ILA RA Service Award Announcement

As I have mentioned before on this blog, ARRT is a sponsor of the Illinois Library Association’s Readers’ Advisory Service Award. Last year, in our first year of the award, we gave it to the Downers Grove Public Library.

The 2016 award winners were just announced and I am beyond excited and proud to share them with you because the winners are two of my former students-- Mike and Tracy!

When I heard who won from my ARRT colleagues on the subcommittee who pick the winner, I was literally bursting with joy. Mike and Tracy are wonderful people, but they have always had the RA knack. A few years ago when I found out they ended up at the same library, I was so happy for them and the community they were serving.  I am proud to have taught them the RA basics, but even more proud of what they ultimately have done with that knowledge.

Here is the official press release with details about why they won:

Illinois Library Association 33 W. Grand Ave., Suite 401 Chicago, IL 60654-6799
Press Release
Phone: 312.644.1896 Fax: 312.644.1899 E-mail: ila@ila.org

Mike Hominick and Tracy Gossage of the Northbrook Public Library are the recipients of the Illinois Library Association Readers’ Advisory Service Award. The award, presented by the Adult Reading Round Table and the ILA Reference Services Forum, recognizes excellence in the planning, development and delivery of readers’ advisory service to adults and teens. The award is sponsored by the Adult Reading Round Table.

Mike Hominick and Tracy Gossage have taken the Northbrook Public Library’s readers’ advisory services to the virtual streets with their Twitter campaign. Tweeting book reviews and recommendations with their Watch This, Read That campaign, Mike and Tracy are attracting new users to the library by connecting their recommendations to pop culture, new movies and the latest television shows. 

Their Watch This, Read That campaign helps connect Northbrook Public Library patrons to books they may like based on their favorite TV shows and movies. Mike and Tracy collaborate to create posts that feature nostalgic TV shows, Oscar-nominated films, and other trending movies and television shows. Each post provides an intriguing list of reading recommendations, an engaging summary of each title listed, as well as a link to each book in the library’s catalog so patrons can easily access the books they discover. 

To a patron who may prefer TV or film to books, the Watch This, Read That campaign exposes them to new library offerings they may not have previously considered.
Mike and Tracy have enriched the library’s social media presence, helping the Northbrook Public Library reach a larger audience within its community. Their Watch This, Read That posts are consistently the library’s most successful posts on its Tumblr, Facebook and Twitter pages. 

The Readers’ Advisory Award will be presented at the Awards Luncheon held on Tuesday, October 18th, during the 2016 Illinois Library Association Annual Conference in Rosemont. 

For further information, contact the Illinois Library Association. 

Mike and Tracy are a shining example of how the basic concept of RA Service can be expanded and used to help patrons in ways they didn’t even know they could be assisted.

Thanks to everyone who submitted nominees.  We had many to choose from.  If you did not win this year, please don’t be discouraged. We will be accepting nominations again next year and would love to see repeat nominees.

Click here for info on all of the ILA award winners.

RA 763's Blog Getting Some Love

Thanks to my friends Rebecca and Karen over on the fabulous Booklist Shelf Renewal blog for making the blog of my students, RA 763's Blog, their Web Crush of the Week.

From their post:

One of the assignments is that the students must contribute to the class blog. Students are given free range to read any 5 books that interest them and post reviews on the RA 763 Blog. They must use the language of appeal in their annotations, provide 3 fiction readalikes and 3 nonfiction readalikes with a comment for each as to why the title fits as a similar read, and are encouraged to give at least one “outside the box” suggestion.

Joyce Saricks and I are so happy to share the great work our students do.

Joyce's Reading Map

Back in January of 2012 in her At Leisure column for Booklist, Joyce resolved to make a reading map during the year.

Since the 2 of us have been offering the reading map as a midterm or final option for our students for quite a while now, we felt that it was important that we also complete one ourselves-- with the same requirements we demand of them. It is only fair.  Both of us are big proponents of being able to do what you teach.

Back in September I announced the completion of my reading map here.  And in the January issue of Booklist, Joyce came through on her resolution too.

Click here to read the column where she talks about her process or click here to jump directly to her map for Appetite for America by Stephen Fried.

Not only did I want to give Joyce public kudos for completing her map, but I also wanted to use this post as a chance to mention that tomorrow we return to team teaching (for the first time since Fall 2011) with a new crop of students.  This means the student blog will soon return with lots of new annotations, meaning many new perspectives on different reading options.

New students also means new issues and trends.  Not only do I find new information to share on the blog and with the class as I prepare for each week's lecture, but also, the students are constantly bringing different perspectives and ideas to the table. I hope to use my enthusiasm for teaching them and their excitement to learn to help energize and educate you blog readers too.

So here's to new beginnings.

Student Reading Maps

Today at Noon marks the official end of the semester as this is the deadline for the instructors to submit final grades.  So in honor of the students, here are three excellent reading maps that were created by my GSLIS students and submitted as their final for Fall 2012.

I will have one map to share more soon, but I am waiting for the student to make a few small fixes. I will be also adding these to the Reading Maps Archive which is always accessible here.

Reading Maps

• The Madonnas of Leningrad by Becky K. (not me)
• The Poisoner's Handbook by Nicole
• Eat, Pray, Love by Vera

Final Student Annotation Day: Plug For Their Blog

I am taking a break from the review-a-polooza today in honor of my last lecture of the semester.

My Fall 2012 RA students in LIS 763 at Dominican University have been one of the best overall groups I have had in awhile.  While normally, at least half of the students are engaged and add positively to the class, there are often a few students each semester who either cause me trouble or really do not give their full effort.  As a teacher that is frustrating, and unfortunately, it taints your view of the group as a whole.

