Brand New Program Debuts Today: Taking It To the Streets

This morning I will be debuting a brand new program for the Maine Regional Library System-- Taking It To the Streets: Adult Programming Outside the Library.

I am very excited to finally have a reason to create this program.  I originally proposed it for PLA 2014, but it was not accepted.  I have to say I was honestly surprised that it was not accepted.  Not because I am so awesome, but because our programs like Trivia Night and Book Lovers Club are among the programs I get asked about the most by other librarians.

Well, no more waiting.  Here is the link to the slides, or you can click on the first slide below.  And ironically, later tonight I will be hosting an election night edition of Trivia Night.

If you are interested in my Taking It To The Streets program, contact me and we can talk about how I can bring it to your library.

[Editor’s Note: If you signed up for the webinar, I also sent your 2 examples of the "visual round” for Trivia Night]

World Book Night is Only 20 Days Away!

This week, Kathy and I wore our fabulous World Book Night T-shirts to our monthly Trivia Night for the BPL. Although we knew it was too late to recruit other givers, we wore them to begin the process of explaining World Book Night to the community and to start the conversation.

In case you don’t know what World Book Night is yourself, click here to see exactly how we spread the love of reading from person to person on April 23rd every year.

Here is my full recap, with pictures [including of the aforementioned t-shirts] of how things went on April 23rd, 2013 for last year’s World Book Night.

Personally, I have been a giver since the US World Book Night began.  As a staff, we have 10 volunteers who signed up to be givers this year, and our library is an official pick-up location for givers throughout our community.  So as a team, The BPL is doing quite a bit to spread the love of reading and encourage a community conversation about books and reading.

But even if your library is not a pick-up location and/or you don’t know any givers yourself, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t jump on the World Book Night bandwagon. I mean the entire night is built for libraries to take advantage of in order to promote themselves, whether or not you are officially involved.

Right now the team over at WBN has begun to promote the day and its purpose like crazy.  Go here to see a list of kick off events.  And, click here to read about Amy Poehler signing on to be the honorary chairperson of WBN. These are just 2 examples.  The WBN team is doing to work of putting the importance of books and reading into the mass media spotlight for you...TAKE ADVANTAGE!

Help carry this buzz into the walls of your particular library by posting signs about WBN; you can click here for promotional materials like posters, proclamations, etc...  Even if you are not physically participating in the event, you are working at a library, so it behooves you to use the buzz to your advantage.  The library is a natural place to talk about books, reading, and events that surround these topics. And they have done all the PR and Marketing work for you.

Go to the WBN official site and educate yourself on the event. Talk to people about it.  Try to find out if there are givers signed up in your community.  One of the best ways to do that is to find the pick-up locations (libraries or bookstores) nearest to your location.  Contact them and see if you can help them distribute books.  You will find out who the book lovers in your area are and then engage them in conversation.  Talk to them about books and book promotion.  Get their contact info for future programs and promotions at your library.

One of the reasons we wanted to be a pickup site at the BPL was to gather this exact data about the biggest “book people” in our service area.  By being a pick-up location, we have their names, we see them as they get their books, and we can develop a relationship with these uber-readers.  Strengthening your ties and relationships with book supporters can only help your library in the long run.

So get involved with World Book Night.  You still have 20 days.  It is not too late to spread the love of reading person to person.  Heck, it’s never too late; I do it each and every day!

World Book Night is Just Around the Corner

Click here for details!

I can't believe it, but the second annual US participation in World Book Night is just around the corner.  How do I know?  Yesterday I got my official notice that I was accepted as a giver again this year.

So were a few other people at the library (employees and patrons). Like last year we tried to all request different books and then agreed to pool our resources, mix up giveaway boxes of a few different tiles, and then spread out across Berwyn to hand out books.

We will not know the title we have each been given for a few more days, but it really doesn't matter.  Last year we had 3 different titles and people were so happy to be offered a free book.

World Book Night is great PR for reading, for book publishing, and for the library.  But you know me, I'm all about the library, so that's where I will focus right now.

Although at the BPL we do a great job bringing the library to the people with things like Book Lover's Club, Trivia Night, school visits, and appearances at all major city festivals, there is no better way to promote the library, its services, and its awesome staff (I will not apologize for saying so myself) then by going to people where they already are going about their lives (the grocery store, the train station, the YMCA, etc...) and simply handing them a book...for free...no strings attached!

Like you saw in yesterday's post, while people expect more than just books from the library, 80% still feel that books are VERY IMPORTANT.  Books are our brand.  It is what people first think of when they hear the word library.  To be able to leave the building and get out into the community to spread this core message at no extra cost to us is an invaluable opportunity to promote ourselves along with reading.

Here's a quote from World Book Night's own page entitled, Why is World Book Night Important?:

Why does World Book Night exist? Reading for pleasure improves literacy, actively engaging emerging readers in their desire to read. Reading changes lives, improves employability, social interaction, enfranchisement, and can have a positive effect on mental health and happiness. Book readers are more likely to participate in positive activities such as volunteering, attending cultural events, and even physical exercise. 

Or more simply put, books are fun—and they can be life-changing.

Ahh, music to my ears.  This statement is my life's work. Even I have days when I question the "importance" of my professional life devoted to leisure reading.  I am equally as trained to be a hard core reference librarian. [I was a law librarian for three years before finishing my Masters degree.] Some may say this is a "higher" job.  But I say NO.  Statements like the one above (which is footnoted to a study here) remind me that what I do-- what all of you do-- is vital to American society.  I help to create happier, healthier, and more involved citizens.  And I get to do it with books!  It's a dream come true.

So thank you World Book Night from me, from my patrons, and from those unsuspecting people who I will be encountering on the evening of April 23, 2013. I am honored and excited to be part of such a wonderful celebration of the life-changing nature of books.


You can click here for all of the World Book Night details.  And I will have updates on the titles we will be giving out and the locations where we will be soon here on RA for All.

BPL Display: Books in Translation and BPL RA Road Show Part 2

As I have mentioned before, we are using the theme of Novel Destinations for the Adult Summer Reading Program.  We have had our on-going Around the World in 80 Murders Display as well as a great display on Westerns which proved fairly popular.

