Young Adult Fiction

Today's stint in library-educate-myself-land was spent listening to a webinar through Scholastic Library Journal:

Young Adult Book Buzz 2009.

Again - beware of sales pitches, but it is always good to keep your finger on the pulse.

I find YA literature hard to keep up with, not that there is that much that is great, but more that these books often seem so uninteresting. Of late, many have focused exclusively on girls, and petty girls at that. I was glad to hear about some more intriguing titles for the coming season, and quite a few that have male main characters!

These are some of my favorite picks from the list

(keeping in mind that I am basing my selection on reviews, not my own readership)

INTERTWINED

IRON KING

INSIDE OUT

PATTERSON HEIGHTS

ASH

HATE LIST

ONCE WAS LOST

FREAKS AND REVELATIONS

BEAUTIFUL CREATURES

THE RIVER

HAPPYFACE

WALKING BACKWARD

ME, MYSELF AND IKE

MEDIA MELTDOWN

RUINED: A NOVEL

SHIVER

WISH

AFTER EVER AFTER

NUMBERS

LAST OF THE DEATH WARRIORS

If anyone else wants to listen to a similar webinar,

tune in on October 22, 2-3p.m.

(register at www.slj.com/webcasts)

from Flickr to Fall

I have started exploring the world of Flickr.
I am unclear why this site is hailed as one of the photosharing sites.
Did I miss something on shutterfly, or kodak, or other sites?
I have decided to read up on this stuff.
Will start Web 2.0 and beyond : understanding the new online business models, trends, and technologies byTom Funk.

In total opposition to this technological, non-fiction material, attended a night at a local bookstore with some reps from Random House.
Suggestions of good books specifically for book-groups.
Interesting (remember - they're trying to sell you something!)
So here are my top picks from the 30 suggestions :

A Mercy - because if you are somewhat intimidated by Toni Morrison this is evidently the book to start with!

Revolutionary Road - who hasn't felt they want to escape this bourgeois life.... and who hasn't returned to ordinary life after tragedy...

The Unit - a scandinavian modern take on Brave New World

The Last Town on Earth - historical novel, two youths in a predicament, an epidemic - sounds like a riveting tale!

The Friend who got away - because it allows for people to discuss small things about themselves that are safe - great for bookgroups with members who are not well acquainted with each other!

Mister Pip - Charles Dickens read on a small Pacific Island to local youths during a time of civil war : how do they think it up?

Beowulf on the Beach - because it allows us to admit we don't all read all parts of every book. Because it tells us it's okay to skip - and even highlights what to skip! AND - it tells us what we should never skip, which is even better!

Every book leads to new questions...

With a family of five there always seem to be books around the house -

the most pressing question is usually 'from which library, and when are they due?'

Since I am reviewing all the materials crossing my desk (and my life) for this blog I thought I would list this weeks family reading with a question for each...

mom: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Foer

Q: do we think the boy may have a minor condition that directs his thoughts?

dad: Devil May Care by Faulks

Q: can Ian Flemming's dark moody adventures really be replicated?

child 1: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Q: is Dumbledore really dead? Is Snape really evil?

child 2: First the Egg by Vaccaro

Q: so what did come first?

child 3: If you give a mouse a cookie by Numeroff

Q: why do authors feel the need to produce so many sequels to what were great concepts, only to take away from the original ideas, themes, and imagination?

This weeks' real learning will come from back issues of Booklist,

so that I may better serve my patrons when they ask for a good read!

I would love to hear from other librarians how

they stay updated on all the materials

available to their patrons , so as to better

serve their communities!

week 2, 7 1/2 things

The 7 1/2 Habits of Succesfull Life Long Learners.....



As part of my 'what have I learned from what I read every day' quest, comments on my recent adventures in 7 1/2 Habits are now due.



I always knew I was a life long learner - now it is confirmed!

I am a life long learner - albeit not a very efficient one.

I am going to write my own learning contract, the problem is the start:

Habit 1: Begin with the end in mind....



I think this may be the hardest part and the reason for earlier comment on 'efficiency'. I started the VT's 23 things program to enable myself to help our library patrons with today's technology. (and in all honesty to keep ahead of my children!) This seems a very unspecific goal. In the next 6 days I will ponder and define. By day 7 there should be a clear and concise learning goal that will contribute to my quest as a life long learner!



The easiest habit? PLAY! Who doesn't like to putz around in yet uncharted waters under the guise of learning?

continued education day 1

First day on the continuing education train (yet again)
Step 1: start VT's 23 things
Step 2: create Blog
Step 3: think of a theme - so here we go:

Theme for the next few weeks will be 'what I learn about life from all the books I handle in the library'.

This will be fun - I am not a great writer, but I think looking for life lessons in all that crosses my desk should be a good challenge. What do we know about life anyway? This week at home alone the reading materials range from the local newspaper, to Extremely loud and Incredibly Close, to If you give a Mouse a Cookie.

Given those three options, here's what I learned today:

• judging by all the classifieds many people are not feeling the economic recovery the big shots keep telling us is happening.
• September 11th had a great effect on generations yet to come
• Be carefully who you share your cookies with!

Maybe not earth shattering conclusions, but at least this blog will lead me to have to think a little more and a little deeper about the things I read!