If your library has a Young Adult section, your library has horror novels. And they circulate (or mysteriously disappear from the shelves leaving a dark cloud of murk and despair). YA Horror Novel displays are easy to pull together (because there are so many horror novels) and easy to “sell” (because teens are loving the… Read More YA Horror Display: Get Your Freak On
Video Games and libraries are a perfect mix! Video games are all about storytelling, fun, and artwork. Libraries can run dynamic video game programs for teens – and you don’t need expensive video game consoles to do it. I decided to run a Video Game Party for the end of the year maker lunch in… Read More Teen Programming: Video Game Party in the Library
We all know about Passive Reader’s Advisory: booklists, displays, posters. Book suggestions that our patrons can browse on their own time. These are extremely valuable tools to librarians – we can’t be everywhere at once after all! I, and most librarians, believe that a reference interview is usually the best way to match a reader… Read More Personality Tests in the Library
Happy June and Happy Gay Pride Month. What a better time to create a display celebrating teen LGBT fiction? I had two goals in mind when designing this display: 1) Introduce teens of all sexualities to well-written, entertaining, and positive representations of LGBT characters. 2) Draw attention to the fact that the library is a… Read More LGBT Teen Book Display in the Library
I recently wrote an article for the Teen section of the Cambridge Idea Exchange’s website entitled Why Poetry Is Way More Punk Than You Thought. It includes a short argument in favor of poetry as entertainment, highlighting some common misconceptions. It also includes a list of 4 ways to discover poems that will appeal to… Read More Poetry Reader’s Advisory: How To Find A Poem
Non-Fiction displays are a crucial part of any public library. End of aisle displays in particular are an important way to draw library wanderers into the stacks. Non-fiction sections have some of the most attractive books in the library: cook books, craft books, travel guides, coffee table books. And some of the most important: how-to… Read More How To Make Non-Boring Non-Fiction Book Displays
Springtime is upon us! Somehow in-between planning for fall programs (yes, we start early at the library), attending lovely weddings, and shopping for flower pots, I’ve been reading. A lot. And as you’ll see from the photos, mostly outside. What I Read Fifteen Dogs by André Alexis: In an effort to determine whether or not human intelligence… Read More What I Loved #11: Beauty Queens, Fifteen Dogs, Mini Terrariums, TCAF
Since my first Flow Chart Display at the Clemens Mill branch of the Idea Exchange has been hanging on the wall for a couple months now, I thought it was about time to design a new one. Patrons stand in front of the wall, and answer a series of bright (and sometimes sassy!) questions about… Read More Interactive Readers’ Advisory: Try a New Type of Book Flow Chart
Ah, poetry. The beautiful, less popular older sister of prose. April is National Poetry Month, which means it’s time to give poetry all the attention it deserves. There’s something about the raw, condensed language of a poem that makes us feel connected on a whole different level. As American poet Paul Engle says, “Poetry is… Read More 10 Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month
“Grown Up” Colouring Books have been a publishing marvel so far in 2015. Many are coming out of nowhere, and flying off the shelves. Similarly, the meditative art process called “Zentangle” is also beginning to catch on – with many books being published, and tutorial sessions being held at libraries nationwide. I decided to introduce… Read More Doodle Hour Library Program: Zentangle and Adult Colouring
Ontarian Librarian 