Now we have Betty's take on a unique "Novel Destination"-- books in translation.  Here are her thoughts and a link to the list:

A translator must convey an author’s thoughts into another language in a way that is authentic to the author’s meaning, and that stays true to the author’s style and culture. Some authors will let only one person translate their work and are willing to wait years, if necessary, for that person to be available.  The list is here: Literature without Borders – Books Translated from Other Languages

 I also want to give readers of the blog a heads up on our second BPL RA Roadshow of the summer.  After the great success of Trivia Night, we are excited about the energy and interest surrounding our Book Lovers Club set to meet on Tuesday, July 12th at 7pm at Olive or Twist.  Click here for more details.

Anyone is welcome to come, Berwyn resident or not.  We won't discuss one book, but instead come ready to share what you are reading or a book you just love.  Then stay to mingle and chat with other book lovers.  This eclectic martini bar offers a refreshing backdrop to thoughtful literary conversations.  And if the weather is nice, we will sit on the patio! There will be snacks provided by the library, but you are welcome to order dinner for yourself.  Again, like Trivia Night, drinks are on you; we can't buy you alcohol with tax payer money.

Kathy and I will be there to get the conversation started.  We will also keep track of the books mentioned as well as a bit of what each person says about their book(s).  I will post those the list and comments here on the 13th, so if you can't make it, you can still be part of the conversation.

Hope to see you there.

Young Adults Are Still Reading...Shocking?

As reporter everywhere yesterday, the Pew Internet and American Life Project released a report about the reading habits of 16 to 29 year olds.  Click here for the full report.

One of the the things that the mainstream media has found "shocking" in this report is that these 16-29 year olds are using the library in large numbers.

However, those of us who work in public libraries were not "shocked" by this data.  We know young people are coming to our libraries and our websites.  They are hooked on their smart phones and tablets and cannot afford to keep buying books.  They turn to us for content they can borrow.

We also know that since they are always looking at their smart phones that they have more time to read.  I see it with our patrons and staff in this age bracket.  They load books on their phones so that they can read whenever they have some downtime.

But there is a larger problem here, one I have been warning people about for years, and the mainstream media simply underscored it with their "shock."  The fact that those who create the mainstream media reports (who happen to be more in the 35-55 age group) were shocked that young people still use the library shows me that they are NOT using it.

Why should you care?  Well, these people are the leaders in our communities.  Those who run for election and, more importantly, those who vote.  I will be running for reelection to my local library board this Spring and have already turned in my candidate data sheet.  One of the areas of concern I identified is exactly this age group.  We need to get them to the library more than just to drop off their kids.  They need to understand the library is still relevant in their lives.

These media reports simply prove that, unfortunately, I am correct.  This age group does not visit the library for themselves.  If they did, the shock at the 16-29 year olds visiting would not be reported. As a member of this age group myself, I see this proven all too often.  I am constantly working to convince my friends that the library is useful to them.  When I succeed, and they actually go for themselves (not just for a kids' program), they also express "shock" at how "great" the library is.

Arrrrgh. It has happened more times than I can count.  It gets very frustrating.  I feel like I am making no headway.

The good news here is that we have only lost one generation.  The one behind them is loving the library.  But this also means that while the great work libraries have been doing building strong YA collections and services over the last 10 years has worked, it is now time to shift focus and get those 35-55 year olds back before they strike down more ballot initiatives.

Trivia Night at the Garv-Inn run by the RA Department of the BPL is one of those things we do to capture this age group. Our largest age group representation at these monthly events is in this 35-55 age range.  Trivia Night is fun, involves drinking, but is close to home.  It also makes the library look like we get them.  Low key hanging out with friend, a little bit of competition, and a whole lot of laughing.  I think it helps that Kathy and I are at the low end of this age group.  We are just the right age to be "cool" (to them at least), but not so young to be threatening.

We tried another yesterday.  In celebration of National Friends of the Library Week, the Friends opened a "Take A Book, Leave A Book" shelf at the commuter train station.  Pictured on the right, this shelf is there to offer free books, but more importantly, to remind adults that the library is there if they need it.  You can take a book for free at the train station, but if you want more, our address is there.  It is like a welcome wagon from the Friends to the community, saying, "It's okay to come to the library; but if you can't make it, we have brought a tiny bit of it to you."  I will be hanging signs about our upcoming ebook reader programs on the shelf too.

The point here, I am glad the Pew study came out.  It validates the money and effort libraries have been putting into our service to teens for the last decade.  It has worked; we got them hooked on us for life.  But now it is time to shift gears and work on the 35-55 year olds we have lost along the way.

Hey Smartypants! Come to Trivia Night

As promised, Kathy and I are taking all of the greatness that is the BPL RA Dream Team out of the building at 2701 S. Harlem to visit some "novel destinations"in the wonderful City of Berwyn.  Our goal is to bring the library to the people, and show everyone how much fun they are missing!

Our first stop is The Garv-Inn on Tuesday night (6/14) at 7pm. (Details on Facebook)  You do not need to be a Berwyn resident to attend.  The more the merrier.  We have donated prizes from some "novel destinations," we will have pizza, and they have a bar. (Sorry folks, we can't use tax payer money for booze; you are one your own there.)

What more could you ask for on a Tuesday night?  You should come if for no other reason than to see me play Vanna White to Kathy's Pat Sajak.

Walk-ins accepted.  I hope to see you there.

BPL: Coolest Library in the Land

Look at what Kathy and I found when we got to Trivia Night last night!

The BPL has its own drink special. We are so proud.

Our goal for the RA Dream Team  is to be the librarians that think outside the box for services. We want to provide the traditional services of a librarian, like reference and RA, but in unique ways. 

With the one two punch of trivia (reference) and giving out Friends of the Library donated books as prizes (we do quick RA interviews to match the books we have to the winners as best we can) this qualifies.  And add to the fact that it comes with its own beverage special...go us.

Cheers!

*This post was updated on 9/5. Original post was done quickly from the mobile blogger platform.

Monday Discussion: National Friends of the Library Week

I wear two hats at the BPL.  The first is as a Readers' Advisory librarian.  But I also have the important responsibility of being the library's liaison to the Friends of the Berwyn Library.

