Using Awards Lists As a RA Tool: Reading The West Edition

This is part of my ongoing series on using Awards Lists as a RA tool. Click here for all posts in the series in reverse chronological order. Click here for the first post which outlines the details how to use awards lists as a RA tool.  

The long list for the 35th annual Reading the West Book Awards is live! Reading the West is a promotional arm of the Mountains & Plains Independent Book Seller Association. From Reading the West's homepage: 

Reading the West was conceived to celebrate the diversity, courage, tenacity, expertise, and indie spirit of the bookstores in the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association. Our goal is to bring bookstores, books, and readers together, to promote the best of our regional authors and stories, and to feature the passionate recommendations of our booksellers.

There are 8 categories: Fiction, Debut Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction, Memoir & Biography, Picture Books, Young Readers, and Young Adults. Literally there is a book for every reader here. And the long lists are LONG. Fiction alone is close to 50 books. And within fiction there is every genre (including a a very robust showing by Horror).

Click here to see all of the books.

Because this award comes from a regional book sellers association it behooves them to identify all of the books from the region they represent that are a great choice for readers. Unlike many awards which are defined by the fact that they are and will be exclusive, Reading the West by definition is inclusive.

They take their role as the region's bookselling association seriously. They want to sell books about their place. This makes it a resource I can get behind because I want to give out all the books.

This gets to the heart of why I am a huge fan of the Reading the West Longlist as a great resource to build our collections and help readers in real time. "The West" is a place of mythical proportions. It has more wide open space than people. The vast majority of people in our country live in cities or metropolitan areas. And the rest of the world has always been obsessed with the American West. It is a land unique to our country. That is why the traditional Western is still going strong especially in Europe.

The West, even stories set in the place now, has a mystique. Readers are drawn to the place and love stories set within it. And the Mountains & Plains Independent Book Seller Association has used that knowledge to expand the definition of a "western." And as a result, they have kept the genre alive. Even as others thought it was dying. I would argue that without the expansion of the idea of what a "Western" is over this century, we wouldn't see popular genres like the Weird Western or even books that grapple with the place and its legacy at all.

And because they know that the backlist sells, they make access to past nominees and winner a breeze. Just click here. 

Reading the West has embraced their place and we reap the benefits. Use this list to add books to your collections, make displays (just call them "Reading the West" and watch the books fly off the shelves as you change people's opinions about what a "western" is in real time), and most importantly, suggest to readers looking for a good read.

Every age of reader, many genres, and even marginalized voices. The west is wide open and waiting for more readers to saddle up.

Introducing Julie Jurgens: Programs for Your RA for All Youth Needs

One of the most common questions I get after doing my RA training programs, which are adult services forward, is: Do you offer training specifically for youth services staff? Now, to be fair I do have a few programs I have altered to use with those who serve kids and teens, but it is not my speciality. 

When I have a client that wanted the "Becky" version of serving readers but with a youth expert focus, I would send them to my colleague Julie Jurgens, because like me, she speaks the direct truth, no matter how uncomfortable it will make those who listen and learn. And she has been doing this almost as long as I have.

Until recently, though, Julie was too busy to help as many people as I had requests from. Well no longer. Julie has cut back her hours at the library and is committed to growing her training programs so that she can reach more people.

I asked Julie to write up an introduction to herself and her programs for all of my readers. Below is that post. Before I hand off to Julie though, I want to be very clear. I 100% trust and recommend Julie to provide the type of training I would do if I were as much of an excerpt in serving children and their families as she is.

Check out the links at the end of her post and click here to contact Julie for your training needs. 

Now if you will excuse me, I will be volunteering at my local elementary school library all morning. 

Take it away Julie...

Julie Jurgens

librarian, storyteller, speaker

I’ve been working in libraries since 2006, and with children and their families since 2001. I’ve worked in youth services exclusively, in positions as varied as an early literacy librarian, teen librarian, school outreach librarian, and an assistant department head, and I’ve worked at both large, well funded libraries and smaller, less resourced libraries.