I am so pleased that this semester, that was not the case.  Overall they are a wonderful group who are engaged, they keep improving, and they care about doing their best.  Tonight is my last chance to teach them because next week they turn in their final papers and half of them give a presentation.  Then it is goodbye to the group.  One student, Elizabeth will turn up on the blog next semester as "Intern Elizabeth," filling the shoes of fabulous "Intern Christi" from Spring 2012 and awesome "Intern Bill"who just completed his practicum, and thus his Masters Degree, this past Monday. Congrats Bill.  [P.S., if you have a job out there in the Chicago area, contact me about Bill.]

Back to the current batch of students.  I have not been as annoying about reminding you to check out their Student Blog every single week as I have been in semesters' past.  But today, hours before their final posts go live, I do want to remind you of what a wonderful resource their blog is.

I am not exaggerating when I tell you I consult RA 763's Blog on a regular basis to help my patrons.  The students are given free range to read any 5 books that interest them as long as they each fit a separate category.  The approved categories are genre and format designations which can be seen and accessed in the right gutter of the blog.

So as a first use of this resources, you can pull up a list of titles considered "Gentle Reads" or "Inspirational" as well as more traditional genre designations like "Fantasy" or "Mystery." It just takes one click, and since the students all have different reading tastes and they can pick any book in a given category, the blog has a huge range of annotations available for each category.  Many blogs have a tight focus, but breadth is our mantra here. I want the students to have as wide an experience as possible. If you use the blog to help patrons, you will reap the benefits.

Second, students are required to use the language of appeal in their annotations.  These terms are then converted into tags, but they also appear in the body of each entry.  As a result, you can do a natural language search in the search box at the top of the right gutter for "compelling, character centered and humorous" and get at least 2 pages of results.  You can also choose a sinlge appeal term from the tags cloud by clicking on it-- here is what you get when you click on "character centered."  And, there is still more.  If you read a post and are drawn to a specific appeal term, especially if it is not one of the most popular, so as a result does not appear in the tag cloud, at the end of each annotation, you can simply click on the hyperlinked term to pull up more-- here is what you get when you click on "closely observed characters;" which is a very specific but helpful appeal term.  I really do not know another resource that gives you this many appeal access points for a given title.

Third, the students are required to provide 3 fiction readalikes and 3 nonfiction readalikes with a comment for each as to why the title fits as a similar read.  That is 6 readalikes for every title! And, they are encouraged to give at least one "outside the box" suggestion out of the six, so you won't see only the same old, same old suggestions here.

Fourth, since Joyce and I have been keeping this blog for 3 full years now, the number of titles is huge!  And, as an added bonus, some more popular books have more than one annotation, giving you different perspectives on the same book. And, in reference to the third reason above, it also gives you more readalike options.

Fifth, it would be hard to find a resource where the content is created with more effort and enthusiasm. Look, let's be honest, they are doing this for a grade.  They are library graduate students; these are men and women who want a good grade.  They put a lot of effort into each of their 5 published annotations.  I would argue that there are times that I put in less effort on a review than they do on an annotation. Use their effort to your advantage by using the blog as a resource to help a patron.  The students will make you look like a RA star!

So congrats to the students for being almost done with class.  And to you library workers out there, don't forget to use their hard work to your advantage.  This is an under used resource that I would highly recommend.  I am very proud of their work.  Click here to access RA 763's Blog right now.  For future reference, I always have the link in the right gutter under the heading "Other Sites Featuring Me" listed as "Becky's Student's Blog."

If you are able to help a patron with the student's blog, leave a comment to let me and more importantly, them know.

Reviews back tomorrow.  I have Building Stories, 1Q84, and The Family Fang in the immediate queue.

Take Ten: Suggestion for a Book Club

Today's Take Ten list comes from my student Ellen who used her midterm assignment to help an actual book group pick their titles for 2013.  She was able to interview the members of the group before compiling her list, and she is scheduled to present this list to them in December.  From her paper:

The book club I chose to study meets once a month from 7-9 pm at the Berkeley Public Library. The club consists of 6 to 8 middle aged white women, all middle class. The community where they live (all but one reside in Berkeley) is diverse, with a strong Hispanic community and a large elderly population as well. The town has a population of approximately 2000, and is a suburb of Chicago. 

When asking the book club members what type of literature they liked, the consensus seemed to be historical fiction, or stories about women’s lives and relationships, particularly with strong female characters. Some of the favorite titles they have read over the years include The Help by Kathryn Stockett, The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, The Glass Castle by Jeanette Wall, Lottery by Patricia Wood, When the Emperor was Divine by Julie Otsuka, and Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shores When asked what they enjoyed, they mainly mentioned that they enjoyed “real life” stories, with not too much romance, but a touch of romance was fine as long as it did not dominate the novel. One member did mention that in her free reading time she enjoyed reading more typical romance novels, but she also mentioned that her favorite book was Beneath a Marble Sky which is definitely historical fiction.

Some books that the club expressly did not like included The Lord is my Shepherd: Psalm 23 Murders #1 by Debbie Viguie, In Her Shoes by Jennifer Weiner, Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, and Skipping Christmas by John Grisham.  They expressly disliked The Lord is my Shepherd because there was “too much God stuff” and not enough mystery. They also seemed very standoffish towards reading non-fiction. They did not enjoy Eat Pray Love generally, although some liked particular segments of the book there was too much “God stuff” and romance for them. They read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks as another non-fiction title, and while they found this story a bit interesting they were not thrilled and said they would probably pass on another similar title. The Jennifer Weiner title was not a hit because the members felt that they had already heard this same type of story by other authors, and there was nothing to keep them guessing or intrigued. They had read another title by Jennifer Weiner previous to this one, and felt that it was almost the same book with a slight change in characters. 

Overall, while this group has some specific likes and dislikes, they seem to be pretty typical of a white, middle class, female book group.  Ellen's research process (described in her midterm paper) was also very thurough.  And, I just love how she efficiently and effectively gets the appeal of each book into her annotations while still including a bit of plot.

While her annotated list geared to this group specifically, I think many book discussion groups out there could use this list to help them to pick their new titles, which is why I asked for her permission to post it here.  Feel free to use Ellen's list with your group, but please cite this url.

