Libraries Archives - BOOK RIOT https://bookriot.com/category/libraries/ Book Recommendations and Reviews Fri, 16 Dec 2022 20:19:46 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.9.5 Let the Games Begin! 4 Simple Ways to Include Board Games and Gaming In Libraries https://bookriot.com/gaming-in-libraries/ Mon, 19 Dec 2022 11:30:00 +0000 https://bookriot.com/?p=527979

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If you’ve read any of my previous Book Riot content (a girl can dream), you may have come across my latest post about books for board gamers. After spending the Thanksgiving holiday board gaming with my family, I’ve been in a gaming mood. Of course, as a gamer at heart, I’m usually in the mood to board game. Currently, I work in a public library, and I’ve begun thinking about board games in the context of the library as well.

The ALA digs into the value of board games in libraries, writing, “Public libraries have a mission to provide a variety of materials in a variety of formats. Board games, card games, and video games are stories and information, presented in new formats. Libraries are about stories and information, not specifically books. Or, as Eli Neiburger says, we’re in the content business.”

I love that phrasing. “The content business.” This is an excellent summation of what libraries offer to the community. As times have changed, the materials offered in libraries have as well. In the days of yore, libraries carried only books and print media. Now they offer a variety of media formats, including CDs, DVDs, and digital books. Libraries have expanded even beyond literacy-based media formats, lending all sorts of useful and interesting items, from museum passes to snow gear. As the ALA explains so well, board games are just another format of stories and information, and they make delightful additions to library collections and programs.

There’s more to board games than just entertainment, though. The ALA emphasizes that “Gaming programs are primarily social events. It’s more about relationship building than gameplay.” They go on to state, “Gaming programs epitomize library as third place, creating a community place between home and work/school to socialize and play.” I love that the library has become a “third place” for people in the community. Relationship building is incredibly impactful for people, and I’m glad libraries work to foster that now. Board games in libraries provide an excellent venue to encourage these social interactions.

Opportunities for socialization hold even more significance in the wake of the pandemic. In a 2021 Library Journal article, Wilkes, Webb, and Enis write: “The COVID-19 pandemic has proven a mental health crisis as many have dealt with isolation, grief, and loneliness. Gaming can provide a shared experience and a way to fill this void.” Those early years of the pandemic were incredibly lonely for me, and the times I did board game with friends amidst the isolation meant so much to me. Board games bring people together, and that’s what libraries are all about.

Drawing on my experience working in libraries and visiting libraries, I’ve put together a list of four simple ways to include board games and gaming in your library. I hope these suggestions will help draw people together at your library too!

4 Ways to Include Board Games and Gaming in Libraries

1. Board Games and Puzzle Stations

An easy way to begin integrating gaming into your library can involve setting up a a space with board games and/or puzzles for patrons to use. Games make for a great passive program in libraries. Patrons can stop by and participate on their own time. In the library I work in now, we have a puzzle table that draws people in just to puzzle sometimes. It’s wonderful to see how community-building puzzles and board games can be and to offer a space for that.

2. Board Games for Check Out

Let’s be honest, board games are expensive. Just as I wish I could own all of the books I love best, I wish my board game collection could include all of my favorites too. I’m no Mr. Monopoly, though, so I appreciate that more libraries are circulating board games in their collections too. Libraries are constantly evolving with the communities they serve. Expanding the types of items available for check out allows libraries to remain relevant and valuable for their patrons.

3. Library Gaming Clubs

You can also support board games and gaming in your library with gaming clubs. Before the public library I work in now, I worked in a high school library. While there, I served as the advisor for the chess club and later the Rubik’s club too. It was so rewarding to see how much our club members enjoyed gaming together. Another Rioter shared how he started a Dungeons & Dragons club at his school library and how meaningful it’s been for him and his students. The library makes for the perfect setting for people with mutual interests in games to gather and play. Participants can develop problem-solving and teamwork skills, make new friends, and have fun.

4. Special Programs

Along with gaming clubs, libraries can also plan special programs focused on games. At my public library, I currently host a trivia tournament, and each month I pick a different theme. It’s been loads of fun. If you’d like to brainstorm different gaming programs for your own library, here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Trivia Tournaments
  • Library Escape Rooms
  • Bingo
  • Role-Playing Games

Board games have been a special part of my life since my days as a kid. They’ve helped me build friendships and feel less alone. It’s wonderful to see how board games are making their way into libraries now too. What kinds of gaming opportunities have you seen in libraries?

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Getting Crafty in the Library https://bookriot.com/library-crafts/ Mon, 12 Dec 2022 11:30:00 +0000 https://bookriot.com/?p=527642

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One of my favourite things about my local library is the regular craft activities that it runs. Walking into the main part of the library, you often find yourself in front of several tables covered with paper, pens, glitter and stickers, with children and their families working on a craft, often following a particular theme – sometimes animals, sometimes Halloween decorations, and, most recently, Christmas crafts. The creativity on display can be astounding, and the enthusiasm is always off the charts.

Craft sessions might seem at odds with the traditional image of a library. They can be messy – glue and glitter are both notoriously difficult to keep under control, even when you’re an adult – and mess doesn’t generally mix with books. Young kids who are really getting into an activity are often quite vocal about it – “silence in the library” is impossible to maintain when you have a group of little ones who are excited about something they’re making. Fortunately, libraries have moved on since the old stereotype of people being shushed if they whisper too loudly. Nowadays, they’re important community centres, and more than able to withstand a little mess and noise, especially in the spirit of encouraging children’s creativity.

My local library isn’t the only one that has embraced crafting sessions as a way to bring in local kids. Having library-based arts and crafts meet-ups has become so widespread that there are a large number of websites and resources available for anyone wanting to start crafting sessions in their local library, whether you’re library staff or a community member looking for a place to set up a new scheme.

Three people's hands are cutting and folding paper flowers on a table. On the table, there are several other paper flowers in blue and red, as well as some green paper leaves. There are some colourful sheets of paper, and two green cutting boards.
Image from Pixabay

Kid-Friendly Crafting

If you want to set up a craft session for children, there are plenty of options you can choose, ranging from the simple to the more complex. Very young kids will love anything where they can work with colourful paper, pens and glitter, especially if there’s a fun theme. Setting children up with recognisable cut-out shapes, like animals, stars or holiday wreaths, can give them a helpful starting point that still gives them plenty of scope to use their imagination. Crafts like this involve little teaching, making them more accessible to a wide age range, and older children can draw on techniques they’ve already learned to add complexity to a simple task.

If you have a little more time for teaching, there are some more specific crafts you can set up. Making pipe cleaner animals can be a low-cost and fun activity, and, as with drawing and colouring, kids of different ages and skill levels can adapt it, making it easier or more elaborate as they wish.

In a library setting, book-themed crafts are always a great idea. Children can make bookmarks that they can use for their reading – either simple strips of card that they can draw on, or higher skill level ideas such as a cat bookmark that can hang over the edge of the pages.

