When it comes to marketing our fiction section, word of mouth/providing readers advisory services have been successful for our small library. Since we are able to get to know our patrons we are able to help them find new books to read based on interests. Another way we promote our fiction books is through our programs and displays. We have had book tastings, blind dates with a book, and we even had a book display where we put “shirts” on romance books with shirtless men. We also promote new fiction books on our library newsletters and social media pages. These are most of the ways we market our fiction books to our patrons and so far it has been pretty successful. However, we also make sure to market our fiction collection during Summer Reading programs since it is our most popular time of the year, especially with our seasonal visitors.
Thursday, April 18, 2024
Friday, April 12, 2024
Week 14 Prompt Response
If I was part of the collection management committee at my library I would not separate LGBTQ fiction or Urban fiction, at least not for the the reasons on them being about LGBTQ or Urban Fiction as a genre itself. However, I may separate them for other reasons. For example, my library’s children’s department separates some books because they talk about death, terminal illness, and racism. We do this to let the parents have a head up in case they are not ready to have that talk with their children yet OR if they are ready and want to find books that would help their children have a better understanding of it. However, with adult books I would not put LGBTQ and Urban fiction books in a separate place away from the general collection. My three reasons for this is that:
These are adults who, if interested in a book, can easily read the description of what it is about on the book or look up other resources to see if it is a good fit. Or even ask a librarian!
I feel like this would be considered as suppression and censorship of these books just based on what their topic and themes are.
The ALA’’s Library Bill of Rights says “I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.” This would mean that separating these books based on the LGBTQ themes and the themes and views within Urban Fiction would go against the Library Bill of Rights.
"Library Bill of Rights", American Library Association, June 30, 2006.
http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill (Accessed April 12, 2024)
Thursday, April 4, 2024
Week 13 Prompt.
Both personally and as a librarian, I believe that YA/New Adult books and graphic novels are very legitimate choices for adults to read. I myself read YA/New Adult books because even though I am 25 years old and considered an “adult”, I still relate more to that genre than I do with normal adult books. With graphic novels I believe that there is a unique way of storytelling and importance to them. One you will not find in regular books. Not only do you read the words but you are also able to experience things in more detail because of the art that is with those words. Many of the adult patrons I serve at my library would also agree with me.
I feel that we can work to ensure that people who love these genres are served by created more understanding on the importance and beauty of these genres. We can do special book programs that allow patrons to try these genres they otherwise wouldn’t read or pick, we can create displays that show graphic novels can be for adults (for example, including Maus I & II in a WWII display in the adult department), and many other ways. Basically I feel that if we can integrate more of these genres into regular adult programs/displays/exposer, maybe more people will understand why others love these genres.
Friday, March 29, 2024
Week 12 Prompt
THE READER’S ADVISORY MATRIX: Educated by Tara Westover
Where is the book on the narrative continuum?
Highly narrative (reads like fiction)
A mix (combines highly narrative moments with periods of fact-based prose)
Highly fact-based (has few or no narrative moments)
What is the subject of the book?
The book is about Tara Westover’s life and experiences with a religious survivalist family and experiencing education and other experiences for the first time.
What type of book is it?
A biography in narrative form
Articulate appeal
What is the pacing of the book? The story's pace is fast but informative.
Describe the characters of the book.
Tara Westover is the main character who grew up in Idaho and initially had little experience of the world outside her family’s property.
How does the story feel? Dramatic, Inspiring, and Hectic
What is the intent of the author? The author intends to talk about her life and experiences on how she gained an education in both school and in life as it truly is. Not what her father told her it was.
What is the focus of the story? The life of the author and her experiences and troubles while growing up.
Does the language matter? Yes
Is the setting important and well-described? The setting is important because it provides a sense of past and present for the author and the pull each has on her. The setting is very well described.
Are there details and, if so, of what? There are a lot of details in both the feeling and description of the settings.
Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear? No
Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience? Yes to all. The book focuses on the author's learning, understanding, and experience of the world as she knows it to be and how she is learning how it truly is.
Why would a reader enjoy this book (rank appeal)?
1. Experiences of the author 2. Narrative 3. Tone
Educated - NonFiction Annotation
Author: Tara Westover
Title: Educated
Genre: Non-Fiction
Publication Date: Fe 29, 2021
Number of Pages: 352 pages
Geographical Setting: Idaho, Massachusetts, England, New York.
Time Period: Mid to Late 90s to Present
Series: N/A
Summary:
Tara Westover grew up in the mountains of Idaho in a family of religious survivalists. Her life was spent learning how to mix and stew herbs with her mother or helping her father and brothers scrap metal. All so they can fund their way to surviving the end of days. It wasn’t until Tara was 17 that she stepped into a classroom and began to discover the world for what it is and discover herself.
Subject Headings
Adult children of dysfunctional families
Survivalism
Homeschooling
Victims of family violence
Subculture
Appeal:
Tone: The tone of this book is Informative and serious.
