June brings with it the official start of summer and what better way to enjoy summer than to celebrate Great Outdoors Month?! This celebration was started as Great Outdoors Week in 1998 by President Bill Clinton. It grew over the years into what is now a month-long celebration honoring nature and its benefits to the world.
The State Library has all sorts of materials to help you learn more about the great outdoors or books that state employees can check out and enjoy while in the great outdoors. We’ve rounded up some items in our collection to highlight because who doesn’t love a good beach read or a travel guide to reference while exploring a new place?
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| Quincy Shore Reservations, Quincy; image courtesy of Department of Conservation & Recreation |
Feel free to browse the lists below for things that might spark your interest. If you aren’t a state employee and are interested in these books, you can borrow our books by submitting an interlibrary loan request via your local public library. You can also search WorldCat to see what other libraries might own that title.
Beach/park/backyard/anywhere reads
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
- The Fifth Petal by Brunonia Barry
- Master of Poisons by Andrea Hairston
- Modern Girls by Jennifer S. Brown
- Remember Me Like This by Bret Anthony Johnston
- Separation Anxiety by Laura Zigman
- The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay
The great outdoors around New England
- Finding sanctuary: an artist explores the nature of Mass Audubon, written and Illustrated by Barry Van Dusen
- Trees and Shrubs of New England by Marilyn Dwelley
- Some Useful Plants of Early New England by Jane Strickland Hussey
- Boston Common; scenes from four centuries by Mark Antony De Wolfe
- Boston Park Guide: including the municipal and metropolitan systems of Greater Boston by Sylvester Baxter
- Boston Harbor Islands State Park by Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management
- Cape Cod in Color: a collection of color photographs by Julius Lazarus
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| Southwest Corridor Park, Boston; image courtesy of Department of Conservation & Recreation |
Perhaps you’d rather not carry a book around on your hike or to a local park. Have no fear because we’ve got you covered with e-books! If you’re a state employee you can use your State Library card to download the Libby app which will allow you to access ebooks through CW Mars. If you aren’t a state employee, you can access ebooks through the Boston Public Library by signing up for a BPL e-card. BPL e-cards are available to all Massachusetts residents.
There are some other great resources produced by the state that can help you in your quest to enjoy the great outdoors this month. The Department of Conservation and Recreation has a guide to the 150+ state parks around Massachusetts, as well as self-guided hikes and walks, plus events and programs. DCR also has a set of trail maps you can print out or use on your smartphone.
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| Blue Hills Trail Map, courtesy of Department of Conservation & Recreation |
These resources should help you celebrate and appreciate everything about the great outdoors! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have questions about any of the resources here and remember to enjoy the great outdoors, especially this month!
Jessica Shrey
Legal Research Reference Librarian