The breadth of my experience has given me the knowledge and personal learning network that allows me to speak on a wide variety of topics. With a background in education, storytelling, theater, and stand up comedy, I am able tailor my presentations and workshops for a variety of audiences, spaces, and venues. I love working to assignment so that your specific needs can be addressed and your particular questions answered. 

Everything I do is through a lens of inclusion and equity. As a disabled librarian, I want to make sure my resources and workshops are accessible to everyone. I believe in trauma informed librarianship, which is where one applies the concept of Trauma Informed Approach to library work. Trauma Informed Approach (TIA) is a concept that came out of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Adminstration. Trauma informed librarianship essentially acknowledges that human beings--both staff and patrons--are carrying trauma, and that trauma needs to be taken into consideration in our day to day interactions. 

I also center the primary mission of libraries, which is providing everyone with equitable access to good information. (If you want to poke the bear and instigate a rant, just say “Libraries are more than just books!” around me and watch me go!) Through information we gain knowledge. Sometimes the information we need is fact-based, and other times it is story based, and the majority of people who come to the library want that information in the form of a book.

I also choose to see all library services through the lens of story--every patron we come in contact with has a story that brought them to us. Some stories involve printing a boarding pass so they can finally take that trip to see their new nibling, and other stories involve finding a beloved picture book from their youth so they can feel connected to the now departed grandparent who read it to them every summer vacation. 

The stories never stop, making librarianship  an ever evolving profession, and even those who’ve earned the MLIS degree need to continue learning so they can do their best work. And there is no shortage of resources out there--every day there are hundreds of courses, workshops, and webinars on offer, to say nothing of the journals and social media feeds.

But sometimes you need something that isn’t prepackaged or one size fits all. I think we’ve all been in that conference session where the Q&A period ends up being a series of very specific, very complex problems that can’t be fully addressed by a broadly focused workshop or webinar. And that’s where I’d like to step in. 

Ok, so that’s the “professional” part out of the way. Here’s the most important part: I’m committed to speaking the truth. This means I research everything I do, of course, but I’m also referring to truth in a larger sense-- capital “T” Truth, perhaps. I am always going to say the hard thing. The awkward thing. The thing that you sit in meetings and conferences and workshops and think to yourself, and wish someone would say, but you’re not brave enough (yet) to say it. The thing that management and administration need to hear. Things like:

• neutrality is bullshit;

• there’s no way to ethically use generative AI and libraries should be pushing back instead of giving in;

• children and teens deserve access and have a right to privacy the same as adults;

• libraries have a “nice white lady” problem;

• library leaders need to have more ethical courage and advocate for their staff;

• and we can’t be everything to everyone.

  
  

 I will say it, not because I am necessarily the most brave, but because it’s the right thing to do. I will say it, and hope that my saying it will give  you the bravery to say it, too. Because without the truth, what are we even doing any of this for? Without the truth, how are we ever going to move forward?

So let’s talk. 

https://himissjulie.com/
Julie Jurgens Workshops

JJurgens Speaking and Presentaions

Booklist Online Gets a Fresh Look and Now You Can Have Personal Access to Booklist Reader

I have worked for Booklist as a reviewer since Fall of 2015, and for ALA Publications since the turn of the century as the author of three books. In that time, I have always been proud to write for and support Booklist. 

I love that their focus is on providing busy library workers vetted, expert RA assistance. And, they pay every single reviewer for their work. No working for accolades and by lines for them (unlike LJ who only pay their columnists- which is the only reason I am able to write for them because I do not work for free).

In order to strengthen their mission to be an up to date resource for helping readers,  Booklist just did a huge overhaul of their website. Click here to see. The fonts are all larger and the search function is more prominent. The lists in the current issue are also highlighted easily but just scrolling down past the current issue panel. 

