Prompt 16

How have reading and books changed since you were a child?  Yes, I think reading and books have changed since I was a child.  Reading encompassed many types of materials, such as magazines, newspapers, comics, and books.  Everyone at the time thought that television was encroaching on reading time and too much was bad for society. Today, reading and books are still relevant, just in different formats.  Comics morphed into graphic novels while news, books and magazines are widely read electronically and sporadically.  Reading and books compete, not just with television, but video games and social media.

What do I see in the future for reading books or publishing?  I see printed books as obsolete.  Electronic  interactive books will enable the reader to choose characters, themes and ending. Lifeline is a popular app where the user participates in the story by choosing from several narratives.  Such stories draw the reader into the story and allows them to actively participate.  I also think eBooks will include multiple sensory stimuli to add to the ambiance of the story. Reading a book where the reader hears subtle background noises such as footsteps or traffic will add to the enjoyment of a story.  Other senses could be included,  such as smell and touch to enhance reading enjoyment.

Will we read more or less?  I think we will read about the same.  There will always be people who do not like to read and those that do enjoy a good story or to gain knowledge. 

Will our reading become more interactive? Yes, I think the key for reading to survive is to compete with games and television by using forms of interactivity to elicit more involvement for readers.

What will happen to traditional publishing?  Self-publishers are currently expanding at a rapid rate and I think it will continue until they surpass traditional publishers.  Readers want more than cookie cutter novels and predictable characters and self-published works offer nontraditional writers to accommodate a new audience to provide unique stories.

Prompt 15

 I think the best ways to market the library's fiction collection would be to use any and all resources available, both internally and externally.  Internally, the library would utilize displays, bookmarks, flyers, endcaps, book discussions and librarian suggestions.  Externally, the library could reach the public by advertising through local town planner notices and social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

I would use book displays, bookmarks, and book discussions to market my future library's fiction.  Book displays are a great way to choose titles that would be of interest to library users.  Book displays should be themed and the books should be carefully chosen for the attractiveness of the cover, the quality of the book, and the consideration for the potential of the appeal factor towards the reader.  Colorful and bold displays are eye-catching and draw the reader's attention to the possibility of a newly discovered author.  This is a great way for readers to find the right book without sorting through hundreds of books on the shelves. 

Bookmarks are another great tool to have available for readers.  Bookmarks could include read alike authors, genre specific themes, subjects and more.  Bookmarks are a wonderful guide for readers to search for books by different authors that they might not have heard of before.  Bookmarks provide an assortment of options that readers could then browse in the stacks to see if the unknown author might be a good fit.  Sometimes library staff have a momentary lapse when approached by patrons searching for a new title and bookmarks are a great way to refresh the memory and begin a conversation.

Book discussion allow readers to socially interact for the purpose of reading.  Discussions allow readers to become directly involved in reading by expressing opinions and viewpoints on characters, plots, and underlying themes with like minded people.  Through book discussions, other authors, titles, and genres could be discovered and shared.

Week 14 Prompt

 The decision to separate GBLTQ fiction and African American fiction from general collection to special place is difficult.  There are many factors that would need to be addressed including, shelving space, the size of the library, and the community.  I would choose not to separate the collection because it would place focus on two genres and leave out other subjects.  As it stands, the library collection is sorted into sections; nonfiction, mystery, science fiction, biography and general fiction.  The library would have to rethink how they would catalog and shelve all the books.  Other subjects may include, Christian fiction, other religious fiction, and multiple ethnic fiction. How do you differentiate one group over another to create a special place?  The library would need to decide if they want to establish a collection and organize it like a book store or a traditional library.  Shelf space is another issue.  The library would have to consider what space is available, while keeping in mind the need to expand a collection.  Providing special shelving for GBLTQ and African American fiction would create a situation of segregation.  It would be difficult to explain why specific subjects are featured by having their own space, while other subjects and genres are mixed with the general collection.

There are alternative ways to draw attention to GBLTQ and African American fiction without creating a special space and avoiding possible conflict with the community.  Books displays, bookmarks, and social media are great ways to feature special groups.  This would provide the opportunity to select multiple topics so everyone is represented.  Ebooks and e-audio books could be searched on the catalog for anyone searching for specific genre and subjects. Using alternative marketing strategies makes sense in promoting all that the library has to offer and guaranteeing everyone is represented.

Libraries and YA graphic novels

How can librarians work to ensure that we are able to serve adults who enjoy YA or graphic novels?