Older children, or younger ones with some supervision, can even try making their own books. The British Library has a tutorial on how to make mini-books that can easily be adapted for different themes – kids can make comic books, seasonal books, or even put together their own tiny novels.

Crafting for Adults

Children aren’t the only people who can benefit from arts and crafts sessions in the library. Setting up gatherings for adults can help combat loneliness for older people, or be a low-stress social activity for adults of all ages. In the current climate, where living expenses are soaring, attending a craft session at a library can allow people to stay warm, take part in a free or low-cost activity, and socialise in a supportive community environment.

I might be biased, as knitting is one of my favourite hobbies, but yarn-based crafts are always a solid idea for a library arts and crafts activity. Knitting and crochet can be tricky to learn, but, being popular skills, there are often experienced people in a group who can help out the beginners. There are plenty of guides out there for people who want to learn to teach others the basics, which can be printed out for the group.

A pair of hands knitting a small, light blue square.
Image from Pixabay

Other crafts that can be set up for adults include card-making and other kinds of papercrafting; jewellery-making; or crafting decorations. Some libraries set up specific crafting sessions, while others, such as Goffstown Public Library, have created ‘Take and Make’ projects that people can work on at the library or in their own homes. Projects like this give people a chance to learn new creative skills, and potentially find a new hobby that they enjoy.

For more ideas for bookish crafts, try out article on Fun DIY Bookmarking Ideas for a Quick Crafting Session. ARCs can be excellent materials for crafting – find out what to do with them in our article on 5 Ways to Upcycle Your ARCs.

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Places I Look for Library Lessons https://bookriot.com/resources-for-library-lesson-ideas/ Mon, 05 Dec 2022 11:30:00 +0000 https://bookriot.com/?p=526970

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Being a school librarian is one of my proudest achievements. I love that I can combine my love of books with my passion for teaching. I will, however, admit that I didn’t exactly understand the ins and outs of the entirety of the position when I made the switch from teaching first grade to teaching every grade level in the library. I never dreamed things could get as tricky as they do.

In a typical teaching situation, you are given a set of guidelines — you have teaching standards you’re expected to impart, and then curriculum products to use as a road map. These are the teaching manuals and textbooks used to guide instruction. Teachers might adjust the order or depth of different lessons. They might not even like the quality of the product at all. But there is usually something to use.

These kinds of products don’t exist in the school library world. I’ve never heard of a professional school library curriculum that includes all aspects of the things we need to impart — digital citizenship, basic technology skills, media literacy, genre identification, library usage and procedures, book handling skills, the distinction between reading for pleasure and reading for information, researching in databases — I could go on, but you get the idea. This is only taking into account my elementary level students! The American Association of School Librarians does publish standards, and these are helpful in guiding the big picture, but this does not lay out a day to day scope and sequence.

However, we’re librarians. There is no way that a lack of overpriced material from a publishing house is going to keep us from teaching rich, engaging lessons. We just might have to work a little harder to find them. Below, I’ve gathered some of the places I look for lesson ideas and inspiration!

Other Librarians

Even though I am the only librarian (in my state we go by the fancy title of Media Specialist) in my school, I am lucky enough to have colleagues in my district. These folks are my life line when navigating all the moving parts of working in the library. We are often given the chance to travel to each other on professional development days, but a quick email can go far! Even if you don’t have relationships with librarians in your district or even near you, you might be able to find some colleagues to connect with through your state organization for librarians. In Massachusetts we have the Massachusetts School Library Association, an organization that holds conferences and facilitates communication between librarians in our state. This is a great place to find lesson ideas and much more. 

Instagram

Most of my library lesson ideas come from social media. Because I’m not only teaching lessons, but also developing and maintaining an entire collection, the internet is also where I keep up with new releases and find ideas for book displays.

Some of my favorite Instagram sources for book hauls and curated lists are Baby Librarians, MaiStoryBook, and The Tutu Teacher. They constantly share titles that I want to add to the library, use as a keystone for a lesson, or simply want in my read aloud repertoire. For library lessons, my far and away favorite is The Read Aloud Librarian, but I also adore the resources shared by The Book Wrangler.

Pinterest

Pinterest is my digital filing cabinet, and I’m endlessly grateful for the ideas I’ve stored! I not only browse the actual site to find lessons, coloring pages, book lists, printables, and genius solutions to common problems, but I have a browser extension that allows me to send ideas I find elsewhere to my Pinterest boards. I also love how I can organize boards into subcategories — when you need to cover everything from identifying the cover of a book to navigating the difference between fact and persuasion in an online article, you end up with a lot of resources to dig through.

Teachers Pay Teachers

This website is a mecca for lessons, digital materials, and printables. With categories for every grade level, subject, and aspect of working in a school, Teachers Pay Teachers has something for everyone, and the school library is no exception. While TpT is not a free resource by default, you can often find freebies offered, and even more often, extremely inexpensive materials that you will use again and again. I go here frequently to see which materials have been created around my favorite read alouds, but the possibilities are endless.

There you have it! Some of my favorite ideas for finding library lessons. Do you have a favorite resource I’ve missed? Let me know! 

Looking for More Library Resources? Try:

3 Tools for Teaching Digital Citizenship to Kids

10 Ways to Build a Community of Readers in Your Library

More Posts About Libraries and Librarianship in our Weekly Library Feature

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Up All Night: A Dramatic Child Gets Her First Library Card https://bookriot.com/my-first-library-card/ Mon, 28 Nov 2022 11:30:00 +0000 https://bookriot.com/?p=526145

Wealth. Power. Murder. Magic. Alex Stern is back and the Ivy League is going straight to hell in the sequel to the smash bestseller Ninth House by #1 New York Times bestselling author and creator of the Grishaverse Leigh Bardugo.

I still remember the day I learned what a library is. I was in kindergarten and my teacher asked me if I liked books since I visibly perked up when it was time to practice reading each day in class. I told Ms. Helen that I did indeed love books. My favorite thing was books! “I thought so,” she said. “Then you’re really going to like our field trip next week.” That is when she explained what a library was and that we’d be going to one in a week’s time.

This information blew my tiny little mind. I talked my poor mother’s ear off from the time she picked me up from school till bedtime that day, so baffled and amazed by the concept of a place one could go to borrow books! for free! and in large quantities! all the time! I could not wait to go to this magical place and asked about it every day. “Is today the day? How about today?”

Then the day before the field trip, the teacher asked us to get out a pencil and some paper. The activity at hand: learn how to write our names. Why? Because we were going to be applying for library cards the next day and would need to sign our names on these magical squares of plastic once approved. My little overthinking self was instantly terrified. I convinced myself that if my signature wasn’t up to scratch, my application for a library card would be rejected. Did anyone say as much? No. Did I believe this with my entire soul anyway? You betcha.

