Check it Out!

Winter Break Reads

We hope everyone is looking forward to a relaxing winter break! While we all prepare holiday meals and times with friends and family, add a stop to the library to your list! You never know when the perfect snowstorm will come through, so it is best to prepare a pile of fiction reads for when the moment arises!  

Each campus library has its own fiction collections, and we would be happy to send whatever you are interested in into the campus of your choosing. If you have a must-read recommendation, reach out to one of your librarians and we will be happy to order your request to add to the collection!  

Student Laptops Due!

With the semester winding down, this is a reminder that all semester student checkout laptops are due by Friday, December 19th. Laptops can be checked out again a week before (Jan. 12th-Jan. 16th, 2026) the start of the Spring semester.   

Libby

If you are more of an audio or e-Book reader, we have an exciting new collection available! You can now access Libby through your phone with your Moraine Park email. Get the latest releases to send to your Kindle or listen to during your morning commute to campus. Instructions to access Libby can be found on the Library website under Library Research Tools. If you have any questions or requests for new titles to add to this collection, please reach out to your campus librarian and we will be happy to help!  

Fiction:
Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young 

For most of her life, Winnifred “Win” McNulty has lived her life in her own way. She didn’t let a limb deficiency slow her down and feel sorry for herself. During a fateful Halloween party at her friends’ house, she met attractive Bo.  They end up having a one-night stand. Win finds out she’s pregnant. After she gives Bo the news, she reluctantly moves in with him as a friend and nothing more. After they spend more time together, Win questions how she really feels towards Bo. To find out what happens, read this book!  

Non-Fiction:
The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer 

What an excellent, short, and meaningful essay! Perfect for this time of year when everyone could use some time to slow down, rest, and find encouragement as 2025 comes to an end. Using the teachings and culture from their Potawatomi traditions, Robin Kimmerer encourages all to invest in their communities, value quality not quantity in this consumeristic culture, and embrace the natural world we are so lucky to be surrounded by. The symbol of the serviceberry is beautiful and easy to understand no matter what your own experiences; it is easy to recognize its strength and influence in different communities.  For those that want a reminder of what we should truly value this holiday season, check out this book and reflect on your lunch break!  

APA Citations

As we hit the middle of the semester and those final project deadlines are looming over everyone, we want to remind students that librarians are happy to help with creating the perfect Reference Page! No matter what kind of source or how many authors there may be, an accurate citation is extremely important for your assignments to prove that your information is a trustworthy and accurate source as well as protect yourself from plagiarism.

Struggling to make sure you have all the periods and commas in the right place? Don’t worry! Fill out our Research Assistance Form here and meet with a librarian on campus or via Teams. We will be happy to help you end the semester with success!  

Purchase Request Form

Looking for a book or another type of item to add to your reading enjoyment or professional teaching/learning? Moraine Park faculty and staff can complete a library item request form. If approved, the library will order the item and notify you when it is ready.  

Welcome to NewsBank! Your Source for Yesterday and Todays News!

The library has a new and exciting resource available to MPTC students and employees! NewsBank has access to newspapers locally and around the world that are updated on a daily basis with the most recent information! Want to browse your local Milwaukee Journal in the morning before class? Need a source for your essay related to business, politics, and more? You can browse news on any topic from the past and present by using the search box. 

Access this amazing resource through the library homepage at MPTC under Library Research Tools by clicking the button: Yesterday and Todays News. Feel free to share with your librarians how you have utilized this new information!

The leaves are falling, gentle rains are here, and cozy season is upon us everyone! Grab your favorite blanket and pumpkin spice beverage of choice and relax with this perfect fall romance book! Follow Jeanie as she packs up her life and starts over in Dream Harbor where she now owns her Aunt Dot’s coffee shop. Read along as she creates a new home and family with her small-town neighbors and Logan, the withdrawn farmer. They will all need help to investigate the mystery of who is trying to sabotage the coffee shop’s new owner with broken windows and sleepless nights. Is it teens pulling Halloween pranks, rowdy raccoons, or perhaps something more haunting? This book is a perfect fall read for any romance fans that enjoy soft moments and homey nosey side characters. Put in a hold request with the library to pick up the book today!  