Libraries have many tools to utilize when it comes to promoting their products and services.  Young Adult literature and graphic novels are just two types of materials that are popular with people of all ages and genre preferences.  Librarians could implement promotional materials such as book displays, create book marks, along with adding information on the library’s website, Facebook and Twitter.  Librarians who favor YA and graphic novels could have an “Ask Me” pin where they become openly available to discuss and recommend appropriate materials.  Adult book clubs and discussion groups could further propel YA and graphic novels to the interested public.  Graphic novels have a dedicated audience that follows both the published novels and movie and t.v. shows that they are based on.  This presents a great opportunity for a discussion group to meet and compare the novels to the t.v shows or movies.  Groups may also gather to create their own graphic novel or YA book whether in printed or electronic formats.  Librarians could have a passive display where library users could vote for favorite YA and/or graphic novel or they could write annotations and opinions to share with like-minded readers and be displayed on the library webpage or book display area.

Historical Nonfiction

 

Title: Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy

Author: Karen Abbott

Paperback: 544 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins, 2014

Language: English

Genre: Historical Nonfiction

Time Period:  1861 - 1865

Summary

At a time when women were expected to stay at home while the men participated in the Civil War effort, four incredible women; Rose O'Neal Greenhow, Emma Edmonds, Elizabeth Van Lew, and Belle Boyde, decided to use any means at their disposal to contribute to the cause.  Their patriotic spirit and strong beliefs were the driving force of their actions and they were willing to risk all they hold dear to help vanquish the enemy.

Rose O'Neal Greenhow is a widow and a mother who is known for her beauty and clever wit.  Using her social standing within the more influential homes of society, she is able to interact with Union politicians and officials to gain access to sensitive information that she passes along to her Confederate allies.  Under suspicion of spying for the Confederacy, Rose and her daughter spend time in prison where Rose continues to gather information under Union officials noses.  She is able to use her cleverly worded quips to gain her freedom and to continue serving her cause by becoming a courier to Europe.

Emma Edmonds only knew hardship under her father's rule.  She decided to take her fate in her own hands when she decides to lop off her golden curls and don the mantle of a man who enlists in the Union army. Serving as a private, "Frank" is witness to the bloodiest battles and serves as a courier risking his life for the Union cause.  His cunning and daring adventures earn him the respect and recognition from all in his unit.  To avoid discovery, Frank leaves his position in the arm to recuperate from malaria.

Feisty Belle Boyde is not known for her beauty but she carries a certain charm that men are unable to avoid.  Flirting her way into outright seduction, Belle is able to manipulate men from both sides of the conflict to relinquish military secrets that she then passes on to the Confederate army.  Belle is later awarded the Southern Cross of Honor for her contributions.

Elizabeth Van Lew is an abolitionist residing Richmond, Virginia,  where she uses her great wealth to purchase slaves only to set them free.  Richmond becomes the capital of the Confederate States of America when the war breaks out and Elizabeth's compassion steers her to help the wounded Union soldiers wasting away in Libby prison.  Her quiet strength and determination is responsible for organizing one of the greatest espionage rings in the city, right under the noses of her critics. 

Genre: Historical Non Fiction

Pride, strength, belief and determination cultivates the actions of the four distinct women who chose to take an active role in the Civil War.  The story of each woman is meticulously researched using primary sources and interviews from their descendants.  The author provides detail in the lives and surroundings of each woman as events unfold to influence their actions.  The book is a narrative story with facts and circumstances of battles woven together to produce a holistic picture of the war and its players.  The author chose to tell the story using two women from each side of the conflict. The author is neutral in her writing by allowing each character to tell their story from their point of view,  in their own words. 

The pacing of the book is moderate as the author alternates the story line of each woman in chronological order.  The four parts of the book is broken down to represent each year starting with 1861 and ending in the year 1865.  The ending of the book give a brief summary of the lives of each women after the war concludes.  The tone is somewhat dark and desperate as each character struggles with the intensity of the times.  The language takes advantage of the northern and southern dialect to aptly convey the regions of each character. 

Historical Nonfiction

Mary Chesnut: A Diary From Dixie by Mary Boykin Chesnut

Personal Memoirs by Ulysses S. Grant

They Fought Like Demons: Women Soldiers in the Civil War by DeAnne Blanton

Historical Fiction

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverini

March by Geraldine Brooks