Besides the site redesign, however, there is more big news-- Booklist Reader is now available to ALA members for free. As a reminder, Booklist Reader has always been accessible digitally to every library that has a print subscription, but now, if you are an ALA individual member, you can also login. 

This is important because a few states have made it impossible for library funds to be used on an ALA products and libraries have lost access to their Booklist subscription. However, if the library workers in those states can use their own money to join ALA (now with lower membership dues), they can get still get access to Booklist Reader.

But back to the product itself. I love how Booklist Reader takes the lists and information from a spotlight issue, published previously in the print magazine and for the library worker audience and repackages them as lists aimed at the patron market. Why is this so great?

First, you saw the lists a few months ago, so you already checked your shelves for the best titles for that category or genre over the last 12 months. You already saw the bevy of upcoming books centered around that spotlight as well. You get a heads up that this information is coming to your patrons.

Second, as I have said many times here on the blog-- the Booklist spotlight lists are a treasure trove of information to help readers. Take this month for example, the spotlight in the Feb issue is on Romance, for Valentine's Day. There are formatted and beautiful looking lists to pass out to our patrons in print or online. There is easy access to the best books from the past year-- books that are probably on the shelf-- for you to use immediately as suggestions to put in the hands of eager readers. It is an amazing resource for us to use as we help readers, but also for them to see on their own.

Third, while Booklist is future facing, focusing on pre-pub reviews, Booklist Reader is present focused. So the spotlight on Romance was back in September in Booklist, giving us library workers time to prepare for February. And as I said above-- now that it is February, as Booklist Reader is ready with all the lists, you are already ready to serve your readers because you spent time back in September preparing. It is all interconnected in a way that centers YOU-- the library worker. Who else does this? No one. No one by Booklist puts us first. (This point goes back to the start of this post by the way.)

Fourth, you will never run out of display and list ideas with Booklist Reader. Timely lists of books in popular genres and categories are ready for you. You can even make the lists and displays talk for themselves with short appeal focused annotations provided. No more excuses for having diverse and timely displays. Booklist Reader does the work for you.

And there is more, but don't just take it from me. In honor of the site redesign and new ALA member access to Booklist Reader, I asked Booklist Staff to write me a guest post all about it. They know more than I do, so I asked them here to tell you all about it.

Take it away Booklist staff.....

Use Booklist Reader for Readers’ Advisory

Where can you turn to answer a patron’s request for a recent epistolary novel, early reader graphic novel, or the latest sci-fi on audio? Booklist publications of course! For 120 years, Booklist, the official book review journal of the American Library Association, has been offering expert advice on the latest and greatest reads. With trusted reviews from library professionals across the country, Booklist is a reliable recommendation source that covers everything from picture books to manga series. And now, with our newly re-launched www.BooklistOnline.com, the search for recommendations just got easier. 

 In 2021, we launched a monthly magazine for library patrons: Booklist Reader.

What is Booklist Reader?

Booklist Reader recommends titles for readers of all ages in print and audio. Booklist Reader is sold in bulk so libraries can place stacks where patron traffic is highest. Subscribing libraries can service even more patrons by sharing digital issues on their websites and in newsletters.

Every issue is packed with easy-to-read articles featuring titles that will already be on your shelves. This is a little different from Booklist, which offers pre-publication reviews and timely articles used for collection development in addition to readers’ advisory. Did we mention that both magazines are great resources for your own burgeoning TBR list?

You can read the February issue right now. Inside you’ll find these features:  

• Top Romance Fiction
• Top Middle-Grade Fiction
• Recent Business Books
• Family Reads: Old Favorites and New Views on Black History
• Reserve These Reads
• LibraryReads February 2025 Picks
• PBS Books: Black History Month

Are you an ALA member? In January, the ALA announced that digital access to Booklist Reader for personal use will now be part of your membership! So, what can you do with this new member benefit? 

Use Booklist Reader to:

• Identify read-alikes and trend alerts
• Hear from your favorite authors and audiobook narrators
• Read features from our partners: LibraryReads and PBS Books
• Discover great book group books
• Get new ideas for displays ... and more!

