Resource Alert: BuzzFeed Books for Conversation Starters

I normally avoid BuzzFeed, mostly because it is too much for me-- too busy, too much information, too distracting. But, recently, I was reminded that they have a useful 2x a week "Books" newsletter. [Honestly, I cannot remember where I heard about it most recently, but I think it was a podcast.]

I subscribed, and so far, I have been glad I did. You can click here for their books coverage, but I wanted to point out a few of the articles and lists which I found the most useful in the past month or so:

• 18 Under-the-Radar Books That Deserve More Hype includes ACTUAL under-the-radar books with annotations for you to use as you suggest them to readers. Use this list to seed a display or list of your own. Use it is a conversation starter with staff and patrons. Take their answers to increase the display. But also, use the post as a shopping list as well. Buy these books and promote them as under-the-radar.
• "It's An Absolute Masterpiece": People Are Sharing The One Book They'll Forever Recommend For Others To Pick Up And Read. BuzzFeed goes on Reddit so I don't have to! What another great idea for displays, conversation starters, and interactive display ideas. Again, use their titles to start the display and ask everyone else to contribute their titles to make it a locally, crowd-sourced list.
• 14 Books That Made BookTokers Forget They Were Reading. A twist on using BookTok for recs. In this case, BuzzFeed is searching for more than just the most popular books, they are helping us to find books people are using to get back into reading. 

What these lists all have in common is that they are about starting conversations about books and reading. Yes they post a bunch of lists like everyone else, but they also balance it with these great ideas. You can use BuzzFeed books to help you get started with more interactive displays and RA service. They give you an eye-catching talking point and the books to start the display or list. Then you just have to run with it. 

If nothing else, BuzzFeed books coverage reminds us that people love to talk about books as much as they love to read them. We often forget this as we work in the library. Our patrons want a chance to TALK about the books they love, the books they are excited about, the books they found fascinating. We are the perfect place for them to do this talking, and yet, too many libraries don't encourage this type of sharing, this dialog, this relationship building.

The excuse is often that it is too hard and we don't have enough time. Well, subscribe to the BuzzFeed Books Newsletter and I just countered your excuse.

Click here for their books page or here to sign up for the newsletter.