This week is National Friends of the Library Week.  To celebrate, the staff at the BPL is spending the week thanking the Friends for all they do.  Each department has created a thank you sign to post at their desks, and I have a large wipe board out near the entrance of the library asking patrons to leave their thanks to the Friends.

The Friends themselves have a few things planned including a program on Saturday, and the grand opening of their "Take a Book, Leave a Book" shelf at one of the commuter train stations, on Tuesday morning.

But from the library's perspective, we are spending our time this week by thanking them.  So for today's Monday Discussion, take a moment to thank the Friends group from your library.  These volunteers spend their time to make their communities' libraries better and stronger purely out of the goodness of their hearts.

I will begin.  I want to thank the Friends for their dedication to the BPL.  But specifically, I want to thank them for making Kathy's and my dream of a monthly Trivia Night a reality.  We could never afford to run this event more than once or twice a year without them.  And being able to bring the library to a bar once a month, raising our exposure, and showing the community that the library can be fun, is a huge boon for the Library.  Thank you so much for believing in us enough to give us $1,000 of the money you raise to sponsor a year's worth of Trivia Nights.

Now it's your turn.  Leave your thanks in the comments below.

ALA 2013: Take-Aways

I have been gathering my notes from the conference and really thinking about them in the context of how they will help me at my job as a readers' advisor for adults and teens.

One thing I learned is that we do a pretty good job providing services to readers at the BPL.  For our size and budget, our patrons get excellent RA service. But everyone has room for improvement. And while many of you look to me for advice and ideas, I look to you, my colleagues, for the same.  In fact, I went out of my way NOT to present at ALA this year so that I could spend my time learning from others.  And I am happy to say, I got a lot out of my time.

I thought it would be best for me, and hopefully others, if I compiled my top takeaways. To that end, the following is a list of things I am confident our BPL RA Dream Team can tackle in the near future:

• We can try at least 2 (if not more) ideas from the 20 programs for $20 list with our teens. Not only are the ideas great, but the handouts have videos and step by step instructions.  There is very little planning to do here. I am particularly interested in having a gross out program in October and making marshmallow shooters. The later I think we can somehow incorporate into our Ready Player One Community Reads programming. And I am totally asking if we can have a casino candy program.  If the library administration won't let me do it, I am going to try to get the Friends to run it. 
• I am going to use volunteer match to try to find specific volunteers for the library as suggested by the Sacramento Public Library.
• And from the same program, we are having a fundraising spelling bee.  I have already talked to our fearless leader, Kathy, about it and she is excited too. This will probably best be done as part of our regular Trivia Night on the first Tuesday of the month, but we need to wait until 2014 to do it right.
• From the Leading Readers to Water Program:
• Treat book news like current events and make a Book News Board
• Put stickers at the end of books that say, "If you just enjoyed this book and are looking for your next read, may we suggest..." and include our logo.  Each of us already have many lists we have created with readalikes that are posted on the Browsers Corner, but putting them directly in the book for readers to see as they turn the final page saves them a step. This is my favorite takeaway from the conference.  As soon as we can set up a template, I am using my reviews from this blog to make these stickers.
• Clearly mark books in a series with their number order! Why should they have to come over and ask for a list?
• Use a prize wheel at the RA desk! We are so buying one.  
• I will use everything James Klise taught me about what boys likes to read every time I work with a male reader.  I am also going to try to see if he can repeat his talk, especially the survey he did with his boy patrons, for ARRT in 2014.
• After the RUSA genre program, I am more committed than ever to remove the shelving by genre of books at the BPL.  I was happy to walk into this program and see our head of Collection Management there. We are beginning the back-end cataloging work that will make this transition easier, and she is spear heading that.  It will happen, so I am willing to be more patient about it now.  I was happy to hear from the authors during this program about how they use (or wish they did not use) genre as writers and readers.
• Finally, this is not a takeaway that I can use at work, but I have to comment on it.  Thanks to Ann Patchett's admission that reading was her only hobby, I will never again feel badly that it is also mine.

I should end by saying these are not the only things I will takeaway from ALA 2013, but they are the things that I am confident we can handle.  One of the biggest mistakes you can make after attending an energizing class or conference is to run back to your library and then bite off more than you can chew.  You will end up converting all of that happy energy into angry frustration.

So whether you went to the conference yourself, or you followed it virtually through me and other sites, please sit back and take some time to synthesize what you learned and think about how and if you can apply it to your work.

Monday Discussion: 1980s Popular Materials

We are fully entrenched in Ready Player One mode here at the BPL as the Berwyn Reads! programming has begun in earnest. 

Tomorrow, Kathy and I are hosting an 1980s themed Trivia Night at Garv Inn at 7pm.  

Although the questions have already been prepared, I thought I would continue the 80s fun here on the Monday Discussion and let people list their favorite books, music, TV and movies from the decade.

To help kick it all off I found this fun website for all things 80s. I particularly like this list of the best selling books of the decade, separated out by year and nonfiction vs fiction.

But help add to these lists.  For today's Monday Discussion share your favorite 1980s popular culture moments.

Click here for past Monday Discussions

Berwyn Public Library: No Longer a "Shhh!" Place

This week, the library was the COVER STORY in our local newspaper.  Click here for the article.

After years of Tammy and I and now Kathy fighting to reshape the library's image as a fun and vibrant place, people are finally getting it.  Props to Kathy for getting her catch phrase as the title.  In the RA Department we don't Shhh! anyone; in fact we encourage conversation.

The article begins with a nod to our fabulous Book Lover's Club (which meets again on March 30th, by the way) and also mentions Trivia Night (which meets again March 6th), both of which are run by the BPL RA Dream Team.

So today, I just wanted to toot our horn! And remind you that the Library is a vibrant place.  Come join us for some fun.  Yes we have books and some designated quiet areas off in the corners of the basement, but for the most part you will find us smiling and chatting about what we are reading, watching, and listening to.

Please feel free to share with me some of  the ways your library is trying to shake the "Shhh!" label.

