. Over their early careers – Noah as an actor, AJ as a writer – ...

 How to help a struggling reader

September 5, 2026

I love reading, I am sure that comes as no surprise. You'd be hard pressed to find a librarian who dislikes reading. I love curling up with a book on a chilly morning. I love falling asleep with a book at night. I love stolen moments of the day reading, when I should really be doing something else. I read on planes, trains, and in the car as long as I’m not driving. I read in restaurants, coffee shops, and in waiting rooms. I read fiction and non-fiction from the adult shelves and the children’s room. I love young adult fiction and biographies about almost anyone. I must confess, ...