I recently completed three booklists for library customers, part of a system-wide readers’ advisory project. The lists use good gender balance, and a strong representation of people of colour and LGBT themes. I did classics, award-winning nonfiction, and essay collections. I love readers’ advisory, and I really enjoyed the challenge of
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wmtc: "at your library" column in the north island eagle: homeschooling? your library can help
Homeschooling? Your Library Can Help One of the many ways COVID has changed our lives is an increased interest in homeschooling. Of course no parents want their children to be exposed to the virus. But many families face health challenges that make the possibility of exposure much more dangerous. Parents
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: new e-resources and new hours at the port hardy library
New E-Resources – and New Holl different areas – language learning, music, crafts, local history and culture, auto repair – and so much more. And like everything in your library, iurs The Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) has added some terrific new e-resources to our catalogue. The Vancouver Island Regional
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: september is literacy month
Catching up on my “At Your Library” column in one of our free local newspapers. September Is Literacy Month When you hear the word “literacy”, you might think of reading and writing. That is the traditional definition of literacy, but did you know there are many different kinds of literacy?
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: kids bogo at the library
Kids BOGO At the Library September is Literacy Month in BC, and your library will be celebrating in a big way. During the month of September, we are offering “Kids BOGO”. BOGO usually means “Buy One, Get [Another] One”, but this BOGO is “Borrow One, Get One”. When you borrow
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: make screen time count with library e-resources for kids and teens
At Your Library: Make Screen Time Count with Library E-Resources for Kids and Teens You know I’m always going on about the great e-resources you can access through your library. “E-resources” means e-books, digital magazines, streaming music and movies, plus ways to learn new skills, expand your small business, and so
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: columns published since re-opening, part 1: library takeout
Since the lockdown ended, I’ve been writing my column in the free local newspaper again. These columns seem very specific and not of wide interest, but since I started collecting the columns on this blog, I want the record to be complete. At Your Library: Your Library Is Coming Back… One
Continue readingwmtc: things i heard at the library: an occasional series: #32
I emailed this to my colleagues and our administrators; I should share it with wmtc readers, too. Along with many library workers, I am worried that our most vulnerable neighbours are being left behind. * * * * I just heard a heartbreaking lament from one of our regular customers,
Continue readingwmtc: 10 things on my mind about covid-19
1. Wealthy urbanites are fleeing to their second homes — buying out grocery stores, expecting personal shoppers and home delivery, swelling vacation towns’ size to summer proportions. This is the epitome of the egocentric, classist arrogance that often pervades the United States. 2. In India, a planned lockdown of more
Continue readingwmtc: things i heard at the library: an occasional series: #31
One of the most frustrating and sad things we encounter at the library are people we can’t help, who don’t understand why we can’t help them — and who blame us. These are generally people with minimal or no digital literacy (i.e. tech skills). Here’s a typical scenario. A customer
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" column in the north island eagle: let your reading take you someplace new
Let Your Reading Take You Someplace New Many of you already appreciate the joys of reading. Reading transports us to other worlds and lets us vicariously experience other lives. Reading helps us feel less alone, knowing there are other people who struggle with the same issues we do. Reading helps
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" column in the north island eagle: let your reading take you someplace new
Let Your Reading Take You Someplace New Many of you already appreciate the joys of reading. Reading transports us to other worlds and lets us vicariously experience other lives. Reading helps us feel less alone, knowing there are other people who struggle with the same issues we do. Reading helps
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" column in the north island eagle: let your reading take you someplace new
Let Your Reading Take You Someplace New Many of you already appreciate the joys of reading. Reading transports us to other worlds and lets us vicariously experience other lives. Reading helps us feel less alone, knowing there are other people who struggle with the same issues we do. Reading helps
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: the library book by susan orlean
I’ve been on a “books about books” run lately, beginning with Syria’s Secret Library, then Robert Caro’s Working, and now I’m finishing the wonderful The Library Book by Susan Orlean. Orlean is a New Yorker writer, which generally means excellent nonfiction. Her book about the canine movie star Rin Tin
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: the library book by susan orlean
I’ve been on a “books about books” run lately, beginning with Syria’s Secret Library, then Robert Caro’s Working, and now I’m finishing the wonderful The Library Book by Susan Orlean. Orlean is a writer for The New Yorker, which generally means excellent nonfiction. Her book about the canine movie star
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: the library book by susan orlean
I’ve been on a “books about books” run lately, beginning with Syria’s Secret Library, then Robert Caro’s Working, and now I’m finishing the wonderful The Library Book by Susan Orlean. Orlean is a writer for The New Yorker, which generally means excellent nonfiction. Her book about the canine movie star
Continue readingwmtc: laundromats, underground libraries, and criminal charges: a library link round-up
I have so many cool stories about libraries and librarians, scattered through multiple email and social media accounts. Lucky for you, I wanted to gather them all in one place. Thanks to everyone who ever sent me one of these. * * * * * Librarians in laundromats! Community librarians
Continue readingwmtc: laundromats, underground libraries, and criminal charges: a library link round-up
I have so many cool stories about libraries and librarians, scattered through multiple email and social media accounts. Lucky for you, I wanted to gather them all in one place. Thanks to everyone who ever sent me one of these. * * * * * Librarians in laundromats! Community librarians
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: you can now borrow video games from your library
I am very pleased to announce that all Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) branches now offer video games! You can request and borrow games for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. Video games are a great fit for the public library. You — our customers — want media. Whether
Continue readingwmtc: "at your library" in the north island eagle: you can now borrow video games from your library
I am very pleased to announce that all Vancouver Island Regional Library (VIRL) branches now offer video games! You can request and borrow games for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. Video games are a great fit for the public library. You — our customers — want media. Whether
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