On a related note, we conceived our Book Lover's Club to be a social club for people who like books.  We hoped that by simply coming together to informally share books, people would not only find their next good read, but also meet some new friends.  After 4 meetings this is starting to happen.  Kathy and I couldn't be happier; we are bringing people together through books.  It is a dream come true.

Here's an event for book lover's in NYC which takes our social club to the next logical step...Literary Speed Dating.  If I weren't already happily married, this would be my kind of dating scene.

Have a great weekend.

Developing Library Collections For Today’s Young Adults

Today I have been working from home preparing for the Genre Study on Thursday and Trivia Night tonight, but right now I am taking a very productive lunch break by viewing the live broadcast of a free Webinar from Booklist entitled, “Developing Library Collections For Today’s Young Adults.”  You will be able to find it archived here on Monday.

The presenter is Amy Pattee, Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at Simmons College.

If you can’t wait, here is the link to the slides.

I am part way through, but it is very informative.  I like how it is focused on how to develop a collection and NOT focused on what is hot right now.  What is hot now for YAs changes so fast.  Also, I have tools like the ones I listed here to do figure that out.

What Ms. Pattee is giving us here is very useful, nitty gritty details of how you craft and maintain the best YA collection for your community, no matter what the trends are.

I don’t know about you, but being newer to the whole YA collection management thing, this is information I was in desperate need of.  The skills I have [and even use to train others] for collection development in adult leisure reading collections is not enough to work with our YA collection.

If you work with collections for teens, use the links above to see how Ms. Pattee can help you.

I’m done multi-tasking.  Back to focused viewing...

*****Addition after I finished viewing*******

Ms. Pattee talked about “secret classics” in fiction-- books you need to make sure you have and don’t weed.  She suggested looking at the Margaret E. Edwards winners for lifetime achievement to teen readers as the place to start identifying classics for teens.  But then in the Q and A I saw someone mention that they pull out classics and put them on a separate shelf for teens.

Interestingly, I just saw this in action at the Youth Department of the Oak Park Public Library and thought it was a neat idea for kids, never thinking it applied to my work.  Well, now I see that it does. I think that would work VERY well in the BPL Teen room. I am going to bring it up soon.

The idea behind doing this is to have a place where parents and teens can go to find the best of the old stuff, but it also means you have more of a current collection in the larger mass of teen fiction. The smaller the collection, the easier it is for anyone to browse.  Teens will have better luck helping themselves is they know the classics are on one shelf and all the rest is the more current popular reads.  You will have a leaner and more dynamic collection for them to browse. And, although we love to help them find their next great read, they are always going to prefer to help themselves.  I am committed to do anything I can to help them in the manner they want to be helped. Are you?

So along with the very practical weeding and collection development advice I got today, I also have a concrete idea about making our browsing collection more useful. Hour well spent.

RA for All at ILA Annual

Hello from Springfield, IL where I am currently attending and working at the Illinois Library Association Annual Conference. As a presenter and a member of the ILA Board, I will be very busy, but busy in a GREAT way because all of it is about helping and working with my Illinois Library people. 

I will be off from posting on the regular blog here during the conference, although I will be taking notes throughout the 3-day conference and at some point after the eventI will have a post or 2 with comments.

However, for fresh content, remember, I do have plenty happening on 31 Days of Horror throughout ILA Annual, including a giveaway on Thursday. 

I also have pens and stickers. You can acquire some at my 2 presentations (along with LibraryReads swag) or by stopping me and asking for them as I am wandering around the conference. 

In terms of specific things I am presenting at or hosting, here is a list:

• Tuesday morning your coffee and tea is brought to you by....me... RA for All. You're welcome.
• Panel: Connect, Collaborate, Thrill, and Chill with the HWA and Their Not-So-Scary Friends
• Tuesday, October 24th, 1:30-2:30pm
• Access to all presenters slides
• Trustee Day: I will be checking in all of the Trustees at Breakfast and Lunch and assisting with both events.
• Program: Cultivate Belonging: How We Moved EDI Initiatives from Training to Action
• Thursday, October 26th, 3-4pm
• Access to all presenters slides

I will also be at Tuesday morning's, keynote, the awards luncheon, Wednesday's ILA member meeting w/ the President's Program Speaker, Trivia night, and the Ghost Walk. This list is NOT comprehensive.

Everything else anyone, anywhere wants to know about ILA Annual is here.

I hope to see you there if you are an IL library person. But if you are not, as you can see, I did make he slides for everyone on the panels I organized available to view. Please take advantage of those links.

The Review I Decided Not To Write

As I get closer to being caught up with reviews, I thought today I would tackle the book I read this year that I decided not to review.  Let me explain...

Back in June, I posted here about how I was going to finally read The Hunger Games.  I did.  And, as planned, I read it with my 10 year old.  I had some short questions we talked about after every chapter or 2.  I had originally hoped we would read A Wrinkle in Time together for its 50th Anniversary.  I even told her, knowing her reading tastes, I thought she would enjoy A Wrinkle in Time more, but she insisted, Hunger Games was the book for her.

As I thought, she loved the build up in the Hunger Games; she loved the world building and details right up to the start of the games themselves.  Once the games began, she lost interest.  I literally had to force her to finish it.  We checked out a Nook from the public library, which came loaded with The Hunger Games and the novelty of reading it that way, made her finish it.  She has no desire to read the rest.

[On a side note, later this summer she read A Wrinkle in Time on her own and absolutely loved it.]

We talked a bit about what she didn't like about it, and mostly it was the romance angle.  Yes the violence turned her off a little.  The struggling to survive back in the District part she got, but the forced survival in the games, did not hold her interest.  However, she really didn't get the whole falling in love thing.  So when Katniss pretends to love Peeta so they can win together, my daughter didn't understand why Katniss switched her opinion on him so fast.

This was an age issue, as I thought it would be.  She has read plenty of YA books and loved them, most notably the Leviathan series by Scott Westerfeld. But I knew there was a love plot line in The Hunger Games, and, quite honestly, it is a lot easier to feel the tension in a real conflict like WWI in Leviathan over a constructed reality TV show.  Even a 10 year old can see through that.

