Tuesday, July 23, 2013
The End
As one of the creators and a participant of the training, I'm pleased to say that I think we accomplished what we set out to do. The articles, videos, sites included were interesting, informative, and engaging. The assignments were worthwhile and all reasonable with the exception of Week 6, which involved much more work than the others and became frustrating. Overall, I'm proud of this training and its relevance to our work as librarians. The emphasis on recommending by appeal factor has changed the way I see many of my colleagues do RA, for the better.
Because of business demands of the branch, assignments did take longer to complete than anticipated. Future trainings of this nature should ideally begin in January or early February when things are less busy. Everyone is hit hard during the summer.
Because of business demands of the branch, assignments did take longer to complete than anticipated. Future trainings of this nature should ideally begin in January or early February when things are less busy. Everyone is hit hard during the summer.
Monday, July 22, 2013
Week Nine: Book Trailers
Assignment 1:
Many booktrailers watched; it was difficult to find ones for newer or upcoming releases. Lots of fan videos though, so they do inspire some great creativity, especially from teens.
The Packing for Mars and Super Sad True Love Story trailers were hilarious.
Assignment 2:
I think the trailer usefulness depends on both the book and the trailer itself. I can't see them building the same kind of excitement that a movie trailer does--we use too much of our imaginations as readers for those to work as well as they could. There are some exceptions though.
I have used a few trailers as RA, asking customers to watch them at the info desk. They both prefectly capture the spirit and humor of their respective titles. My favorites are
this one that Adam Rex created for The True Meaning of Smekday, and
This one for the upcoming David Wiesner picture book, Mr. Wuffles:
Many booktrailers watched; it was difficult to find ones for newer or upcoming releases. Lots of fan videos though, so they do inspire some great creativity, especially from teens.
The Packing for Mars and Super Sad True Love Story trailers were hilarious.
Assignment 2:
I think the trailer usefulness depends on both the book and the trailer itself. I can't see them building the same kind of excitement that a movie trailer does--we use too much of our imaginations as readers for those to work as well as they could. There are some exceptions though.
I have used a few trailers as RA, asking customers to watch them at the info desk. They both prefectly capture the spirit and humor of their respective titles. My favorites are
this one that Adam Rex created for The True Meaning of Smekday, and
Week Eight: Nonfiction
Disclaimer: This is the training week I created and developed (with Andrea Shore).
Assignment 1: Articles read.
Assignment 2: Video watched.
Assignment 3: Four Nonfiction Genres:
1) Food: Dewey areas for these food memoirs and other food-related titles can be in biography, the 640s or even 394 (food politics, activism).
Heat by Bill Buford (641.5945B) is a memoir of one man's journey from journalist to chef, passions for the kitchen and food developing along the way.
2) Sports: are located in the 796 call numbers and also in memoir.
The Outsider by Jimmy Connors (BIO Connors) tells the unconventional life story of the unlikely tennis pro.
3) Medical: These can be found in the 613-17 area as well as in memoir.
The Journal of Best Practices by David Finch (616.8588F) tells the story of an man who's failing marriage is saved by changes made thanks to the discovery and diagnosis that he has Asperger's.
4) Travel: Find travel in the 9teens and the 940s.
Don't Let's go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller (BIO Fuller) is the story of her childhood growhing up in South Africa. While not technically travel, it paints a vivid picture of South Africa then and now.
Assignment 4:
Don't read sports biographies? That's okay. Could care less about tennis? That's okay too. You like thrillers where an underdog comes from seemingly out of nowhere, an older working class kind of guy who kicks some major ass and ends up with a talented, attractive woman but then manages to f@&^ that up by gambling and sleeping around? Oh, and not to mention that he ends up with a Playboy model. This is the book for you. He's open, candid and spouts no BS. For guys who like Dennis Lehane, or any thriller starring a womanizer, or page-turners in general.
This one is for any wife who has ever been frustrated by her husband's communication style, or his lack of helpfulness around the house or his seeming insensitivity to her needs. Asperger's magnifies all of those testosterone-y tendencies, as evidenced in this approachable memoir, written with humor and even some suspense by the husband afflicted. Fiction readers who enjoy stories that focus on problems in the relationship will relish this book, which is ultimately a love story with challenges to overcome. (and a happy-ish ending, giving hope to us all)
Assignment 1: Articles read.
Assignment 2: Video watched.
Assignment 3: Four Nonfiction Genres:
1) Food: Dewey areas for these food memoirs and other food-related titles can be in biography, the 640s or even 394 (food politics, activism).