Non-Fiction:
And Housing For All by Maria Foscarinis  

In this book, the author uses her 35 years of experience advocating for the national homelessness epidemic. She addresses the laws and policies in place for working on this crisis. Foscarinis also use homeless individuals and their story of how they became homeless and the many obstacles they faced when trying to get out of their situation. Foscarinis points out it’s not just one obstacle but a broken system that prevents people from getting out of their living situation and helps reduce the number of homeless individuals as a whole. The different stories of each homeless person included in the book is interesting but heartbreaking. By reading the different accounts gives a broader picture of homelessness and each situation is unique. Some individuals had more success than others who continued to struggle throughout their lives. If social reform and the human condition interests you, this is a great book for that.

Research Assistance Form

Need help with writing a research paper or a presentation? Look no further! The library is here to help. Under the “Research Help” section the last link is to the Research Assistance Request form. Once filled out and submitted, the form will go to the appropriate library employee located at the student’s home campus. If it is marked online, then the library employee assigned to online students will be contacted and reach out to the student to make an in person or virtual appointment. They are usually scheduled for an hour at a time otherwise made for the time needed. The library employee will answer questions the student may have on APA style; which may include in-text citations and creating a reference page at the end of the paper or presentation. The library employee may also be asked where to find credible sources and how to conduct research for academic articles.

Banned Book Week 10/5 – 10/11

Every year since 1982, library and literacy professionals recognize Banned Book Week with a unique theme, new challenge data, and action steps for those who care about literacy and representation within our libraries and books.

This year’s theme “Censorship Is So 1984. Read for Your Rights” references George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984. It summons a sense of urgency as 2024 had 2,452 unique challenges across the country and a variety of institutions. Censorship efforts have an increased impact on different areas of culture and society that will be felt for generations to come.

To learn more about why it is important for our communities to protect the right to read, checkout the American Library Association’s webpage: Banned Books Week® | Banned Books. To learn about how impactful censorship and reading is to your local Wisconsin communities, look the Wisconsin Library Association’s page on intellectual freedom: Intellectual Freedom Resources.

If you would like to learn more information literacy, the history of censorship, and the efforts by librarians to protect their libraries and readers, ask your librarians this month for their book recommendations!

Ask Us Feature

The library webpage has a chat box, called “Ask Us” that users can type in questions or comments. A library employee will respond briefly if it is during the library’s operating hours or if the “Available” green rectangular button is displayed. If it is entered after hours, a library employee will respond the next time the library is open. Different types of questions commonly seen in the chat box are APA related questions, finding articles, renewing library items, and possibly looking for a book title.

Fiction:
The Sunflower House by Adriana Allegri 

In this novel, the protagonist, Allina is growing up in a fictional town, Badensburg in Germany during the WWII. She learns her mother was Jewish, making her half Jewish or a “Mischling”. She is living with her aunt and uncle since her parents are gone. One day, there is a fire and Allina finds out her family didn’t survive. She is brutally raped and told to work at the Hochland Home. This place was part of Heinrich Himmler’s eugenics program, called “Lebensborn”. Women who were thought of to be of Aryan descent, were chosen to become mothers in this program. Some were already pregnant with a child from a German soldier or another man who is of Aryan descent as well. Allina found that the children living in the home were not nurtured or raised with love. They were seen as inventory or an experiment. Those who were not mentally sound or disabled were taken away and experimented on by Himmler and his associates. Many of them died. Allina worked with these children and tried to keep them healthy and show them some nurturing. She met a high-ranking SS officer named Karl. He reveals to her that he is a quarter-Jewish. After spending time together at the Hochland Homed, Allina and Karl fall in love. Allina becomes pregnant and is determined not to have her child raised at the Hochland Home. As the war develops and rages on, Karl helps many Jewish children escape a doomed outcome. Allina also helps find homes and rescue the “unfit” children from the Hochland Home. Allina and Karl’s life becomes increasingly dangerous. The story is told from different characters’ perspectives. The time periods shift from the past to the present of 2006. To find out what happens, check this book out and read it!

