WEEK 9


Assignment 1:

N.Y. Times Article "Author takes a Star Turn"

Talking head interviews of authors are rarely great. Jeannette Glass was a little more successful after her first book Glass Castle began to catch on-people wanted to see the real people described in the book. Basically all the other authors were boring and didn't excite me about reading the book.

Loved these stats:

"A mother still nursing her 8 year old : 25,864,943 views and a recent best-selling maternal memoirist: 5,124 views"

In a survey of book buyers " only 0.2 percent discovered their last book through a video trailer, and another 0.1 percent were persuaded to buy their last book that way."

"According to a 2009 online survey by Teenreads.com, 4 in 10 teenage readers said they love to see book trailers on book-related blogs and 46% watched them on YouTube. Even more startling 45% bought a book after watching the trailer."


Lowboy trailer is just sophomoric humor and has nothing to do with good book marketing.

Like the Thomas Pynchon trailer voice over--don't think it made me want to read the book but I was fascinated to hear this eccentric author read part of the intro to his book.


Chicago Tribune  "Super Sad Book Trailers"

I have to admit it isn't super easy to find book trailers on the Internet and when you do the vast majority are poorly done and uninviting. I totally agree that most of the book trailers are boring, lackluster and unimaginative. It is obvious they have very small production budgets.

Did enjoy "Packing for Mars" trailer because it is clever and humorous but really wouldn't make me think about buying the book.---which incidentally I have read and enjoyed.

As I said before ,the Pynchon video is very successful in capturing your attention.

I agree with the author that a group of innovative graphic designers and video artists should be able to crack the riddle of the book trailer. Then if you put these upgraded trailers in an easy to find location they would probably take off.



Trailers I found:

My favorite: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by John Green.  Excellent. Good professional technique. Grabbed your interest and made you want to look at this title.

Some of the teen ones I also liked:
Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson.
Clock Work Prince by Cassandra Clare
Divergent by Veronica Roth

Good Adult Suspense:
Kill Shot by Vince Flynn
Shelter by Harlan Coben


Assignment 2:

I think Book Trailers can be effective marketing but they have to be very professional, catchy short films. Mundane talking head interviews will never cut it. With the growth of social media, Book Trailers do have a future but they have to be as good as the trailers created for films based on books and that is a difficult thing to do. The standard for successful book trailers will be very high. I think the teen generation is ready for some good trailers and would respond well but will also be hard critics. The teen trailers I watched were some of the best. Would use them for RA.


Assignment 3:

What I liked and learned:
How to set up a blog, using it and then realizing that I am not a born blogger--just not comfortable with it.
Getting to know what a Prezi is
Becoming familiar with Goodreads, Early Word, Stop you're Killing Me--have used them already with customers.
Enjoyed talking with other staff about the assignments.

Suggested improvements or frustrations:
Very sad that more part time librarians did not feel that they could complete or even start the program because of schedule constraints. Program would have been very beneficial to these staff members who spend so much time on the desk. Even though I received some extra time from the branch because I am part time,  I really had to do much of the work at home. You really need dedicated chunks of time to concentrate on the writing portions.

Program is very time consuming if done completely and properly. There were weeks when assignments took too much time. It might have been wise to split the program into 2 parts and spread it out during 2 different times of a year. If splitting the program wasn't an option then assignments could have been reduced.  Having the program when SRC training /prep was happening was hard for some full time staff also handling these activities.

Program was a very positive experience for me but a large commitment of time and energy.

WEEK 8: NON-FICTION

I am excited about this week's subject because narrative non-fiction is my favorite type of reading and I read a wide range of genres within it. Just like many fiction readers I want a gripping story with fascinating people but I prefer non-fiction because it is a real story. Many times really good narrative non-fiction will be under utilized and almost lost to the readers. I love adding non-fiction to the RA treasure hunt.

Assignment 1:

"Reading Non-Fiction for Pleasure"

I could really relate to the reasons for enjoying non-fiction--I would have given a number of the reasons myself.

Interesting idea to create hybrid displays--non-fiction and fiction relating to a particular subject plus including a variety of formats. Harder to gather items for this type of display but should be appealing to a wider range of reader.

Very important to get accustomed to using appeal factors with non-fiction . Also  useful to be aware of non-fiction counterparts of popular fiction genres.

