We're looking for helpful hints and special touches to make our holidays bright, cheerful and easy. Post your best tip in the comments and we'll highlight a few on Facebook every week. And don't forget to stop in the library and check out our holiday recipe exchange kiosk located by the Reception Desk. Together, we'll make it through the holidays with more joy and less stress.

If your book group is like mine, food is a big part of every meeting. There are some wonderful cooks in my group, so when it's my turn to host I turn to these cookbooks. What's your favorite cookbook?

The cat who — cookbook by Julie Murphy & Sally Stempinski

Recipe for a book club: a monthly guide for hosting your own reading group: menus & recipes, featured authors, suggested readings, and topical questions by Mary O'Hare and Rose Storey

The 4th of July is typically an outdoor extravaganza of parties, BBQ cookouts, fireworks and family fun. For a website that will help you decorate, bake or give you tips on entertaining, check out the Martha Stewart holiday website.

For information on the 4th of July; whether it be books concerning its history, DVDs on the holiday that are documentary or fiction, or novels with 4th of July as a theme, see our catalog under the subject 4th of July.