Week Fourteen Prompt

 Marketing Your Library's Fiction Collection

The best way to market a library’s fiction collection is to put books in front of readers in a visually appealing way and use tools that make connections between books for the reader. This can be accomplished both in person and online. 

Displays

Creating displays that showcase specific sections of your library is a great way to expose your patrons to some of the wonderful books in your collection. Creativity abound, the ideas for great displays are endless! A few suggestions for great ongoing displays include:

Celebrate book holidays. Book Riot has a great list to get you started. Back in March, my library celebrated National Tolkien Reading Day by displaying all the Tolkien books in our collection and then set up a station nearby for patrons to practice writing their name in Elvish. All of the staff working that day wore elf ears which sparked many interesting discussions about Tolkien and his work. 

Use the National Day Calendar to celebrate topics of interest to your community. For example, May is Mental Health Awareness Month and creating a display of self-help books is one idea for getting patrons to peruse that section of your library. April was national Gardening Month and the obvious display idea is to put out all of the gardening books. Why not make it more specific and chose a type of gardening technique or area such as container gardening or vegetable growing and switch out these books on a weekly basis?

Becky Spratford of RA for All suggests making a display using the best books released in a previous year. You can make it interactive by asking patrons for their favorite book from that year and then highlighting those picks as well. 

Bookmarks

Bookmarks are an easy and creative way to make connections between books in the collection for patrons and provide recommendations. This can include books by genre, similar authors, or lists of books in a series. At my library, crime fiction and westerns are extremely popular and many patrons comment on how easy it is to lose track of the books they have read in a series. Creating a bookmark, better yet, a bookmark that also acts as a checklist, is a great way to help patrons keep track and are an easy go-to for making book suggestions to a patron who may be seeking out their next read.

Goodreads 

Patrons who access the library online may find great benefit in discovering that your library maintains a Goodreads account fully stocked with library staff’s favorite reads. Using everyone who works in the library to provide input on what they are reading is something that patrons are eager to discover and use. Advertising these lists in the monthly newsletter and on the website will help get the word out. If patrons are Goodreads users themselves, this is a great opportunity to open up conversations online with them about books. Book suggestions are one use of this service, but this is also a wonderful tool for:

• tracking book club picks across book groups at the library 
• showcase an author's work who may have just visited 
• to collect a list of local authors whose books can be found at the library 

Goodreads is an excellent place to gather past, present, and future information about the books in the fiction collection and what the library is doing with them. See this RA For All Goodreads post on how to incorporate this tool into your readers advisory service.

LGBTQ Annotation

Author: Carter Sickels

Title: The Prettiest Star

Genre: LGBTQ

Publication Date: 2020

Number of Pages: 291
 

Geographical Setting: Chester, Ohio

Time Period: 1986

Plot Summary

Brian, a young queer artist, flees to New York City where he finds love and acceptance by his chosen family. After witnessing many loved ones taken too soon by AIDS related illness, and receiving the diagnoses himself, he returns home to small town Ohio to die. Losing his lover and many of his friends to AIDS, Brian has nothing left but memories of death in New York and the urge to seek the comfort of his family in his last days. Brian returns home to his estranged family where he reconnects with his grandmother and wrestles with a family and a community who struggle to accept him. The story is told from the perspective of three characters: Brian, who uses his video camera to document his life and tell his story. Jess, his little sister who once idolized him and is now struggling with the impact his return has had on her life at home and at school. And Sharon, Brian's mother, who is conflicted and unsure how to accept and care for her son.

Subject Headings

 

AIDS (Disease) -- Patients -- United States -- Fiction.

Gay men -- Fiction.

Small cities -- Fiction.

 

Appeal

 

Three words that describe this novel: character driven, heart wrenching, engaging

 

CHARACTER

In this character driven novel, we are introduced to a diverse cast of characters and hear the story of a dying man's last days from different point of views. The novel was inspired by the story of Mike Sisco, an HIV+ gay man who moved back home to be surrounded by family after being diagnosed with AIDS, to a community that went into an uproar when on one hot summer day, he took a swim in the local public pool. 

 

STORYLINE

The author tells the story from three characters' point of view - Brian, who is dying from AIDS; Jess, his little sister who once idolized him but since his departure 6 years ago, now feels like a stranger to her; and Sharon, their mother who is struggling within herself to know the right thing to do. She is torn between her long held religious beliefs, her fears of the backlash from the community, and the love she has for her son. 

 

TONE

The is a heart wrenching portrayal of the devastation that the AIDS epidemic had on its victims, their families, and their communities. Through the lens of the three main characters, we see the many forms of family and love that co-exist in the midst of turmoil, shame, and rejection. 

Fiction Read-alikes 

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai (2019) - Just as the director of an art gallery in Chicago achieves career success, the AIDS epidemic grows around him and takes the lives of many of his friends. 