And I just want to say, I am always so happy to see my students using the work they produce for this class to help real life patrons.

Here is Ellen's list.

Berkeley Book Club Suggested Reads List

Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. Jamie Ford. 301 pages

Soon after losing his wife, Henry Lee discovers a cache of artifacts from the time of Japanese internment in the United States. The story, which toggles between 1986 with Lee’s personal grief and exploration of the artifacts, and the 1940’s with a budding friendship between a Japanese American and a Chinese American, explores the vast beauty and pain that characterizes human relationships. 

The Last Brother. Nathacha Appanah. 164 pages

On the island of Maritus in 1944, nine year old Raji is all but unaware of any unrest in the world, until he stumbles upon a young boy who, he learns, is a Jewish detainee being held for an indeterminate amount of time on the island. As the boys’ friendship progresses, they hatch a plan for a harrowing escape and are faced with a desperate mission to survive.

The Magician’s Assistant. Ann Patchett.  357 pages

Ever since becoming Parsifal’s assistant, Sabine had vied for a love she knew she could never have. After Parsifal’s male lover’s death, and then his own death, Sabine finds out a series of secrets and uncovers the part of her love’s life that she never knew existed, and comes to terms with her loss in a haunting but hopeful tale of love, grief, and understanding. 

Reading Lolita in Tehran. Azar Nafisi. 343 pages

This memoir of Azar Nafisi, an Iranian woman and teacher of English and American literature, tells her brave tale of silent rebellion. Every Thursday for many years during the Iranian revolution, Nafisi and a group of forward thinking young women would meet to read and discuss the classic tales of American and English literature, and through these tales, would craft an amazing story of their own.

Bee Season. Myla Goldberg. 274 pages

In a family that seems to be holding together by the slightest threads, Eliza is anything but exceptional. She is in the class for slow learners, and her brother, Saul, is much more the pet of her family since he hopes someday to be a rabbi, which puts him in their father’s best graces. Yet when Eliza suddenly beings winning a series of spelling bees and garners national attention, the entire family dynamic changes and she has to use her own strength to try to maintain sanity as her family spirals into darkness.

The Monsters of Templeton. Laura Groff.  361 pages

After being asked to leave school in the midst of a scandalous affair with her married archeology professor, Willie Upton arrives home shamed, and is greeted with the death of a giant lake monster. While the monster certainly brings national scientific attention, the main story lies in Willie’s search for the truth about her family, her father, her past, and ultimately herself. 

The Time Traveler’s Wife. Audrey Niffenegger.  536 pages

This compelling novel chronicles the beautiful but unconventional love between Claire, a normal woman, and the love of her life and eventual husband Henry. Their love story is a genuine one, but with a twist: Henry is sometimes suddenly transported in time and has no control over where or when this will happen. While the time travel certainly is a key aspect of this novel, many other complex ideas, such as love, marriage, friendship, and loss are examined in this masterfully written novel.

Girl in Translation. Jean Kwok.  303 pages

After emigrating from Hong Kong to Brooklyn, only to find desperation and squalor, Kimberly Chang makes an important decision to better her life. So she begins her double life: smart conscientious student by day, Chinatown sweatshop worker by night. Through the course of her story, Kimberly learns many amazing lessons about herself, her family, and her culture. 

The Paris Wife. Paula McLain.  314 pages

The Paris Wife tells the mostly true story of Ernest Hemingway’s first wife, Hadley Peterson, and their early relationship, the hardships of his up and coming fame, and the eventual downfall of their relationship. This beautifully written tale is a masterpiece of fiction, describing both literary bombshells like Hemingway and Fitzgerald, alongside an evocative story of love, heartbreak, and betrayal.

Sarah’s Key. Tatiana de Rosnay. 316 pages

In 1942, a young girl named Sarah hastily locks her four year old brother Michel in a cabinet during a round up of French Jews at Velodrome d’Hiver, with the promise that she would let him out when it was safe. In modern times, Julia Jarmond, an American journalist, becomes deeply interested in Velodrome d’Hiver and the experiences of Jewish people during both the Holocaust and the German occupation, and begins to unravel many secrets of the past. This masterfully written work uses an excellent contrast between the past and the present to keeps the reader engrossed to the end. 

New Student Reading Maps and One Take 10 List

I have 4 midterms I want to share with you today.  The last three are excellent reading maps done by students in the RA class for their midterms.

But first, those who follow this blog know that some students choose to do a 10 book book talk that I then post as a "Take Ten" list on a certain topic. You can click here to pull up all past lists.  Normally, the students make an annotated list on paper to share with the class, and, in fact, I will have some of those to share with you in the coming days, but this semester, Shira did something that what I am calling a hybrid of a book list/reading map.  Her audience was Young Stroke Survivors and her list is enitlted "Books to Recover With."  Click on through to see her digital annotated list of 10 books.

I also had three very good reading maps turned in.  I will post them below and add them to the permanent reading map archive, found here.

• The Time Traveler's Wife by Margita
• An Abundance of Katherines by Elizabeth
• Doc by Jessica

Great work guys.  As I mentioned above, I will have more student work to highlight in the coming days.

And don't forget about their weekly assignments which show up on the class blog each Wednesday by 6pm.

My Reading Map is Ready and Some Great Reading Maps for Popular Children's Series

After I published this article with former intern, now librarian in Adult Services in Naperville, Christi clearly laying out how to create an effective reading map, I promised to complete my own map.

That day has come, as I just added my reading map for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter to the Browsers' Corner's growing collection of original reading maps.

I am unveiling the map today because tonight also happens to be the class where I talk to the students about creating their own reading map.  This is one of their options for a midterm or final.  I keep an archive of the better examples of student reading maps here.

One of the best things about teaching RA is that when the students graduate they become my colleagues, taking what they learned and applying it to their specific work situations.