So I gave this writing thing my all but was completely dissatisfied with my work. I remember actually telling my teacher I would do better as I packed up my things to go home in spite of the fact that she’d called my chicken scratch a good job. Thinking back on the look she gave me, she was definitely calling me a sweet summer child in her head. I was kind of a dramatic kid.

I went home and obsessed over this stupid signature, asking my mom to fill out my application (“Are you sure you did it right?”) then help me practice writing my name so many times that she had to pry my pencil away from me before dinner. I bugged my dad to help me after we ate, and he did, but also had to tell me to relax when it was time for bed. Was I satisfied? Of course not. I made a plan. I grabbed my dad’s flashlight from the hall closet and tucked it under my pillow along with some pencils and paper, pretending to go to sleep after my parents tucked me in for the night. I laid there patiently with my eyes closed until I was sure I could hear the sound of my dad’s snoring. With the coast clear, I pulled the covers over my head, turned on the flashlight, and got back to practicing writing my name over and over and over in secret. Side note: this is one of the few times I’ve been grateful for my Mexican parents not giving me one or several middle names, but I digress.

I don’t know how long my clandestine practice actually lasted: I thought I’d practiced all night when it was probably only minutes before I succumbed to sleep. All I know is that I woke up in a fresh panic, one that vibrated through my little body all through breakfast and the drive to school and then the short walk from school to our local library. I would be rejected, I was sure of this. My choppy little signature looked nothing like the smooth loops and lines of my mom’s! For shame! My hands were shaking when I handed in my application, to the point where the very friendly librarian asked me if I was okay. When she glanced it over, approved it, and handed me my brand new library card to sign, I took my sweet ass time writing my name with a little bead of sweat trickling down my forehead (I am not exaggerating). The librarian took a glance at my work, nodded, and told me I was all set. I didn’t know what to do with myself. Surely this was a mistake! I remember putting the card in my pocket and walking away feeling like I’d just gotten away with something huge. Like I said: a dramatic kid.

You probably already know what came next. You know how that little plastic card opened up a world of wonder. Having access to books and information and all of the services that come with a library card were as life-changing for me as they are for library users the world over. Books didn’t just feed my soul but helped me improve my language skills, boosted my vocabulary, helped make sense of tough subjects, and stoked my curiosity for learning. Maybe not right away, but eventually I would even get see parts of myself represented in books (and it did take a long time — looking at you, publishing). Books have been a constant for most of my life, and libraries have made it possible for me to access them to my heart’s desire.

I wrote this post for two reasons. The first was a desire to recapture some of the glee I felt when that librarian handed me that library card so many years ago. Books allow me to have the job that I do, a fact I’m eternally grateful for, but the truth is that when the thing you love becomes a part of your job, some of the shine and wonder wear off pretty quickly. It takes careful effort and intention to keep that spark alive, and it’s work I’m privileged to be able to do. Sometimes I just need to take a step back to remember why I love books so much in the first place.

The second reason is a response to this unprecedented wave of book banning and censorship we’re seeing now. Books and specifically libraries are that damn important or the effort to censor them wouldn’t be so fanatical. To be clear: it shouldn’t take acts of censorship and attacks on library professionals to appreciate their importance. They’ve been doing this work since the dawn of librarianship. I just can’t help but feel defensive of these institutions that have done so much for me personally. That little kid who stayed up all night (or an extra 20 minutes) to sign her name on that library card owes them the world.

Related Reading

How to Support Libraries in Times of Increased Censorship

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The Most Popular UK YA Books As Chosen By Students https://bookriot.com/most-popular-uk-ya-books-chosen-by-students/ Wed, 23 Nov 2022 11:35:00 +0000 https://bookriot.com/?p=524054 The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta.]]>

At the school library that I manage, middle grade books are by far the most popular age range that we have. There is a massive amount of them on the market right now here in the UK and that’s amazing. However, we also have a large number of YA, particularly UK YA of course, considering we are South London. There is a huge amount of amazing UK YA that we have in the library that is gaining a lot of attention by our students. I wanted to highlight them for this post, so I asked our students which ones are the most popular — the ones that grab them the most, the ones that they would buy in a bookshop if they were looking for a gift.

I am always pleasantly surprised by the reading tastes of our students as they are always changing from year to year. What doesn’t change, though, is teens looking for stories that reflect their own experiences, with characters that look like them and are from the same neighbourhoods. They also want humour, one thing that, in my opinion, is needed more in YA today. I am working a lot with older students this year, so it’s been fun to steer them towards all of the amazing stories out there that are by UK YA authors. I can tell you without a doubt that these novels are great and need to be read by everyone. Here’s a list of the ones our students love, enjoy!

Cover of Gay Club by Simon James Green

Gay Club by Simon James Green

Barney feels like he’s going to be the president of his school’s LGBTQ+ Society without any competition. But when the school decides to widen the voting area to every single student in the school, his chances plummet. What follows are scandals, sleazy moments, and a lot of backstabbing. This threatens to tear the LGBTQ+ club apart when they need to be united more than ever. Simon James Green’s books are always hilarious, heartfelt and true-to-life, a must have UK YA for any school library.

Cover of The Places I've Cried in Public by Holly Bourne

The Places I’ve Cried in Public by Holly Bourne

The Places I’ve Cried in Public is a smart, gut-wrenching and sometimes terrifying book that our students can’t get enough of. It’s a must read for anyone, teen or adult. It follows Amelie, who has moved to a new town to go to university. While there, she falls very hard for a boy named Reese. She thinks he loves her, too, but it turns out what she’s experienced is not love, it’s abuse, but she doesn’t see it. As the novel progresses, we travel with Amelie to all of the places that Reese made her cry, in an attempt for her to process and understand what he’s done to her, and continues to do.

Cover of And the Stars Were Burning Brightly by Danielle Jawando

And the Stars Were Burning Brightly by Danielle Jawando

TW: Suicide

Nathan’s life has just been torn to shreds. His brother has committed suicide, he can’t understand how this has happened. Refusing to just “get on with it,” he decides to track down the reasons that led to this tragic moment. He retraces his brother’s footsteps, along the way he meets Megan, a friend of his brother who also wants to find out the truth. As they inch closer to the truth, they begin to wonder if they can actually deal with what they are about to uncover. This is a true gut-punch of a book — a masterpiece.

Cover of Sixteen Souls by Rosie Talbot

Sixteen Souls by Rosie Talbot

Charlie is 16 and he’s got some major issues. He can see ghosts, and it doesn’t help that he’s in the most ghost-filled city in Europe: York, England. Now, things are getting even weirder when ghosts that usually reside peacefully around the city are being trapped and taken by a malevolent force. To add to his misery, he seems to be falling for a mysterious non-ghost boy named Sam who may or may not hate him. Despite this, they set off to uncover the truth and help their ghostly friends. I loved this UK YA novel, full of true humour and fun yet terrifying villains. It’s no surprise that this has become a social media phenomenon, it’s greatly deserved.