 

Rat Bohemia by Sarah Schulman (1995) - Set in New York City, members of the LGBTQ community forge new bonds, and attempt to heal old wounds after they have been abandoned by their families back home. 

 

Scissors, Paper Rock by Fenton Johnson (1994) - Raphael returns home to see his dying father, who disapproves of his lifestyle, in hopes of reconciliation. Raphael is unaware that he may also be ill.

 

Aladdin Sane by David Bowie (1973) - The title, The Prettiest Star,  is taken from this album and Bowie’s work is referenced throughout the story. Sickels attributes the framing of the different sections in the novel to Bowie’s songs. 

 

Non-Fiction Read-alikes

 

Ties That Bind: Familial Homophobia And Its Consequences by Sarah Schulman (2009) - Schulman explores familial homophobia and invites us to understand it not as a personal problem but a widespread cultural crisis.

 

Later by Paul Lisicky (2020) - Leaving his hometown in search of love and acceptance in Provincetown, the author finds the connection he longs for in a community consumed by the AIDS crisis. 

 

Heaven’s Coast: A Memoir by Mark Doty (1997) - Poet, Mark Doty, chronicles the journey he endures with the love of his life, Wally, who tests positive for HIV and subsequently dies from the disease.  

Week Thirteen Prompt

 To Separate or Not to Separate? A Shelving Debate

Does LGBTQ and Urban Fiction belong on the shelves with the rest of the fiction collection or should it be shelved in its own section? I believe this depends on the library and the community that it serves. At the library where I work, we have a large collection of Science Fiction, Mystery, and Westerns so they have been separated out of the general fiction collection and are kept in their own shelving spaces. The Large Print collection is also massive, consuming half of the library space for fiction in the library, and therefore has its own space. The rest of the genres are mixed together with spine labels identifying special sub genres such as LGBTQ, Christian Fiction, local authors, and even Christmas themed stories. 

Initially, my thought was that LGBTQ and Urban Fiction materials belonged on the shelf with the rest of the fiction collection because I believe in the serendipitous discovery of new books. Also, based on the shelving spaces available in my library, these books would be more visible on the shelves with the general fiction. I agree with Yorio & Ishizuka (2018) when they point out that some librarians chose not to separate books with certain characters and themes because of the concern that some may not want to be seen going to a special section for fear of being judged or revealing something about themselves before they are ready. 

It was brought to my attention by a patron that mixing LGBTQ materials in with the rest of the collection was, in a sense, hiding the materials. It was suggested that the library display these materials openly as a way to say to the community that the library welcomes them and is here to serve them too. It did not occur to me that in some communities, these signals of acceptance are extremely important and the library should strive to outwardly reflect the community it serves, especially to those members who may have doubts that they are welcome. 

My library does not identify Urban Fiction with spine labels and the title we own are mixed in with the general fiction. I do think, however, that as the interest in this genre grows, libraries should promote the titles they have procured through displays and book lists. Overall, whatever patrons are looking for should be easily identifiable in the collection and the library should commit to staying abreast on the emerging genres and trends in reader interests and promoting the titles they own in these areas. 

Yorio, K., Ishizuka, K. (2018, October 26). Shelving debate: to separate or integrate? School Library Journal. https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=shelving-debate-separate-or-integrate

Week Twelve Prompt

New Adult Fiction

The New Adult fiction genre attempts to capture the ups and downs of transitioning into adulthood. In a general sense, it is a time to start “adulting” and when challenged to start making the hard choices about the direction our life will take, the "quarter-life crisis" ensues. New Fiction’s popularity can be attributed to the increased interest of young people to read books that reflect their life experiences and that captures their attention. New Adult fiction has been criticized for being too similar to Young Adult fiction and has garnered a reputation as a trend that will soon die out, but the key difference is that “the heart of YA is the coming-of-age story about a teen’s first step towards deciding who they are and what they want to become. The coming-of-age story in New Adult is about actually becoming that person” (Brookeover, 2014).

New Adult Fiction shares many common themes with other adult fiction, yet these novels portray characters in the 18–25-year range and focus on issues important to those in this age group. It is imperative that coming-of-age stories reflect the experiences and emotional challenges of young people. It is likely that this trend will extend into other age groups, creating sub genres surrounding other major life events such as “Middle Age Lit” and “Empty Nester Lit” (Brookeover, 2014). I actually like the idea of subdividing material around important milestones in life. Reading about how characters navigate through common life experiences can be a major appeal factor for a reader.

The New Fiction genre has also gained a reputation for being Young Adult fiction with more sex. Maybe so. Librarians are not in the position to make judgements on what patrons read in general and I don’t believe that this genre is any different. Overall, it is important to have stories that reflect the true or imaginary lives of this demographic whether we like it or not. 

