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A collage of women's faces with the text: Women's History Month. Moving Forward Together! Women Educating and Inspiring Generations March is Women's History Month, a time to honor the achievements, resilience, and contributions of women. This year’s theme, Moving Forward Together! Women Educating and Inspiring Generations, highlights the power of women as educators and leaders who shape the future.

Education has long been a catalyst for change, equipping women with the knowledge and skills needed to challenge societal norms, break barriers, and advocate for equality. Pioneers like Mary McLeod Bethune, Patsy Mink, Sally Ride, and Malala Yousafzai remind us that access to education is a fundamental right and a steppingstone to empowerment.

A white board with names of inspiring women on it Mary McLeod Bethune, an educator and civil rights leader, founded the Bethune-Cookman Institute to provide Black students with quality education at a time when opportunities were scarce. Patsy Mink, the first woman of color elected to the U.S. Congress, was instrumental in the creation of Title IX, ensuring gender equity in education and athletics. Sally Ride, as the first American woman in space, broke barriers in STEM and later dedicated her life to inspiring young girls to pursue science. Malala Yousafzai, a Nobel Peace Prize winner at age 17, defied oppression to advocate for girls' education worldwide. Their legacies continue to inspire and uplift new generations of women.

This Women’s History Month, let us recognize the impact of the women who educate, inspire, and empower those around them. To learn more about the women who have shaped our collective history, check out the book display on the fourth floor. Who are the women who have inspired you? Add their names to the white board at the entrance of the Library.

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Women's History Month 2025

March is Women's History Month, a time to honor the achievements, resilience, and contributions of women. This year’s theme, Moving Forward Together! Women Educating and Inspiring Generations, highlights the power of women as educators and leaders who shape the future. Education has long been a catalyst for change, equipping women with the knowledge and skills needed to challenge societal norms, break barriers, and advocate for equality. Pioneers like Mary McLeod Bethune, Patsy Mink, Sally Ride, and Malala Yousafzai remind us that access to education is a fundamental right and a steppingstone to empowerment.Mary McLeod Bethune, an educator and civil rights leader, founded the Bethune-Cookman Institute to provide Black students with quality education at a time when opportunities were scarce. Patsy Mink, the first woman of color elected to the U.S. Congress, was instrumental in the creation of Title IX, ensuring gender equity in education and athletics. Sally Ride, as the first American woman in space, broke barriers in STEM and later dedicated her life to inspiring young girls to pursue science. Malala Yousafzai, a Nobel Peace Prize winner at age 17, defied oppression to advocate for girls' education worldwide. Their legacies continue to inspire and uplift new generations of women.This Women’s History Month, let us recognize the impact of the women who educate, inspire, and empower those around them. To learn more about the women who have shaped our collective history, check out the book display on the fourth floor. Who are the women who have inspired you? Add their names to the white board at the entrance of the Library. ...

The Ides of March

The death of Julio Cesar by Jaci XIVThe Ides of March, or Idus Martias, was a significant day in the Roman calendar even before the murder of Julius Caesar. The month was the first in the Roman calendar and named in honor of the god Mars, the Roman god of war and a guardian of agriculture. As the father of Romulus and Remus, the builders of Rome, he held a significant place in the Roman pantheon.Ides comes from the Romans' unique numbering system and its basis in a lunar calendar. Instead of numbering each day of the month, they counted the days from three fixed days of the month with Ides occurring on the full moon.Nones – 8 days before IdesIdes – 15th day of the month in MarchKalends – 1st day of following monthAs the only fixed day in a month, rents and debt payments were usually due on the Ides of each month so people were likely wary of them before March’s Ides were associated with Julius Caesar.As the first full moon of the year, there were special ceremonies held on the day. While the month was dedicated to Mars, the Ides were dedicated to Jupiter, the king of the gods, and it was custom to hold a procession led by a sacrificial sheep along the Via Sacra to the citadel. Romans would also celebrate the new year with the Feast of Anna Perenna, a goddess of the year. Some sources also place the Mamuralia on the Ides of March. In this ceremony, an elderly man dressed in skins, representing the old year, would have been beaten and driven from the city. By the late Imperial period, the Ides of March were the opening day to a week of festivals celebrating Cybele, the Great Mother, and Attis, her consort.These days the Ides of March are mostly associated with the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BCE during a senate meeting. The most famous portrayal of the historic event is Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. From the play we get a few common sayings including “Beware the Ides of March”, “Et tu, Brute?”, "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears!", and "Aye, they are come, but they are not gone."Check out the display on the third floor to learn more about Julius Caesar and Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. ...

