Tag Archives: Books

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

We are joining the blog trend of Monday posts about what we have read during the last week (4/27/20-5/3/20).

Annamarie’s Reading

Note: As I expected, my reading slowed down this week. Even having back my normal two hours commuting a day, I can’t keep up that reading pace. I had a couple great ones this week–Once Upon an Eid and June’s Wild Flight. I also really enjoyed Science Comics: Crows–this series is really touch and go on readability of particular titles, but I flew right through this one.

Michala’s Reading

Note: I had my first Virtual Quaran-teen Advisory Board this week and might actually pull my act together and make a blog post about the awesome awkwardness that is teenagers on GoToMeeting!

Virtual Book Talks

Reader’s Advisory and book talks are a major part of any youth librarian’s job–you need to be familiar with popular titles as well as be ready for those more obscure reader’s advisory questions (“I want books about REAL unicorns. None of that pink glittery nonsense. The REAL ones that eat people.”).

In the library, we provide this service regularly through all kinds of resources–in-person reader’s advisory, displays, booklists, librarian-curated posters and bookmarks of recommended titles and popular genres, and more. My library also sends us into classrooms to talk directly to kids about some great books they might be interested in.

I read a lot. I also love booktalking in classrooms. But I am now working from home, schools in Ohio are not going back this year, and, honestly, I don’t really expect public librarians (or anyone really) to be allowed into classrooms next fall.

So how do we keep reaching those kids? The same ways we have been doing everything lately…virtually.

Learn about how my virtual reader’s advisory evolved into video book talks – plus plenty of examples – in this post.

Video Book Talks

Someday, when we are in a better routine and know what to expect out of life again, I would love to make video book talks. At the moment, I am just getting my feet under me with weekly virtual storytimes and starting monthly virtual school-age programs, and with the constant uncertainty of when and how we will reopen, I don’t want to start something like this at the moment.

Feel free to watch this, uh, interesting creation circa 2017 (that has over 700 views?!?!?!).

I think there are ways to make virtual video book talks much more engaging than the above video, even after eliminating the obvious issues like what-color-is-that-wall and better sound (And, um, pronouncing the title and main character’s name correctly. I’m sorry Hena Khan.).

Some of my dream video book talks include a lot more engaging cuts, edits, and images to be more visually exciting, but I think I may have to settle for a notch under that if I am able to start filming these in the next few months, just due to the time required to make those edits. I’m storyboarding our summer reading video at the moment, and while I think it is going to be pretty awesome, I also recognize the time involved.

Audio Book Talks

One of my coworkers started making audio-only book talks uploaded to SoundCloud, which is a new format for me. I really miss the visual element of video, but I will be the first to admit that it is much easier to read a script into a microphone than babble into a camera and worry about lighting and camera placement and my hands endlessly moving.

I have not put in the time on these that my coworker has (listen to Lisa’s great work here), but some of my files are linked below.

For any of you with an ear for audiobooks–I know some of you are reading this blog–please ignore my mouth sounds. And breathing. And spit. And dry mouth. And p-pops. I’ve been trying to edit all of that out, but it is exhausting, and there is only so much time in the work day. I can’t spend three hours or more editing a three-minute audio file, as much as ALL I HEAR is spit when these play.

Note: I watched a webinar yesterday on disability access and virtual programming. One of the key points they mentioned was making audio files accessible with a script to read for folks who are deaf. I hadn’t considered that before but am planning to edit descriptions for the files below and include text for future audio book talks.

2nd-3rd Grade:

Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol by Andres Miedoso

Mia Mayhem by Kara West

Zoey & Sassafras by Asia Citro

3rd-4th Grade:

Poop Detectives by Ginger Wadsworth (non-fiction)

Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat by Johnny Marciano

4th-5th Grade:

Small Spaces by Katherine Arden

Do you have plans for new ways to look at reader’s advisory in a world where we may not be encouraging patrons to hang out in our building and may not be going into new locations for in-person outreach?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

We are joining the blog trend of Monday posts about what we have read during the last week (4/20/20-4/26/20).

Annamarie’s Reading

Picture Books

Graphic Novels

Everything Else

Note: Books, books, books, books, books. My particular favorite titles this week included Beast Boy, Ways to Make Sunshine, and Dung for Dinner.

Michala’s Reading

Note: I will never be up to Annamarie’s amount of reading and I am learning to make peace with that. I will not make peace with the fact that people aren’t wearing masks outside. #washyourhands #wearyourmasks I’ve had the plague trust me you don’t want it.

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

We are joining the blog trend of Monday posts about what we have read during the last week (4/13/20-4/19/20).

Annamarie’s Reading

Picture Books

Graphic Novels

Everything Else

Note: I am way too addicted to downloading eARCs at the moment, meaning I have downloaded way more than I have the capacity to read. Paused the kid lit for an adult read this week too–Tools of Engagement by Tessa Bailey. If you like adult romance, this is by far her best work in that series, and a quick, fun read overall.

Michala’s Reading

Note: I’m not up to Annamarie’s amount of reading, but I am back and plugging away as I can. I got off of isolated quarantine this week and got to enjoy reading a couple of these on my porch in the fresh air (with a mask) and it was absolutely magical!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

We are joining the blog trend of Monday posts about what we have read during the last week (4/6/20-4/12/20).

