The end of every year usually brings all sorts of wrap-up lists: “best of” collections of everything from cookware and electronics to music and YouTube makeup artists. At the library, […]
Your own year’s best
from the archive
Tag: readers’ advisory
Let’s talk about books
Last week, the library hosted its version of Jolabokaflod, the Icelandic holiday tradition that includes exchanging books and drinking cocoa. Several staff members, including myself, picked a few of the […]
Expanding your reading horizons
As 2019 draws to a close, I find myself thinking about my reading goals for next year. When it comes to reading for pleasure, most people (including me) tend to […]
Old school/new school
In the 1998 film “You’ve Got Mail,” Tom Hanks’ character tells his anonymous online penpal, played by Meg Ryan, “Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me […]
Testing the waters
Our Summer Reading program for adults has begun! This year, we’re challenging you to read in a variety of genres and formats. Most readers already know what they like, and […]
Slightly sinister summer reads
When you think of books to read in the summer, your mind may first conjure up a breezy, clever romance like The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory or Unhoneymooners by […]
Embracing the romance genre
I’m a huge sap. I’ve always loved romantic comedies, and often my favorite element of any book is the romance. But for some reason, I had never been interested in reading […]
Books while you wait
To paraphrase the great Jane Austen, it is a truth universally acknowledged that a new release book by a popular author — or a book that has received rave reviews […]
Short stories for shorter days
Since the clocks turned back and daylight hours dwindle on our way to winter, I find less time to read. Dark evenings make me feel less productive, and I am […]
Seven books that are perfect fall reads
Autumn is my favorite time of year. The brisk, snapping air, the marigold crunch of leaves underfoot, cozy nights under cozy blankets — what’s not to love? One of my […]
A kind book for an anxious world
Once in a blue moon, I read a book so incredible that I can’t stop talking about it. I have to recommend it constantly–at book festivals when I speak on […]
Get out there and read
My inbox has been deluged with summer reading recommendations– from publishers, from professional organizations, from other libraries and from some famous people. Taking a quick survey of summer reading lists […]
Bookshop bliss
As an avid reader, my home is filled with books. Whether it is one bookshelf or five or a coffee table made out of stacks, there are piles of books […]
To be continued
My resolution plate is happily empty, as I’ve chosen to skate by picking goals to live up to this year. In this waning January of 2018, I find I’m revisiting […]
Teen books for adults and adult books for teens
What is a crossover book? In the publishing industry, a crossover book is one marketed toward either young adult (YA) readers or adult readers, but frequently read and enjoyed by both […]
Painting a family portrait
Stories of families account for much of my summer reading so far, having recently waded into three wonderful novels and one quirky memoir that are powerful family portraits: Moonglow by […]
It’s personal, isn’t it?
What we take away from an experience can morph over time. The secrets we all carry still are ours, even when we reveal them. I wrote these two sentences with […]
Picking up threads
Twelve days into 2017: long enough to consider resolutions passé but not yet time to give up hope for improvements. It’s an aging new year we’re facing. As we multitask to […]
Popular truths
With the second floor closed for renovation, the majority of our non-fiction collection has been stored offsite this year. When the books moved out of the building this past June, we pledged […]
Book buzz: families full of drama
There was gasoline to set a house on fire, a wronged wife, a dead husband and a sister in danger, with suspected crooked law enforcement agents and politicos galore, so nobody could be trusted. At this critical point in the story, my audiobook loan inconveniently expired. My book was deleted from my app's bookshelf, leaving me waiting in suspense while several people behind me with holds finished their borrowing and my turn came up again.
In the doldrums
It's quiet here at the Welcome Desk. In this lull between customers, I have a chance to restock the displays, check out the newest books and thumb through a few professional book reviewing magazines. So why is it, with all of this lovely reading matter literally at my fingertips, can I not find anything I want to read. Nothing appeals to me at the moment. Nada. How is this even possible? It makes no sense whatsoever. I am in the (reading) doldrums.
Book It is new and improved
"I need a good book," is a common refrain we hear as librarians. It's also one of our favorite questions. While we love to suggest books in person, did you know you can also ask for suggestions from the comfort of your home? Try Book It, our online personalized book recommendation service. We've recently updated it to make it easier than ever. Just answer a few questions and one of our book loving staff members will email you a customized list of items from our collection.
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