Ahh, that last comment hints a bit as to why I decided not to write a review of The Hunger Games.  The truth of the matter is, I really did not like this book.  Some of that dislike comes from the fact that I have read far too many dystopian novels, and this one does not measure up.  But more importantly, I am a reader for character, and one of my problems here is that while some characters are given quite a bit of development, others are not.  Specifically, most of the other contestants, especially the "bad guys" are very stereotypical and surface. Also as a parent, I did not believe that the residents of this world would have gotten to a point where they allowed their children to be killed off so easily.

Enough of my opinion though because my opinion is only part of why I write these reviews.  I write these reviews to explain why someone would like a specific book and to help you to match the best type of reader with that book.  In this case I feel like others have already done a better job at this than I could possibly do.  Specifically, Christi's Reading Map that she did for my class really gets to the heart of the series' appeal.

Anything I could say would not help in the RA conversation surrounding this series.  I may have a lot to say in general here on the blog, but I also know when to shut up and listen.  That's what I did here.  In fact, I have used Christi's Reading Map and other resources to help many readers who love The Hunger Games to find more great reads.

So boys and girls, that's my tale of the review I decided not to write.

Now I am off to do our last Trivia Night of the year.

Library Reads: August 2014

I have been on vacation, which would also explain why my past week or so posts have all gone up in a timely fashion [yay, pre-programmed posting], so I missed being able to post the August list right when it came out.

Here it is today. Also, your friendly monthly reminder to use past lists to help a patron who can't tell you more than they just want a good read.  These are just that, good reads that are librarian approved.

Click here for my archive. There is now one full year of lists!! And I have already used these lists more than I ever used the NYT bestseller list to help a patron. I am serious, I have used the Library Reads List more times in 1 year to help  patron than I have used any best seller list to help a patron in 14 years!

August 2014 LibraryReads List

One Kick: A Novel

by Chelsea Cain

Published: 8/19/2014
by Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781476749785

“Kick Lannigan survived being kidnapped as a child. Now, at twenty-one, determined never to be a victim again, she has reinvented herself. Martial arts and weapons handling are just a few of the skills she has learned over the years. Kick catches the attention of John Bishop, a mystery man with access to unlimited funds, and together they go after a cabal of child pornographers. A read-in-one-sitting, edge-of-your-seat thriller.”

Elizabeth Kanouse, Denville Public Library, Denville, NJ

Lucky Us: A Novel

by Amy Bloom

Published: 7/29/2014 by Random House
ISBN: 9781400067244

“Is a family the people you are born to, or the people who you find along the way? That’s what Bloom explores in this novel set in pre- and post-WWII Ohio, Los Angeles, New York and Germany. The story follows resourceful Eva, who was abandoned by her mother at an early age, and her sister Iris, an aspiring actress who tries to find love at a time when her kind of love must be secretive. Every character is beautifully drawn, warm, and believable.”

Kathryn Hassert, Henrietta Hankin Branch Library, Chester Springs, PA

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Heroes Are My Weakness: A Novel

by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Published: 8/26/2014 by William Morrow
ISBN: 9780062106070

“Any Susan Elizabeth Phillips novel is going to make it onto my must-read list, but this one is particularly wonderful, and here’s why: she creates, then cheerfully destroys, the romance cliche of the brooding hero with a dark secret who lives in a crumbling mansion and captivates a plucky heroine. The hero is a horror novelist, and the heroine a failed actress-turned-puppeteer. This warm, witty, comedy-drama is a perfect summer read.”

Donna Matturri, Pickerington Public Library, Pickerington, OH

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Lock In

by John Scalzi

Published: 8/26/2014 by Tor
ISBN: 9780765375865

“There’s been a good run of fantasy and science fiction books this year. Joining the list of great fantastical reads is John Scalzi’s Lock In. Scalzi is best known for his military SF (especially the Old Man’s War series), so his latest is a change of pace. A blending of SF and police procedural that hits every note just right.”

Jane Jorgenson, Madison Public Library, Madison, WI

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The Miniaturist: A Novel

by Jessie Burton

Published: 8/26/2014 by Ecco
ISBN: 9780062306814

“A dollhouse whose figures and furnishings foretell life events, mysterious notes, family secrets and the powerful guild and church of 1686 Amsterdam. All these elements combine for an engaging story of a young bride’s struggle to be the ‘architect of her own fortune.’”

Elizabeth Angelastro, Manlius Library, Manlius, NY

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Big Little Lies

by Liane Moriarty

Published: 7/29/2014 by Amy Einhorn/Putnam
ISBN: 9780399167065

“A horrible act of violence occurs at the Pirriwee Public School’s trivia night fundraiser for parents, but what happened and who was involved? The novel begins six months before that fateful evening and lets us in on the lives of single mother Jane, divorcee Madeline, and Celeste, who secretly suffers from domestic abuse. Big Little Lies is another page-turning read from Moriarty that had me gasping with surprise at the end.”

Lora Bruggeman, Indian Prairie Public Library, Darien, IL

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The Truth about Leo

by Katie MacAlister

Published: 8/5/2014 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN: 9781402294457

“I always adore Katie MacAlister! Her sense of humor is outstanding, and her heroines have real bodies. This is another installment in the delightful historical Noble series, and it doesn’t disappoint. Fans of humor with their romance are sure to enjoy this regency romp.”

Jessica C. Williams, Westlake Porter Public Library, Westlake, OH

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An Unwilling Accomplice

by Charles Todd

Published: 8/12/2014 by William Morrow
ISBN: 9780062237194

“Bess Crawford, a courageous World War I battlefield nurse, is faced with another complex mystery. A patient about to receive a high honor from the King manages to disappear on Bess’s watch, sending her life into a tailspin. In order to clear her name, she must find the missing patient and find out why he is now accused of murder. Intelligent and fantastic, just like the others in this series!”

Monicah Fratena, La Porte County Public Library, La Porte, IN

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The Magician’s Land: A Novel

by Lev Grossman

Published: 8/5/2014 by Viking Adult
ISBN: 9780670015672

“Even if you haven’t read the first two books in the wonderful Magicians Trilogy, you will enjoy the escapades of Quentin Coldwater. Now 30 years old, Quentin finds himself back at Brakebills, experiencing school from the teacher’s side of the desk. But his adventures are far from over! Although I’m not generally a fantasy reader, I’ve been rooting for Quentin ever since I first picked up this series and am sad to see it end.”