Cover of The Black Flamingo

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

This beautiful novel written in prose is by one of the UK’s great YA authors. It’s always off the shelf, so much so that I have purchased multiple copies. This is the story of Michael and his journey from shy child to the Black Flamingo, waiting in the wings with feathers and heels on. This is the kind of book that would be illegal to have in the UK up until the early 2000s. A book that teens need to read because it will not only provide much-needed empathy, but it will also reflect the realities of many others. It will open doors and hearts and be something special to those kids who need it most.

Cover of Last One to Die by Cynthia Murphy

Last One to Die by Cynthia Murphy

In this truly chilling UK YA mystery set in London. Niamh has come to London from Ireland to start university. Not long after she arrives, girls begin to get murdered. Even stranger, they all seem to bear an uncanny resemblance to her. Getting a job at a museum of Victorian history is supposed to help with her Drama course but all it does is add to the tension, worst still, the murders increase as the doubts and paranoia set in. It has the feel of an ’80s style slasher film with historical aspects mixed in. Murphy has a really unique voice when it comes to the mystery genre and one that is hugely popular with our students.

Cover of Eight Pieces of Silva by Patrice Lawrence

Eight Pieces of Silva by Patrice Lawrence

Another great mystery that is impossible to put down. Becks and her stepsister Silva don’t have much in common other than their love of K-pop. When their parents go away on a honeymoon, they are left alone. Inexplicably, Silva vanishes. Desperate to find out the truth, Becks enters Silva’s room and starts to piece together the mystery of where she might be. While there, she finds eight clues that help her on her mission. Lawrence is one of the UK’s top YA writers and her novels are not to be missed.

Cover of Activist by Louisa Reid

Activist by Louisa Reid

Another stunning novel written in prose, Activist is about a student who starts to anonymously post about sexual harassment that she’s suffered in her school. When the school decides not to act on this information, Cassie and her friends decide that enough is enough. They devise a plan to out the monster or monsters involved, but what they learn is that activism has a cost. As pressure begins to mount against them, Cassie and her friends must decide what the best plan is to ensure victory over what seems like unavoidable disaster and heartbreak. I love all of Louisa Reid’s novels and recommend them highly to anyone.

Cover of Wranglestone

Wranglestone by Darren Charlton

This is an American, post-apocalyptic, zombie-filled nightmare. The people who live on the lake on stilted house have some refuge, except in the winter when the lake freezes and the dead come wandering in. When Peter inadvertently allows a dangerous person to enter the village, the entire system is on the verge of collapse. Teamed up with his crush Cooper, they must devise a plan to fight back and protect everything they love. A great horror/romance thriller, Wranglestone will have you reading every page voraciously.

Cover of Must Do Better by Kate Weston

Must Do Better by Kate Weston

Must Do Better is a hilarious and raw UK YA novel that is brutally honest and a joy to read. Any fan of Sex Education should be reading this series. Kat wants to be a good feminist, but what she ends up creating with her Feminist Society is more confusion and embarrassing moments. She has good friends, but they have their own issues, so she feels like she’s on her own with this one. When a school trip to France comes up, Kat decides it’s her time to reunite with her old flame Sebastian, but what ends up happening is not what she planned. I always put these books in the hands of students looking for funny books because I know they will get an authentic voice that can write with a razor’s edge.

Book cover for The Boxer by Nikesh Shukla

The Boxer by Nikesh Shukla

After a racist attack at a train station, Sunny decides to take up boxing. It’s a way to get out the anger, rage, and frustration of the city that seems to be pressing down around him. In his new boxing club, Sunny finds solace and a mentor, as well as a group of people he can rely on. However, when racial tensions around the city start to boil over, Sunny realises that the boxing club might not be able to protect him. He’s about to lose his best friend to racist, thuggish idealism and the world swiftly becomes a dangerous place. Told over the period of 10 boxing rounds, this is a searing look at racism and violence in the UK.

There are so many amazing UK YA books out there, it’s very difficult to choose just 10, but the students have had their say and I’m very happy with what they have decided on. I look forward to creating more lists like this with them in the future!

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I Went to My First Library Conference and Didn’t Take Away What I Thought I Would https://bookriot.com/experience-at-my-first-library-conference/ Mon, 21 Nov 2022 11:30:00 +0000 https://bookriot.com/?p=525285

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It started rough.

I’ve written before about my ADHD and how that diagnosis changed my life. Sometimes, I let the lure of the systems I’ve set up post diagnosis lull me into a false sense of security. I applied for reimbursement with my county, which I had to do BEFORE buying anything and before the event even happens, and I arranged for school related leave. Months went by. I talked with other librarians in the county and found someone to share a hotel room with. I got emails from my boss about who was going and who wanted to have dinner when and which night. I’d completed so many steps! Then, a week before the conference, I remembered I hadn’t actually registered for the conference itself yet. No problem, right? Oh, past Nikki, how naive you were. Online registration for this conference was closed. 

Frantic best friend texting ensued (she is also a librarian). I sent an email to one of my colleagues who is on the planning committee for the conference titled “Haaaalllpppp.” Yes, I am a professional. Thankfully, she wrote me back letting me know there would be onsite registration at a higher price. Just the ADHD tax I have to pay. Plus, since I didn’t register ahead of time, I missed all the conference emails full of useful information, like the schedule and how to get a parking pass. Thankfully, my hotel roommate does not have ADHD and was also driving. She got the email. She printed the parking pass. She also packed the toothpaste, another thing I forgot. 

I tell you this to help you understand my mindset going in: frustrated with myself, stressed, and a little desperate. Registration was available onsite though, I got myself a name badge, and was finally ready to get down to business. 

The conference took place over three days. Mornings and afternoons were full of workshops presented by school librarians from all over the state. Morning sessions started at 8 a.m. and went until lunchtime, where we would eat and hear from keynote speakers. Then more afternoon sessions until about 4:30 p.m. My county then had dinners and meet-ups planned for the evenings. It was amazing, but it was also nonstop. 

 Seeing other librarians just like me present on topics they were passionate about was inspiring. These people took their time, most likely outside of work hours, to help their colleagues out of the goodness of their hearts. This shouldn’t surprise me, working in a public service job, but seeing it in action is a completely different experience than understanding it without context. 

There were sessions on literacy, diversity, collection development, inclusion, programming, digital tools and much more. One common theme I noticed throughout the workshops is that every presenter had practical actionable steps we could take to implement their ideas. This wasn’t some ideological library theory. These were how-tos and personal accounts of success. Presenters were genuinely excited about their work. 

I have pages and pages full in my notebook where I was furiously scribbling notes from the workshops I attended. It’s so interesting to see what other people are doing in their libraries. While being a school librarian is less isolating than being a teacher where you are the only adult in a sea of children, it’s still an outlier in the building. I work in the only library in my school. No other school in my county has the exact kind of demographic I do. No one else fully understands the needs of my particular students. It can be lonely, and much like teaching, you wonder if what you are doing actually makes a difference to the school. During these workshops, I saw the difference programming actually makes. I saw how our work affects the entire school culture. 