One former student and new librarian, Laura, has been actively exploring how to use reading maps in a Youth Services setting. One of the issues Laura encountered while making reading maps for the St Charles (IL) Public Library is how to make them fun, interactive, and educational. One of her solutions was to connect her topics to the educational resources, especially the rich databases, available to library card holders.  The results are maps that entice the kids to explore and enjoy, but also provide important bibliographic instruction.  These maps show the kids how to do more research using library resources, and to not just rely on a google search.

Here are Laura's maps for the Percy Jackson series and the 39 Clues series.  Check them out to see what I mean.

And in just a few weeks, I will be back with more reading maps from this semester's students.

Reader Profile and Response

Each semester, I have my students write their reader profile-- the books they most and least enjoy and why.  Click here for more explanation and examples.

I then have the students switch profiles with each other, and as their first official RA assignment, suggest at least 3 titles for their classmates.

As I have said in the past here, this is a great assignment for two reasons:

1. The best way to learn how to help readers is to spend the time really identifying why you like to read what you like to read.  How can you possibly help decode someone else's reading tastes if you have never tried to decode yourself.
2. By blindly swapping profiles, the students are able to get a real life example of a patron, but since it is in writing, not an actually person hovering over them at the desk, the students can take the profile home and spend their time with the resources without pressure.  They have time for trial and error; they can fail safely, learn from their mistakes, and then succeed. It builds confidence for the rest of the semester.

I have just finished grading their 2 part assignment, and, having received permission, I would like to share the tandem who had the best example of a profile and a response.

• Here is the link to Elizabeth's profile.
• Here is the link to Melissa's response.

Both are accessible on Google Drive without sign-in as long as you use the link provided. Please let me know if there are technical problems.

If you are interested, you can use this link to pull up past student profile and response examples.

Thanks to Elizabeth and Melissa for agreeing to share their work too.

Librarian Rules for Reading...1937

Over on Galley Cat I saw this interesting post where a librarian shared some documents she found in her library's archives from 1937.  Click through to see all of it, but here are the images she captured to share with the larger library community and to start a conversation about what had changed and what has stayed the same.

These documents come at a very opportune time for me personally.  Tonight is the third class of the semester; it is the class where we really start talking about how to help readers find their next good read.    I will be using these documents tonight as a conversation starter in class.  But especially the last list, "Questions to put to ourselves as library workers," is an important one for any one working in library, but especially those in a graduate program currently pursuing their library science degree.

I hope you find them as interesting as I did.

Student Annotations Are Back

Although I am not teaching this summer semester, Joyce has the class 2x a week.  They began posting new annotations to the class blog this week.  So remember to check it out.  This week they covered the landscape genres (fantasy, historical fiction, western) and adrenaline (thriller, suspense, romantic suspense, and adventure).

Remember to check it every Monday and Wednesday for the next few weeks for great reading suggestions and readalike options.

2 New Student Reading Maps

More student work to showcase.  Today I have 2 very good reading maps on 2 completely different books.

• Neverwhere by Jun
• The Art of Racing in the Rain by Caitlin

Also, don't forget, I have a page on Reading Maps which contains a link to the Reading Maps of the BPL and an archive of student work. You can use this link or look for it in the right hand gutter of this blog.

Also, Christi and I just turned in a joint article explaining in 8 simple steps how to make your own reading map.  Look for that from NoveList RA News in July. Now you have no excuse not to do your own!

Take Ten: Books for Dog Lovers

Finals projects were presented by the GSLIS 763 students on May 2nd.  Over the next few days, I will be highlighting some of their work.  

First is Katie who presented her book talk of 10 books for Dog Lovers.  She provided a book for every type of reader who wants a  canine focused read.  Enjoy.

EmBARK on a Reading Journey:
A Booklist for Dog Lovers

11)    Dog Stories
By: Various Authors
A sure bet for dog lovers everywhere, this book is an anthology of heartwarming dog tales from the 19^th century to present. Written by various authors (including Mark Twain, James Thurber, Tobias Wolff, and more) these short stories depict all aspects of doghood, with a special focus on how dogs impact the emotional lives of humans. Ranging from funny to heartfelt, fans of all genres will be touched.

22)     One Good Dog
By: Susan Wilson
Grab the tissues! This tearjerker is sure to please anyone who believes dogs have the power to change lives.  In this novel, Adam March loses everything. He goes from a successful soon-to-be-CEO to a divorced, alone, broke, and unemployed criminal.  Sentenced to community service at a homeless shelter, he meets a Pitbull named Chance who is recovering after years in the dog-fighting circuit.  This heartfelt story is one of redemption and rehabilitation—showing a man and a dog’s struggle to overcome their past with the help of one another.

33)     A Dog’s Purpose

By: W. Bruce Cameron
Turns out, humans aren’t the only ones contemplating their life purpose! Told from a dog’s point of view, this is the extraordinary tale of a dog’s search for meaning. This fast-paced and moving novel documents Bailey’s quest for purpose as he is reincarnated several times:  from when he was a puppy removed from his first family by animal control, to his time as a golden retriever and a stray mutt, ending only when he is reincarnated into a black Lab.  This story traces Baileys various adventures as he seeks to answer the question we ALL hope to find the answer to:  Why are we here?

44)     The Art of Racing in the Rain
By: Garth Stein

This popular read tells the story of Enzo, a dog who is sure his next life will be spent in a man’s body, so he wants to be prepared.  Enzo offers readers insight into the pleasures and restrictions of the canine world, all the while commenting on the absurdities of human life as only a dog really could.  Moving, funny, and uplifting, readers will delight in hearing Enzo’s journey from his own point of view as he philosophically evaluates the everyday frustrations and joys of being a dog, while staying completely devoted to his human family.

