Readers Advisory

The largest poll taken concerning classical music is the annual Classic FM Hall of Fame. Every January the British radio station asks its listeners to write in their favorite three pieces of music. The thousands of votes are tallied and revealed every spring. This would seem to be a debate-ending list. One could settle the age old argument of whose music is best by simply looking at the ranking. However, every year the votes are very different, and I believe this shows how subjective this undertaking truly is. Is there a “best” piece of music or a “best” composer? Check out the top ten compositions from the 2016 Classic FM Hall of Fame from your local library, and let us know what some of your favorite works are in the comments section.

Adulting is exhausting. Between work, kids, and everything else that comes with being an adult, when Librarian Sarah actually carves out enough time to delve into a book, she wants that book to be as far from her reality as possible. She's got a list of titles that have helped her do just that.

Ralph Ellison loved his library. He loved the public library as a child, and he loved the one that was named in his honor some fifty years later. A Ralph Ellison scholar discovered just how much he loved them while working with his papers in the Library of Congress.

People all over the world will celebrate Earth Day on April 22. It is a time to appreciate the beauty, grandeur, and provision of our home planet. It is also a day to remember our responsibility to protect our fragile environment. in honor of humanity’s home, our music expert Breck selected works by composers who were inspired by nature to create masterpieces of music.