September is National Wilderness Month, a time to honor and celebrate America’s wilderness areas – clean water, stretches of undisturbed land, thriving wildlife and healthy ecosystems. These natural areas are critical for the health of our environment and our communities. National Wilderness Month dates back to 1964, with the passage of the Wilderness Act. This act created the National Wilderness Preservation System, which protects pristine federal public lands from commercial development and human impact.

Want to learn more about the country’s protected wilderness areas, which are located right here in Minnesota? Stop by the library to check out our display of books on this topic during the month of September.

With the start of the new semester, are you looking for ways to improve your mental health, form better habits, or work on personal growth? Stop by the library to check out one of our numerous books on self-help and personal improvement! If you’re looking for a specific title, our library staff will be more than happy to direct you to the resources you need.

For more support, feel free to check out DCTC’s Office of Basic Needs & Well-Being, which supports students on their educational journey.

Are you interested in learning more about the history of Minnesota and the Upper Midwest? Stop by the library this summer to check out one of our many books on the history of the Land of 10,000 Lakes! Our library also offers numerous books on traveling throughout the state, including ideas for weekend getaways to the North Shore or the Driftless Area of southeastern Minnesota. Don’t forget to check out our online resources as well.

Friday, June 19th marks Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. The holiday’s name, first used in the 1890s, refers to June 19th, 1865, when the Emancipation Proclamation was finally enforced in Texas at the end of the American Civil War. Early Juneteenth celebrations date back to 1866 in Texas, before spreading across the South among newly freed African Americans and their descendants. Juneteenth was first recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.

Interested in attending events to celebrate Juneteenth? Check out this list of community events in the Twin Cities.

June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month, a celebration of LGBTQ culture and history and a call to end prejudice and discrimination against people based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Learn more with books, ebooks, and videos from our collection and check out these sites for more information:

• American Civil Liberties Union – LGBTQ Rights
• Human Rights Campaign
• It Gets Better Project
• Lavender Magazine
• Library of Congress – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month
• Minnesota Historical Society – LGBTQIA+ Communities in Minnesota
• Minnesota State Law Library – LGBT Rights
• OutFront Minnesota
• Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
• U.S. Census Bureau – LGBTQIA+ Pride Month: June 2024

Stop by the Library and check out our pride display, or take a look at our virtual LGBTQ+ Pride Month collection!