Unshelved

If you haven't heard of the web comic, Unshelved, I am not surprised. Most people haven't! However, now that you have...check it out! Seriously, if you enjoy libraries (especially if you work in a public library), you will love Unshelved. I am subscribed to the web comic version of Unshelved, and it never fails to make me laugh (usually at work).

You can check out the books through your local library, or see them online at www.unshelved.com (you can also subscribe to the web comic version and have it sent to your email).

To give you an idea of what it's about, here's an excerpt from volume four, Book Club:

"Dewey, young adult librarian at the Mallville Public Library, has an encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture and a snappy answer to every stupid question. His coworker Colleen struggles against newfangled technology and is raising her adopted daughter Doreen on a strict diet of reference books and classification systems. Idealistic, health-conscious children's librarian Tamara writes and mourns worn-out stuffed animals. She is secretly adored by Buddy the Book Beaver, summer reading mascot turned library page. their beleaguered manager Mel is at her most effective when ordering office supplies."

What not to do: installment 1

Sometimes, we damage things. It happens to every one, don't worry! But when that thing doesn't belong to you...then it gets messy. If it's a library book, please do not try to fix it yourself! The library has trained professionals to deal with damaged books and other materials (and most of the time they can fix it!). Usually, trying to mend a damaged library book yourself leads to more damage because common household products aren't meant for books (this is why special vendors make money off of libraries: they have special tape, special glue, special adhesives, etc.--all meant for book repairs). Also, most libraries will charge for materials that are returned damaged.

Below are some examples of what not to do to library materials:

This book was returned with many many scribbles...I imagine a young child got a hold of it! Always keep library materials up and away from curious youngsters and pets: turning your back for even a minute can lead to a damaged book! (I've seen many scribbles in a variety of pen, marker, pencil, etc.)

This book had pages falling out of it...the library wouldn't have charged the patron for the pages falling out (spines break and pages come loose over time, especially with high usage that libraries tend to have on their books). Unfortunately, this patron tried to fix the book by stapling the pages back in. Instead of simple fix, this turned into a labor intensive project where the librarian had to obtain another copy of the book, photocopy the pages that had been damaged and adhere the new pages to the book. This method is a drain on resources and staff time, but was the only way to fix it. Also, we charged the patron for the damage that was done to the book...we wouldn't have if it would have been returned with the loose pages. :(

The Underground Library

My good friend and co-worker, Stacy Strain (who is also planning on getting an MLS), found this website!

www.thezombieclub.org/The_Underground_Library.html

A little bit about it...survivalist technology, banned books, underground education, etc. Very cool and very much for fun! :) Enjoy :)

Bibliophiles and the Web (for Teens)

Books and the Internet: Websites to Know

The following is a list of websites geared towards book lovers.

Each website includes the URL for future reference, as well as a short blurb about it.

1) http://www.randomhouse.com/teens/

This website is specifically geared towards teens and includes author pages and a variety of newsletters you can subscribe to. This site is specific to Random House, so not all teen books or authors will be covered. However, it is a good starting point if you’re looking for something new to read or are interested in a specific author.

2) http://gplteensblog.wordpress.com/

This website is the Goshen Public Library’s blog for teens. A lot of the blog is for teen programs and interesting, random items on the Internet that may interest teens. However, there are also “teen read, teen reviewed” entries, as well as highlights on what new teen books are available at the library.

3) http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/yalsa.cfm

This is a site provided by the American Library Association (ALA). There are booklists, both recommended by adults for teens and also by teens for teens. This is a great place to look for booklists, especially if you’re interested in reading books about a specific subject (for example: vampires).

4) http://www.teenreads.com/

This website has a plethora of information on books that are written for teens. This includes (but is not limited to): authors, books, series, books that are also movies, and books that are coming out soon. This site also has a newsletter subscription option.

5) http://books.google.com/

This is not a teen-specific site. However, it has list upon list of books listed by genre. It’s a good browsing site, as you never know what you will be able to find! It also doesn’t include just books, there are magazines and other printed materials available for browsing and also some free downloads.

6) http://www.champaign.org/teenspace/read_watch_listen/good_teen_

books.html

This is another site ran by a library that has many booklists for teen readers. There are male-specific and female-specific lists, as well as genre lists. There are also links to other sites for teen book lovers, as well as teen reviews on books.

7) http://www.champaign.org/teenspace/read_watch_listen/good_teen_

books.html

Cheryl Rainfield is a young adult author who got started by reading and reviewing other people’s work. She also makes a distinction between middle school and high school books when she writes reviews. An interesting feature of this site is that she has a place for writers, also.

8) http://www.booklistonline.com/

?gclid=CPiCoeiDt6ECFRBx5Qod8EKDAQ

This site is also not teen-specific, but it is useful for looking up books and reading reviews of them. There are also links to booklists by genre, as well as booklists according to awards that they have received.

9) http://www.bookspot.com/youngadult.htm

This is a site that not only has booklists and awarded titles for teens but also includes where to buy a variety of books. My personal favorite feature of this site is “Reading Rants,” which shows books for teens that don’t usually show up in regular teen booklists.

10) http://www.shelfari.com/

This is, by far, one of my favorite sites. This is a place for anyone to read and review books. It’s easy-to-use and it allows you, as a reader, to connect to others like you, see what others think about the books you’re reading and allows you to keep track of the books you’re reading and favorite titles/authors. Goshen Public Library has a shelfari at http://www.shelfari.com/o1514604675.