Celebrating Dr. Seuss’s Birthday

March 2 marks the birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, one of the most popular children’s authors of all time. His imaginative rhymes, vocabulary, and characters have made his books like The Cat in the Hat, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, and Oh, the Places You’ll Go! beloved across generations. One of Dr. Seuss’s most significant contributions was his ability to make reading fun and engaging for early learners. In the mid-20th century, children’s books often relied on rote memorization and uninspiring vocabulary. Frustrated by these methods, Geisel set out to create books that were simple yet fun. The Cat in the Hat, for example, was written using only 236 distinct words, chosen to be easy for young readers while maintaining an engaging narrative. His use of repetition, rhyming schemes, and rhythmic patterns not only entertained but also reinforced fundamental reading skills.Geisel’s not only taught children how to read but also inspired them to think critically about the world around them. However, Geisel was a complex figure. As a liberal Democrat, he strongly opposed fascism and was a supporter of President Roosevelt’s New Deal. His political cartoons during World War II urged action against totalitarian threats. Nevertheless, his work also contained racist imagery and stereotypes, particularly with respect to depictions of non-white characters. For instance, he drew troubling images of Japanese Americans in his political cartoons supporting the internment camps. Some of earlier children’s books also contain racist imagery. At the same time, Geisel was not beyond growth and change. After WII, he reexamined his views on the Japanese. In fact, his book Horton Hears a Who!, dedicated to a Japanese friend, was intended as an allegory for America's post-war presence in Japan.Despite his complexity, Dr. Seuss’s influence on children’s literature remains undeniable. Recognizing Geisel’s great impact on literacy and the enduring influence of his work, the National Education Association partnered with Dr. Seuss Enterprises in 1998 to establish National Read Across America Day in his honor. This annual celebration on Dr. Seuss’s Birthday brings together students, teachers, parents, and communities nationwide to promote literacy and the joy of reading. While initially centered on Dr. Seuss’s work, the event has since expanded to highlight diverse literature that reflects a wide range of cultures and experiences. Celebrate the day by checking out the book display on the first floor of the library. ...

National Chocolate Lover’s Month

Chocolate has a rich history dating back thousands of years. Cacao was first cultivated by the Olmecs in Mesoamerica over 5000 years ago. Later, it was so valued by the Mayan and Aztec peoples that they used cacao beans as currency and in sacred rituals. It was also prepared as a bitter beverage reserved for royalty and warriors. In the sixteenth century, European explorers brought cacao back to Europe, where sugar and milk were added to make it more palatable, but it remained a delicacy only available to the elite. Over time, with industrial advances, chocolate became widely obtainable around the world. Today almost two-thirds of global consumers purchase chocolate at least once a year and over half of them eat it at least once a week. Contemporary chocolate comes in several varieties, each with its own distinct taste and texture. Dark chocolate has the highest percentage of cocoa solids and little to no milk giving it a rich, slightly bitter flavor. Milk chocolate, the most popular type, contains cocoa solids, milk, and sugar, giving it a smooth and creamy texture. White chocolate, despite its name, contains no cocoa solids but only cocoa butter, sugar, and milk that together result in a sweet, buttery flavor. In 2017 a Belgian–Swiss cocoa company introduced ruby chocolate, a pink chocolate with a slightly sweet and sour taste also made from cocoa solids, milk, and sugar, but also citric acid. The color comes from the kind of cocoa used and there is still debate about whether or not this truly is a fourth kind of chocolate.Whatever the kind, chocolate is incredibly popular. Surveys reveal that the number one reason people eat chocolate is because it tastes good, but they also eat it to make themselves happy, enjoy a special treat, reward themselves, or relax. Researchers have found, however, that it is not just the taste of chocolate but also the texture that is enjoyable, particularly the sensation of chocolate melting in the mouth. Other research suggests that the enjoyment in eating chocolate comes from some of the compounds in chocolate that can influence the reward and pleasure centers of the brain. However, chocolate may not contain enough of these to have much of an effect on mood. Still other research indicates the sugar to fat ratio is key, particularly with milk chocolate. Because it is the same as breast milk, humans might be in a sense hardwired to like chocolate. Despite all the joy chocolate can bring, the chocolate industry faces several ethical and environmental controversies. One major issue is child labor, particularly in West African countries like Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, where children work under harsh conditions on cocoa farms, often missing out on education. Additionally, many cocoa farmers receive extremely low wages, while large corporations profit significantly. Environmental concerns also arise, as cocoa farming contributes to deforestation. So as we celebrate National Chocolate Lover’s Month, let us also remember the importance of sustainable and ethical sourcing. Supporting brands that prioritize fair trade and environmentally friendly practices ensures that cocoa farmers receive fair wages, and that chocolate production remains sustainable for future generations. To learn more, check out the book display on the fourth floor of the library. ...

Women's History Month 2025

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