LibraryReads Shout-Out!

LibraryReads is an monthly initiative developed and used by librarians to help connect their favorite books with as many readers as possible!

But before I get to the May 2016 LibraryReads list, I wanted to give a Shout-Out! to a fellow Gateway area librarian in recognition of her annotation being included in the current Top Ten listing!

Smoke: A Novel

by Dan Vyleta

Published: 5/24/2016 by Doubleday
ISBN: 9780385540162

“In an alternate historical London, people who lie reveal themselves by giving off smoke but the rules of how this works are complicated.There are some people who can lie and not trigger any smoke and this lends an interesting element to the story. The rules we are given are changeable. The setting lends itself well to the story.The writing is descriptive, and the tone is atmospheric. Similar authors that come to my mind were Neil Gaiman and China Mieville. This is a dark, delicious tale.”    

Jennifer Ohzourk, St. Louis Public Library, St. Louis, MO

Jennifer is Senior Subject Specialist at St. Louis Central Library's Center for the Reader. Through her posts on SLPL's Center for the Reader blog, she provides "information ... about Central's different book group discussions, author information, book awards, reading lists, and much, much more."

CONGRATULATIONS, Jen! In anticipation of a rush of requests from the customers at St. Charles City-County Library District, I placed a reserve on Vyleta's Smoke for myself!

The compete list for May 2016 can be found at LibraryReads.

THANK YOU, Center for the Book!

slplcenterforthereader

Yesterday, Tales from the RAT Queen was cited in a blog post on Center for the Reader. I just wanted to say Thanks to Jen for her lovely comments and for following the blog. The admiration is TOTALLY mutual! :-)

If you haven't already discovered slplcenterforthereader (it's been one of my Recommended Sites for some time now...) you should check it out. It is the blog for St. Louis Public Library's Center for the Reader and a great source to learn about their book discussion groups along with reading suggestions, author information and so much more. Give it a try! :-)

Invitation to Book Group Program at St. Louis Public Library

I received an email from Jennifer Ohzourk, the new Senior Subject Specialist at St. Louis Public Library's Center for the Reader. She encouraged me to share the information and an invitation for any who might be interested in attending their upcoming program.

• On Wednesday, September 23^rd at 9:00 a.m., Kaite Stover will be presenting Care and Feeding of Book Groups: Maintaining, Sustaining and Rejuvenating. At this session, learn a little history of the book group, how to make good book selections, how to formulate discussion topics (especially when none can be found online), good internet resources for book group leaders, and how to handle difficult book group members. Share ideas for making a book discussion special, titles that were a hit, and titles that were not. Come prepared to talk about your book club experiences and get ideas for creating new ones.

• Kaite Stover is the Director of Readers’ Services for the Kansas City Public Library. She is the co-editor of The Readers’ Advisory Handbook (2010) with Jessica E. Moyer, and currently writes the "He Reads, She Reads" column for Booklist with David Wright and "Under the Radar" for Public Libraries with Jessica E. Moyer. Additionally, she is a regular blogger for Booklist's "Book Group Buzz" blog.

• The program will be held from 9:00 am – 11:00 am in the Central Library’s Auditorium. Registration is required for the event. 

The St. Louis Public Library calendar link is http://www.slpl.org/events/calendar.asp or those interested in attending can call the Center for the Reader at: (314) 539-0376.

Jennifer Ohzourk
Senior Subject Specialist
Saint Louis Public Library
Central Library | Center for the Reader
1301 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63103
eMail: johzourk@slpl.org