Sponsored by Flatiron Books, publisher of Miss Austen by Gill Hornby
For fans of Jo Baker’s Longbourn, a witty, wonderfully original novel about Cassandra Austen and her famous sister, Jane. Moving back and forth between the vicarage and Cassandra’s vibrant memories of her years with Jane, interwoven with Jane’s brilliantly reimagined lost letters, Miss Austen is the untold story of the most important person in Jane’s life.
Welcome to Check Your Shelf, your guide to hopefully keeping you a little more sane during quarantine.
My cat almost logged me out of my video meeting this afternoon with his devious little toe beans. Thankfully my coworkers are all very understanding about kitty hijinks.
Here’s the link to Book Riot’s updated COVID coverage.
And Here. We. Go.
Libraries & Librarians
News Updates
- Library and museum employees across Canada are being asked to fill in as nursing home aides in order to keep earning their full salaries while their organizations are closed.
- CILIP (the UK’s library & information association) announces the National Shelf Service, which will entail a daily YouTube broadcast featuring book recommendations from librarians.
- The New York Public Library has launched a virtual book club.
- The Regina Public Library in Saskatchewan is using its servers to help scientists analyze COVID-19 data.
Cool Library Updates
- Using 3D printing to make PPE.
- Williamsburg Regional Library rolls out mobile internet access.
- St. Louis County Library is co-hosting an emergency diaper drive.
- Toronto is turning some of its public library branches into food banks.
- The Cushman (MA) Library is maintaining nearly all of its services online.
- You can stream all of the Library of Congress’ film treasures for free.
Worth Reading
- Public libraries’ novel response to a novel virus.
- How libraries are fighting misinformation about COVID-19.
- What a post-COVID world might bring for libraries.
- Avoiding information overload during COVID-19.
- How to organize your home library like a librarian.
Book Adaptations in the News
- Nicole Kidman is producing and starring in the adaptation of Janelle Brown’s Pretty Things.
- Veronica Roth’s Chosen Ones sells film rights.
- Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer will be returning for Find Me, the sequel to Call Me By Your Name.
- NOS4A2 Season 2 will premiere on June 1st.
- We’re getting a TV adaptation of William J. Mann’s historical true crime book Tinseltown: Murder, Morphine, and Madness at the Dawn of Hollywood.
- 33 books being adapted in 2020 (as of right now).
Books & Authors in the News
- Although she wasn’t officially tested, J.K. Rowling says that she very likely had COVID-19 but is fully recovered.
- LeVar Burton is starting a live-streaming reading series on Twitter for readers of all ages.
- Here’s a summary of some of the celebrities reading stories online during the pandemic.
Award News
- The Hugo Awards finalists have been announced.
- The Pulitzer Prize announcements will be postponed until May 4th.
- Chloe Aridjis wins the PEN/Faulkner award for Sea Monsters.
- Here’s the longlist for the Best Translated Book Awards.
- Shortlists for the International Booker Prize and the International Dylan Thomas Prize.
Pop Cultured
- Christopher Meloni is headlining a new spinoff series as Elliott Stabler from Law & Order: SVU.
- Are we getting a surprise new episode of Tiger King on Netflix??
- Artemis Fowl gets released straight to Disney+ due to the pandemic, which may also happen with other upcoming Disney films.
- HBO is making 39 movies and shows available for free on HBO Now and HBO Go, starting April 3rd.
- Here’s a roundup of the free trials and deals for video streaming services.
Bookish Curiosities & Miscellaneous
- How to plan a Zoom book club.
- Reading through difficult times.
On the Riot
- How to host a book tasting for adults at a public library.
- Tales of a Library Unicorn: The Children in Conflict.
- How about some more free coloring pages?
- What to do if you CAN’T read right now.
- Reading tips for parents to help beginning readers.
Stay safe and healthy, friends. And wash those hands!
Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter. Currently reading Two Girls Down by Louisa Luna.