Kelly Currie, Delphi Public Library, Delphi, IN

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The Story Hour: A Novel

by Thrity Umrigar

Published: 8/19/2014 by Harper
ISBN: 9780062259301

“Another beautifully written novel by Thrity Umrigar. A relationship develops between Maggie, a psychologist, and Lakshmi, a troubled Indian woman. As their stories develop, it is hard to figure out which woman does more to impact the other’s life. Highly recommended.”

Ellen Firer, Merrick Library, Merrick, NY

ALA 2013: Leading Readers to Water….Guerilla Marketing for RA

Leading Readers to Water….Guerilla Marketing for RA

This one features my colleagues from the Chicagoland area, people I know and trust.

Speaker: Helen Stewart, Readers' Advisory Librarian, Schaumburg Township District Library
Speaker: Kate Niehoff, Popular Services Librarian, Schaumburg Township District Library
Speaker: Nancy McCully, Schaumburg Township District Library
Speaker: Susan Gibberman, Head of Readers' Advisory, Schaumburg Township District Library

Handouts online here

Helen Stewart began:

• RAs we are engaged in a mighty battle.  We are battling the idea that we have nothing to offer while hundred wait for Dan Brown
• Statistics are down
• On the front lines: Day to Day RA
• Get out into the shelves and see what the patrons see as they browse
• As they browse they only have their reading list as a tool. It is very daunting.
• If we put a great book in the stacks, no reader will ever find it on their own.
• Rise to the challenge as victorious reader leaders.
• Duncan Smith suggests: the standard RA interview should become a thing of the past.  We used to be reactive: Patron- Do you have this book? Us-- Yes. Here it is. Transaction done.
• Instead we should be suggestive, anticipatory [suggest books they may like based on what they ask for], contributory [submit a book review], participatory [join our book club]. Start every transaction as a sales pitch.
• Shelf Talkers our best tool.  She says use Shelf Wiz which is what we use at the BPL.
• Dress up your displays. Make them look nice.  She has a lot of pictures in the powerpoint available with the link above.
• Book News Noticeboard: treat books as a current event. Post pages from magazines like EW with book reviews.
• Engage your readers [participatory]. Use a digital picture frame or even just a chalkboard.
• Paperback Exchange: giveaway paperbacks with all the libraries contact info in the book.  It will give them a way to start an interaction with you without having to talk to you.
• Mark the series order on the books by doing the work for the patron. Not knowing where to begin is a major impediment for readers.
• Face out book display. Do it within the stacks here and there. Patrons do judge books by cover, but also want books to grab quickly.  Face out is good here.
• The have am ipad they can use at the desk with a paired down version of website that they can browse at your desk. Can do it alone or ask questions as they go along.
• Liked the book try this displays.  You can images of the books for the same effect. See screen shot on power point.
• Form based RA: Have them everywhere in paper at the library.  Williamsburg Regional for ideas on what questions to ask.  Remember to add queries about what they don’t like as much as what they do.
• Put customized RA stickers with contact info in the books!  I LOVE THIS You suggest a readalike in the book and when they finish they know where to go next.  Have contact info so they know you did it.
• Or bookmarks with readalikes or info that is pertinent in the books in the stacks.
• Promote yourselves.
• Summer reading is popular.  Use it to collect info when they sign up.
• Annotated book inserts.  Again good picture on ppt. Give a handwritten short review and put it in the book so when they open it they get your staff’s opinion of the book.

Nancy McCully

• Helen gave us ideas about how to introduce books when they are in the library. But how do you help them when they are looking for ebooks or browsing you collection via the online catalog at 2 in the morning.  Your website is a good place.
• Here are our group’s favorites: look at them on ppt
• Boulder Public Library: Look at screen shots on ppt.  There is a huge button on the front page to find a good read.
• Skokie Public Library.  I have blogged about them before.  There are now over 1,000 reviews by staff on their Books We Love site. They have a service called “Fast Match” that suggests a book from their Book We Love reviews.  Online equivalent of discovering a book on a display table.
• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library: Reader’s Club. When you get to the suggested reading lists, you can place a hold, email to a friend, etc..
• Hennepin County Library also includes reader driven suggestion lists.
• Rocky River Public Library-- Reading Room. A little library that does a lot.
• Book Groups: Special Ops
• People who read genre fiction love to talk about what they are reading. Schaumburg has genre book clubs for mystery and romance.  They only meet 4x a year.  The marketing for the crime book group used real morgue toe tags as invites/flyers to club.
• Different libraries who do cook book based discussions.  One library does a cook book, people go home and make some of the food and come back to discuss how it tasted.
• Why not do films.  Read book at home, come to the library to watch the film, and then discuss first.
• Consider books with great audio books and/or ebooks.
• David Wright’s story time for adults. Just drop in.  They are no books to purchase or borrow.  People come to hear a story.
• Consider quarterly book discussions for groups that only read longer books.  Or a group that only meets for a few months and discusses a topic together: the example was Victorian literature.
• Why only hold book groups in conference room?  Do them out in the open so that you can attract attention from people not in the group.  Kathy and Crystal just did this month for our teen book club; they had it out in the open in the teen room.  I observed part of it. It was engaging to others in the room who didn’t even read the book.
• Hold book club somewhere else.
• She mentioned a book club where they take a nature walk and discuss the books as they go.
• If you get your book club people to register, then you can send them info overtime that they might be interested in.

