Everyone in the library world knows that summer is a time for kicking back with some new reading, trying out some new programming, and (hopefully!) bringing in more people to your library! It’s a lot of work, but the results are fun for your patrons.
Thinking up these fun things to do can be the hardest part!
Fortunately, many library people face the same issue; so we can all work together to share ideas. One librarian asked for help in making teen craft programs over the summer, and there were many suggestions from other library people. See if any of them would work in your library! Continue reading Summer reading time approaches!→
At CMLE Headquarters, we love innovation! It’s always great to see people trying new things. This video is an example of how a relatively dull job can be made into something creative, exciting, and fun for everyone!
Now, what can we do in libraries this week that might be at least this fun?? Remember: CMLE HQ is here to help you come up with plans, and figure out how to make them reality!
If you have some fun things happening (now, past, or future) in your library, share them below. As a system, we are all stronger when we cooperate together!
CMLE members: I know many of you are working with international patrons, and patrons who are emerging bilingual/English is their second language. This is a good opportunity to share your work with other people! If you would like some help with this proposal, or with writing about your work – just check in with us at CMLE Headquarters! We are always available to help you with research, writing, conference proposals, or anything else you might need!
Call for Chapter Proposals
Improving Library Services in Support of International Students and English as a Second Language (ESL) Learners(working title)
Most libraries now have manga titles added to our collections, and they can be very popular with patrons!
If you do not regularly read these titles, it can be hard to know what the best ones might be for your patrons. Asking your patrons about the best, or the titles they most enjoy, is a great way to find good titles. You can also subscribe to listserves for manga fans, check out websites, or follow journal recommendations to get suggestions your patrons would enjoy.
The best way to get familiar with these titles is the same as all Reader’s Advisory suggestions: read them. Flip through the books and look at pictures. Pay attention to characters who appear throughout a series. Continue reading Thinking about manga titles?→
Pinterest: the source of all kinds of library fun!
Back in the olden days, books in the library were available only in paper format.
This is a wonderful format for transmitting ideas in many situations – doesn’t require battery recharging, easy to see in bright sunshine, less likely to be destroyed if accidentally dropped into the tub when reading. It’s stable, and with proper handling can last for many years.
But now we have all sorts of good opportunities to help people read books!
Content is the key; format is a choice. Books are more than their formats; format is just a way to transmit ideas.
I am an enormous audiobook reader. A format more ancient than paper for transmitting stories, sharing ideas verbally continues to be a good way to read books.
When you are doing Reader’s Advisory (RA) work in audio formats, it’s important to know about the reader. A good reader, or a group of readers, can make the book come to life; a bad one can kill any hope of enjoying a book. I don’t know that I would have stayed with Ender’s Game if I was reading in on paper; but the audio version definitely kept me going! I have listened to books I would not have considered, except they were read by Scott Brick, Lorelei King, or George Guidall – award winning readers, and voices I really enjoy across all kinds of books.
You can listen to books as you walk your dog, as you do dishes, as you drive to work, or as you set at your computer doing monotonous and repetitive work. The flexibility of audiobooks means you can get more reading done than if you had to just sit in one place and read. For an omnivorous book reader (raising my hand here!), audiobooks have a good place in my daily reading schedule.
Mediatore, K. (2003). Reading with Your Ears: Readers’ Advisory and Audio Books. Reference & User Services Quarterly,42(4), 318-323.
Check out Overdrive’s services through your local library, or buy books from audible.com (or other sources); and discover the joys of reading audiobooks today!
Any suggestions for good places to start in reading? Any RA tips for audiobooks? Share them below!
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