While the workshops were generally helpful, they were not the best thing I got from the conference. Making connections with other librarians far surpassed any of the prepared content. There were hundreds of us all in the same place, something I had never experienced before. I got to talk and laugh and commiserate. In teaching, the best way to motivate and discipline students is through making relationships. I know this. I have known this for some time. Yet when it comes to myself, I think I need to be a self-sufficient professional librarian machine. Just me and my co-librarian on this desolate library island with no other resources or options outside a Google search. The conference made me see it’s not true. I am part of a larger community of amazing people who are happy to help, share ideas, and brainstorm with me. 

When I went back to school the following week and realized that the library staff had been left off yet another school-wide document, it was nice to be able to remember sitting in a room with hundreds of other people, who were also probably left off their school-wide email, too. It was nice to remember that small oversight doesn’t diminish the usefulness of my work or even reflect how my school actually feels about the library. While there is still a lot of work I want to do in my library and I feel like it still has a ways to go before being on a workshop presenting level, it was comforting to remember that this is how many of the people at the conference last week started, too. Having a long way to go to get to where I want to be, doesn’t mean that I’m not walking in the right direction.

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After 125 Years, This is Brooklyn Public Library’s Most Borrowed Book https://bookriot.com/brooklyn-public-library-most-borrowed-book/ Thu, 17 Nov 2022 14:38:02 +0000 https://bookriot.com/?p=525198

Brooklyn Public Library has been celebrating its 125 year anniversary by counting down their 125 most borrowed books of all time. While there are many classics on the list, there are also some more recent releases that have already broken into the top ten. The full list includes a mix of novels, graphic novels, and plenty of children’s books.

The number one most borrowed book of all time at Brooklyn Public Library, after 125 years of borrowing, is:

Where the Wild Things Are book cover

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

This beloved picture book was originally published in 1963 and won the Caldecott Medal. It was also named the #1 best picture book by the School Library Journal in 2012. It’s been adapted several times, including as a feature film in 2009 and an opera in 1980.

And hey, if you want to throw a Where the Wild Things Are-themed baby shower, you can do that, too.

The other books rounding up the top ten are:

2. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
3. The Cat In the Hat by Dr. Seuss
4. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
5. Are You My Mother? by PD Eastman
6. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
7. Naruto Volume 1 by Mashashi Kishimoto
8. The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
9. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
10. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Likely because of the timespan that this list encompasses — publishing was even more white than it is now during most of that time — the only author of color in the top ten is for a manga title. There are several other manga series on the list as well, despite them only being published fairly recently.

Check out the full list at the Brooklyn Library.

Find more news and stories of interest from the book world in Breaking in Books.

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Libraries vs. the Cost of Living Crisis https://bookriot.com/libraries-vs-the-cost-of-living-crisis/ Mon, 14 Nov 2022 11:30:00 +0000 https://bookriot.com/?p=523812

Reach more readers with Libby. The Libby library reading app has everything patrons love about accessing ebooks & audiobooks from their library — and now has even more to offer, including easy onboarding for new users, push notifications so you never miss a hold, unlimited tags to categorize your books your way…and more!

The phrase ‘cost of living crisis’ is one we’re hearing a lot lately. Energy and food prices are rising, while wages are, at best, staying the same. Minimum wage is far from enough for people to support themselves. In the UK, where I’m based, food bank usage has doubled since 2014, although it has dropped since the heights of the pandemic. Eating enough to stave off hunger is already a struggle for many people, but as we head deeper into the winter months, staying warm is going to be one of the greatest challenges that lower-income people face. ‘Choosing between heating and eating’ is a cute rhyme that doesn’t bring home the full reality of a horrifying situation; even before the rise in energy prices, 38% of people had had to choose one or the other. No person should have to choose between being fed or staying warm, but this is the current reality for an ever-increasing number of Brits.

In an earlier post, I looked at how libraries help refugees and asylum seekers settle into areas; with inflation causing financial problems for so many, libraries are extending their efforts to help whole communities. Libraries are in a unique position to be able to help people who are struggling financially — they’re free to enter, often located in the centre of a town, and are deliberately set up to be welcoming to more vulnerable groups such as children and elderly people. My local library has a long-established programme where people can come to access computers, and receive help for any IT-related issues that they’re unsure about. Some libraries have teamed up with period poverty charities to provide free menstrual products for anyone who needs them, while others act as a base for local council programmes such as return-to-work schemes. Looking forward to the long, cold winter ahead of us, many libraries are coming up with additional programmes and initiatives to help ease the financial burden on as many people as possible — something they’re planning to tackle in a variety of different ways.

A young blond boy is sitting on a blue couch, reading a picture book. Behind him are several shelves of library books.
Image from Pixabay

Free Entertainment

As is to be expected, having to cut costs to the point where you’re leaving out essentials means that nonessentials aren’t even an option — “nonessentials” perhaps not being the best word here, as purchases which aren’t necessary to keep you alive can still be crucial for quality of life. The free access to books provided by libraries isn’t only helpful for educational purposes, but also for recreation and entertainment. Library use frequently increases during times of high inflation, as people who would normally buy books decide to cut costs and borrow them instead. CILIP, the UK’s library and information association, notes that the higher usage linked to inflation can be a double-edged sword for libraries; libraries are always happy to have more borrowers, but the increased cost of books can also cause a dent in a library’s budget, particularly if they aren’t given extra funding to compensate. As a result, CILIP states, libraries have to “buy smarter,” limiting their book purchases to titles they can predict will be borrowed the most. As an aspiring author, this rang alarm bells for me; this has the knock-on effect of reducing sales for debut and marginalised writers, who can’t claim anywhere near the same kind of borrower numbers as a Dan Brown or a James Patterson.

Easing financial pressures

In CILIP’s article, they also talk about the role of libraries in supporting people who are applying for benefits. Many libraries, working in close connection with local councils, will offer support for people who want to navigate benefit applications or learn about other ways to boost their finances. Libraries Connected, an organisation that represents library services and connects local libraries, put together a briefing note for the cost of living crisis that outlined the kinds of services that libraries can offer in order to help their local communities, including providing learning events so people can learn work-related skills, giving digital support to users, or setting up free or low-cost clubs and cultural activities so adults and children can socialise without spending too much money.

When every penny counts, library fines can be a barrier to using the library. Many libraries in the UK have already removed fines for younger children, but according to a recent Guardian article, ‘a survey of libraries in England and Wales found that around half are no longer charging adults late fees on borrowed items’ to make services fully accessible for users for whom a 30p fine could mean having less to eat that week.

“Warm Banks”

One of the most pressing issues for people in the coming months is going to be staying warm. Many libraries have started setting up to become “warm banks,” places where people can go during the day to stay warm. A Guardian article revealed that 60% of libraries are planning to become part of a “warm bank” scheme, although only 4% expect to receive any extra funding to help support this programme. CILIP have put together a guide for libraries wanting to help people in their local communities, which provides information on the cost breakdown for heating different-sized spaces, as well as giving case studies of additional schemes such as Suffolk Libraries’ Kindness Campaign which includes setting up clothing banks and providing warm drinks.

