Welcome to Check Your Shelf! This is your guide to help librarians like you up your game when it comes to doing your job (& rocking it).
“Check Your Shelf” is sponsored by The Global Economy as You’ve Never Seen It—99 Ingenious Infographics That Put It All Together by Thomas Ramge and Jan Schwochow.
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And for those of you who love to read (or love to give) picture books and chapter books, we’ve got a new podcast, hosted by author and BR contributor Karina Glaser and children’s librarian Matthew Winner! It’s called Kidlit These Days and you can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or your favorite podcatcher.
Libraries & Librarians
- Houston librarians explain why they’re stepping away from Drag Queen Story Time.
- Anne Arundel Library “diversity” programs have been approved and are no longer in limbo, but the board of trustees postponed a vote on the policy that put the programs in limbo in the first place.
- San Francisco voted to not only eliminate library fines, but forgive existing fines as well – more than $1.5 million.
- New potential library legislation: House bills would let librarians intervene in drug overdoses without liability and new bills introduced in Michigan would make librarians essential school staff.
- (TW: harassment, racism, homophobia, xenophobia) Staff members at the Free Library of Philadelphia were surveyed in December 2018 – 83% of survey respondents said that they had witnessed or experienced racism, homophobia, xenophobia, and biased hiring practices in their workplace, yet administration did not address the issues. EIGHTY THREE PERCENT, PEOPLE. Holy cripes.
- (TW: gun violence, domestic violence) Texas school librarian Belinda Hernandez allegedly shot and killed by her husband, a Houston police sergeant. I have words about the connection between domestic violence and gun violence, but I’ll save those for another time. This is heartbreaking.
- Concerned library patrons prepare to meet with the Fort Wayne (IN) board members about “alarming” weeding practices.
- WiFi devices from the library could help fill Internet deserts in South Carolina.
- Indonesian citizens create their own rickshaw libraries to help get books into children’s hands.
- Tea-inspired cocktails are coming to the Boston Public Library. I WANT TO GO TO THERE. (Actually, I have been there before, but I WANT TO GO BACK.)
- Wellington County adds library book & DVD vending machines at local sports complexes.
- 25 of the most beautiful libraries in America.
- 13 nonfiction books about real live librarians.
Book Adaptations in the News
- Casting updates for Season 2 of Castle Rock and Season 3 of Mr. Mercedes.
- The Talented Mr. Ripley is getting a TV series adaptation. Plus the ongoing speculation about Ripley’s sexuality continues.
- Our House by Louise Candlish and Washington Black by Esi Edugyan get picked up for TV adaptations, while Conan Doyle for the Defense gets a film deal.
- Netflix picks up Mary Kubica’s upcoming novel, The Other Mrs.
- Nnedi Okorafor is adapting Wild Seed by Octavia Butler for Amazon, the first book in Butler’s Patternist series.
- The Princess Bride might become a Broadway musical.
- A movie based on the musical version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is in the works.
- A list of movies you didn’t know were books first.
Books & Authors in the News
- New Jersey lawmakers propose a resolution that would ask schools not to teach Huckleberry Finn.
- Tor.com announces a new trilogy from Sylvain Neuvel.
- A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood gives readers 75 of Mr. Roger’s most uplifting songs.
- Brené Brown has a Netflix special coming.
- André Aciman announces a sequel to Call Me By Your Name.
- Anderson Cooper signs a two-book deal, with the first book scheduled for 2022.
- The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators will seek to have Jay Asher’s defamation suit filed against them thrown out.
Upcoming Books in 2019
- The buzziest books coming out in 2019 (so far).
- Spring book picks from Esquire, Tor.com, and Vulture.
- Washington Post: Books to read in April.
- Tor.com: all the science fiction books coming out in April.
- Best new spring cookbooks.
- 20 new books by or about queer women to read this spring.
- 15 newly translated novels for 2019.
- 5 diverse anthologies.
By the Numbers
- Becoming could *ahem* become the best-selling memoir of all time.
Award News
- The 2019 RITA and Golden Heart finalists were released, and once again, there are barely any finalists who are authors of color. For more info, here’s a deep dive into the overwhelming whiteness of RITA winners & finalists over the last 20 years.
- Philip Pullman wins the J.M. Barrie Lifetime Achievement award.
- Whiting Awards were announced, which celebrate 10 emerging writers.
- Physician & author Siddhartha Mukherjee awarded the 2019 Lewis Thomas Prize for Writing About Science.
- Shortlists announced for the British Book of the Year Awards and the CILIP Carnegie Medal.
Pop Cultured
- Netflix seeks dismissal of “Bandersnatch” trademark suit.
- Information about Apple’s announcement of its own streaming service.
- Wakandacon, a three-day celebration of Afro-futuristic art, community, cosplay, and more will be coming to Chicago in July.
All Things Comics
- Lauren Myracle takes on Catwoman with her first YA graphic novel.
- A preview of the Sabrina the Teenage Witch comics.
- Graphic novels made this reader try new things.
- How this reader stopped worrying and learned to read comics in public.
Audiophilia
- Advice for new audiobook listeners.
- Get more rereading into your life with audiobooks.
Book Lists, Book Lists, Book Lists
- 15 biographies that tell the true stories of infamous women killers. I AM HERE FOR THIS.
- 13 new romantic comedies to read if you enjoy Jane Austen.
- Reading pathways for Kate Atkinson & Nora Roberts.
- 8 diverse children’s books that really deliver.
- Read Harder: A collection of poetry published since 2014. To help with that, here’s a list of 50 of the best modern poetry books.
- 5 books to read while coping with the loss of a child.
- What to read while you’re waiting for the Mueller Report.
- 9 of the best women warriors of fantasy.
- 7 thrilling espionage novels.
- 32 book & movie/TV pairings.
- Life-changing books that tell you how to tidy up.
Bookish Curiosities & Miscellaneous
- Oxford English Dictionary adds regional insults to its entries.
- What was the best-selling book from the year you were born?
- Why it’s important to read in front of kids.
- 51 must-see bookstores across the country.
- Why one reader wishes they weren’t a speed reader.
Level Up (Library Reads)
Do you take part in LibraryReads, the monthly list of best books selected by librarians only? We’ve made it easy for you to find eligible diverse titles to nominate. Kelly Jensen created a database of upcoming diverse books that anyone can edit, and Nora Rawlins of Early Word is doing the same, as well as including information about series, vendors, and publisher buzz.
Thanks for hanging out and I’ll see you again next week!
–Katie McLain, @kt_librarylady on Twitter. Currently reading Blood Harvest by S.J. Bolton.