Episode 211: Nature

Welcome, everyone, to Reading with Libraries! This week we are discussing nature books, and all the fun of seeing the outside world. This week we welcome Guest Host Kathy Parker from St John's and St Ben's college libraries! This is such a fun topic, partly because it is so very broad! You can find all kinds of books in here, from hard sciences, to travelogues, to gardening. Animals, flowers, backyards, mountains – it can all be included as part of the nature genre. This may make it easier to find a book you like, as there are tons of potential choices; but of course so many choices can make decisions harder! In many libraries, especially public libraries, the gardening section is very popular; and it can be a challenge to keep them on the shelves long enough for people who want them to find them. In school libraries, the books with cool pictures of insects are always popular with kids who use them in writing reports for science classes. In academic libraries we might find books with specialized information about the biology of animals. In medical libraries, we can find books on the anatomy of plants, especially those that are potentially helpful or dangerous to us. Numerous studies are showing the value of being in nature, as our lives increasingly retreat inside and we spend our days staring at screens. Take a walk 20 minutes a day and potentially see blood pressure drop, anxiety and depression levels drop, and an increased sense of calm in your day. Japanese doctors began prescribing Forest Bathing for people, and it's spreading to the US. This has lead to a whole host of physical and mental problems, which may be helped by deliberately spending time outside, looking at nature, animals, ocean waves, or things growing. At least, put some plants in your home or office so you have some nature inside with you!