December is a time of holiday celebrations for many families. For families with a parent currently incarcerated, however, the reality is very different. Picture books about incarceration can help children and parents talk about a complex topic that affects millions of children and families in the United States.

The semester is soon to wrap up, so Metro Archives is bringing you another cool blog post from our fall intern, Morgan Stence. Morgan processed the Scarritt Bennett Collection, primarily containing materials from the Celebration of Cultures Festival. Learn about it from her own words. 

Self-defense is one of the most important skills I believe anyone should have. I like to say, “better to know but not need.” In 501 Unarmed Self-Defense Skills, Chris McNab gives you simple techniques you can use to ward off an attacker.

These were my personal favorites of this reading year.

This holiday season, let's have some fun with food!

November is Native American Heritage month. Here are some Children's books that give voice to modern indigenous communities, who have humbly withstood the many challenges and violences of Western colonization. 

November 12-20 is National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Listen to a couple of Nashville StoryCorps interviews, from a formerly unhoused person and an activist for the poor and unhoused.