Susan Gibberman:

• The Art of War: Extend upon the physical confines of our desk. Go to where our patrons are.  PR and Outreach.
• Parents love the library (see Pew report from yesterday) but how many of them use the library for themselves.  Put books for the parents where they are with their kids or right in the lobby.
• Prize wheels are an attention getter and are a great way to get people to your desk.  People love to win something. And you can get rid of all old summer reading prizes.
• Go to your town’s big festivals. Bring that prize wheel.  At Berwyn we do go to these.
• Promote your programs and services at the catalog or by the public Internet computers.
• Book a Librarian service. Do one on one training for ebooks or go outside to make presentations at local senior centers.
• Put a page inside your Book Page newspapers and staple it in there. With programs and services.
• Do book related programming. You can even have fun book talk related programs with food.  So a program where you talk about a trend like Fifty Shades and then suggest other books.  Have food.  The combo of trends and food brings people in.
• Try. The worst that can happen is that no one comes.  Don’t let that discourage you. The worst case scenario is that the staff gets a snack.
• Exterior Resources of note:
• NoveList: and the RA Training Section.  Begin with the new ARRT list which just went up on their site.  Nancy, on the panel, worked on this list [as did I].
• The Next Reads newsletters and you can use them to send to patrons.
• Dear Reader.com which is an online book club.  Outside source but customized to your library.  It sends you a couple pages a day from a new book.
• Bookish, which I have just begun using.
• Early Word. Linked here on the blog.  You must use this and follow it.  They have the best daily library based information.
• Epic Reads for teen books and their authors.  Allows authors to communicate directly with readers.  
• It is sometimes difficult to keep up with what is new, so sign up for Net Galley.  I have an account.
• Stop You’re Killing Me! I use it often too. 
• Go to the ppt for the urls to all the resources.

Kate Niehoff

• Technology
• QR Codes. It is easy to put them on things.  They will drive traffic to your website. 
• Reading Maps.  See the BPL’s here. Her example is one for the Night Circus on the ppt.
• Podcasts and videocasts: Topeka Library on slide.
• Live Chat, Instant Messaging for RA
• Facebook: Good ideas. Facebook is about engaging with your patrons. Just post a question that is book related.  People will reply.  Then when you have something to promote, they will pay attention.  Or just post an image and see who likes it.  Some ecards are also popular to post [example on slide]. Don’t just promote your books and services, also promote your librarians. Ask people to post their favorite book and then promise a readalike suggestion within a time frame.
• Twitter: follow area book stores, post when a new bestseller is out.  Use hashtags.  A popular one is #FridayReads.  All over Twitter people do this.  You use the tag and then millions see it.
• Goodreads
• Going Rogue: Other things you can do that don’t fit neatly into what they talked about already
• Summer Reading Games: Ann Arbor PL, online game. They have things to do and get points for it.  It is a great way to show your electronic patrons what you do. DO more than read a book, get a prize.
• eReaders to check out
• She suggested a monthly trivia night at a bar.  We do that!
• The IdeaBox at Oak Park PL.  Ask patrons to interact with the room and the library as a result.  Changes each month. Click here for more.

Post Program Report: Please go see the ppt. It has a lot of info and pictures that I did not get up here.

This program was useful and inspiring!  I have been doing RA for 13 years and I learned a lot here.  I liked how they did not just show what they do at their libraries; they tried to give us a broader picture of  RA all over the country.  While we do some of the things they mentioned at the BPL, Kathy and I still go plenty of new ideas.  I can't wait to try them out.

Library Reads: July 2019

Today is Library Reads day and that means three 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 Library Reads is the compound interest it is earning. We now have hundreds and hundreds of titles worth suggesting right at our fingertips.
3. You have no excuse not to hand sell any Library Reads 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.

Also, the Library Reads Board has also started another great book discovery and suggestion tool for you, a monthly What We're Reading column. This means there are even more library worker approved titles, new and old, for you to choose from. 

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.

Also, please remember to click here for my Library Reads 101 recap for everything you need to know about how to participate. And click here to see a database of eligible diverse titles sorted by month. 

Finally, I wanted to note that this month marks the largest number of Hall of Fame Authors in one month since they began giving authors who have already been on the LR list at least twice a special designation. What I love about this is that by having 6 authors who library workers already know about and adore moved to HoF status, not only do they still get to be on the list, by moving them to an honorary role, but also, we allow, in this case, 6 new authors onto the list. 6 authors that wouldn't have gotten their chance in the spotlight otherwise, 6 authors who more library workers can mow know about and pass on to readers. It's a win-win all around.

July 2019 LibraryReads

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill

by Abbi Waxman

Published: 7/9/2019 by Berkley
ISBN: 9780451491879

“Nina likes her bookish life just fine. She works in a bookstore and is on a highly competitive trivia team. She is funny and snarky and great company (says this reader). Suddenly, a father she never knew dies and leaves her with a pack of brothers and sisters and Nina may be forced out of her comfortable reading chair. For readers who enjoyed Waiting for Tom Hanks by Kerry Winfrey and The Bookshop by Penelope Fitzgerald.”

Eileen Curley, Hagaman Public Library, East Haven, CT
NoveList Read-alike: The Lost for Words Bookshop by Stephanie Butland

The Book Charmer

by Karen Hawkins

Published: 7/30/2019 by Gallery Books
ISBN: 9781982135669

“Sarah is the librarian in a small Southern town called Dove Pond. Her magic is matching the right book to the right reader at the right time in their life. Grace is a city girl, new in town and in need of a little magic herself. For readers who enjoyed The Library of Lost and Found and The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry,.”

Tracy Babiasz, Chapel Hill Public Library, Chapel Hill, NC 

Novelist Read-alike: Any Sarah Addison Allen

The Escape Room: A Novel

by Megan Goldin

Published: 7/30/2019 by St. Martin’s Press
ISBN: 9781250219657

“Highly successful colleagues Sam, Vincent, Sylvie, and Jules are no strangers to the competitive world of high finance but after they become trapped in an elevator escape room they find themselves having to work together. For readers of Tana French, Karin Slaughter, and Harlan Coben.”

KC Davis, Fairfield Woods Library, Fairfield, CT

NoveList Read-alike: Severance Package by Duane Swierczynski

Gods of Jade and Shadow

by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Published: 7/23/2019 by Del Rey
ISBN: 9780525620754

“In 1920s Mexico, a young woman unwittingly awakens a Mayan god and is pulled into his quest for vengeance. The odyssey that follows takes her through the jungles to Mexico City and the underworld as she realizes her inner strength and passion. For readers who enjoyed Uprooted and Circe.”