Want to see more? We encourage you to take a Booklist Online 2-week free trial to see for yourself how these resources can help your staff and patrons. Subscription options for all our products can be found here. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to write us at info@booklistonline.com.

-The staff at ALA Booklist

“We read everything, so you don’t have to!” 

LibraryReads: March 2025

[Editors Note: With the 15th on a Saturday but today being a holiday, Library Reads released their list on 2/14/25. Since that was also the 2025 Summer Scares Title release day, I am posting the March 2025 LibraryReads 1 business day late. Back to the regularly scheduled LR programming]

      

 It's LibraryReads day and that means four things here on RA for All

1. I post the list and tag it “Library Reads” so that you can easily pull up every single list with one click.
2. I can remind you that even though the newest list is always fun to see, it is the older lists where you can find AWESOME, sure bet suggestions for patrons that will be on your shelf to actually hand to them right now. The best thing about LibraryReads is the compound interest it is earning. We now have hundreds and hundreds of titles worth suggesting right at our fingertips through this archive OR the sortable master list allowing you to mix and match however you want.
3. You have no excuse not to hand sell any LibraryReads titles because there is a book talk right there in the list in the form of the annotation one of your colleagues wrote for you. All you have to say to your patron is, “such and such library worker in blank state thought this was a great read,” and then you read what he or she said.
4. Every upcoming book now has at least 1 readalike that is available to hand out RIGHT NOW. Book talk the upcoming book, place a hold for it, and then hand out that readalike title for while they wait. If they need more titles before their hold comes in, use the readalike title to identify more readalike titles. And then keep repeating. Seriously, it is that easy to have happy, satisfied readers.

So get out there and suggest a good read to someone today. I don’t care what list or resource you use to find the suggestion, just start suggesting books.

Please remember to click here for everything you need to know about how to participate. Click here to see a database of eligible diverse titles sorted by month.

And finally, here is LibraryReads' extremely helpful Resources page.

Now let's get to the March 2025 list.... 

Saltwater: A Novel

Katy Hays

(Ballantine)

A normal family might have stopped visiting Capri after one of them “accidentally” fell off a cliff, but the  Lingates are far from normal. Wealthy enough to shrug off the scandal, they've only become more insular in the decades since. Sarah and Lorna scheme to finally learn the truth, but then Lorna vanishes. This narrative unveils the family's toxicity as it alternates between three POVs.

—Sarah Walker, Indianapolis Public Library, IN

NoveList read-alike: The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha

Now for the rest of the March 2024 list!

Promise Me Sunshine

Cara Bastone

(Dial Press)

Grieving the loss of her best friend, a young woman’s life is turned upside down when she meets a grumpy stranger who swears he can help her live again in this heartwarming, slow-burn romance. This is a beautifully written love story that features the exploration of grief.

—Karen Troutman, LibraryReads Ambassador

NoveList read-alike: PS: I Hate You by Lauren Connolly

The River Has Roots

Amal El-Mohtar

(Tordotcom)

Sisters Esther and Ysabel are among the lucky few to have found their way home after getting lost in the land of Faerie. When Esther falls in love with a stranger, a darkness threatens to separate the sisters forever. An enchanting story of the bonds of sisterhood and the magic of Faerie for readers who love a good riddle song or murder ballad.

—Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, IL

NoveList read-alike: Faeboundby Saara El-Arifi

Broken Country 

Clare Leslie Hall

(Simon & Schuster)

Beth is in mourning due to the death of her son when her first love moves back to town. A chain of events

takes place that alters their lives. Unfolding with the urgency of a thriller, this novel deftly explores topics such as first love, sacrifice, and deep loyalty.

