(Courtesy: Melissa Acker)

Jessica Lynn Acker, 33, passed on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, doing what she loved – hiking the mountains of Alaska. Jessica was so dedicated to living fully and passionately that she had the word “live” tattooed across her back. 

(Click to read more, and for details on an observer community scrapbook project for Jess Acker.)

Christine Byl at the Unalaska Public Library Photo by: KUCB/Pipa Escalante

Alaskan author Christine Byl visited the Unalaska Library on Thursday, February 19, 2015 and read excerpts from her recent book Dirt Work: An Education in the Woods. Byl’s book is a memoir about her time spent working as a “traildog,” a member of trails crews in National Parks. After the reading, Byl fielded audience questions on topics ranging from her writing process to proper axe technique.

(read more here)

Student of the week for February 2 - 6, 2015.

The Junior High Department selected Alexis as Student of the Week for the following reasons:

Alexis is a model student in many ways: she is diligent and committed to her school work. She has grown tremendously as a reader this year, discovering the pleasure of reading actively and deeply engaging with her books. (Click through to read more.)