Emily Plagens, Allen Public Library, Allen, TX 

NoveList Read-alike: Deathless by Cathrynne Valente

How to Hack a Heartbreak

by Kristin Rockaway

Published: 7/30/2019 by Graydon House
ISBN: 9781525834257

“It’s no secret that women in the tech world are undervalued and have to work twice as hard for their success. This persistent problem in the tech industry is tackled here in a pithy and engaging way without diminishing its importance. For readers who liked The Assistants by Camille Perri.”

Josie Myers, Greenwood Public Library, Greenwood, IN 

NoveList Read-alike: My Favorite Half-Night Stand by Christina Lauren

The Lager Queen of Minnesota: A Novel

by J. Ryan Stradal

Published: 7/23/2019 by Pamela Dorman Books
ISBN: 9780399563058

“A heartwarming and witty novel with a distinctly Minnesotan feel, the author follows two sisters and their grandmother who become involved in the brewing industry. For readers who loved Where’d You Go Bernadette.”

Katelyn Boyer, Fergus Falls Public Library, Fergus Falls, MN

NoveList Read-alike: Clock Dance by Anne Tyler

Layover

by David Bell

Published: 7/2/2019 by Berkley
ISBN: 9780440000860

“Joshua’s life has become a predictable pattern of departures and arrivals, a lot of his time spent in airports until he meets Morgan on a layover and there is an instant connection. during a layover, with whom he feels a deep connection. The next time he sees her is on the news as a missing person. For readers who liked Faithful Place by Tana French and Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker.”

Michelle Magnotta, Mamaroneck Public Library, Mamaroneck, NY 

NoveList Read-alike: The Girl with a Clock for a Heart by Peter Swanson

Lock Every Door: A Novel

by Riley Sager

Published: 7/2/2019 by Dutton
ISBN: 9781524745141

“A young woman gets a job house sitting in one of New York’s oldest and most glamorous apartments. A slow-burn full of twists and turns and a shocking conclusion. For readers who enjoyed The Wife Between Us and The Woman in the Window.”

Megan Alabaugh, Rocky River Public Library, Rocky River, OH

NoveList Read-alike: The Girl Before by J.P. Delaney

The Nickel Boys: A Novel

by Colson Whitehead

Published: 7/16/2019 by Doubleday
ISBN: 9780385537070

“An incredibly powerful story about an abusive boys’ reform school in the 1960s. Whitehead skillfully brings each character to life even as they suffer physical and emotional horrors. For fans of Panopticon by Jenni Fagan.”

Mara Bandy Fass, Champaign Public Library, Champaign, IL 

NoveList Read-alike: The Boys of the Dark: A Story of Betrayal and Redemption in the Deep South by Robin Gaby Fisher

Wanderers: A Novel

by Chuck Wendig

Published: 7/2/2019 by Del Rey
ISBN: 9780399182105

“A pandemic is sweeping the nation that causes affected people to sleepwalk. They cannot be awoken and family and friends must accompany them on their journey while the CDC tries to find the cause and cure. For fans of Cryptonomicon and The Windup Girl.”

Kyle Sederstrom, Overbrook Public Library, Overbrook, KS 

NoveList Read-alike: The Stand by Stephen King

Brazen and the Beast: The Bareknuckle Bastards Book II

by Sarah MacLean

Published: 7/30/2019 by Avon
ISBN: 9780062692078

“Sparks fly when the brash daughter of an earl and the bastard son of a duke are thrown together in Regency London. Strong character development and sizzling love scenes combine for a swoon-worthy read.”

Rosemary Kiladitis, Queens Library, Queensboro Hill, NY

Read-alikes:

Scandal in Spring by Lisa Kleypas
The Mistress by Susan Wiggs
The Perks of Loving a Scoundrel by Jennifer McQuiston

The Chelsea Girls: A Novel

by Fiona Davis

Published: 7/30/2019
by Dutton
ISBN: 9781524744588

“Amid the paranoia of the Red Scare, two women forge an indelible friendship. Davis’ latest historical fiction gem highlights an important chapter of American history against the vivid backdrop of 1950s New York.”

Debbie Lease, Hillsdale Public Library, Hillsdale, NJ

Read-alikes:

White Collar Girl by Renee Rosen
When We Left Cuba by Chanel Cleeton
The Subway Girls by Susie Orman Schnall

Lady in the Lake: A Novel

by Laura Lippman

Published: 7/23/2019
by William Morrow
ISBN: 9780062390011

“Maddie Schwartz leaves her marriage in 1960s Baltimore and finds her true calling as a reporter after discovering the body of a murdered girl. Desperate for a byline, Maddie triggers a domino effect of tragic consequences when she becomes part of the story instead.”

Linda Quinn, Fairfield Public Library, Fairfield, CT 

Read-alikes:

Field of Blood by Denise Mina
November Road by Lou Berney
Black Water Rising by Attica Locke

Never Have I Ever: A Novel

by Joshilyn Jackson

Published: 7/30/2019
by William Morrow
ISBN: 9780062855312

“Amy’s seemingly perfect life is threatened when she’s confronted by a stranger who knows her darkest secrets. This fast-paced thrill ride hooks you from the first page.”

Terri Smith, Cornelia Library, Mt. Airy, GA

Read-alikes:

Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser
The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena
A Simple Favor by Darcey Bell

Shamed: A Kate Burkholder Novel

by Linda Castillo

Published: 7/16/2019
by Minotaur Books
ISBN: 9781250142863

“An Amish grandmother is murdered, a girl with special needs is abducted, and the clock ticks on police chief Burkholder’s hopes of finding her alive. This thrilling page-turner explores the lengths one will go to save a child.”

Aubrey Parker, Charles B. Stewart-West Branch Library,Montgomery, TX 

Read-alikes:

In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming
Blessed Be the Wicked by D.A. Bartley
Circle of Influence by Annette Dashofy

The Wedding Party

by Jasmine Guillory

Published: 7/16/2019
by Berkley Jove
ISBN: 9781984802194

“Maddie and Theo love to hate each other until they find themselves together at the one place they least expected–in bed. This laugh-out-loud story is the perfect companion to Guillory’s earlier romances.”

Afton Finley, Waseca Public Library, Waseca, MN

Read-alikes:

Sofia Khan Is Not Obliged by Ayisha Malik
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
Intercepted by Alexa Martin