While the fact that such a thing as a “warm bank” is necessary is a horrifying indictment of how bad things have become under austerity and late-stage capitalism, it’s reassuring that, once again, libraries are stepping up for their communities. For more stories on how libraries and librarians are taking on unfair and damaging politics, read our article on how Brooklyn library offered access to banned ebooks to teens across the USA. Or, to learn more about how libraries are helping working parents, check out our post on Fairfield Library’s work and play stations.

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Ideas for Running a Comic Book Club in Your School Library https://bookriot.com/running-a-library-comic-book-club/ Fri, 11 Nov 2022 11:37:00 +0000 https://bookriot.com/?p=523953

In the 2022 school year, I decided to run a comic book club in the school library that I manage. I’ve run a manga club for 9 years there and decided to start a comic book club to focus on the massive popularity of the comics and graphic novels that we have on the shelves. I’ve talked before about the huge popularity of our annual ComiCon, this is one of our most sought after programs. I felt like having a dedicated, weekly comic book club would be very popular.

There are many different activities to choose from and many approaches with a comic book club, and there’s no right or wrong way to do it. You simply need to see if there’s a need, then jump in and give it a try.

I aim our comic book club at ages 11 and up, it usually attracts between ages 11-13 and I have found that I’m having to bring over extra tables and chairs — it’s great to see! Our comic book club was very popular from the start and it’s been really great to see the students taking part in such an enthusiastic way. Here are some activities and events I’m doing this year.

give them control

I started out by simply giving attendees a huge sheet of paper from our flip chart and asked them to jot down ideas as to what the comic book club should be called. The group decided on the “Comics Are Awesome Club,” which sounded fine with me. This was a fun, easy, and quick activity to get them started during their first session. They loved having a voice in deciding the name of their comic book club.

Another Kind comic book cover on a shelf of comics.
Photo courtesy Lucas Maxwell

Use YouTube

YouTube is amazing for finding great “how to draw” videos. There are really simple ones out there and sometimes, I just put up the screen and show a few of those during lunch hour and the students really enjoy them. They often stray into their own thing but you find videos out there for all kinds of different tastes. I find these work better for the younger crowd but it’s something worth looking at if you have access to screens. All club attendees need are tables, pens, and pencils and they’re all set!

finish this comic

Jarrett Lerner has some really simple and effective comic book based activities on his website. These are free to print and distribute, and I always like to give him credit on social media when I post pics of our students’ work. Essentially, Jarrett starts a comic book panel and asks kids to finish the panels for him. They LOVE doing these and will ask for the sheets even when comic book club is not going on. This is an easy go-to if you need something quick to give students a fun activity.

book an illustrator

I know it’s not something everyone can do, as money is tight. However, if you can find the dough somewhere, booking an illustrator would be an amazing event. I can’t tell you how much our students love having illustrators come to the library. My goal this year is to try and have the comic book club come to our ComiCon and have an illustrator visit them on that day. I think it will make it extra special for them.

collection fo how to draw comics books.
Photo courtesy Lucas Maxwell

read and review comics

The comic book club isn’t all about drawing, as not everyone enjoys drawing if they don’t feel confident in it. My goal this year is to get even more students reading comics and writing reviews of them for other students to see. I want to create a buzz around the school regarding comics in order to stop the stereotype that they aren’t real books or don’t count as reading (things said mostly by adults). Comic book circulation is the highest it’s ever been in our school, and my hope is that it can go even higher as we can spread the word about comics in a positive and fun way.


I run our comics club program every week at lunch. It lasts around 45 minutes and is a lot of fun. It’s chaotic, noisy, and boisterous but I really enjoy it. The students that come all have the same thing in common: they love all the different comics we have to offer. My advice is to not stress yourself out with complicated crafts or activities. We play Pictionary, we draw, we talk about comic books, we have fun, and I’ve grown to really love it.

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The Most Popular In-Demand Books in U.S. Libraries: July-September 2022 https://bookriot.com/most-popular-books-in-us-libraries-july-september-2022/ Wed, 02 Nov 2022 10:39:00 +0000 https://bookriot.com/?p=523789

Each quarter, Panorama Picks takes a deep dive into the data about ebook use at libraries across the U.S. It’s a fascinating look at not just the most popular ebooks in public libraries — they don’t stray too far from what you’d expect of the bestseller lists — but also at the books that are seeing uniquely high demand at libraries.

These are books which are seeing a lot of interest but haven’t necessarily stayed atop bestseller lists for months and/or books with particular interest locally. The data looks at adult fiction, adult nonfiction, and young adult books (which includes fiction, nonfiction, and comics). Panorama Picks groups public libraries by coordinating American Bookseller Association (ABA) regions, which allows for a really neat way of exploring interest on a regional level. A book might be especially popular in California but less so in the Midwest, and looking at that data provides a real opportunity for local bookstores and libraries.

A major goal is to help independent bookstores identify unique opportunities to reach the unmet needs of local readers for these books.

“We compile and publish Panorama Picks on a quarterly basis and we endeavor to promote our findings to local booksellers as well as to publishers and authors,” said Daniel Albohn, Panorama Project’s lead.

Data for the books on these lists comes from anonymized ebook requests at libraries between July and September 2022, and books are narrowed down by their publication dates. All of the books published between July 2021 and March 2022, a nine-month window. As will be seen, some of the books included were published well before this time frame, but their ebooks became available in that window. In some cases, the ebook may be a new or updated edition.

What makes Panorama Picks unique is that these books have notably longer wait lists for local library patrons, showcasing unmet demand. This is where both libraries and local booksellers come in: the opportunity to meet the demand unique to their region.

The lists below showcase the most uniquely popular books in U.S. libraries, divided category and by ABA regions. The ABA regions are as follows, and yes, there are some overlapping states among them: California, Great Lakes (Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan), Hawaii, Midwest (Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin), Mountains and Plains (Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wyoming), New Atlantic (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia), New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont), Pacific Northwest (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington), and Southeast (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia).

The Most Uniquely Popular Books in Public Libraries: July-September 2022

Here are the top 10 most uniquely popular books across the country, followed by the most uniquely popular books by region. The methodology behind Panorama Picks involves pulling the top 10 national titles identified by holds and then regional lists are created, with those top 10 titles removed from the final data. The top 50 titles within each region are identified, then sorted by the number of holds and number of those titles available (AKA: high demand books with a lower number of books available). Books without a print version, so ebook only titles, are pulled from the data. The remaining titles are sorted into a top 25.

Using that methodology, these are the top 10 most popular books across the country, in order, followed by the most uniquely popular titles in each region. The full lists of 25 titles each are available on the Panorama Project website.

