Category Archives: Books

Books, General

Cool ways to display your books

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Bookshelves are awesome!

Library people love books, and they usually tend to own quite a few. Keeping these books organized can present challenges, especially if you own a lot of them.

This article from Buzzfeed has some really unique, yet totally do-able ideas for organizing and displaying your books. Check it out and discover:

  • using an old ladder as a shelf and wall decoration
  • incorporating plants into your bookshelves
  • using rope lights to highlight your collection

Follow the hashtag #bookshelf on Instagram for more pretty inspiration, or check out this article that features 15 Instagram accounts especially for book lovers.

And of course, Pinterest has a wealth of bookshelf ideas to enjoy. Just be warned – you could spend a lot of time perusing all the shelving options!

Orville watches over some of the books and plants here at CMLE Headquarters. Do you have your books or bookshelves organized in an interesting display? Send us a picture!

 

Books

Reading at parties isn’t rude – it’s expected!

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CORI Middle School ReadingWe gather together, sit without speaking to each other, and read the books we brought. Or we meet at a bar, drink a lovely beverage, and read our books. Or we gather in a park (maybe Munsinger Clemens Gardens ??) and quietly read our books?

For how many library people does that sound like a FANTASTIC event??? Lots of us!!

And apparently this is a hot new trend!

From a PLA blog by Gretchen Kaser: “According to a recent Forbes article,[1] my thinking may not be so off-base. Megy Karydes describes Silent Reading Parties, live lit, and library bars as a growing trend of sharing literature with friends without the stress and “homework” of a traditional book club. Silent Reading Parties, coined by Christopher Frizelle in 2010, involve gathering in a bar or other locale to read in companionable silence. There is no assigned reading, and the meetings are open to all. Silent Book Club tracks upcoming parties around the world.”

Is this something you want to try in your library??? Or would you like CMLE to set up a reading party for all of us to attend?? It could be fun!

Books

Book stumper: Can you identify this one?

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A librarian is looking for some help identifying a book for one of her patrons. If you can identify it for her, send us an email and we will pass your info along!

“I had a patron in this morning looking for help finding a book she read as a child – This book would have been published roughly 50+ years ago. I think it would be a jFic but cannot be sure. Here is what we have to go on: The book focuses on a group of young boys. There is an older man they interact with. They are somewhat fearful of him and he serves them sassafras tea. There was possibly a tree involved in the story at some point – maybe the boys hid in it?”

Books, General

Ben & Jerry’s Book Pairings

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Sounds good!

While books on their own are great, books plus snacks definitely equals a happier experience!

This article from Book Riot has an impressive list of Ben & Jerry’s flavors that the author has tried, and then she matches the flavor with a fitting book.

For example:

Empower Mint – I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai

Chocolate Therapy – Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich

Triple Caramel Chunk – The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas

Spectacular Speculoos Cookie Core – Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

If you’re more of a dessert beverage person, check out this article from Abe Books that features several different book and wine pairings – and then the author’s favorite books about wine, too! And not to leave out beer drinkers – enjoy this list from Buzzfeed that recommends books to go with your beer.

Books, Public, Resources, School Media Specialist

Looking for historical fiction picture books?

Reading about fictional characters in a historical setting can be interesting and education for young readers. If you are looking for suggestions of fiction books in a historical setting, here are a few to try:

Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan
This book was inspired by actual plantation documents that detailed the monetary value of a slave. This book examines that topic while sharing values that cannot be sold, which are each slaves’ dreams and lived experiences.

Locomotive by Brian Floca
This book takes a look at the early days of America’s transcontinental railroad. The train’s journey comes alive with the sounds, sights, passengers, and workers that all witness the changing landscape of the country.

 

Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad by Henry Cole
This story is about a farm girl that has discovered a runaway slave hiding in her family’s barn. To help the slave, she must act with courage and compassion.

Do you have a favorite historical fiction picture book? Share with us in the comments, we’d love to check it out!