Heat by Bill Buford (641.5945B) is a memoir of one man's journey from journalist to chef, passions for the kitchen and food developing along the way.
2) Sports: are located in the 796 call numbers and also in memoir.
The Outsider by Jimmy Connors (BIO Connors) tells the unconventional life story of the unlikely tennis pro.
3) Medical: These can be found in the 613-17 area as well as in memoir.
The Journal of Best Practices by David Finch (616.8588F) tells the story of an man who's failing marriage is saved by changes made thanks to the discovery and diagnosis that he has Asperger's.
4) Travel: Find travel in the 9teens and the 940s.
Don't Let's go to the Dogs Tonight by Alexandra Fuller (BIO Fuller) is the story of her childhood growhing up in South Africa. While not technically travel, it paints a vivid picture of South Africa then and now.
Assignment 4:
Don't read sports biographies? That's okay. Could care less about tennis? That's okay too. You like thrillers where an underdog comes from seemingly out of nowhere, an older working class kind of guy who kicks some major ass and ends up with a talented, attractive woman but then manages to f@&^ that up by gambling and sleeping around? Oh, and not to mention that he ends up with a Playboy model. This is the book for you. He's open, candid and spouts no BS. For guys who like Dennis Lehane, or any thriller starring a womanizer, or page-turners in general.
This one is for any wife who has ever been frustrated by her husband's communication style, or his lack of helpfulness around the house or his seeming insensitivity to her needs. Asperger's magnifies all of those testosterone-y tendencies, as evidenced in this approachable memoir, written with humor and even some suspense by the husband afflicted. Fiction readers who enjoy stories that focus on problems in the relationship will relish this book, which is ultimately a love story with challenges to overcome. (and a happy-ish ending, giving hope to us all)
Friday, July 19, 2013
Week Seven: Not Just for Teens
Assignment 1: Nicely done flowchart, could be very helpful distinguising subplots/subgenres.
Assignment 2:
"YA Comes of Age": As a longtime crtical YA reader, none of the information here comes as a surprise. Some of the most thought-provoking, intersting and accessible literature is being published for teens. Many of us adult readers have known that all along and we're excited that the word is finally getting out, however it happens. I am surprised that the dystopian craze is hanging on for so long. BEA and ALA conventions show that more series are coming.
"The Next Big Thing": Again, this echoes a similar sentiment. I've been doing more and more recommending of teen books to adults. I've always done it for fantasy and dystopian, but now I find I'm selling John Green to our older Pikesville ladies! The Fault in Our Stars has been a big grownup hit here, as well as Hush and of course, The Book Thief. I agree and identify wholeheartedly with the author's closing words: "Although I like adult fiction, the majority of the books I read are YA. They’re just that good!"
I commented on the Printz blog post that Cynthia W. wrote, and on the one written by Marilyn S.
Assignment 3:
John Green Books: Maybe not the best time to visit, as John is out on paternity leave, but then again, maybe it is. There seems to no shortage of his family members (his brother and sister) and fans to fill the void left by his presence. Lots of videos, interaction, feelings of yes!--this is a place for me, the misunderstood and unheard, the nerd, the geek. It's very welcoming, quirky, informative, and fun.
Forever YA is a site that I love. I wish I had created it myself! It covers essential buzz titles as well as other bits of YA pop culture that appeal to both teens and adults--movies and TV shows. I need to remind myself to read it more often; it's fun and it adds to my ever-growing holds list.
Assignment 4:
I actually looked at all of the teen publisher websites listed. There is not a lot of day-to-day change, and I think they are probably not the best places to intuit trends. (My trend knowledge is to the minute from having attended BEA. As a librarian I prefer the publisher book buzz events.) More dystopian, more (but less than before) paranormal romance, more realistic fiction trickling in. I think Penguin does the best job with an engaging site that has lots of author subpages. Little Brown Teen gets a D from me because if you look under the Books link, the new titles featured are from 2012, as are the "coming soons", although the main page is current. There's no excuse for that.
Assignment 2:
"YA Comes of Age": As a longtime crtical YA reader, none of the information here comes as a surprise. Some of the most thought-provoking, intersting and accessible literature is being published for teens. Many of us adult readers have known that all along and we're excited that the word is finally getting out, however it happens. I am surprised that the dystopian craze is hanging on for so long. BEA and ALA conventions show that more series are coming.
