5minlib's Best Posts of 2018

As we say goodbye to 2018, we thought we'd highlight our top posts for the year!

100 Reasons Libraries are Better than Amazon
This guest post was originally posted on Twitter by @DrunkestLibrary. With permission, we shared his response to Forbes op-ed piece that was titled, "Amazon Should Replace Local Libraries to Save Taxpayers Money.”

Literary Holidays to Celebrate All Year Long - 2018
Every year, Kat shares a post of all the literary holidays for the upcoming year. It is a fan favorite and she'll be posting an update next Friday for 2019!

Easy Staff Picks Displays
We know you don't have a lot of time in your busy library. So, Kat created and shared these awesome signs for Staff Picks to post around your library. Free printables!

14 Ways Libraries Can Help Immigrant Children and Families
The news and actions around immigration to the US is heart breaking right now. If you find yourself wanting to do something, but not sure what, here are a few suggestions.

Star Wars Day: 6 Ways the Library Strikes Back
A post to share with patrons about the different ways they can celebrate Star Wars Day at libraries.

10 Insider Secrets Librarians Only Tell Their Friends With Kids
The library is the perfect place for people to bring their kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews. Not only do we have oodles of books, but you can do so much more. Jess lists 10 things that only library insiders know (which librarians would share with anyone... who is willing to listen).

8 Creative Book Club Ideas
Everyone loves a book club, but sometimes even the most well-attended group can start to feel stale. Kat looked into some different ways to revive, or start an entirely new club, and have compiled a list of ideas for you.

Delicious Library Programs
What better way to integrate good books and good food than to do a library cooking program? Kat has compiled a list of ideas in which cooking can enhance your library.

Hate in the Library: Voices of Opposition
We collected voices of opposition about ALA's Library Bill of Rights specifically including Hate Groups as being allowed to use library meeting rooms. We are very happy to report that the bill has since been revised and improved, but we don't think that would have happened without people like them who spoke up. Thank you to everyone who did.

5minlib Recommends: Super Library Marketing
There are so many different ways to advertise, so many different formats to use, and too little hours in the day to get it all done. Thankfully, there's the Super Library Marketing blog to help you sort it all out!

2002: When Hate Came to the Library Meeting Rooms
This was a guest post by Lena Gluck. She had shared on Twitter a chilling history lesson: back in 2002, white supremacist Matt Hale, did indeed travel around the US and used library meeting rooms to hold his meetings. It is a story about the trauma and terror his free speech has caused to these communities. And it could very well happen again today if we're not careful.

Summer Reading by the Book Covers
Kat shares her Summer Reading experience through book covers.

4 Ideas for September's Library Sign-Up Month
Looking for fresh ideas for September's Library Sign-Up Month? Jess curated four for you that were shared on Facebook.

Ready to Go Book Display: Libraries Rock! Fiction
and Ready to Go Book Display: Libraries Rock! Nonfiction
Every year, Allie creates two book lists based on the CSLP Summer Reading theme. It was a huge hit with our readers!

Ready to Go Book Display: Dogs
Change up your book display with books carefully selected by Allie about man's best friend.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Like this article? Check out our best posts from 2017,  2016 and 2015!

Ready to Go Book Display: New in 2019

Welcome to our series, "Ready to Go! Book Display." Once a month we'll highlight the latest or greatest for every age group that you can promote within your library or order for your collection. Let's start of 2019 with new books. This is a list of titles being released in 2019 that I'm excited for and/or that you should know about. You can create a display in your library of "Coming Soon" and encourage patrons to get their name on the hold list.

Adult Recommendations:

I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella (Feb 2019)

Sophie Kinsella's new novel is a story of love and empowerment about a young woman with a complicated family, a handsome man who might be "the one," and an IOU that changes everything. 

The Martha Manual: How to Do (Almost) Everything by Martha Stewart (Jan 2019)

From America's best known and most trusted authority on all things domestic, a fully illustrated guide on how to do everything: including organizing and decorating, cleaning and caring for your home and garden, celebrating, hosting, achieving career goals, and managing finances - and much more.

The Handmaid's Tale: The Graphic Novel by Margaret Atwood and Renee Nault (Mar 2019)

The Handmaid's Tale has long been a global phenomenon. With this stunning graphic novel adaptation of Margaret Atwood's modern class, beautifully realized by artist Renee Nault, the terrifying reality of Gilead has been brought to vivid life like never before.

The Big Kahuna (Fox and O'Hare #6) by Janet Evanovich (Mar 2019)

Rule-obsessed FBI Agent Kate O'Hare again joins with rule-bending con man Nicholas Fox to take on another case that the FBI would ordinarily shrug off. Now they are tasked with finding a Silicon Valley billionaire familiarly called the Big Kahuna.

