Sponsored by Vesuvian Books, publisher of The Night Weaver
From Bram Stoker Awards Nominee, Monique Snyman. Something dark is waking up in Shadow Grove, and one teenager has the determination—and the family legacy—necessary to set things right. “Stephen King’s It meets Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight in Snyman’s first installment of a new series … a delectable tale of the macabre … romance and action.” ~School Library Journal “With its boogeyman-like creature based in lesser-known folklore, the novel is unique, as well as creepy and unsettling.” ~Foreword Reviews “Snyman’s creative adoption of English folklore adds a unique twist, and satisfying frights abound. An enjoyable, frenetically paced fantasy.” ~Publishers Weekly
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
- You’ve probably seen the photos of the $41 million Hunters Point Library in Long Island City, but there’s one major issue: the three fiction sections are ONLY accessible by stairs.
- A patron at the Coeur d’Alene Library in Idaho keeps hiding books that are critical of Trump and his administration, citing the desire to create “liberal angst.” Seriously?
- A Transgender 101 program is on hold at the Mid-Continent Public Library after receiving community complaints. You can read an update from the director here.
- If you’ve read The Library Book by Susan Orlean, you may be familiar with the story of the missing Well of the Scribes sculpture at the Los Angeles Central Library. Part of the sculpture has now been found.
- The New York Public Library will have a J.D. Salinger exhibit on display.
- PLA is awarding $500 mini-grants to 57 public libraries to help librarians assist patrons enroll in the ACA Marketplace.
Cool Library Updates
- The Palatine (IL) Public Library wins the Library Journal 2019 Marketer of the Year Award – take a look at how they created their message using “radical transparency” as a guiding principle.
- Arlington Heights (IL) Library proposes a special card for veterans and active military.
- South Carolina State Library announces a new statewide initiative called Read Eat Grow, which focuses on teaching food literacy.
- Take a look at the new Children’s Library at the State Library of New South Wales!
Worth Reading
- The case for eliminating library fines.
- A look at how referring to patrons as “customers” is detrimental to the purpose of the academic library, and why the word “community” is much more helpful. This is a good article to read for ANY library employee.
- How much coffee do librarians actually drink?
Book Adaptations in the News
- An update on the adaptation of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo.
- Inland by Téa Obreht is being adapted for TV.
- The James Patterson/Bill Clinton novel, The President is Missing, is getting a series adaptation starring David Oyelowo.
- Disney options Julie Murphy’s novel, Dear Sweet Pea.
Books & Authors in the News
- Former National Enquirer editor threatens booksellers over Ronan Farrow’s upcoming exposé, Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators, which comes out on October 15th.
- Bob Woodward interviewed Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey about their best-selling book She Said, but angered audience members as he repeatedly interrupted the authors and kept asking what they thought motivated Weinstein’s abuse.
- Cilka’s Journey, the sequel to The Tattooist of Auschwitz, has been called “lurid and titillating” by the survivor’s stepson.
Award News
- The finalists for the National Book Awards have been announced. Which of your favorites made the list?
Bookish Curiosities & Miscellaneous
- In 1960, Lady Chatterly’s Lover was the subject of a trial in Britain that tested the country’s newly relaxed rules against obscene publications. The judge’s copy of the book was sold for thousands of pounds to a private buyer in the US, but the copy has recently been acquired by Bristol University.
- Eric Judy, the former bassist for Modest Mouse, has opened a Seattle bookstore with his spouse, Desirae Wilkerson.
- Have you ever suffered from book burnout?
- A guide to seeking and becoming a book coach.
- Giftable subscriptions for book lovers that aren’t just books!
Thanks for hanging! See everyone on Tuesday!
–Katie McLain Horner, @kt_librarylady on Twitter.