"The Next Big Thing": Again, this echoes a similar sentiment. I've been doing more and more recommending of teen books to adults. I've always done it for fantasy and dystopian, but now I find I'm selling John Green to our older Pikesville ladies! The Fault in Our Stars has been a big grownup hit here, as well as Hush and of course, The Book Thief. I agree and identify wholeheartedly with the author's closing words: "Although I like adult fiction, the majority of the books I read are YA. They’re just that good!"
I commented on the Printz blog post that Cynthia W. wrote, and on the one written by Marilyn S.
Assignment 3:
John Green Books: Maybe not the best time to visit, as John is out on paternity leave, but then again, maybe it is. There seems to no shortage of his family members (his brother and sister) and fans to fill the void left by his presence. Lots of videos, interaction, feelings of yes!--this is a place for me, the misunderstood and unheard, the nerd, the geek. It's very welcoming, quirky, informative, and fun.
Forever YA is a site that I love. I wish I had created it myself! It covers essential buzz titles as well as other bits of YA pop culture that appeal to both teens and adults--movies and TV shows. I need to remind myself to read it more often; it's fun and it adds to my ever-growing holds list.
Assignment 4:
I actually looked at all of the teen publisher websites listed. There is not a lot of day-to-day change, and I think they are probably not the best places to intuit trends. (My trend knowledge is to the minute from having attended BEA. As a librarian I prefer the publisher book buzz events.) More dystopian, more (but less than before) paranormal romance, more realistic fiction trickling in. I think Penguin does the best job with an engaging site that has lots of author subpages. Little Brown Teen gets a D from me because if you look under the Books link, the new titles featured are from 2012, as are the "coming soons", although the main page is current. There's no excuse for that.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Week Six: BBK: Genres
Assignment 1
I've been following USA Today's Happy Ever After. I like that what it covers is a mix of what we think of (and catalog) as traditional romance as well as "romancy" fiction and teen titles. it's a nice blend of news, reviews, lists and even excerpts. The editorial voice is fresh, inviting and knowledgeable and will help me in the future as I continue to learn more of the subgenre nuances and authors.
Assignment 2
The Prezi is excellent and thorough; I would love to see it as a wall poster in our workroom!
Assignment 3
1) The first subgenre/mashup I decided to investigate is the medical thriller. I can name Robin Cook right away, and Michael Palmer, but I have a hard time reaching beyond them. After a bit of googling, I found a site that covers what they call SciThri. These are the medical thrillers plus any science-based thrillers. Science Thrillers: Where thriller fans put their geek on is a terrific place for general awareness and reviews. recent buzz was regarding a fan convention, Thrillerfest VIII.
Other SciThri/Medical authors:
Michael Crichton
Kathy Reichs
Douglas Preston
SciThri/Medical appeal factors:
Science facts, medical procedures, forensics--the readers like to learn something from their books and get an insider's look while beingh entertained by an exciting story. These also tend to appeal to nonfiction science readers.
2) Pet mysteries were up next. Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie come to mind, as do Lillian Jackson Brown and her Cat Who Was... series. Cozy Mystery List is a site full of genre links that happen to also include a category for animal mysteries. I didn't see any buzz or trends here, but I think that's the point. Readers of these like predictably safe reads.
Other Pet/Animal Mystery authors:
Ellery Adams
Cynthia Baxter
Martha Grimes
Pet/Animal Mystery appeal factors:
Cozy mysteries at heart--non-violent, no gore or rough language/descriptions with strongly featured animal characters, often recurring in a series.
3) I decided to explore regency romances. I spent a good amount of time looking for fansites, but any regency sites I found either belong to a specific publisher or author, or had only a few posts and/or were not updated in some years. I was able to learn more about the genre and find some authors. Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer are considered to be the first and best examples of these writers.
Regency Romance authors:
Amanda Quick
Eloisa James
Mary Balogh
Regency Romance appeal factors:
Readers enjoy writing in the style of the time period, which covers early 19th century. Language, fashion descriptions, historical detail and witty humor are important to these readers, as well as of course a developed romance that often ends in a relationship or marriage.
Mashups
This one is a paranormal cozy satire (!!!) with a great satirical cover that tells you right away what to expect.
I've been following USA Today's Happy Ever After. I like that what it covers is a mix of what we think of (and catalog) as traditional romance as well as "romancy" fiction and teen titles. it's a nice blend of news, reviews, lists and even excerpts. The editorial voice is fresh, inviting and knowledgeable and will help me in the future as I continue to learn more of the subgenre nuances and authors.
Assignment 2
The Prezi is excellent and thorough; I would love to see it as a wall poster in our workroom!