Non-Fiction:
The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt 

We all know by now that living on our phones all the time is detrimental to our mental and physical health. Jonathan Haidt specifically focuses this book on how technology has rewired children’s minds and affects all areas of their life. Not only is this a warning call to the crisis children and young adults are facing in this digital age, but the author also breaks down chapters focused on how boys versus girls interact with social media and its consequences. It is extremely mind opening and breaks down misconceptions we often have about the younger generations being able to navigate the Internet. Most importantly, we are left with action steps in the final chapters targeted towards parents, teachers, corporations, and our government on how we can move forward into a future where children can have a quality childhood experience and a steady foundation into adulthood.  

Having made Barrack Obama’s reading list in 2024, this book is very engaging and highly recommended for educators and others!

Library Website Changes Incoming

Welcome to the 2025 Fall semester everyone!  We are so excited to see new and returning faces back on our campuses.

The library is looking to revamp and grow our website and online tools this academic year. So, keep an eye out for new and exciting things to come like expansion of our eBooks and audiobooks, revised and increased tutorial videos, and more!

One exciting new change is our brand-new library catalog! Still located underneath the find Books and Videos on the library website, you can sign in with your ID number and create a new password. Once you are logged in, you can see what you currently have checked out, save search terms to reuse later in your research, and request items from other campuses!

Laptops

With the fall semester underway, students can check out laptops from the library on each of the three campuses. There are long-term checkout laptops for the duration of the student’s classes, typically for the semester. Those will be due December 19^th, 2025. There are also same-day checkout laptops available. Library employees do not reserve laptops for patrons, so they are available on a first come, first served basis. Please bring your current photo ID with you upon check out.  For library hours information, please click here.

Prep Step

The library has a really neat database that we want to spread awareness of! PrepStep is a tool that can be used by a variety of different students. It is linked on the library webpage underneath the Library Research Tools category.  From nursing students preparing for the NCLEX exams to the business students needing a math refresher, there are practice questions, tutorial videos, eBooks, and more available for all your needs! Create an account today with your MPTC email and a password to access all of the materials you need to be a successful student this semester!

Not finding what you are looking for? Contact a librarian of your choice or stop by at any campus library and we can help point you in the right direction!

Fiction:
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

This novel is a perfect read to tug at your heartstrings. Sometimes we read something that is so relatable and magical that it sticks with us long after we have closed the cover! “The Midnight Library” follows main character Nora at the most difficult time in her life. When all hope seems lost and she is drowning in past regrets, an opportunity to explore the Midnight library and all the possible lives and choices she could have made arises. Will she find the perfect life where everything aligns, and will she do it in time before the midnight library is in danger?

I highly recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys magical realism and is interested in a character’s journey towards a better life.  I do feel that some trigger warnings are needed in order to properly enjoy the story. There are elements of alcoholism, depression, suicide, cancer, and a death of an animal. If any of those things are not the right fit for you at the moment, save this story for another day and ask your librarians for another recommendation. Otherwise, reach out to your campus library to request this beautiful book today!

Non-Fiction:
The Status Revolution: The Improbable Story of How Lowbrow Became Highbrow by Chuck Thompson

  The author, Chuck Thompson presents how low-brow practices and ways of life are now considered more high-brow or at least more acceptable in high class society. He also defines what status means today. He shares his unique sense of humor and irreverence by explaining why everything we know about status is not the same as it used to be. He shows how the new status insurgency reflects our place in concurrent society. To find out more about how the status has changed, pick this book up to read.

Summer Students

If any students are taking classes this summer, please keep the library’s employees in mind for assistance with accessing the library’s webpage, research, using the multi-function printer, logging into your account and any other inquiries you may have.  

Summer Hours

The library hours are different during the summer. From June 2nd to July 25th, all three campus libraries are open from 8am-5pm, Monday through Thursday. From July 28th to August 22nd, Beaver Dam and Fond du Lac libraries are open 8am-4pm from Monday through Friday, and West Bend is open from 8am-6pm, Monday through Thursday, and 8am-4pm on Friday. The libraries will resume their normal hours starting Monday, August 25th. 

Long Term Checkouts Returned

Before we pack up for summer break, we would like to remind everyone to return their items due in May! If you have a long-term laptop checked out for the semester, they are due to be returned the week of May 16th , the last week of classes. If you have a need for a laptop over the summer, please touch base with your librarians to arrange a time to receive another one after computer updates have been completed.  