55)     Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know
By: Alexandra Horowitz
Ever wonder what your furry friend is REALLY thinking? In this book, psychologist Alexandra Horowitz offers insight into the minds of our canine friends, painting us a vivid picture of what things might really be like from a dog’s perspective.  Drawing on her extensive research as well as personal experience with her own dog, she seeks to bring humans and dogs just a little closer by showing us what it’s like to be a dog.  Descriptive and fascinating, dog lovers will enjoy this chance to better understand their dog and also learn what their furry companion is really thinking!

66)     The Dog Who Couldn’t Stop Loving: How Dogs Have Captured Our Hearts for Thousands of Years
By: Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson
No animal provides us with love quite the way a dog does.  Bestselling author Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson seeks to find out WHY this is true in this compelling and informative read.  He combines scientific research with personal experience to explore the unique bond between humans and dogs. Examining the 100,000 year relationship between humans and dogs, this book helps readers realize how the man-dog bond is deep and beneficial to BOTH species. This inspirational book helps readers understand why dogs love us, and why, out of all animals, our relationship with dogs is so special. 

77)     My Dog Skip
By: Willie Morris
Dogs truly are man’s best friend, right? In this heartfelt and sentimental memoir, Willie Morris tells of his adventures with his dog, Skip, as he grew up in the South in the 1940s.  Readers everywhere will relate to this classic story of a boy who grew up sharing his life and adventures with his canine best friend.  Hilarious and very touching, this story will have you laughing out loud AND in tears no matter who you are!  Readers will enjoy this book so much they will be RUNNING to rent the largely successful movie adaptation.

88)     Dog Years: A Memoir
By: Mark Doty
Has your dog ever helped you cope during a hard time?  Have you ever felt like your dog has saved your life?  If so, don’t miss this inspiring and remarkable memoir. This is the story of a young man who adopts a dog to help boost the spirits of his partner, who is dying of AIDS.  The dog, malnourished and in need of love, turns into a vital part of the family as he keeps the author from losing all hope during the darkest days of his life.  This sentimental memoir is a commentary on the unconditional love our furry friends provide us with, as well as the lessons dogs can teach us about love, life, and loss.

99)     Cesar’s Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems
By: Cesar Millan
Ever think you could have a more fulfilling relationship with your dog, if he would JUST behave!!? This is the perfect read for dog owners who seek to better understand the needs of their pets.  A must-have book for all dog owners, Cesar Millan (The Dog Whisperer), outlines the three key elements in the lives of dogs: exercise, discipline, and affection.  With the help of this book, dog owners will learn to transform their dog’s behavior through their OWN behavior, and have the relationship they have always wanted with their dog!

110Dog Heaven
By: Cynthia Rylant
Hope you still have those tissues out!  This tearjerker is a must-read for anyone of ANY age who has ever lost a dog.  The sentimental text is just as powerful as the beautiful illustrations, as author Cynthia Rylant takes readers on a journey through dog heaven.  In dog heaven, dogs play with kids, watch over their still-living companions, eat dog biscuits, chase cats, and sleep on fluffy clouds.  Using simple language and relaxing imagery, this comforting short story will have readers of all ages in tears, yet feeling unbelievably uplifted about the afterlife of their loving companions.  

Trending: Social Reading

Joyce Saricks passed this article on to me.  It happens to be by a Dominican student (although not one who took our class).

Entitled, What Is Social Reading and Why Libraries Should Care, Allison Mennella defines social reading and discusses at length how libraries can promote and encourage reading and the sharing of books across digital platforms in their communities.

Now social reading is not that new of a trend.  People have been using Facebook and Goodreads to have conversations about books for years now, but libraries have been slow to join in.

This trend is growing and it is one I have been particularly interested in too.  As noted here in my 10 Rules of Basic RA Service, I have seen "bridging the physical-virtual divide" as developing into a key issue in RA service.

For me, however, I am less focused on the social networking for its own sake, and more interested in how we should think of our virtual work with leisure readers as the other side of the same coin of the work we are already doing to help the readers who come into the physical building.

I see the key to any success with the library's involvement in social reading coming only if we keep the book at the heart of it all.

But take a look at Allison's article on social reading.  She has a lot of good ideas on how the library can connect virtually with readers throughout their community.

For those who are interested, I will be talking about this issue at greater length next week at Reaching Forward, and I addressed it briefly in this article for NoveList RA News.

Click here for more Trending Articles.

RA Links Round Up--The Back From Vacation Edition

Thanks for hanging in there last week.  I was in Southern California on Spring Break.  A big thanks to my students for guest hosting the blog last week.

But I am back and although I did no work while on vacation, I still did a quick scan of my RSS feeds via my iPhone each day (mostly to clear out the backlog) and starred the things I wanted to pass on.

Also, check out RA for All: Horror later this week. I am working on a report on why people love the Haunted Mansion and Tower of Terror (yes we went to Disney) even though they are fairly scary.

So here are a few tidbits I wanted to pass on:

• The Bram Stoker Awards and the Vampire Novel of the Century were announced on March 31st.  Click here for the official results.  I was very happy to see Joe McKinney's Flesh Eaters win best novel.  His Dead City series is fabulous, and I highlighted it in my PLA presentation.
• I love Bookmobiles.  My dream has always been to run one, but I know it probably will never happen.  Last week, NPR ran this great report on the end of bookmobiles.  If you share my love of bookmobiles, don't forget about Ian Sansom's Bookmobile Mystery series.
• Anne Tyler gave a lengthy interview to NPR.  She has a new book and rarely gives interviews.  I have had great luck using Digging to America as a book discussion book.
• The Sisters Brothers won the Morning News Tournament of Books! I was so happy.  It was one of my personal favs in 2011 too.
• We also hit the Madame Tussaud wax museum in Hollywood.  And in a freaky coincidence, Reading the Past ran this review of Michelle Moran's fiction biography of this fascinating woman.  I was happy to see that we do own the book here at Berwyn.
• One of the most original authors out there today is China Mieville.  The problem is his books are very hard to classify by genre.  They are all genres and no genre at one time.  This is great for readers, but very hard when librarians try to make lists of core authors.  I am embroiled in it right now as I am part of building the new ARRT Popular Authors list.  We have to have Mieville on the list, but cannot figure out where to put him.  The best description I have seen is that he writes "Weird Fiction."  Last week Mieville talked about his writing with Jeff VanderMeer for the Weird Fiction Review.
• While I was gone, Joyce Saricks tackled nonfiction the GSLIS 763 students.  Click here to see what they read last week.

