HAVEN'T READ IT

At my local Chicago Public Library branch, the librarian recently moved all of the graphic novels into a single shelving area by themselves. I was delighted--the graphic novel book club often meets at a table by the new section, so it's easy to browse while we wait for everyone to arrive. The shelves are a little shorter than most, so there is room for displaying graphic novels of all shapes and sizes on top. This change was motivated by growing interest in the format and the club. I felt the change improved findability, encouraged browsing within the niche format, and increased visibility via display space. Although it seems similar on the surface, this situation is different than the case of the northwest Iowa library whose patrons requested books with LGBTQ themes be labeled and separated from the rest of the collection. These patrons asked for a change because they object to the content. They're also taking steps to ensure that the library won't be able to add any mor...

This is the stuff that grinds my gears. Talking about what is "legitimate" art and what isn't. What adults should do and what they should be ridiculed for. So much of this conversation is steeped in the patriarchy, heteronormativity, and people scared that if they have to make room for others who aren't exactly like them, there won't be enough to go around. This conversation seems to echo through history. In some circles, romance still isn't seen as a legitimate genre. YA and Graphic Novels just seem to be latest targets. I don't think it's a coincidence that these genres are largely enjoyed by women and young people. If you are feeling threatened by someone else's reading choices, take a step back and look inside yourself. What is really causing these feelings? Why do you feel the person should not be reading that book? What authority to do you have regarding the choices of others? This is not to say that there aren't harmful books out ther...

The Mushroom at the End of the World by Anna Lowenhaupt Tsing A well-read friend recommended this book to me a few years ago. Unfortunately I got a copy the same year I started this degree, so it's just been sitting on my shelf, waiting for me. I completed the matrix based on what I gleaned from skimming a few sections. Hopefully I get to read it soon! Where is the book on the narrative continuum? This book is a mix of narrative and fact-based prose. What is the subject of the book? By examining the matsutake mushroom's place in global commerce and the reasons why various groups treasure it, Tsing also considers the relationship between "capitalist destruction and collaborative survival." What type of book is it?   I would consider this a book of interconnected essays about a shared topic. In the prologue, the author states that this will be the first book in the "Matsutake Worlds" mini-series, with the three volumes each authored by a differe...

As a child, my family would often drive entire days to reach vacation destinations. I'd invariably bring a stack of print books with me. One trip, we investigated the Harry Potter audiobooks, and the entire car was hooked. My dad still quotes them to this day, attempting his best approximation of Jim Dale's Gilderoy Lockhart or Professor Quirrell. Beyond that, I don't have a lot of personal experience with audiobooks or e-books. If I listen to spoken word, it's usually a podcast. I have an iPad, which I hear is great for graphic novels, but I haven't tried it out for that purpose yet, preferring to restrict its use to schoolwork for now. This is one area where I know I need to do a little research and exploration. (Maybe I'll get a chance as this quarantine situation stretches on.) I've gotten as far as downloading Libby, OverDrive, and RBdigital to my phone. I'll be honest, it's a daunting process, and I consider myself reasonably tech-savvy. The ...

The reading I most wanted to respond to this week was Jo Walton's SF reading protocols  post on Tor.com. I've never really gotten into Science Fiction, but it's not for lack of trying. I end up feeling confused for the first 150 pages, which is enough to make me abandon a book altogether these days. (Stay tuned for my annotation of Ursula K. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness  later this week.) I appreciated this post for recognizing that my frustrations with SF are not related to lack of intelligence or effort. I just haven't developed the same tools as readers who have engaged with SF since childhood. I don't know when to wonder or ask questions about a detail, or when to "skitter over the surface" of an info-dump the same way my SF fan peers do. I saw myself in that description, for sure. However, my problem with the article is that it heavily implies, and at least at one point outright states, that someone "who doesn't have the skills...

Dating is different today than it was a generation ago. Thanks to the internet and the proliferation of personal electronic devices, apps and websites connect two people who might have never crossed paths in real life. Reading plays a big role in finding Mr./Ms. Right—you can read profiles to get to know someone before you even say hello. I propose a passive promotion display of romance novels with fake online dating profiles for characters stylized like Tinder, OKCupid, Hinge, Grindr, Match, Plenty of Fish, etc. Here’s an example for the romance I just reviewed: These profiles will be cut out and glued to a construction paper backing, and then either posted on a bulletin board space, or peeking out of the books themselves. We can also use these images on the library’s social media accounts throughout the month of February, including a link to the book in our catalog. I could include integrated advisory by making profiles for popular movie and television characters, as well, ...

This assignment hits close to home, because I’ve been on the other side of trade reviews as a book publicist (it was a lot less glamorous than it sounds—trust me). Although, I will say that even when the books I repped got dragged by   Kirkus   or another review source, we were often able to eke out a phrase or two that still made it onto the book’s publicity materials. The worst was no coverage at all! A big part of that job was managing author expectations. Everyone thought their book had a shot at the   New York Times  bestseller list. Librarians rely on reviews for collection development, because no one can read everything, or be aware of every book that is published. Reviews from reliable sources help librarians make decisions quickly and with the highest probability that the book will be well-received by readers in their communities. After familiarizing yourself with review publications, you begin to get a sense of their individual personalities—what the...

1.       I am looking for a book by Laurell K. Hamilton. I just read the third book in the Anita Blake series and I can’t figure out which one comes next! The fourth book in the series is called  The Lunatic Café . 2.       What have I read recently? Well, I just finished this great book by Barbara Kingsolver,  Prodigal Summer . I really liked the way it was written, you know, the way she used language. I wouldn't mind something a bit faster paced though. I noticed  Where the Crawdads Sing  by Delia Owens was in the read-alikes sidebar for  Prodigal Summer . That could be one recommendation, if the library has any copies available—I know this one has been popular so there might be a long holds list. I’d also recommend  The Stars are Fire  by Anita Shreve because it sounds like it starts with some intense action, but still has the lyrical aspect the patron enjoyed. 3.    ...