Fiction:
Funny Story by Marie Benedict

If you are waiting on the edge of your seat for the newest Emily Henry book or wanting something to fill that void now that you have finished it, let me recommend this read for you! Our protagonists Daphne and Miles find themselves stuck moping as roommates when their respective partners leave them for each other days before Daphne’s wedding. Daphne, a socially awkward children’s librarian, finds herself roped into weekly summer adventures throughout Michigan as Miles tries to convince her to give the small town, her friends, and maybe something more, a chance at a future.  Every relationship in this story is sprinkled with humor and growth as Daphne finds her sense of home and leaves the baggage from the past behind.  

Emily Henry is always a solid choice for any romance reader, and this would be the perfect next book to pick up to kick off your summer reading!  

Non-Fiction:
Sincerely Your Autistic Child  by Emily Paige Ballou, Sharon daVanport, and Morenike Giwa Onaiwu

This book is a combination of a memoir, guide, and a love letter. This is a personal collection of accounts of those on the autism spectrum including women and non-binary individuals to share their own experiences. This depicts childhood, education, gender identity, and sexuality. There is also researched information on how those living on the spectrum respond to different situations and different possible behaviors exhibited. This is a great source to better understand the daily lives of those living with the autism spectrum.  

Library Spring Holiday Hours

Warmer weather is almost here and with it all three libraries will be adjusting their hours in April for the Spring Holiday! On Thursday, April 17^th the library will be closing at 4p.m. We will also be closed completely on Friday, April 18^th with normal hours resuming on Monday the 21^st. We hope everyone has a wonderful few days off filled with sunshine!

Study Rooms

Looking for a quiet space to study, work with fellow students on a class project, or meet with a colleague? All three campus libraries have separate rooms for that purpose. Available to any current MPTC students and employees, one can sign up for a room the day of or by contacting a library employee, can reserve a room ahead of time. See here for more information on the study rooms.

You are halfway there! Seek out research help!

The final 8 weeks of the semester are in sight! As your assignments and essays become due, we would like to remind everyone that your librarians are here to assist with any research needs! From locating a variety of sources to writing your Works Cited page, there are many ways we can help all students succeed. If you need assistance and the library is closed, please feel free to email us your question and make sure to check out these tutorial videos for an overview on how to best utilize the library online from home.

Fiction:
The Queens of Crime by Marie Benedict

London, England, 1930, five of the world’s best female mystery writers: Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, and Baroness Emma Orcy form a secret group.  Their single goal is showing men they will no longer be second-rate citizens to them in the infamous Detection Club. They plan on solving an actual murder of a young woman strangled in a park in France who may be connected to the highest levels of the British establishment. This case is inspired by a true story in Dorothy Sayer’s life. Read to find out whether these great detective novelists can solve the murder of May Daniels and who did it!

Non-Fiction:
Grow, Cook, Eat: A Food Lover’s Guide to Vegetable Gardening  by Willi Galloway

This book is not only an introduction to gardening but also an exploration of unique ways of incorporating your harvests into a variety of recipes! The first chapter provides a very clear and easy breakdown of the different stages of gardening from the planning and seed starting to fertilizing and frost cover. Each chapter after is organized by type of plant like herbs, greens, roots and tubers, fruit, etc. with details on planting, growing, harvesting and cooking with your selection. Each recipe included is very approachable and a fresh take on home-grown food. If you are looking for other recipes to experiment with, check out your campus libraries for other cookbook materials!

Library Spring Break Hours

The week of March 17th-21st, all three of the campus libraries will be open Monday-Friday from 8am-4pm. There will be no evening hours. The building hours will be Monday-Thursday, 7am-10pm, Friday from 7am-5pm, and that Saturday from 8am-12pm.

Women’s History Month Titles

With Black History month ending in February, Women’s History month kicks off in March! We would like to highlight resources in the library that can help you learn more about women’s impact on our world and their legacies.  By clicking the link attached here, you will be able to browse the catalog for all three campus libraries’ collections related to women’s history. Learn about the first female doctors, police officers, and the lives and accomplishments of women around the world.  Interested in checking a title out? Click the Request It button on the right side of the screen to pick up the title at the library of choosing! 