That's what I was thinking about while I was gone.  Look for the Monday Discussion in a few minutes.  And a back to normal week.

Reading Map: Bel Canto

And as the last post of Spring Break I want to highlight Liz's reading map of Ann Patchett's Bel Canto.

She did a nice job, especially here where she included links to pages for people new to opera.

Speaking of Bel Canto and opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago just made this announcement.

Remember, you can access the full archive of the best reading maps here.

Thanks to my students who agreed to share their work with all of you so that I could spend time with my kids during their week off.

Back to regular programming next week.  Have a nice weekend.

Take Ten: Gemini - Twins

Today it is Ally's turn.  She had a great idea.  What if library staff got together and made a rotating monthly display to change with the signs of the zodiac.  Using the symbol for the month as inspiration, you could come up with a display.  Her idea included a book talk to be given the night before a new zodiac display went up, highlighting some of the titles.

Since she is a Gemini, Ally tackled that symbol with her 10 book list of a wide range of books featuring twins.  Enjoy.

Gemini - Twins

May 21 – June 21

In My Brother’s Image by Eugene L. Pogany. 2000. 322 pages.  This non-fiction account details the lives of twins Gyorgy (later George) and Miklos.  Born in Hungary to Jewish parents, the family later converted to Catholicism when the boys were still young.  Gyorgy went on to become a priest and find sanctuary in a Catholic monastery during World War II.  Miklos was interned at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.  This true story gives the perspective of both brothers, as well as other members of the Pogany family from World War I, through World War II and into the 1990’s.  It’s a richly detailed, remarkable tale of twins whose special, mysterious bond is destroyed by war and religion.

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. 2009. 534 pages. 1954—Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Marion and Shiva Praise Stone, are born to an Indian nun and a British surgeon.  This lyrically descriptive and compelling saga follows the twins’ initial separation (they were born connected at the skull), through their boyhood (where they are nearly inseparable), their emotional separation as young adults and their final connection as middle-aged adults.  This richly and lusciously description of Ethiopia on the brink of revolution is also a haunting and moving family saga that has many of the same appeals as The Kite Runner.

Chang and Eng by Darin Strauss. 2000. 321 pages.  This compelling and richly detailed fictionalized account of the famous Siamese twins is told through Eng’s perspective. Though most people know of the twins made famous in P.T. Barnum’s travelling circus, not many know what happened to them after they left the circus.  Though fictionalized, this novel, allow people to feel emotionally connected to the twins and gives insight to what it may have been like for the physically connected, though emotionally separated, men.

Geek Love by Katherine Dunn. 1989. 347 pages.

This picaresque novel full of black humor questions our notions of what is normal and what is freakish.  The Binewskis are a carny family who, through the use of various drugs, insecticides and radioactivity, breed their own “circus freaks”. Publishers Weekly calls it a “raw, shocking view of the human condition, a glimpse of the tormented people who live on the fringe, makes readers confront the dark, mad elements in every society. …a brilliant, suspenseful, heartbreaking tour de force.”

The Butcher of Beverly Hills by Jennifer Colt. 2005. 344 pages. Red-headed identical twins Kerry and Terry McAfee have nothing in common besides their looks and their profession – private investigators.  What starts off as a seemingly simple case of finding a 70 year old socialite’s 28 year old runaway husband quickly becomes a much more dangerous and complicated matter.  This is a quick, fun mystery with snappy dialog and humorous insight to the very wealthy older ladies in Beverly Hills. Not to mention there is a very hunky detective!

Thursday’s Child by Sandra Brown. 1985. 209 pages.  Besides their looks, identical twins Alison and Ann are completely different from each other.  Although they used to switch roles all the time growing up, trouble ensues when Ann’s fiancé’s best friend, Spencer, falls for Alison who is pretending to be Ann.  But will Spencer still feel the same way about her when he finds out Alison is actually nerdy scientist Alison?  This is a feel good, light-hearted steamy read with a happy ending, sure to please readers who “delight in lovers and their uneven pursuit of mutual fulfillment and happiness” (from the author’s note).

Full Moon Rising by Keri Author. 2006. 291 pages.  This steamy, suspenseful urban fantasy, the first in a series, centers around half vampire/half werewolf Riley as she searches for her twin brother, Rhoan.  The twins both work for Melbourne’s Directorate of Other Races, an organization that polices the supernatural races and when Rhoan, an assassin, is kidnapped, Riley sets out to find her brother. This all happens during the moon heat, which is the weeklong period before the full moon when werewolves are at their most sensual.  Though she has two partners ready to fulfill her needs, Riley meets her match in sexy vampire Quinn. Between the moon heat and some dangerous cloning masterminds after her and Rhoan, will Riley be able to save her twin?

The Dark Half by Stephen King. 1989. 431 pages. Author Thad Beaumont “kills off” his alter ego after it is discovered it is actually Thad writing the grisly novels, not George Stark, Thad’s pen name.  After a spread in People in which Thad and his wife stand over the fake grave stone of George Stark (whose epitaph reads “Not a Very Nice Guy”), people connected to Thad/George Stark are gruesomely murdered.  All clues point to Thad, but it can’t be him…could it really be his alter ego? This grisly, menacing, character driven horror story is a fast-paced read sure to creep out lots of horror fans.