As librarians it is important that we do not overlook the appeal that New Adult fiction has for adult readers. It is important for us to remain open to emerging genres and include the work in our collections. Familiarizing ourselves with authors and new titles is essential and should be part of our regular Readers' Advisory research. It is also important that adult service librarians be willing to cross over into Young Adult literature so we can understand the appeal of the genre to adult readers and therefore provide better readers' advisory service.

Overall, I believe librarians should support the emergence of sub genres that cater to the tastes of particular reading groups. It not only helps the reader identify and describe their reading interests, but it provides a refined vocabulary that librarians can use to better understand the appeal of a particular work. 

Brookeover, S. (2014). What’s new about new adult? Horn Book Magazine, 90(1), 41-45. 

Week Eleven Prompt

 Readers' Advisory Matrix 

1. Where is the book on the narrative continuum?

Highly Narrative (reads like fiction)

2. What is the subject of the book?

Patti Smith describes this books as “a roadmap to my life.” She reflects on the life and loss of her husband Fred "Sonic" Smith and her longtime friend, Robert Mapplethorpe, among others, while sitting in her favorite coffee shop in Greenwich Village. In the book, she recounts some memorable experiences from her travels to Mexico, Berlin, and Rockaway Beach in New York.

3. What type of book is it?

A memoir 

4. Articulate Appeal

What is the pacing of the book?

Leisurely paced, lyrical and meant to be savored.

Describe the characters of the book.

Patti Smith is a writer, musician, and photographer best known for fusing rock and poetry in her music. 

How does the story feel?

Poetic, intimate, observant

What is the intent of the author?

To reflect on writing, travel, family, and the people that inspire her. 

What is the focus of the story?

The writer's thoughts on life, her experiences and personal losses, and influential figures in literature and art.

Does the language matter?

Yes, very much so.

Is the setting important and well described?

The setting is not very important but when described you get the sense that the writer really sees it. 

Are there details and, if so, of what?

Yes, of coffee, corners of rooms, graves, the beach, a black coat.

Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear?

The book is full of the writer's own photographs.

Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience?

Yes, the author reflects on her life as a mother, wife, friend, and performer.

Why would a reader enjoy this book (rank appeal)?

1. language 2. character 3. tone

Literary Fiction Annotation

 

Author: Sjón

Title: From the Mouth of the Whale

Genre: Literary Fiction

Publication Date: 2011

Number of Pages: 231

Geographical Setting: Iceland

Time Period: 1635

🏆 Shortlisted for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize 2012

🏆 Shortlisted for The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Prize 2013

Summary

In 17th century Iceland, Jonas, a natural philosopher and healer laments on his life through descriptive memories and visions of times past involving the exorcism of a walking corpse, Adam and Eve, and the massacre of the Basque whalers. His dabbling in science and magic leads him to be accused of sorcery and exiled to an island off the coast of Iceland, with his wife Sigga, a farmer's daughter who possesses a natural inclination toward math and astronomy.  Jonas bears likeness to Jón lærði Guðmundsson (1574–1658) poet and alleged sorcerer. Jonas is given a short reprieve to work alongside Ole Worm, a professor, in Copenhagen, Denmark where he contemplates the magical powers of unicorn horns and learns he is not the only one with a wild imagination. 

Subject Headings

Superstition -- Fiction.
Heresy -- Fiction.
Iceland -- Social conditions -- 17th century -- Fiction.

Appeal

Three words that describe this novel: stream-of-consciousness, whimsical, sweeping 

LANGUAGE / STYLE

Literary Fiction is known for its complex language and interesting styles. Sjón expresses Jonas' thoughts in a stream-of-consciousness form of poetic prose. 

CHARACTERIZATION

Character portrayals in Literary Fiction are "distinct and memorable; richly realized, specific, and 'of themselves' rather than stereotypes...with rich interior worlds that readers are invited to enter and explore." Readers will never meet another character like Jonas - a man who is painfully rehashing his life choices and contemplating the impact of his spiritual journey on his physical one. 

STORYLINE

Literary Fiction "comments on its time, ofter reaching into the past to do so." Jonas spends the entire novel looking back on how the choices he made throughout his lifetime led him to the lonely and painful place of his present and future. 

PACING

"Authors pride themselves on the layers of meaning in their works, which takes time to discover and savor." From the Mouth of the Whale is a slow and savory read.

Read-alikes

The Blue Fox by Sjón, Victoria Cribb (Translator) (2003)

Angels of the Universe by Einar Mar Gudmundsson, Bernard Scudder (Translator) (1997)

The Glass Woman by Caroline Lea (2019)

The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec (2021)

The Prose Edda: Norse Mythology by Snorri Sturluson, Jesse L. Byock (Translator) (2006)

The Poetic Edda by Carolyne Larrington (Translator) (2014)

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman (2017)

Wyatt, N., & Saricks, J. (2019). The reader's advisory guide to genre fiction (3rd ed.). ALA Editions.