Characterization:
Tara Westover is a trusting, motivated, and compassionate person who struggles with her loyal nature.
Gene Westover is a religious survivalist who occasionally shows a loving and kind nature to his children but is a mainly dominant and manipulative man.
Faye Westover is a character with a huge loyalty to her husband but occasionally is sly and supportive of her daughter despite this going against her husband’s beliefs and wishes.
Shawn Westover is a violent and abusive brother who uses religious beliefs to lie and manipulate his siblings and parents.
Tyler Westover is smart and studious and supports his sister Tara in finding herself through life and school. He is an encouraging and wholesome light in this story.
Setting: Idaho, England, and Massachusetts
Pacing: A fast-paced novel with a multitude of drama and emotions.
Short Review: Although I questioned how I would like this book at first it is a beautiful yet heartbreaking, and mending, story about survival and self-discovery. 4.5/5 stars
Read-Alikes:
Walls, J. (2005). The Glass Castle. Scribner.
Obama, M. (2018). Becoming. Crown.
McCurdy, J. (2022). I’m Glad My Mom Died. Simon & Schuster.
Friday, March 22, 2024
Week 11 Prompt
Ebooks and audiobooks are a part of our landscape. What does the change in medium mean for appeal factors?
For Ebooks, I believe the appeal is somewhat greater than a regular book. It’s easier to transport, you can keep more books on your device, and each book can be changed when it comes to accessibility needs. For example, bigger text for people with worse eyesight.
When it comes to audiobooks, I’m not much of a fan of them but I have heard patrons say that it appeals to them more because they can listen to them when they work or drive, people who are blind can still read their favorite books, and that some narrators and audio sounds help them get more into the stories.
If you can't hold a book and feel the physical weight of it in your hands, how does that affect your knowledge of the genre?
Although I love the feel and, admittedly smell, of books I don’t think it has any effect on how I think of the genre. Nor have I heard any of my patrons any changes in their perspectives on it. Although Ebooks and Audiobooks are different I feel that I and my patrons can respect it as part of the genre as a whole.
How about readers being able to change the font, line spacing, and color of text - how does that affect pacing and tone?
I feel that, at least in my mind, changes to text and line spacing can quicken the pace of the book from either being quicker, with small text and shorter spacing, or slower, with bigger text and closer spacing. However, the color of the text and it’s background is nice for when your eyes need a break and have less strain. I know many people, myself included, who use white text on a black background when reading because it has less strain on them and allows them to read longer.
How about audiobooks? Track length, narrator choice, is there music?
One of the main reasons I don’t like audiobooks is because, depending on the narrator's voice or audio additions, it is really hard for me to get into or concentrate on the story. However, many patrons have mentioned to me that these are the things that help them get into the story more.
Historical Fiction Annotation - The Personal Librarian
Author: Marie Benedict
Title: The Personal Librarian
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publication Date: June 29, 2021
Number of Pages: 341 pages
Geographical Setting: New York City, New York; London, England
Time Period: Early 1900s
Series: N/A
Summary:
Belle da Costa Greene is a white woman with a Portuguese grandmother which is why her skin is a bit darker than others. At least, that's what she tells J.P. Morgan and anyone else who asks. But in reality, she's an African American woman who is able to pass as white. And it's because of this that she is able to get a job as the librarian at J.P Morgan's historic Pierpont Morgan Library. She is also able to be a part of high society events, deal with important art and book dealers, and even have a romantic rendezvous or two. However, the real question is…how long will she be able to keep the secret of her true identity? Will she be able to keep the life she has built herself? Or will everything fall apart?
Subject Headings
African American Women
Passing (identity)
Women librarians
Biographical Fiction
Pierpont Morgan Library
Appeal:
Tone: The tone of this book is Assertive, Formal, and Worried.
Characterization:
Belle daCosta Greene/Belle Marion Greener is based on a historical figure of the same name. Although careful at first in her career she later becomes more bold and even reckless in her interactions with strangers and colleagues.
J.P. Morgan is a bold and assertive financier who has a passion for art and rare books. A passion he seems to only be able to share with Belle.
Genevieve Fleet is Belle’s mother and is a brave and protector of Belle and her siblings.
Richard Greener is the father of Belle. He is an activist, scholar, and educator.
Anne Morgan is the daughter of J.P. Morgan. A philanthropist for women’s rights. She has a jealous attitude toward Belle and her father’s relationship. She is bold and passive aggressive in her demeanor toward Belle.
Setting: New York City and London
Pacing: This book has a fast pacing due to time skips within the story.
Short Review: I loved the historical knowledge of this book. Even though this book is technically historical fiction, the authors took great care in making sure they were as accurate in their information as possible. It was an amazing way to learn about such a historical person and relationship. 4.5/5 stars
Read-Alikes:
Golden, A. (2005). Memoirs of a Geisha. Vintage Books USA.
Kostova, E. (2016). The Historian. Little, Brown and Company.
Morris, H. (2018). The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Harper.