Whatever it Takes by Gwynne Forster. 2005. 272 pages.  Lacette and Kellie are identical twins that have very unidentical personalities.  Lacette has her life together and is a respectable young lady.  Kellie, on the other hand, is morally inept and leads a rather questionable, less than noble life. She’s always wanted everything that Lacette has worked so hard to get, taking everything from toys to boys from Lacette. But now that they are 33 years old the stakes are higher (a good man in fiancé Rawlins) and Lacette’s life is on the line, will Kellie step up and finally do what’s right or will she finally get everything she wants? Many lessons are learned in this old fashioned values centered novel that will bring up lots of discussion points—it also includes a discussion guide at the end.

The Last Child by John Hart.  2009. 373 pages.  Twins Johnny and Alyssa shared a special sense of belonging that only they understood.  But then, mysteriously, Alyssa disappeared and the perfect family with the warm home is destroyed.  With his father gone and his mom taking up with an abuse sleaze, Johnny sets out to uncover the mystery of what happened to his family. Edgar-winning author Hart’s intricately plotted, fast-paced psychological thriller is a bit gritty, but moving and dramatic. Received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and Kirkus.

Take Ten: Zombie Encounters at the Library

Today, I want to share Tracy's midterm booktalk entitled, "Zombie Encounters at the Library."  From her paper setting the scene for the talk:

For this project I have imagined my audience to be a group of teen and adult patrons who have come to the library for a program on the history of zombie movies.

...I also assume something involving zombies would attract more teenagers than a program typically would, so I wanted to be conscientious the patrons could be newcomers to the zombie subgenre in literature. I also realize some audience members may devour horror literature but may have not known about the sheer variety of genres zombies are featured in. 

...I thought it would be important to remind the patrons of books which are popular thanks to adaptations while also showing some classics of the subgenre, and popular books from a few years ago that may get buried in the collection. Another critical assumption I made was the audience would be well-versed in popular zombie films, but not the literature that might be similar to those films. Since I would be booktalking to two different patron pools, I wanted to include YA books with adult appeal and vice versa.

...I wanted the booktalk to explore the many different genres that zombies can be incorporated in. I think the topic is often represented in a better variety than people initially think it is.

So that's the set-up.  I have to say, when Tracy delivered this talk she did an excellent job.  I also agree that she did make sure to offer zombie books from a variety of genres that would appeal to adults and teens alike.  And, I applaud her for tackling zombies, knowing full well that her Instructor (me) is a huge zombie fanatic.

Here is her list in simple text format.  Again, like Elissa's list yesterday, Tracy did make a snazzy handout for the class, but for here, I am going for efficiency.

Zombie Encounters at the Library...

Austen, Jane and Seth Grahame-Smith. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Quirk Classics, 2009.
“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.” Pride and Prejudice and Zombies takes the hilarious romance of Austen mixed with modern humor and zombie outbreaks to delight new and old fans alike.

Roux, Madeline. Allison Hewitt is Trapped. St. Martin’s Griffin, 2010.

This story features a bookstore clerk who barricades herself at work when a regular customer’s head is devoured by one of the undead. This experimental piece also has the heroine creating a blog documenting her attempts to survive along with a fair dose of sarcasm, literary allusions, and a zombie squirrel. 

Maberry, Jonathan. Patient Zero. St. Martin’s Griffin, 2009.

Detective John Ledger is charged with a secret mission by the U.S. government to contain a terrorist created bioweapon that could turn the entire country into mindless, bloodthirsty corpses. The plot-driven, fact-paced action balances descriptions of special ops missions and terrorist conspiracies with familiar scenes of creepy horror as the agents combat hoards of zombies created as a result of the virus. If you like survival horror games check this one out.

Martinez, A. Lee. Gil’s All Fright Diner. Tor, 2005.

This is the humorous tale of a werewolf (Duke) and vampire (Earl) getting paid off to help a Southern diner deal once and for all with the pesky zombies cutting into business courtesy of a nearby graveyard. This comedy-horror features raunchy humor mixed with action and is sure to appeal to readers looking for something light. 

Black, Holly and Justine Larbalestier. Zombies vs. Unicorns. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010.

This anthology is here to answer the ultimate question you never asked yourself: who would win in an all-out war between zombies and unicorns? A group of well-known, diverse authors tackle the question in different ways, leaving all the rotting limbs and magical horns on the battlefield.

Marion, Issac. Warm Bodies. Atria Books, 2011.

This is an original retelling of Romeo and Juliet starring a zombie who falls in love with a girl after eating her boyfriend’s brains and absorbing his thoughts of her. This bittersweet, legit zombie love story is perfect for the paranormal romance crowd.

Davis, Wade. The Serpent and the Rainbow. Touchstone, 1985.

No zombie lover’s credentials are set till they get a fair dose of old-school reality. The Serpent and the Rainbow is the true story of a Harvard scientist’s encounter with zombies in Haiti. Wade Davis’s book reads like an adventure story as he explains the combination of scientific poisons and mystical magic that create mindless slaves who rise up to obey their master’s command. 

Moody, David. Hater. St. Martin’s Press, 2006.

This story follows an average man trying to make ends meet for his family when the city is suddenly overrun by a rage virus that makes normal people violently lash out at anyone not infected. A compelling, unexpected twist on a popular storyline makes this a refreshing entry to the zombie subgenre. It is set to be adapted to film, and would appeal to any fans of 28 Days Later. 

Adams, John Joseph, ed. The Living Dead. Night Shade Books, 2008.

I would dare say this is the go-to book for people who do not think they like zombie stories or books. Or who need more a variety of writing styles and genres. This is a short story collection from a number of familiar authors and even characters who have encounters with the undead. The writing is engaging and rich, and offers a range that should appease new and old readers alike. 

Kirkman, Robert. The Walking Dead. Image Comics, 2003-present.

The Walking Dead is an extremely fast-paced, unpredictable comic series following Rick Grimes as he attempts to protect his family following the zombie apocalypse. The series thrives on interpersonal dynamics as struggles where other humans are the deadliest threat in a world overrun by the undead. 

