COOKBOOKS AT THE LIBRARY OFFER A FREE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY BEFORE YOU BUY

For Maria Mulreaney, reading cookbooks is as relaxing as reading a novel.

Although she owns a huge collection and as an avid cook actually uses them, the adult services assistant for Clearview Library District agrees that checking cookbooks out from a library rather than curating your own collection is a good idea.

“There’s no shortage of inspiration when it comes to cookbooks, and the library is a fabulous resource to try before you buy because a book might not always be a good fit for you, or you might end up only liking a couple of recipes. Giving it a test run with a library book gives you a chance to try a few recipes first,” she said.

She thinks Clearview, which serves Windsor, Severance and west Greeley, has a fun collection.

“There’s an entire culinary world to explore, from Indian cuisine, vegetarian recipes, craft cocktails, desserts, vegan and more. We have a vast array of topics waiting for patrons to explore and dig in,” Mulreaney said

Jennifer Bradley, Clearview’s adult programming and collection development librarian, agrees.

“Even if you know you’re into Mexican or Italian food, if you walk into the library a book on cooking Indian food might catch your eye and you’ll discover a whole new world,” Bradley said.

Clearview utilizes the Dewey Decimal System which numbers books by topic and has a range between 0 to 999. While you’ll find cookbooks catalogued under the number 641, Mulreaney creates displays throughout the year to highlight the library’s collection, and the newest books are kept up front for easy spotting.

“I often do a table setting with the cookbooks to spark interest, and especially around the holidays when people are doing a lot of cooking and baking,” she said.

In addition to hardcover titles, the library’s periodical section subscribes to a few cooking magazines and receives new issues whenever a magazine publishes them, often monthly or sometimes quarterly. Clearview subscribes to Cook’s Illustrated, Real Simple and Food Network publications.

Although Bradley has noticed a preference for print books, interest in

e-books is increasing

The library system has hundreds of magazines and periodicals that are digital, including Real Simple and Cook’s Illustrated, that are available for check out through Clearview’s website.

The check out time for cookbooks is handled the same as other works of non-fiction. New books, a status that lasts for six months, may be checked out for 14 days. If no one has put a title on hold during that period, library patrons can renew the title twice.

After the six-month new title period has expired, non-fiction books may be checked out for 21 days. If it is not on hold, a title will auto-renew twice.

To return a physical book, magazine or periodical, the Windsor branch has drop boxes on site, and there are additional drop box locations around Windsor and Severance. There is also a bookmobile where books can be checked out and placed in return bins outside the vehicle.

The bookmobile makes regular scheduled stops at Harmony Ridge, Windshire Park, Severance Town Hall, Windsor Charter Academy, 55 Resort Apartments at Water Valley, Poudre Heights Park, Cherry Park at RainDance, Longview Park and Hazelton Park. Check Clearview’s website for the rotating schedule.

The beauty of e-books and digitized magazines is that you don’t have to physically return them. Patrons may check out as many as they like for 21 days, after which access is automatically shut down, eliminating that nagging worry that you’ve forgotten to return a book or might return it late.

Fines are only charged on new adult materials, video games and Interlibrary Loan items, according to Clearview’s website.

To check out titles from Clearview, all you’ll need is a library card, which is available at no cost To get one, you must be a Colorado resident with a photo ID and proof of your current address. Children younger than age 14 need a parent or guardian to sign for them to obtain their card.

If the world of cookbooks seems overwhelming, Mulreaney offers guidance on Clearview’s monthly blog, The Cookbook Nook, which is located on the district’s website under the news section.

“We feature a cookbook in our collection every month, detailing what’s unique and special about that book, and the author is reviewed. And the library staff prepares a recipe and reviews it,” she said.

Popular posts have included Half-Baked Harvest, written by Tieghan Gerard, a local Colorado resident who has published three cookbooks centered on simple, wholesome yet slightly decadent recipes, and The Korean Vegan by Joanne Lee Molinaro, a skilled storyteller who weaves her family’s immigration stories with traditional Korean fare prepared for vegans.

For cookie lovers, check out James Beard Award-winner for Best Baking and Dessert Book in 2017, Dorie’s Cookies by Dorie Greenspan. Another favorite is “Prep +

Rally” by Dini Klein, who offers a guide to prepping ingredients on weekends for assembly during the week.

“It’s great because it provides a shopping list for meal prep, rather than cooking from scratch,” Mulveaney explained. “For example, it will have you roast a chicken and then make four different meals from it, like a soup, tacos and more. ”

Bradley noted that other popular titles are Celebrate with Babs, an Instagrammer chock full of holiday meal ideas, and the perennial favorite, Go-To Dinners: A Barefoot Contessa cookbook by Ina Garten.

A few of the library collection’s most unique titles are a Spanish cookbook, Mi Cocina by Food52 Sweet Heat series host, Rick Martinez, breakout hit, The Wok: Recipes and Techniques by culinary wizard J. Kenji López-Alt who uses a science-based approach to cooking at home —and The Lazy Genius Kitchen, by Kendra Adachi.

“That one is a smart cooking methodology, something that’s popular now and is about cooking healthy and making good use of the ingredients you have on hand,” she said Perhaps because library patrons can test recipes before making a commitment to buying, or because it’s a chance to branch out and learn something new that’s also tasty, cookbooks are very popular titles, Bradley said. Of the nearly 8,000 nonfiction titles Clearview owns, three of the top 20 books in circulation are cookbooks: “Pillsbury One Dish Meals,” “Taste of Home,” the annual book series, and “Slow Cooker” recipes.

And the best part about checking out a library cookbook? If what’s available doesn’t whet your appetite, new titles are added monthly and are ready for you to read, savor and ponder, all while planning your next culinary adventure.

The Windsor-Severance Library is located at 720 Third St. in Windsor It’s operating hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday.

For more information, go to www.clearviewlibrary.org or call (970) 686-5603.