The Accidental Further Adventures of the Hundred-Year-Old Man by Jonas Jonasson (Jan 2019)

Allan Karlsson is back, having escaped his nursing home in The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared. Now he and buddy Julius, up in a hot air balloon with three bottles of champagne, crash-land into the sea and are saved by a North Korean ship carrying contraband uranium.

My Life Among the Underdogs: A Memoir by Tia Torres

Tia Torres, underdog advocate and star of Animal Planet's hit show Pit Bulls & Parolees, chronicles her roller-coaster life in this heartwarming memoir featuring some of her best-loved dogs.

Lights! Camera! Puzzles!: A Puzzle Lady Mystery by Parnell Hall (Apr 2019)

The new novel in the ever-popular mystery series finds the Puzzle Lady on the set of a movie about her own life - and when the first dead body shows up on set, it comes with a crossword puzzle.

Teen Recommendations:

Star Wars: Queen's Shadow by E.K. Johnston (Mar 2019)

When Padme Naberrie, "Queen Amidala" of Naboo, steps down from her position, she is asked by the newly-elected queen to become Naboo's representative in the Galactic Senate. Together with her most loyal handmaidens, Padme must figure out how to navigate the treacherous waters of politics and forge a new identity beyond the queen's shadow.

We Are Here to Stay: Voices of Undocumented Young Adults by Susan Kuklin (Jan 2019)

The Stonewall Honor-winning author of "Beyond Magenta" shares the intimate, eye-opening stories of nine undocumented young adults living in America, who face an uncertain future.

We Are Displaced: My Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls Around the World by Malala Yousafzai (Jan 2019)

In her powerful new book, Nobel Peace Prize winner Yousafzai shares her own story of displacement, along with the personal stories of some of the incredible girls she has met on her various journeys to refugee camps and the cities where refugee girls and their families have settled.

The Giver (Graphic Novel) by Lois Lowry and P. Craig Russell (Feb 2019)

Now in graphic novel format, Lois Lowry's classic story of a young boy discovering the dark secrets behind his seemingly ideal world is accompanied by renowned artist P. Craig Russell's beautifully haunting illustrations.

On the Come Up by Angie Thomas (Feb 2019)

Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least win her first battle. As the daughter of an underground hip hop legend who died right before he hit big, Bri's got massive shoes to fill.

Kids Recommendations:

Max and the Midknights by Lincoln Peirce (Jan 2019)

Max and a group of friends dubbed the Midknights go on a quest to rescue the Kingdom of Byjovia from the mean King Gastley Magic. From the creator of the Big Nate series.

Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee (Jan 2019)

Inspired by Korean folklore, Lee presents a space opera about 13-year-old Min, who comes from a long line of fox spirits, who stows away on a battle cruiser and impersonates a cadet in order to solve the mystery of what happened to her old brother in the Thousand World Space Forces. From the Rick Riordan Presents imprint.

The Friendship War by Andrew Clements (Jan 2019)

When Grace takes boxes of old buttons from a building her grandfather bought, she starts a fad at school that draws her closer to one friend, but further from another. From the beloved author of Frindle.

Because by Mo Willems and Amber Ren (Mar 2019)

Mo Willems composes a powerful symphony of chance, discovery, persistence, and magic in this moving tale of a young girl's journey to center stage. Illustrator Amber Ren brings Willems' music to life, conducting a stunning picture book.

Narwhal's Otter Friend (Narwhal and Jelly Book #4) by Ben Clanton (Feb 2019)

Exuberant Narwhal and skeptical Jelly test the waters of adding a new friend to their pod when they meet Otty the super-adventurous otter in the fourth book of this early graphic novel series.

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpre by Anika Aldamuy Denise and Paola Escobar (Jan 2019)

Celebrate the power of storytelling in the gorgeous and lyrical picture book biography of Pura Belpre, the first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City.

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson (Apr 2019)

Originally performed for ESPN's The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes.

Princess Puffybottom... and Darryl by Susin Nielsen and Olivia Chin Mueller (Feb 2019)

What's a pampered cat to do now that she has to compete for attention with an ill-mannered puppy?

Say Something by Peter H. Reynolds (Feb 2019)

From the creator of The Word Collector comes an empowering story about finding your voice, and using it to make the world a better place.

Lupin Leaps In: A Breaking Cat News Adventure by Georgia Dunn (Mar 2019)

Three adorable house cats are reporting the most hilarious breaking news! Based on author/illustrator Georgia Dunn's real-life pets, Elvis, Lupin, and Puck strap on neckties and pick up microphones to provide the most up-to-date relevant news stories (at least according to them). 

Guts by Raina Telgemeier (Sep 2019)

Raina Telgemeier once again brings us a thoughtful, charming, and funny true story about growing up and gathering the courage to face - and conquer - her fears.

