Libraries we love part 3.

Lauren from Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf

When Britt first asked me to contribute to National Library Week at her blog, I knew exactly what I wanted to write about my own experience volunteering at the Marion Sutherland Kirby Library, the local library in my town. By the time I was in eighth grade, I was reading books by the dozen, and because of that, my mom thought it would be a great idea if I applied to volunteer at the library. I, being the book lover that I am, thought that was the coolest idea ever. I have been volunteering there ever since, and now that I am just about to finish eleventh grade, that will make it about three years. To be honest, I have loved nearly every second of it. It has been fun seeing the inner workings of a library. Who knew that it involved so much work as well as contribution from volunteers as well as hired workers? I have also made some good friends working there as well as meet some fabulous librarians as well. Plus it doesn’t hurt that I sometimes get the first chance to read the new YA books there :) In all, I adore my local library, and just about every library out there. So maybe in honor of National Library Week, why don’t you go to the library and thank your local librarians and volunteers? Trust me; they’re an essential part of your library experience.


READ PART 1 and PART 2

Libraries We Love part 2.

Kelly Green


Some of my earliest memories are of the long hours I spent at my local library as a child. I remember my mother taking me to the library as a baby to help pick out picture books, and being absolutely fascinated by the sheer number of stories and worlds that were hidden inside the shelves. Each and every one of those skinny little spines was a story, neatly encased in between two pictures that served as the cover. Apparently, I went through so many picture books that my mother and I had to start driving to other libraries in neighboring towns in order to find new stories for me to read. As I got older, and was able to move on to selecting books on my own, I fell in love with the simple joy of browsing the shelves, pulling out book after book, scanning the back cover and judging the front, until I found one that was just right. Some days the search for the perfect book took just a couple tries; other days it took hours. And then there were those horrible, gut-wrenching days when I had found two perfect books, and had to choose one to take home, and one to cruelly abandon. When summer came around, and the Summer Reading Book Club started…things got serious. Free ice cream for reading 10 books?? Sign me up! I’ll read 100! 200! 


But I was lucky. I had a wonderful, well-stocked local library, just minutes from my house, full of comfortable couches, well-lit desks, and helpful, friendly librarians. Many libraries today are struggling to keep their doors open in the face of the Kindle Store, the Nook Books, and the App Store. Will tomorrow’s children ever have a physical relationship to the stories they read? Instead of ‘turning a new leaf’, will they simply ‘swipe forward’ on their e-readers? 


As a new author offering her work in exclusively digital format, it is a question that becomes very personal for me. I cherish those early memories of awe inspired by the stories that I found in the library. But this change is happening, and regardless of how nostalgic we are about those long afternoons spent at the local library, there are positive aspects to the digital reading revolution. Kids may be more willing to read, because their ‘books’ have become more engaging and hold their attention for longer periods of time. My mother wouldn’t have had to spend hours driving to the next town because her daughter had read all the picture books in the local library; there are an infinite number of books available online. Kids may read even more, because they have instant access to their stories through their devices. And libraries can still be wonderful places to escape to with your stories, providing a quiet, comfortable environment for kids to work, read, study, or meet friends. Too many people today have knee jerk reactions: library=good, technology=bad. Things are never that simple. If you take time to explore that infinite range of gray between the black and white, you just might just find that perfect medium.


READ PART 1

Libraries we love part 1.

©Ryuji Suzuki.

Niki Burnham
My father was in the Army when I was growing up, which means that my family packed up and moved every couple of summers. Since I didn't have the opportunity to make new friends until after school started, each new library became my social center. Within a day or so of arriving at a new post, my parents--both big readers--would drive my brothers and me to the post library, fill out the paperwork for new library cards, then let us explore to our heart's content. I always checked out the maximum number of books, as did my parents. It felt like a reward for moving to get to go to a new library. Once I was settled in my new school, my trips to the library didn't slow; instead, I'd urge my new friends to join me. The librarians at every single post were friendly without fail, and they always asked questions about what I'd read so they could make recommendations to other teens. No matter where I've lived, I've found libraries to be warm, welcoming, and a source of endless entertainment.

Misty from The Book Rat 

I was a huge library visitor from the very first time my preschool class took a "field trip" and walked the block and a half to the library, where we met Jenny (famous among kids from probably the 1970s through to her recent retirement) and her bunny. Don't remember the bunny's name, but I do remember thinking it was magical that, here was a room full of books, and it had a bunny. From that day on, I begged and begged to go to the library every chance I got.