For more information about Women’s History month check out the National Women’s History Alliance webpage: https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/womens-history-theme-9-2024/ 

Films on Demand

There are many different learning platforms and tools the library has to offer. Films on Demand (FOD) are one of those resources. FOD has thousands of films and videos to choose from. They are educational and feature many documentaries. This is a different way of learning about a topic of choice or one that is assigned. One can cite the source from the video and share it with oneself or others. One can create an account and can access the resources off campus once logged into FOD. 

Fiction:
House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

If you are a fan of found family tropes or just need a good comfort read, then I will always recommend the House in the Cerulean Sea! Readers follow Linus Baker, a perfectly average man living his day-to-day life as a detail orientated caseworker for Magical Youth. Sent on a special project to investigate an orphanage by the sea, readers fall easily into a world like our own but with a magical twist as special beings and children are all tracked and managed by the government.  After meeting Thalia, the gnome, Phee, the sprite, and other magical children and their caretaker Arthur, Mr. Baker discovers the joys that truly arrive when you break down your own bubble, take up the space you deserve, and let different parts of the world into your heart. This story is filled with hope and heart, a perfect read!

Non-Fiction:
Small-Town Wisconsin by Mary Bergin

The author featured many different small towns in Wisconsin to write about. She featured some area restaurants, festivals, hotels, landmarks, and different bodies of water/travel destinations. The municipalities found in the book have populations of 5,000 or fewer. The book is divided into different geographical state regions. There is a map along with the name of the municipality. One such municipality, Pardeeville is mentioned along with the annual Watermelon Festival. The fest includes a watermelon carving contest. The photos in the book are vibrant and inviting. It makes one want to visit that place.  

Fair Trade Valentines Display

Go to your campus library to check out the Fair-Trade Valentine display and get a tasty treat!  

Learn all about how Moraine Park Technical College was named the first Fair Trade technical college in the U.S. in May 2015 as well as how fair trade supports farmers and artisans in developing countries. From coffee beans to chocolate treats, information is available about all the ways fair trade products can be a positive shopping choice!  

Specialty computer software in the library – AutoCad, Photoshop, etc.

Now that school is back in session, students may need certain software for class requirements. The library has computers with different specialized software on it. For more information, please see the link below. For additional information, please reach out to your campus library employees. 

Romance Reads

With winter and freezing temperatures still bearing down on us, now is the perfect time to pick up a festive read for the Valentines holiday! Each campus has a variety of fiction titles in all genres. For the Romance genre, we have many popular authors like Nicholas Sparks, Emily Henry, and more! Cozy romance to romantasy and everything in between, there is something for anyone looking to escape into the pages.  Stop by and ask your librarian for a recommendation today!  

Long Island is the continuing story of Eilis Lacey from the first book, Brooklyn. This story continues with Eilis, now last name Fiorello after marrying Tony. Eilis has lived in America for 20 years now and is married with two teenage daughter and son. After finding out from an Irishman that his wife is pregnant with her husband’s baby and the baby will be delivered to her family’s house, Eilis reevaluates her life and wonders if she is making the right decisions. She decides to leave Long Island to spend time with her 80-year-old mother in Ireland. This story is told by three narratives, Eilis, her friend Nancy and former love-interest, Jim, both living in Ireland. Eilis must make choices that will impact her children, Tony, others, and herself. It is helpful if Brooklyn is read before this book to better understand the story. To find out what happens, pick up this book and read on.

Non-Fiction:
A History of Fake Things on the Internet by Walter J. Scheirer

While social media and the internet have become such an integral part of our everyday life, technology and its constant use is a relatively new phenomenon for humanity! Author Walter J. Scheirer addresses how, even though the tools used to spread misinformation or fake images are all virtual now, there is a long history of society spreading myths and memes. Looking through the lenses of computer hackers, digital artist, media-forensics specialist and AI researchers, the author argues that the fear pushed forth about fake things on the internet is also connected to creativity and the questioning of the world around us. He asserts that there is much to learn from the fake content as it represents the growth and change of our society and culture. This book has a very interesting perspective and recommendations for how the world can move forward with its ever-evolving technology and ends on a surprisingly hopeful note! I recommend it for anyone who is looking to place these times we live in into a historical context and challenge their own perspective.