The Most Uniquely Popular Adult Fiction Titles

  • A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers – 9 regions
  • Neon Gods by Katee Robert – 8 regions
  • The People We Keep by Allison Larkin – 8 regions
  • Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi – 7 regions
  • Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano – 7 regions
  • The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake – 6 regions
  • The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams – 6 regions
  • The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams – 6 regions
  • The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian – 4 regions
  • The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson – 4 regions

MOST POPULAR ADULT FICTION TITLES — CALIFORNIA

  • The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams
  • Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka
  • The Trees by Percival Everett
  • Neon Gods by Katee Robert
  • The People We Keep by Allison Larkin
  • A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
  • Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
  • Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
  • The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
  • Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki

MOST POPULAR ADULT FICTION TITLES — GREAT LAKES (ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, OHIO, MICHIGAN)

  • They Never Learn by Layne Fargo
  • The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams
  • Neon Gods by Katee Robert
  • A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
  • Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
  • The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
  • The People We Keep by Allison Larkin
  • Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
  • The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
  • Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

MOST POPULAR ADULT FICTION TITLES — HAWAII

  • The Devil’s Hand by Jack Carr
  • Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka
  • A Court of Silver Flames by Sarah J. Maas
  • A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
  • Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez
  • The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel
  • Not a Happy Family by Shari Lapena
  • A Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout
  • Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
  • Bridgerton Collection, Volume 2 by Julia Quinn

MOST POPULAR ADULT FICTION TITLES — MIDWEST (ILLINOIS, IOWA, KANSAS, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, WISCONSIN)

  • A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
  • Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
  • Neon Gods by Katee Robert
  • The People We Keep by Allison Larkin
  • The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
  • The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
  • The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian
  • The Crown of Gilded Bones by Jennifer L. Armentrout
  • Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
  • Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

MOST POPULAR ADULT FICTION TITLES — MOUNTAINS AND PLAINS (ARIZONA, COLORADO, KANSAS, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH DAKOTA, TEXAS, UTAH, WYOMING)

  • The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams
  • Neon Gods by Katee Robert
  • Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
  • The People We Keep by Allison Larkin
  • A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
  • Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
  • The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
  • The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
  • The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian
  • Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

MOST POPULAR ADULT FICTION TITLES — NEW ATLANTIC (DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, MARYLAND, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA)

  • A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
  • Neon Gods by Katee Robert
  • Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
  • The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
  • The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
  • The People We Keep by Allison Larkin
  • Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
  • The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
  • The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian
  • The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

MOST POPULAR ADULT FICTION TITLES — NEW ENGLAND (CONNECTICUT, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT)

  • The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams
  • The Trees by Percival Everett
  • A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
  • Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
  • The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
  • Neon Gods by Katee Robert
  • Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka
  • The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
  • The People We Keep by Allison Larkin
  • The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams

MOST POPULAR ADULT FICTION TITLES — PACIFIC NORTHWEST (ALASKA, IDAHO, MONTANA, OREGON, WASHINGTON)

  • The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams
  • The Trees by Percival Everett
  • A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
  • Neon Gods by Katee Robert
  • It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
  • Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
  • The People We Keep by Allison Larkin
  • The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
  • Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki
  • The Devil’s Hand by Jack Carr

MOST POPULAR ADULT FICTION TITLES — SOUTHEAST (ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, VIRGINIA)

  • The Cheat Sheet by Sarah Adams
  • Neon Gods by Katee Robert
  • Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano
  • A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
  • The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake
  • The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian
  • The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
  • The People We Keep by Allison Larkin
  • Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
  • Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

The Most Uniquely Popular Adult Nonfiction Titles

  • Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski – 8 regions
  • The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene, PhD – 8 regions
  • Self-Care for Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson – 8 regions
  • Cuba by Ada Ferrer – 7 regions
  • No Bad Parts by Richard C. Schwartz – 6 regions
  • The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter – 6 regions
  • Polysecure by Jessica Fern – 5 regions
  • I Take My Coffee Black by Tyler Merritt – 4 regions
  • The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts – 4 regions
  • Sidecountry by John Branch – 3 regions

MOST POPULAR ADULT NONFICTION TITLES — CALIFORNIA

  • Cuba by Ada Ferrer
  • No Bad Parts by Richard C. Schwartz
  • The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene, PhD
  • Mother Hunger by Kelly McDaniel
  • Self-Care for Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson
  • Sidecountry by John Branch
  • The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
  • Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski
  • Polysecure by Jessica Fern
  • The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks

MOST POPULAR ADULT NONFICTION TITLES — GREAT LAKES (ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, OHIO, MICHIGAN)

  • Cuba by Ada Ferrer
  • No Bad Parts by Richard C. Schwartz
  • Polysecure by Jessica Fern
  • Self-Care for Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson
  • The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene, PhD
  • Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski
  • I Take My Coffee Black by Tyler Merritt
  • The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter
  • Courage Is Calling by Ryan Holiday
  • The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts

MOST POPULAR ADULT NONFICTION TITLES — HAWAII

  • The Extended Mind by Annie Murphy Paul
  • After by Bruce Greyson, M.D.
  • The Gulag Archipelago, Volume 1 by Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn
  • Badass Habits by Jen Sincero
  • The Viking Heart by Arthur Herman
  • Big Panda and Tiny Dragon by James Norbury
  • The Copenhagen Trilogy: Childhood ; Youth ; Dependency by Tove Ditlevsen
  • The Gun, the Ship, and the Pen by Linda Colley
  • Fierce Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff
  • The Menopause Manifesto by Dr. Jen Gunter

MOST POPULAR ADULT NONFICTION TITLES — MIDWEST (ILLINOIS, IOWA, KANSAS, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, WISCONSIN)

  • I Take My Coffee Black by Tyler Merritt
  • Self-Care for Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson
  • Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski
  • The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene, PhD
  • Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess by Dr. Caroline Leaf
  • The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter
  • Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price
  • The Menopause Manifesto by Dr. Jen Gunter
  • The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts
  • ADHD 2.0 by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D.