Library Stories that Give Us the Warm Fuzzies: 2018

As the year comes to a close, we thought it might be a nice way to wrap things up by thinking of some library- or book-themed stories that gave us a warm and fuzzy feeling over the last year or so. (If this isn't enough fuzziness for you, be sure to check out last year's article, too!)

Photo by and link to AlbanyHerald.com

Sensory Friendly Santa Visits Library

Photo by and link to StreetSenseMedia.org

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 any parent or child knows, a visit to Santa can be both a magical and terrifying experience. Luckily for the residents of Leesburg, NY, there is a special Santa for kids with special needs who will be visiting the Oakland Library this year!
The Santa in question is actually the library's Technology Specialist at the Oakland Library, and has played Santa in the past. Because this is his first time having a program for special needs children, he did research on strategies interacting in a sensory-friendly way.





School Librarian Serves Up Brunch & Books
Christopher Stewart, school librarian at Bell School/Columbia Heights Education Center in Washington, D.C., sets aside one day a month to set up a table outside the school for an hour, and offers breakfast foods and books to passers-by. Though his aim is to bring attention to the homelessness problem in the city, the food and books he provide are for anyone, regardless of their personal situation.

Stewart says that he is aware that this won't fix the problem. “In the grand scheme, [the brunch] is small. But it could brighten someone’s day.” His end goal, the article states, is to create a cafe where people can pay what they can, that "empowers readership and has great food."


Ancient Roman Library Discovered in Cologne, Germany

Photo and link from washingtonpost.com

Workers in Cologne, Germany, have uncovered the ruins of the country's oldest known public library. The building was big enough to have housed 20,000 scrolls. The excavation that led to this discovery was set to be a parking lot, but that space has been downsized and a glass window installed so that visitors can take a peek into this landmark.


Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Goes International

International singing sensation Dolly Parton has long been an inspiration to her fans, but she has also been giving back to her community for years. The Imagination Library was founded in 1990 to help promote literacy in Tennessee, and has expanded over the years to become not only nationwide, but also in the United Kingdom and Australia. To date, they have given out over 112 million books! 


NYPL Lends Interview Accessories

Photo and article from washingtonpost.com

Many libraries these days have a "library of things" collection, where you can borrow ukuleles, games, dolls, and more. The Riverside branch of the New York Public Library has a new collection; they lend out handbags, neckties, briefcases, and other items that can be useful for job interviews, auditions, or any other event for which they need to dress up. Patrons have checked out ties for prom, bags for job searching, and more. The idea is the brainchild of Young Adult Librarian Michelle Lee, and was funded with a grant from the Innovation Project.


Hardcover the Library Turtle

Photo and article link to Tewksbury Town Crier

The Tewksbury Public Library in Tewksbury, MA, recently adopted a turtle to live in the children's room of the library. He was named Hardcover, and has quickly become a favorite of staff and patrons, even having his own Twitter account. Hardcover's official title is Director of Charisma and Hospitality, and has his own official name tag to prove it.

Jan to April Book Awards 2019

Book Award Winners! Book Awards Winners! Many more will be announced this winter. Be in the know with our handy list below, divided by age groups (Adults, Teens, and Children) for your convenience.

Adult Awards

January

7th & 29th: Costa Book of https://nebulas.sfwa.org/the Year (UK & Ireland)

• 5 categories -- First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children's Book - with one of the five winning books selected as the overall Costa Book of the Year.

27th: ALA Awards at Midwinter Meeting Event

• ALA/RUSA Listen List
• List of 12 audio books in Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and Plays. BONUS: It includes listen-alikes to lead listeners to additional audio experiences. To be eligible, titles must be available for purchase and circulation by libraries.
• ALA/RUSA Notable Books 
• List of 25 very good, very readable, and at times very important Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry books for the adult reader.
• ALA/RUSA Reading List
• 8 categories -- Adrenaline Titles (Suspense, Thrillers, and Action Adventure), Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, and Women’s Fiction. 

February

10th: GRAMMYs: Best Spoken Word Album

• 1 audio book is chosen.

Bonus: Around this time, the Nebula shortlist is announced!

• List of 30 titles in outstanding science fiction and fantasy in 6 categories -- Novel, Novella, Novelette, Short Story, Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation, and Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy.

March

4th: Audies

• 26 categories: basically audiobooks and spoken word entertainment in every genre as well as narrators, excellence in marketing/design/production, and multi-voiced performance.

14th: National Book Critics Circle Awards (announced at conference)

• 6 categories -- Autobiography, Biography, Criticism, Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry.

???: Canada Reads

• Five books, five champions, one winner: Canada Reads is a "literary Survivor," with celebrities championing books. Books are voted "off the bookshelf," one each day, until one book is chosen as the title the whole country should read this year. Every March, specific date not yet announced.