Assignment 3
1) The first subgenre/mashup I decided to investigate is the medical thriller. I can name Robin Cook right away, and Michael Palmer, but I have a hard time reaching beyond them. After a bit of googling, I found a site that covers what they call SciThri. These are the medical thrillers plus any science-based thrillers. Science Thrillers: Where thriller fans put their geek on is a terrific place for general awareness and reviews. recent buzz was regarding a fan convention, Thrillerfest VIII.
Other SciThri/Medical authors:
Michael Crichton
Kathy Reichs
Douglas Preston
SciThri/Medical appeal factors:
Science facts, medical procedures, forensics--the readers like to learn something from their books and get an insider's look while beingh entertained by an exciting story. These also tend to appeal to nonfiction science readers.
2) Pet mysteries were up next. Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie come to mind, as do Lillian Jackson Brown and her Cat Who Was... series. Cozy Mystery List is a site full of genre links that happen to also include a category for animal mysteries. I didn't see any buzz or trends here, but I think that's the point. Readers of these like predictably safe reads.
Other Pet/Animal Mystery authors:
Ellery Adams
Cynthia Baxter
Martha Grimes
Pet/Animal Mystery appeal factors:
Cozy mysteries at heart--non-violent, no gore or rough language/descriptions with strongly featured animal characters, often recurring in a series.
3) I decided to explore regency romances. I spent a good amount of time looking for fansites, but any regency sites I found either belong to a specific publisher or author, or had only a few posts and/or were not updated in some years. I was able to learn more about the genre and find some authors. Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer are considered to be the first and best examples of these writers.
Regency Romance authors:
Amanda Quick
Eloisa James
Mary Balogh
Regency Romance appeal factors:
Readers enjoy writing in the style of the time period, which covers early 19th century. Language, fashion descriptions, historical detail and witty humor are important to these readers, as well as of course a developed romance that often ends in a relationship or marriage.
Mashups
A paranormal regency romance! Jane Austen's sexy leading man becomes a werewolf.
This one is a paranormal cozy satire (!!!) with a great satirical cover that tells you right away what to expect.
Week Five: Building Base Knowledge
Assignment 1
I've found that NPR's site is informative and intersting without being cluttered with other distractions. It would not be my first go-to place, I think of it more as an occasional supplement when I remember to go there. I also looked at Daily Beast, which had too much other things not book related that took my attention away. Many of our customers ask for books they've heard on NPR, so I have used it as a resource before to figure out titles.
Assignment 2
Overall, hands-down, EarlyWord really is the best librarian site. I've been using it for about three years now, so it's an ingrained habit. The lists are great, but I love the pre-pub news and usually wind up placing holds on books they say are good or have the potential to be big. Being in the know is crucial at Pikesville. Our customers like a mix of commercial best sellers and both literary fiction and nonfiction. I always skim-read the NY Times Book Review as well as their bestseller list. The BCPL Hot Titles list is crucial for RA here; people swear by it to do advance ordering. I knew about Indie Next but had "forgotten" about it. I'll have to remember to visit the site more regularly. Entertainment Weekly is also a favorite source for me.
Assignment 3
Night Film, by Marisha Pessl is highly anticipated not because of what it is about, but because the author's first book was such a critical success. Pessl published Special Topics in Calamity Physics in 2006 and has not published since. Readers expect well-crafted fiction with a smart, snappy writing style and large doses of obscure intellectual literary references.
I've found that NPR's site is informative and intersting without being cluttered with other distractions. It would not be my first go-to place, I think of it more as an occasional supplement when I remember to go there. I also looked at Daily Beast, which had too much other things not book related that took my attention away. Many of our customers ask for books they've heard on NPR, so I have used it as a resource before to figure out titles.
Assignment 2
Overall, hands-down, EarlyWord really is the best librarian site. I've been using it for about three years now, so it's an ingrained habit. The lists are great, but I love the pre-pub news and usually wind up placing holds on books they say are good or have the potential to be big. Being in the know is crucial at Pikesville. Our customers like a mix of commercial best sellers and both literary fiction and nonfiction. I always skim-read the NY Times Book Review as well as their bestseller list. The BCPL Hot Titles list is crucial for RA here; people swear by it to do advance ordering. I knew about Indie Next but had "forgotten" about it. I'll have to remember to visit the site more regularly. Entertainment Weekly is also a favorite source for me.
Assignment 3
Night Film, by Marisha Pessl is highly anticipated not because of what it is about, but because the author's first book was such a critical success. Pessl published Special Topics in Calamity Physics in 2006 and has not published since. Readers expect well-crafted fiction with a smart, snappy writing style and large doses of obscure intellectual literary references.
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