Get This Short and Busy Week Off To A Fast Start With BEA Galley Guide and NPR Books Survey on Comics and Graphic Novels

This is an extremely busy week. Not only is BEA beginning-- and whether you are going or not, there is plenty of news that will be flying at all of us-- but all of you are also either starting summer reading today, or gearing up to begin it very soon [my local library begins Friday night!]

So let's kick it off with a few things that are both fun and get our brains moving. I know this is the beginning of the very busy summer for all of us, but we need to find ways to stay engaged and capture the joy of what we do as RA specialists-- spreading a love of books and reading!

click here for the pdf of the guide

BookExpo America starts tomorrow and that means Barbara Hoffert has prepared her annual Galley Guide. Even though I am not going, I still signed up for the Galley Guide. Why? To torture myself about everything I am missing. No. Because as I explained in detail in this post last week, whether or not you are present, these galley guides can help you immensely.  I will not repeat myself as to why, go here and learn.

Here is the direct link to Barbara’s Galley Guide of all the books you should be aware of right now for these reasons.

But before you get lost in reading about all the upcoming titles, why not first take a trip down memory lane while also helping NPR build the best list of comics and graphic novels that they can.

From NPR Books:

Here at NPR headquarters in DC, MARVELous IMAGEs and FANTAstic GRAPHICS are dancing in our heads as we contemplate this year's edition of our famous Summer Reader Poll — who will make the cut? Will it be packed with old favorites or BOOM! Will a DARK HORSE muscle in?

Oh god, we can't keep this up anymore. Let's just come right out and say it: This summer, we're celebrating comics and graphic novels, and we need your help! Whether it's a dogeared childhood treasure, the latest Eisner award winner or the webcomic you binge-read last week, tell us about it using the form on this page.

Based on what you tell us, our expert panel of comics creators, reviewers — and geeks — will curate a final list of 100 favorite comics.

But before you get clicking, let's establish some canon...

Click here to read the rules and to nominate your 5 favorites.

I am pleading all of you library workers out there to get in on this. Please contribute your favorites to the poll so that we get as wide a list as possible.  Millions of people will see this list. For many it may be their first brush with graphic novels and comics. Let’s get our expert voice in there because goodness knows when NPR releases their “Expert” top 100, it will not include a librarian voice [even though I know a few librarians who are bigger experts in the world of graphic novels and comics than some writers and illustrators are], so we have to make ourselves heard in this poll.

Besides, it will be super fun. I have already submitted one response and am thinking carefully about the others I will enter. And if you have read this blog for more than a hot second, you know what that #1 choice was, but just in case, you could click here to see.

Speaking of having a busy week, I am posting this with my 30 minutes of free wifi at Midway airport as I get ready to lead 2 days of training in Tampa.  Details over the next 2 days here on the blog, along with some bonus non RA Roadshow content too.

Safe travels to all who are going to BEA including all of my Library Reads friends.