New Issue of Booklist is Packed with Resources

This month Booklist has 3 spotlights and they are for VERY popular genres. You can check out all the details and see linked lists that you can use immediately with patrons below via Booklist Reader. All the links are there for you. And remember, every list is annotated. Those annotations are there for you to use to book talk the titles. That is not "cheating." Using resources to help patrons is the literal definition of what we do as library workers. Since Booklist is run by librarians, under the umbrella of the ALA, they completely understand this. They want you to use their lists this way. They are there to help you help readers.

At the very least, the information in this issue will help you to get up to speed on romance, sports and travel books. Again, some of our most popular leisure reading areas. And travel in particular is HUGE right now, since people cannot physically go places, they are eager to read about them.

Finally a reminder, most of your library's subscribe to Booklist in print and yet, a HUGE number of you don't have access to the digital simply because you don't have access to the password. It comes with the magazine subscription. I realize that library organizational structure means that the tech services staff have the login info but don't pass it on to the front line staff. I have been there. I once spent 2 days trying to track down who had the information I needed in order to get my online access started. [And that was just at a midsized, 1 branch  library where I was a supervisor!]

Please go to  your supervisors and figure out how every public desk can get the login for Booklist Online installed on their computers. This is an invaluable resource to help patrons, with immediate access to thousands of reviews at all age levels-- all written to the best reader for the book. You are paying for the access. Use it. Why would we leave money on the table? You are not taking advantage of your subscription. 

And for those who are nervous to approach those in charge too ask, use this post as a way to begin the conversation. "Becky told me to ask!" See it's right here in print. 

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The Latest Booklist: Spotlight on Romance, Focus on Sports, and Focus on Travel

The special September 1 & 15 double issue of Booklist is now live. We are twice as excited for this issue’s spotlight on romance with focuses on sports and travel. Inside, we have top-10 lists of both the year’s best romance debuts and the year’s best romance novels for adult and youth readers. Be sure to also check out a core collectionon the ever-expansive romance genre, compiled by Booklist reviewer John Charles; prolific author Tiffany D. Jackson’s Writers & Readers column, in which she reminiscences on first love; and Heather Booth’s list of listen-alikes for You Say It First, by Katie Cotugno and read by Jorjeana Marie and Kirby Heyborne, which will surely give you all the feels. Plus, Michael Cart charts the rise of LGBTQ+ YA romances in the latest Carte Blanche. 

Our focus on sports inspires Ronny Khuri to serve up a trend-alert list of blazing sports-themed YA romances. Also in this issue, Booklist reviewer Miriam Aronin interviews author Arthur A. Levine and illustrator Kevin Hawkes about their latest title, The Hanukkah Magic of Nate Gadol. Finally, it’s time to grab a blank TBR list: Taylor Crossley has amassed all upcoming youth titles in our annual Fall Youth Preview. 

The September 1 & 15 double issue of Booklist is live on Booklist Online, where you’ll find all of these new features and columns, along with 501 new reviews. Most articles will be free to all for the next two weeks—to have unrestricted access, you’ll need to log in. If you aren’t yet a subscriber, or do subscribe but haven’t registered for access, you can take care of that today!

You can also find the complete magazine online! Booklist’s digital edition of the September 1&15 issue is live. It’s a great way to explore the magazine from your iPhone, iPad, tablet, Samsung Galaxy, or any other internet-connected device. With the digital issue, subscribers will now get print, online, digital, and archival access to the 22 Booklist and four Book Links issues each year! Visit www.booklistonline.com.