When I got a little bit older, maybe 11 or so, and my mom trusted me enough to walk or ride my bike to the library on my own (this was a different library, and I was going from a different house, but in the same town - we're blessed with good libraries here), my best friend and I would make the trip, about 20 minutes each way, a couple of times a week. We'd be so loaded down with books that we could barely make it home. I think the librarians didn't believe us when we said, Yes, we do read all of these books, and in fact, even swap them and read each other's before bringing them back.

Now, a lot older, I know all of the librarians in most of the libraries in my town by name, and they know me. We celebrate each other's birthdays and go to movies-based-on-books together. We have raucous book club meetings and dinners, where drinks are had and (eye)glasses are broken. And the library is still a magical place full of so many books I can hardly stand it - though sadly, there is no bunny. (The bunny retired, too. That's not a euphemism - he's happily munching carrots somewhere.)


Caroline Starr Rose 
I've just moved back to my hometown, and one of the first places I visited was my childhood library. Walking in I was greeted by rich memories and the familiar smell of books. Heaven!

Today I am going to share with you some links to articles about libraries and books and ebooks and all of the lovely things that we love so much!

There's this great article that Kelly Green sent me about a small town library trying to earn donations to stay open.

Maureen Johnson posted on Tumblr about the whole ebook crisis about pricing that is going on right now. Here is some more info on that.

Badass Bookie posted about ebook piracy and had some authors weigh in with their thoughts. Here's an interesting article about WHY people pirate books. Here's Neil Gaiman on Youtube talking about epiracy. And John Green's thoughts.

Here's some news about Baker & Taylor partnering up with Findaway World to offer libraries audios.

Victoria Schwab posted a little excerpt from Archived!!!

Justine Larbalestier posted an amusing/slightly-not-so-amusing article about how you know when you've made it as a writer.

So that's what I have for you today. If you have any other exciting books news you're dying to share, feel free to leave it in the comments. AND don't forget to enter the contest I am having right now!

In honor of National Library Week, I thought I would share with you some of my favorite books that talk about libraries or working in a library. If you have some you'd like to add, leave a comment!

Free For All: Oddballs, Geeks, and Gangstas in the Public Library - Don Borchert
When I first started working at the library, my boss told me to read this book so that I would be prepared. This book made me laugh a lot and roll my eyes a bit. I did not believe this was that realistic. Now five years later, I've seen a lot of what Don Borchert writes about and can say it's so true!

Unshelved - Bill Barnes and Gene Ambaum (Unshelved.com)
Really I love that there's a new comic up on the site everyday. Dewey is my favorite character, possibly ever. I love his attitude and fun-ness ;)

The Grimm Legacy - Polly Shulman
Probably the best library ever. A library completely made of Grimm Brother story artifacts. Yes please! (See my review here.)

The Truth About Forever - Sarah Dessen
Macy's story only slightly revolves around the library. It's her summer job. I loved the cattiness of the reference librarian. It makes her seem like someone you could dislike if you went to that library.(See my review here.)

Miles from Ordinary - Carol Lynch Williams
This is another story that only loosely deals with the actual library. Lacey works as a page, but her mother's illness sort of puts a damper on it. (See my review here.)

The Library - Sarah Stewart
A great picture book with a wild haired awesome librarian.

Miss Brooks Loves Books! (and I Don't) - Barbara Bottner
Another fabulous picture book. I love the librarian and the girl. The illustrations are just wonderful.

Have you read any of these? Leave links to your reviews!

Happy National Library Week + Contest

So as some of you may know. This week is national library week. So to celebrate I'm going to kick off the week with a giveaway. It will be for a surprise book! I do have some lovely authors and fellow book bloggers helping me this week, so make sure you stop in and check out what they've contributed! Before we get to the rules I'll share a great Unshelved strip with you.

 

 Oh libraries, what would a lot of us do without them? Not only do they provide us with the books we so crave, but librarians make great recommendations (maybe I'm a bit biased here).  So now on to the contest right ;) 

Rules

*Must be 13+ to enter
Fill out this form here
Contest is open internationally!
+2 points for every comment you leave on a post during the duration of this contest. (I'll keep track)
Contest will end Saturday April 14th.
+2 points everywhere you spread the news.

Thanks, good luck and Happy Reading!