Take Ten: Historical Fiction Through Time

Today's student work is by Elissa who is a 9th Grade Honors World History teacher in Chicago.  She was able to create a midterm booktalk that she ended up using with her students.  In her own words:

For my thematic booklist, I chose to include historical fiction books that align with my world history curriculum.  By aligning the booklist with my curriculum, my students will expand their knowledge of the topics we study throughout the year.

...I chose this topic for my audience because I want them to continue learning outside the classroom.  The reading in my class tends to be from the text book, primary sources, or articles from history magazines.  While the titles on my list are historical fiction books, the students can still get a better understanding about the time period/subject they are reading about.  Also, part of their assignment will include research of the actual topic/time period they are reading about.  This will help them to discern fact from the historical fiction that they will be reading.    

So, she broke up her curriculum and suggested historical fiction for them to read.  These books are all included on "Adult Books for Young Adults" so that they are still appropriate for her 14 year old students.  

Below is her annotated list in a simple text format (not the snazzy handout she made for class).  I am also happy to report that she gave this booktalk to her classes and they all were very excited to start reading.

Historical Fiction:  10 Eras in 10 Books

Ancient Rome

Pompeii by Robert Harris

Newly appointed engineer Marcus Atiilius must discover why the aqueducts surrounding the Bay of Naples have failed.  Investigating a string of mysterious natural occurrences, Atillius finds himself at the slopes of Mt. Vesuvius on the eve of its eruption.  In a compelling drama filled with details of the corrupt and excessive lifestyle of ancient Rome, aqueducts, and volcanology, Pompeii brings to life one of the most infamous natural disasters in history. 

Also Try:  Imperium by Robert Harris 

Black Death

Year of Wonders:  A Novel of the Plague by Geraldine Brooks

Widowed at 18, Anna Firth takes in a lodger from London who inadvertently brings the plague into her home.  When the plague begins to kill indiscriminately, the villagers decided to quarantine themselves to prevent the further spread of the plague.   The vivid descriptions of the plague, an inspiring, well-drawn protagonist, and an engrossing storyline create both a haunting and powerful novel.

Also Try:  The Plague Tales by Ann Benson

Renaissance

Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

16-year-old Griet becomes the subject of a Vermeer painting while working as his maid.  As others learn of the painting, rumors begin to circulate through town of the growing intimacy between Griet and Vermeer causing trouble for the young maid.  This dramatic coming-of-age novel provides a detailed look at the elusive Vermeer and life during 16^th century Holland.

Also Try:  The Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant

Conquest of the Americas

Ines of My Soul by Isabel Allende

Ines Suarez travels from her home in Spain to the New World to find her missing husband.  Upon learning of her husband’s death, Suarez finds a new love and together they help found the colony of Chile. Told in letter form, this richly detailed depiction of the conquest and colonization of Chile is a sophisticated work of literary fiction. 

Also Try:  Feathered Serpent:  A Novel of the Mexican Conquest by Colin Falconer

French Revolution

The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette by Carolly Erickson

In a secret diary, Marie Antoinette chronicles her life, describing her childhood as princess of Austria, her arranged marriage to the Dauphin of France, her reign as Queen of France, and her downfall during the French Revolution.  Filled with details of courtly life during 18^th century France, this dramatic work provides a look at the excessive lifestyle and tragic demise of one of the most notorious queens in history.

Also Try:  The Red Necklace: A Story of the French Revolution by Sally Gardner

Colonization of Africa

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

When European missionaries attempt to ‘westernize’ his tribe, Okonkwo struggles to preserve his traditional culture.  This bleak novel, filled with details of tribal culture, describes the tragic collapse of an African tribe and its customs. 

Also Try:  The Fire of Origins by Emmanuel Dongala

India:  colonialism, culture, and castes - early 20^th century

The House of Blue Mangoes by David Davidar

The House of Blue Mangoes follows the Dorais, an Indian family, through three generations as they struggle with classism, racism, and colonialism.  The introspective characters and vivid depictions of Indian culture create an engrossing family saga. 

Also Try:  Keeping Corner by Kashmira Sheth

World War Two

When the Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza Holthe

Using multiple points of view, When the Elephants Dance, tells the story of the Karangalan family and their friends as they struggle to survive the final weeks of the Japanese occupation of Manila during World War II.  Hiding in a cellar and encountering danger every time they venture out, the family tells traditional stories to help pass the time.  With well-developed characters and an engrossing plot, this bleak novel expertly weaves the ravages of war with traditional Filipino stories to create a powerful work of historical fiction. 

Also Try:  The Children’s War by Monique Charlesworth

Vietnam War

The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli

As a combat photographer during the Vietnam War, Helen Adams comes face to face with the ravages of war on a daily basis.  In the midst of war, Adams finds herself torn between two men: an American journalist and an ex- Vietnamese soldier.   The heartwarming love story weaved within the graphic depictions of war torn Vietnam provides a glimmer of hope. 

Also Try:  Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers

1994 Rwandan Genocide

Running the Rift by Naomi Benaron

Jean Patrick Nkuba, a talented young Tutsi runner, dreams of representing Rwanda in the Olympics.   When ethnic tensions increase and a civil war begins, Jean must run from the country he loves in order to ensure his survival.  The inspiring character of Jean Patrick gives us a glimmer of hope in this stark and haunting novel of death and destruction.

Also Try:  Broken Memory:  A Story of Rwanda by Elisabeth Combres

The Book Thief Reading Map

My kids have Spring Break this week so my posting may be sporadic.  In fact, in anticipation of this, I have saved some of the best student work from Midterms (back at the beginning of the month) to showcase this week.  So expect a lot of pre-loaded material this week and not much commentary on current issues.

Today, I want to share Amanda's wonderful reading map for The Book Thief.

She did an excellent job of letting the book guide her map.  As I told her, I will be adding this map to the list of those I use to teach other students in future semester's.

Have a look for yourself.

Also, remember you can always access past reading maps which received a grade of A- or higher in the Reading Maps Archive that I keep here.