—Theresa Bond, Middlesex Public Library, NJ

NoveList read-alike: All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

All the Other Mothers Hate Me

Sarah Harman

(G.P. Putnam's Sons)

Florence is a washed-up girl group singer and a hot mess. She skates through life, having no qualms about manipulating people to get what she wants. When her son is accused of a horrible crime, she investigates, but with morals so gray, can she actually bring a killer to justice? All the other mothers hate her—with good reason—yet readers will root for her.

—Cari Dubiel, Twinsburg Public Library, OH

NoveList read-alike: Regrets Only by Kieran Scott

The Story She Left Behind 

Patti Callahan Henry

(Atria)

Clara receives a phone call regarding a letter from the mother who abandoned her when she was young and who is now presumed dead. From the moment Clara and her precocious daughter Wynnie arrive in London to get the letter, a series of coincidences change their lives. A novel of love, motherhood, forgiveness, and being open to possibilities while knowing yourself.

—Judy Sebastian, Eastham Public Library, MA

NoveList read-alike: The Cartographer's Secret by Tea Cooper

Wild Dark Shore

Charlotte McConaghy

(Flatiron)

A gripping novel of a father and his children residing on a remote island, frantic to protect the last remaining seeds for future generations. Their lives are disrupted when an injured woman washes ashore. Mutual interest in the natural world enhances their passionate connection, despite a tense urgency for

the truth. An immersive novel of family, nature, and the ties that bind.

—KC Davis, LibraryReads Ambassador, CT

NoveList read-alike: The High House by Jessie Greengrass

Go Luck Yourself

Sara Raasch

(Bramble)

This delightful follow-up to The Nightmare Before Kissmas follows Kris, the other Christmas Prince, and Loch, the Prince of St. Patrick's Day. There's a bit of mystery and political intrigue, as well as passionate banter. Great for readers looking for fun holiday rom-coms with a bit of spice that can be read outside of the winter holidays.

—Katelyn Tjarks, Anne Arundel County Public Library, MD

NoveList read-alike: The Merriest Misters by Timothy Janovsky

The Shots You Take

Rachel Reid

(Carina Adores)

Riley is drowning in grief. Adam—his ex-best friend and first love—slips back into his life, determined to offer support and make amends for some seriously devastating decade-old mistakes. The emotional maturity of these two forty-something men will land perfectly with readers looking for heartfelt romance.

—Jessica Freytag, Granville Public Library, OH

NoveList read-alike: Wake Up, Nat & Darcy by Kate Cochrane

Murder by Memory

Olivia Waite

(Tordotcom)

Dorothy Gentleman, ship’s detective on the Fairweather, is trying to solve a mystery in which the victim has been erased completely. There is a very real possibility that she herself is inhabiting the body of the killer, due to an emergency action by the ship's mind. Waite has come up with something insanely clever and truly original.

—Jill Minor, Washington County Public Library, VA

NoveList read-alike: The Mimicking of Known Successes by Malka Ann Older

Board Bonus picks:

The Dream Hotel

Laila Lalami

(Pantheon) 

Notable Nonfiction: 

Sucker Punch: Essays

Scaachi Koul

(St. Martin's Press)

See our social media for annotations of the bonus picks

Click here to see the entire Hall of Fame

The LibraryReads Hall of Fame designation honors authors who have had multiple titles appear on the monthly LibraryReads list since 2013. When their third title places on the list via library staff votes, the author moves into the Hall of Fame. Click here to see the Hall of Fame authors organized in alpha order.

The Jackal's Mistress: A Novel

Chris Bohjalian

(Doubleday)

Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave

Elle Cosimano

(Minotaur Books)

Fan Service

Rosie Danan

(Berkley)

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter

Stephen Graham Jones

(Simon & Schuster)

Ward D

Freida McFadden

(Poisoned Pen Press)

Kills Well with Others

Deanna Raybourn

(Berkley)

When the Moon Hits Your Eye

John Scalzi

(Tor Books)

Just Our Luck

Denise Williams

(Berkley)

This Book Will Bury Me

Ashley Winstead

(Sourcebooks Landmark)