MOST POPULAR ADULT NONFICTION TITLES — MOUNTAINS AND PLAINS (ARIZONA, COLORADO, KANSAS, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH DAKOTA, TEXAS, UTAH, WYOMING)

  • Cuba by Ada Ferrer
  • No Bad Parts by Richard C. Schwartz
  • Self-Care for Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson
  • The Great Sex Rescue by Sheila Wray Gregoire
  • The Holly by Julian Rubinstein
  • The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene, PhD
  • I Take My Coffee Black by Tyler Merritt
  • The Montessori Baby by Simone Davies
  • Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski
  • The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter

MOST POPULAR ADULT NONFICTION TITLES — NEW ATLANTIC (DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, MARYLAND, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA)

  • Cuba by Ada Ferrer
  • Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski
  • Polysecure by Jessica Fern
  • No Bad Parts by Richard C. Schwartz
  • Self-Care for Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson
  • The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter
  • How to Not Die Alone by Logan Ury
  • The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene, PhD
  • The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts
  • Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price

MOST POPULAR ADULT NONFICTION TITLES — NEW ENGLAND (CONNECTICUT, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT)

  • Cuba by Ada Ferrer
  • Come As You are by Emily Nagoski
  • Polysecure by Jessica Fern
  • The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat by Oliver Sacks
  • No Bad Parts by Richard C. Schwartz
  • Self-Care for Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson
  • The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter
  • Sidecountry by John Branch
  • The Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts
  • The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene, PhD

MOST POPULAR ADULT NONFICTION TITLES — PACIFIC NORTHWEST (ALASKA, IDAHO, MONTANA, OREGON, WASHINGTON)

  • Cuba by Ada Ferrer
  • Sidecountry by John Branch
  • Polysecure by Jessica Fern
  • Your Brain’s Not Broken by Tamara PhD Rosier
  • The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene, PhD
  • Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski
  • No Bad Parts by Richard C. Schwartz
  • Mother Hunger by Kelly McDaniel
  • Self-Care for Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson
  • The Hero With a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell

MOST POPULAR ADULT NONFICTION TITLES — SOUTHEAST (ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, VIRGINIA)

  • Cuba by Ada Ferrer
  • Come As You Are by Emily Nagoski
  • Self-Care for Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents by Lindsay C. Gibson
  • The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene, PhD
  • I Take My Coffee Black by Tyler Merritt
  • The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter
  • ADHD 2.0 by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D.
  • Cleaning Up Your Mental Mess by Dr. Caroline Leaf
  • The Montessori Baby by Simone Davies
  • Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen by Michelle Icard

The Most Uniquely Popular YA Titles

  • Covet by Tracy Wolff – 9 regions
  • Spy x Family, Volume 3 by Tatsuya Endo – 9 regions
  • Spy x Family, Volume 4 by Tatsuya Endo – 8 regions
  • Spy x Family, Volume 5 by Tatsuya Endo – 8 regions
  • Throne of Glass eBook Bundle by Sarah J. Maas – 7 regions
  • Defy The Night by Brigid Kemmerer – 6 regions
  • Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber – 6 regions
  • The Girl From The Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag – 5 regions
  • The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni – 5 regions
  • Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco – 4 regions

MOST POPULAR YOUNG ADULT FICTION TITLES — CALIFORNIA

  • Throne of Glass eBook Bundle by Sarah J. Maas
  • Spy x Family, Volume 5 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Volume 19 by Koyoharu Gotouge
  • Covet by Tracy Wolff
  • Spy x Family, Volume 3 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Spy x Family, Volume 4 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Volume 20 by Koyoharu Gotouge
  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Volume 17 by Koyoharu Gotouge
  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Volume 22 by Koyoharu Gotouge
  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Volume 18 by Koyoharu Gotouge

MOST POPULAR YOUNG ADULT FICTION TITLES — GREAT LAKES (ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, OHIO, MICHIGAN)

  • Throne of Glass eBook Bundle by Sarah J. Maas
  • Stranger Things by A. R. Capetta
  • Spy x Family, Volume 4 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Covet by Tracy Wolff
  • Spy x Family, Volume 5 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Spy x Family, Volume 3 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven by Kami Garcia
  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Volume 19 by Koyoharu Gotouge
  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Volume 22 by Koyoharu Gotouge
  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Volume 20 by Koyoharu Gotouge

MOST POPULAR YOUNG ADULT FICTION TITLES — HAWAII

  • Covet by Tracy Wolff
  • XOXO by Axie Oh
  • Spy x Family, Volume 3 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Defy The Night by Brigid Kemmerer
  • From Little Tokyo, With Love by Sarah Kuhn
  • Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
  • Mission: Yozakura Family by Hitsuji Gondaira
  • Grace and Glory by Jennifer L. Armentrout
  • We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon
  • Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim

MOST POPULAR YOUNG ADULT FICTION TITLES — MIDWEST (ILLINOIS, IOWA, KANSAS, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, WISCONSIN)

  • Throne of Glass eBook Bundle by Sarah J. Maas
  • Covet by Tracy Wolff
  • Spy x Family, Volume 3 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Spy x Family, Volume 5 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Spy x Family, Volume 4 by Tatsuya Endo
  • The Girl From The Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag
  • Defy The Night by Brigid Kemmerer
  • Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
  • The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
  • Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco

MOST POPULAR YOUNG ADULT FICTION TITLES — MOUNTAINS AND PLAINS (ARIZONA, COLORADO, KANSAS, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA, SOUTH DAKOTA, TEXAS, UTAH, WYOMING)

  • Throne of Glass eBook Bundle by Sarah J. Maas
  • Covet by Tracy Wolff
  • Stranger Things by AR Capetta
  • Spy x Family, Volume 4 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Spy x Family, Volume 3 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Spy x Family, Volume 5 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
  • The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
  • Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
  • Defy The Night by Brigid Kemmerer

MOST POPULAR YOUNG ADULT FICTION TITLES — NEW ATLANTIC (DELAWARE, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, MARYLAND, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, PENNSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA)

  • Covet by Tracy Wolff
  • Spy x Family, Volume 3 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Spy x Family, Volume 5 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Spy x Family, Volume 4 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
  • The Girl From The Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag
  • You’d Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow
  • Defy The Night by Brigid Kemmerer
  • Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
  • The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni

MOST POPULAR YOUNG ADULT FICTION TITLES — NEW ENGLAND (CONNECTICUT, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT)

  • Throne of Glass eBook Bundle by Sarah J. Maas
  • Spy x Family, Volume 5 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Covet by Tracy Wolff
  • Spy x Family, Volume 3 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Spy x Family, Volume 4 by Tatsuya Endo
  • You’d Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow
  • The Girl From The Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag
  • Teen Titans: Beast Boy Loves Raven by Kami Garcia
  • One Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
  • Defy The Night by Brigid Kemmerer

MOST POPULAR YOUNG ADULT FICTION TITLES — PACIFIC NORTHWEST (ALASKA, IDAHO, MONTANA, OREGON, WASHINGTON)

  • Covet by Tracy Wolff
  • Throne of Glass eBook Bundle by Sarah J. Maas
  • Spy x Family, Volume 3 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Spy x Family, Volume 4 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Stranger Things by A. R. Capetta
  • The Girl From The Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag
  • Spy x Family, Volume 5 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Defy The Night by Brigid Kemmerer
  • The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
  • Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Volume 20 by Koyoharu Gotouge

MOST POPULAR YOUNG ADULT FICTION TITLES — SOUTHEAST (ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, KENTUCKY, LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE, VIRGINIA)

  • Throne of Glass eBook Bundle by Sarah J. Maas
  • Covet by Tracy Wolff
  • Spy x Family, Volume 3 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Spy x Family, Volume 4 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Spy x Family, Volume 5 by Tatsuya Endo
  • Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
  • Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco
  • The Girl From The Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag
  • The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
  • You’d Be Home Now by Kathleen Glasgow

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