April

5th: Benjamin Franklin Awards

• 41 subject categories (all Adult except for 2 Children, 2 Young Readers and 2 Teens) and best first book for new publisher in Fiction, Nonfiction and Children/Young Adult. 

15th: Pulitzer Prize

• 21 categories across Journalism, Books, Drama and Music.

20th: L.A. Times Book Prize

• 10 categories -- First Fiction, Biography, Autobiographical Prose, Current Interest, Fiction, Graphic Novels/Comics, History, Mystery/Thriller, Poetry, Science & Technology, and Young Adult Literature.

25th: Edgar Awards (Mystery)

•  14 categories -- Novel, First Novel, Paperback Original, Fact Crime, Critical/Biographical, Short Story , Juvenile, Young Adult, TV Episode, Robert L. Fish Memorial, Mary Higgins Clark, Grand Master, Raven Awards, and Ellery Queen Award.

Teen Awards

January

7th: Costa Book of the Year (UK & Ireland)

• 1 of the 5 categories is "Children's Book" which can be for ages 0-18.

28th: ALA Youth Media Awards (Midwinter)

• Alex Awards (Adult books for Teens)
• Coretta Scott King Awards (African American Authors and Illustrators) 
• Belpré Medal (Latino/Latina writers and illustrators about the Latino cultural experience)
• Schneider Family Book Award (Disability experience)
• Outstanding Books for the College Bound (Updated every 5 years. Current List: 2014)
• Printz Award (Literary Excellence)
• Odyssey Award (Audiobooks for Teens)
• Rainbow List (GBLT)
• Stonewall Book Award (GBLT)
• Morris Award (First time author writing for Teens)
• Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults
• Best Fiction for Young Adults
• Great Graphic Novels for Teens
• Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults
• American Indian Library Association (Every two years; 2018 Current List)

29th: Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
29th: Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults
29th: Scott O'Dell Award (Historical Fiction)

???: Walter Dean Myers Award (Presented by We Need Diverse Books)

• Outstanding titles for teens and young readers who celebrate diversity. Always announced in January. No specific date currently given.

February

14th: Cybils Awards

• 12 categories including Middle-Grade Fiction, Junior/Senior High Non-Fiction, Young Adult Graphic Novels, Young Adult Fiction, and Young Adult Speculative Fiction.

April

5th: Benjamin Franklin Awards

• 41 subject categories (all Adult except for 2 Children, 2 Young Readers and 2 Teens) and best first book for new publisher in Fiction, Nonfiction and Children/Young Adult. 

15th: Pulitzer Prize

• 21 categories across Journalism, Books, Drama and Music.

20th: L.A. Times Book Prize

• 10 categories including one in Young Adult Literature.

25th: Edgar Awards (Mystery)

•  14 categories, one of which is Young Adult.

Children Awards

January

7th: Costa Book of the Year (UK & Ireland)

• 1 of the 5 categories is "Children's Book" which can be for ages 0-18.

28th: ALA Youth Media Awards (Midwinter)

• Newbery Medal
• Caldecott Medal (Picture Book illustrations)
• Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award
• Batchelder Award (Translated work)
• Belpré Medal (Latino cultural experience by Latino/a writer and illustrator)
• Carnegie Medal (Video)
• Geisel Medal (author(s) and illustrator(s) of beginning readers)
• Odyssey Award (audio books)
• Sibert Informational Book Medal (author(s) and illustrator(s))
• Children's Literature Legacy Award (Author or illustrator, formerly Wilder's Award)
• Schneider Family Book Award (Disability experience)
• American Indian Library Association (Every two years; 2018 will be announced)
• ALA Rainbow List (GBLT)

29th: Scott O'Dell Award (Historical Fiction)
???: Charlotte Zolotow Award (Picture Books)
???: Walter Dean Myers Award (Diversity Titles presented by We Need Diverse Books)

February

14th: Cybils Awards

• 12 categories including Easy Readers and Early Chapter Books, Elementary/Middle Grade Non-Fiction, Elementary/Middle Grade Graphic Novels, Elementary/Middle-Grade Speculative Fiction, Fiction Picture Books and Board Books.

April

5th: Benjamin Franklin Awards

• 41 subject categories (all adult except for 2 children, 2 young readers and 2 teens) and best first book for new publisher in fiction, nonfiction and Children/Young Adult. 

20th: L.A. Times Book Prize

• 10 categories including one in Young Adult Literature.

25th: Edgar Awards (Mystery)

•  14 categories, one of which is Juvenile.

???: Jane Addams Peace Awards

• The Jane Addams Children's Book Award annually recognizes children's books of literary and aesthetic excellence that effectively engage children in thinking about peace, social justice, global community, and equity for all people.

Want More?

You can find the complete list of awards in our previous post, the Ultimate Book Awards Calendar. The specific dates aren't listed because they change every year, but stay tuned for our next installment (May-August) in April!