Welcome to Check Your Shelf! This is your guide to all things book talk worth knowing to help librarians like you up your game when it comes to doing your job (& rocking it).
Check Your Shelf is sponsored by Podkin One-Ear by Kieran Larwood.
Middle earth for middle graders! Redwall meets Watership Down in this breakout new fantasy series of good vs. evil starring three young rabbit siblings who prove that anyone—even little rabbits—can achieve great things.
Libraries & Librarians
- The odds were stacked against these libraries, but they’re open despite that. The world of libraries is a world of never-ending curiosity and resilience.
- Why many suburban Chicago libraries are dropping fines.
- Libraries are spaces everyone belongs, and that’s what makes them scary to certain politicians. A reminder of the power of the library.
- Worth considering: what we say when we market queer books.
- Who doesn’t love a good library-themed gift?
Book Adaptations in the News
- A television adaptation of Celese Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere is happening and it’s a star-studded production.
- Lupita will star in the adaptation of Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime.
- Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series is coming to television.
- The trailer for HBO’s adaptation of Fahrenheit 451 is out.
- Sweetbitter has a trailer, and the premiere for the tv series based on the book hits in early May.
Books in the News
- Order up copies of Michelle Obama’s memoir, hitting shelves in early November.
- This NPR interview with Angie Thomas about YA literature, being black in America, and more is your weekly listen.
- Gillian Flynn talks about why dread is her favorite emotion and talks a tiny bit about how she’s following up on her mega hit Gone Girl.
By The Numbers
- The bestsellers in children’s literature from 2017.
- And speaking of children’s literature from 2017, a look at the diversity within those books.
Award News
- The LA Times book prize finalists across all categories have been announced.
- Here’s the full slate of finalists for the various Nebula awards, given by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. It’s a heck of a great resource for discovering new speculative fiction, that’s for sure.
- This year’s Lambda Literary Award Finalists should help fill some holes in your collection and reading life.
Pop Cultured
- What to read after Black Panther. Perfect RA opportunity here!
- You can check out the British Library’s Harry Potter exhibit from anywhere in the world.
- A giant round-up of films inspired by Shakespeare.
All Things Comics
- New editions of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman comics are coming in honor of the 30th anniversary.
- Ta-Nehisi Coates will be writing Captain America.
Audiophilia
- The New York Times is adding a monthly audiobook bestsellers list.
- 10 audiobooks to read beyond Black History Month. Diversify your listening.
- Five audiobook actors talk about delivering passion in their work. Totally fascinating stuff.
- Free audiobooks — two a week! — beginning in late April, thanks to AudioSync.
Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists
- Up your knowledge of horror with this great exploration of the genre.
- Genre books in translation. If you’re not strong in your translation collection or RA skills, this could be a good place to jump right in.
- 100 must-read World War II books.
- A look at a handful of short mystery stories.
- Is The Wedding Date flying off your shelves? This booklist offers up more great romances to share with readers.
- Books for book lovers.
Bookish Curiosities
- Designers talk about the process of creating memorable book covers.
- If Hope Hicks looked familiar to you for some reason you couldn’t quite place, maybe it was the fact she modeled for a YA book cover?
- That book dress!
- Did you know Virginia Woolf was an avid photographer? You can peek at some of her work.
Level Up
Do you take part in LibraryReads, the monthly list of best books selected by librarians only? Whether or not you read and nominate titles, we’ll end every newsletter with a few upcoming titles worth reading and sharing (and nominating for LibraryReads, if you so choose!). Links here will direct to Edelweiss digital review copies.
- Lillian Li’s Number One Chinese Restaurant is a multigenerational debut novel about the complicated, complex people working at a well-loved Chinese restaurant.
- Compared to Brain on Fire, Porochista Khakpour’s Sick: A Memoir explores chronic illness, medical misdiagnosis, and the struggle of living with Lyme disease.
- Sophie Lucido Johnson’s graphic memoir doesn’t need much more description beyond the title: Many Love: A Memoir of Polyamory and Finding Love(s).
How great is this librarian cat enamel pin? Me-ow! You can snag one here for $10.
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Thanks for hanging out! We’ll see you back here in two weeks with another edition of Check Your Shelf.
–Kelly Jensen, @veronikellymars on Twitter and Instagram.
Currently reading Educated by Tara Westover on audio.