Annamarie’s Reading

First Chapter Books

Everything Else

Note: Same as last week–still plugging through a mix of eBooks (including eARCs) and physical first chapter books I took from work (there may have been quite a few of those). Got some great eARCs and book ideas from the Middle Grade Magic Virtual Conference on Wednesday–did anyone else get a chance to attend?

Michala’s Reading

Note: Yay, I’m back and survived the plague! Not 100% better, but enough that I’m not dying both literally and figuratively in my house. I’m still quarantined, but I’m here! Not gonna lie, even reading is slow for me right now, but I made it through a few books and hope to be back to reading lots of things for the weekly posts (and feeling super chagrined that I never manage to post anything else) very soon!

***I apparently love exclamation points***

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

We are joining the blog trend of Monday posts about what we have read during the last week (3/30/20-4/5/20).

Annamarie’s Reading

Picture Books

Everything Else

Note: Mixture of old and new this week. I’ve been reading eARCs on my phone from NetGalley and starting to move into the big stack of books I may have taken from the library after we closed to patrons. No better time than now to get acquainted with some new first chapter books! Someday I’ll get to the rest of the ARCs I got at ALA Midwinter…

Michala’s Reading

Unfortunately, Michala is currently under the weather. She will return with her weekly reads when she is feeling better!

Get better Michala! (And stop reading this, and go back to sleep!)

Social Media Collection Promotion

Before social distancing days, I was a member of my library’s Marketing the Collection Committee (I suppose I still am, that sounded kind of depressing). One of my personal work goals for this year was to promote our children’s collection using social media.

A week before we closed, I posted my first few Instagram Stories sharing some of my favorite non-fiction graphic novel series (Science Comics, Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales, Maker Comics). I created a detailed spreadsheet with the books I was going to highlight every two weeks for the rest of the year, coordinating titles with library events and seasonal activities. Books started piling up at my desk, so I would have physical copies for those 15-second videos.

And then we were sent home, and priorities shifted.

Looking on the bright side of things, our closure allowed me to explore our digital content in a way I hadn’t before. Personally, I checked out ebooks regularly, but, other than when I was on vacation, I was much more likely to pick up a physical book than download an ebook, if I had a choice.

I shifted my plans–that spreadsheet went out the window, and instead, with our marketing department’s approval, I started posting one Instagram story a day focusing on a different ebook or eaudiobook (without having to film myself–it’s faster without worrying about retakes and word choice and backgrounds and technology hiccups).

My personal Instagram Story parameters are below (much of this is adapted from the instructions I was given by marketing before I started):

  • One story a day.
  • I rotate through four topics:
    • eaudibooks for families
    • ebook for ages 0-5
    • ebook for ages 6-8
    • ebook for ages 9-11
  • Mix up the time you post stories (this often ends up being afternoon or evening for me, based on when I remember)
  • Add flare. (I’m still learning how to do this.)
    • Add stickers
    • Tag authors when possible – creates some great interactions!
    • Add video when possible–I record my phone screen using the free app XRecorder to show myself scrolling through a list of favorite titles or playing a clip from a Weston Woods book video from Hoopla.
  • Try not to add too much text. (I fail at this regularly.)
  • Focus on ebook services that don’t involve long hold lists when possible–for me, this means I promote titles on Hoopla or Cloud Library more than the Overdrive library shared across my state.

I am planning to figure out Later.com by the end of the week to have these scheduled instead of having to post each day. I keep opening the website, staring at the home page, not immediately seeing how to schedule a story, and getting distracted by something else. I blame still getting used to working from home.

Some sample Instagram Stories without video:

And some sample Instagram Stories with video (that you can’t see play below, but may make more sense with that information):

This is just a small piece in my library’s overall social media plan while we are closed to the public. What is your library doing? Share your awesome ideas in the comments!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

We are joining the blog trend of Monday posts about what we have read during the last week (3/23/20-3/29/20).

Annamarie’s Reading

Annamarie Top Titles include:

Note: I powered through a hodgepodge of picture books and readers this week, available through Hoopla’s new Bonus Borrows programs–titles you can check out without counting toward your monthly limit (and without costing the owning library any money).

Michala’s Reading

Unfortunately, Michala is currently under the weather. She will return with her weekly reads when she is feeling better!

Get better Michala! (And stop reading this, and go back to sleep!)

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

We are joining the blog trend of Monday posts about what we have read during the last week (3/16/20-3/22/20).

Annamarie’s Reading

Annamarie Top Titles include:

Note: Some new graphic novels this week. Expecting reading to pick up as I adjust to work-from-home life.

Michala’s Reading

3/9/2020 – 3/15/2020

Michala’s top titles include:

3/16/2020 – 3/22/2020

Michala’s top titles include:

Note: So I apologize that last week I missed updating my reads and you got the same book 2 weeks in a row from me. I got all caught up in the covid-19 news and work updates that I completely flaked on these updates.so this week you get both week’s reads in one!

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

We are joining the blog trend of Monday posts about what we have read during the last week (3/9/20-3/15/20).

Annamarie’s Reading

Annamarie Top Titles include:

Note: I was planning to catch up on my stacks of books this week…and now with everyone essentially in quarantine, I imagine I will be able to keep pushing through titles for a while.

Michala’s Reading

Michala’s top titles include:

Note: .

Note: I rolled heavy on illustrated books this week trying to quickly cut down the stack of books at my desk…..it sort of worked.

1 … 11 12 13 … 16