The berries from the Juniperus Communis are most commonly used for cooking, especially in Europe, where they are used as a spice and for flavoring spirits, such as gin.

RHPL offers monthly and bi-monthly newsletters on a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction topics – everything from cooking and home design to the latest must-read books.

Thyme is a culinary herb native to Eurasia and the Levant. The word thyme refers to all plants in the genus Thymus, which is a part of the mint family.

The RHPL Summer Reading Challenge runs from Saturday, June 13, to Saturday, August 8. To register, visit rhpl.beanstack.org or download the Beanstack app and sign up using an active RHPL card.

Enjoy these poems from our Adult contest winner, first, second, third place, and honorable mention entries.

“RHPL is always trying to find ways to give more, and After Hours Library is a perfect example of how we can enhance library services at little or no cost.” Said Library Director Juliane Morian. “If these programs are successful, we have a chance at investigating more casual extended hours so everyone can use the library when it’s convenient for them.”

Moving abroad, learning a new language, and immersing yourself in a new culture are challenges many in our community experience. With that in mind, our English Language Learners (ELL) Conversation Group and ELL Book Clubs provide a safe and fun place for our patrons to practice their English.

Star anise comes from an evergreen tree native to South China and Vietnam. Its licorice taste resembles that of anise seeds from Egypt and West Asia, although the two plants are unrelated.