Library Lawsuits, Toy Libraries, and All the Book-Gifting Guides You’ll Ever Need

One day, for no reason, the Animals woke up. They started thinking. They started talking. They started taking REVENGE.

The world is plunged into chaos as the newly intelligent Animals fight humanity, and simply fight each other, for their own life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. In the midst of the turmoil is Jesse, an 11-year-old girl, and her dog, Sandor, who is devoted to her and her protection. One year after the incident, Jesse and Sandor begin a cross-country journey to find Jesse’s half-brother, Adam, who is living in San Francisco.

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).

Libraries & Librarians

News Updates

The Hunters Point Library faces a lawsuit over accessibility issues.
Bozeman (MT) Public Library staff respond to threats of gun violence.
NPR looks at why more and more libraries are eliminating late fines.
The Washington Post has an article about library eBooks and reader “hacks,” but this article is misleading in that these avid library eBook readers do not make up the large percentage of people who borrow eBooks from the library…although Macmillan seems to think they do.

Cool Library Updates

Brooklyn Public Library starts lending out board games to its patrons. Plus, it has a cook-mobile that’s designed to travel around and teach people how to cook!
The Shelter Island (NY) Library raised around $9000 by sponsoring a community polar plunge.
Philadelphia’s toy library helps families save money and prevents unused toys from ending up in landfills. (Can this be the plot of the next Toy Story movie? Woody and friends end up in a toy library and have misadventures at a bunch of different people’s houses?)
The Long Beach Public Library pilots a social work internship program.

Worth Reading

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reminds everyone that libraries aren’t “free stuff,” and they’re not public handouts. They are Public. Goods. SAY IT FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE BACK, AOC!!

Book Adaptations in the News

AMC plans to turn Jeff VanderMeer’s Borne novels into a TV series.
Robert Dugoni’s The Eighth Sister is getting a TV series as well.
David Tennant will play real-life Scottish serial killer Dennis Nilsen in Des, which is based on the book Killing for Company by Brian Masters.
The First Wives Club series adaptation has been renewed for a second season.
Sony is adapting Lost in Shangri La by Mitch Zuckoff.
Trailers for The Magicians and Just Mercy.

Books & Authors in the News

Andrew Clements, the children’s author best known for Frindle, has died at age 70.
(TW: sexual harassment) Buzzfeed investigates sexual misconduct accusations against author and motivational speaker Tony Robbins.
Anonymous author says that they likely will not remain anonymous forever.
How Gillian Flynn broke barriers with Gone Girl. (Still one of my favorite all-time thrillers!)

Award News

Costa Award shortlists are out.
The Nobel Prize for Literature has been hit by a second round of resignations following continued scandal.
Barnes & Noble announces its Book of the Year finalists.
Waterstones names Greta Thunberg its 2019 Author of the Year.
A survey of the book award season.

Pop Cultured

A sequel for Downton Abbey?
Godzilla vs. Kong set to open on November 20, 2020.

Bookish Curiosities & Miscellaneous

Looking for book-gifting suggestions? USA Today (Fiction, nonfiction, biographies/memoirs, history, children’s books), O: Oprah Magazine, Washington Post, and the New York Times all have book-giving guides for the holidays.
Speed reading is a myth – don’t let people shame you into reading faster.
Ehrmegerd bookstore kittens!!
Dictionary.com’s word of the year is “existential.”

Found on Book Riot

A 101 guide to finding a book in the library. I know we all know how to do this, but this might be helpful for some of your patrons.
Your ultimate guide to Harry Potter goods at Target.
15 last-minute bookish gift ideas for the reader(s) in your life.
7 no-nonsense tips to help you read more.

Thanks for hanging! See everyone on Tuesday!

–Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter. Currently reading The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare.