Intro: Books & Authors

Today continues a new Eye-Opener series intending to increase understanding and use of the Gale Resources.  Gale offers 24/7 access to everyday research, car repair, health information, home improvement, K–12 homework help, library management journals, and more.  The Gale suite was new on the scene last summer, replacing EBSCO. 

This week, Southeast District Consultant Becky Heil writes this description of Books & Authors: “Are you stumped when someone asks what they can read next?  Are you stymied when someone says ‘I can’t find anything good to read?’  Once you subscribe to Gale, the answers are right at your fingertips.  Gale’s Books & Authors can help with collection development and readers’ advisory services at your library.  You can find information about 54,000 authors and 146,000 titles in a continually growing list.  It is searchable and includes fiction, non-fiction, and youth titles. 

Use Books & Authors to make read-alike bookmarks or genre displays. It can also be very useful for collection development, helping you to fill in gaps or find popular materials in topic areas you might not be familiar with.  You will have access to reviews, series lists, and multiple lists of award winners. 

First things first: give your staff the confidence to answer readers’ advisory questions by having them explore Books & Authors.  And don’t forget to make use of the video tutorials available on the Gale Support site." 

Another good way to learn more about Gale is to contact your District office!  Our LRT staff are happy to help you add Gale buttons onto your website and our consultants are happy to provide on-site training in using the products.  More next week…

Gale Support

Dear Fahrenheit 451

The next Big Ideas Book Discussion is coming up on Friday August 24th (online 9:30-11:00AM) when the title will be Dear Farhenheit 451 (c2017) by Annie Spence.  She is a public librarian working in Michigan and this is a collection of fan letters to her favorite books—and some not-so-favorites—in what Good Reads describes as “…A Gen-X librarian's snarky, laugh-out-loud funny, moving assortment of love letters and break-up notes to the books in her life…through the lens of books, Annie comments on everything from women’s psychology to poverty to childhood aspirations. Hilarious, compassionate, and wise, Dear Fahrenheit 451 is the consummate book-lover's birthday present, stocking stuffer, holiday gift, and all-purpose humor book…”

Discussion leaders will demonstrate book-talking and following the author’s example, attendees will be encouraged to share their fan-favorite books.  Plus a look at The Great American Read project sponsored by ALA and PBS.  It's open for registration in the C.E. Catalog.

In Big Ideas Book Discussions, State Library staff and guest stars facilitate discussions using books outside of library management, but with plenty of application to library management. Choosing books on communication, workplace relationships, public speaking, etc. we’ll connect those ideas with public library service. In addition to a great assortment of non-fiction titles there are other spin-off benefits of Big Ideas:

•  titles help with collection development for participating libraries
•  titles are good choices for local book discussion groups
•  this program serves as another model for how to facilitate local book discussions

We encourage participants to purchase books used throughout the Big Ideas series for your own collections. And join us for the next good read--Dear Fahrenheit 451

C.E. Catalog

From School Library Journal

School Library Journal will soon present its seventh annual SLJ TeenLive Virtual Conference.  The date is August 15 and this year’s theme is “Speaking Truth to Power.”  This theme revolves around “the exciting and impactful role that young people have in the world today and how the library is a place where they can be inspired to affect change.  From the latest YA lit trends to evergreen topics in teen services, these [sessions] will equip you with the tools, information, and book savvy you need to re-energize your programming and collections.”

This is an all-day online conference, certainly convenient and especially affordable—there is no registration fee!  In addition to keynote speakers and concurrent sessions, attendees will hear from up-and-coming YA authors talking about their latest titles for teens.  Among the authors are Elizabeth Acevedo (Poet X)  Sabaa Tahir (A Reaper at the Gates) and Dhonielle Clayton (The Bells)

Advance registration is required, click the button for the registration page.  Make plans to attend the SLJ TeenLive Virtual Conference on August 15!

TeenLive Online Conference

Looking Ahead ... 

By now every public library in Iowa has received an invoice for the Gale products, whether your library subscribed last year or not.  This is a more efficient way for us to distribute invoices.  But also this: when every library receives an invoice, it serves as a reminder for those that are not yet subscribers—this is an important service to provide and at an incredibly affordable price.  This is one invoice to access all products, there are no other forms or agreements needed.  Payment is expected in August, call with questions.

Enrich Iowa Reports Due: Enrich Iowa reports are due next week July 31st. That’s the FY’18 year-end report indicating how you spent your library’s Direct State Aid funding, as well relaying your Open Access checkout transactions.  Learn more here with links to the Enrich Iowa report http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/ld/e/enrich-ia

More infographics workshops are happening around the state in August and September.  Conducted by State Library staff Emily Bainter, Becky Heil, and Bonnie McKewon, you’ll find details about Presentation Pointers: Using Infographics in the C.E. Catalog Open for registration, these are hands-on classes, with attendees trying their hand at creating an infographic using Canva software.  Take a look at the remaining classes and register for a location near you:

•  August 16 @ Bondurant
•  August 21 @ Oelwein
•  August 22 @ Harlan
• September 19 @ Humboldt