"Borderlands"

I totally agreed with the idea that fiction will many times link directly to a narrative non-fiction title. I know myself when I am reading a historical fiction I will become so interested in the period, event or real historical characters I will seek out a non-fiction addition to enhance my reading. The author mentioned Guernsey Literary... and that title prompted me to pursue non-fiction books on the occupation of these islands.

It is vital to use a wide range search of the collection when recommending to a customer.


Assignment 2:

E-Learning video was excellent. Nine plus minutes packed with RA information on Non-Fiction: good description of narrative non-fiction, appeal characteristics/factors types (genres), author appeal characteristics and even lack of appeal factors.


Assignment 3:

Many narrative non-fiction titles I would recommend would in fact actually fall into more than one of the 16 genres. There is a great deal of mixing genres within one book.

1.Biography --primarily in biography at BCPL could also be 920's.

Bio. Zamperini       Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand
                           (This is also History, Sports and Survival)

2. History--900's usually but not always sometimes  300's

940.5314     Monuments Men by Robert Edsel.


3. Food--usually in 640's but could be in Biog/Memoir or even Travel

641.5      Cooked by Michael Pollan
              (This also has Memoir and Science Appeal)

944.36     Sweet Life in Paris  by David Lebovitz.
               (Mixture of Memoir, Food, Travel)


4. Medical--usually 610-18 but could be 300's and Biog.

616.81    One Hundred Names for Love  by Diane Ackerman
               (also a memoir)

616.02    Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.
              

Assignment 4:


Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves, and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert Edsel


Little know story of a small unique multinational band of soldiers who risked their lives racing across war torn Europe in the final days of WWII to rescue the thousands of art treasures that had been stolen and then hidden by the Nazis. Fast paced, filled with amazing heroic characters and astonishing events. Being made into a movie by George Clooney due to be released Fall 2013. Also available in a great CD version-perfect take along on a long vacation drive.

Have given this to customers who enjoy historical fiction especially WWII,  adventure and maybe the art world.  Been popular with a wide range of ages.


Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz

Have you ever dreamed of living in Paris? Join David Lebovitz celebrated dessert chef and California transplant as he adjusts to the unique French style of living. Witty, funny, rapid paced memoir of the joys and frustration of adapting to the City of Lights. Story is also richly sprinkled with irresistible
recipes.

This is a great book for Book Clubs, armchair travelers, readers who love anything French, fans of sophisticated humor and anyone who loves to cook. The Dulce de Leche Brownie recipe is fabulous. I know of one Book Club who shared the Brownies and the book. If you want more recipes from David then try his  Ready for Dessert Cookbook.

WEEK 7 continued

Assignment 2: continued

My second comment was sent to Cindy L.  about the article "Next Big Thing".   "The author really stretched the number of reasons why adults are buying YA. Lines between YA and A are very blurred. People are looking for a book that has a story that grabs them from the very beginning That is the highest priority. Also the media is pushing the "hot" items. Ordinary readers are probably unaware or don't care how we categorize a book. They just want the title that everybody is currently reading. "

Assignment 3:

STACKEDBOOKS.org

     Primarily 2 contributors. Obviously are very knowledgeable about YA books. Would be very useful for any readers of Young Adult but probably most useful to librarians and teachers. The book lists are really good. Covers different formats like audio, digital and graphic novels as well as regular books. Blogs are very well written--loved the piece " Get Genrefied: Contemporary Realistic Fiction". Great definition of the genre and then a fabulous annotated list of current and forthcoming books in the genre.
      Frankly I was overwhelmed by the vast number and range of YA books they talked about. No generalist librarian could possibly keep up.


FOREVERYOUNGADULT.com
     "For YA Readers Who are a Little less Y and a bit more A"

     Site tries way too hard to be hip and edgy. Definitely aimed at women in late 20's and 30's. Very eye catching graphics and titles. It is suppose to be a Girly version of "Badass Digest". Covers films, TV, books and music. It succeeds in its mission but I didn't find it terribly useful.

  

WEEK 7 : NOT JUST FOR TEENS

Assignment 1: The Lawrence Public Library chart is really an amazing collection of titles. Would make a wonderful poster to have in our libraries. If there was a class that worked its way through this list you would have an awesome exposure to "Young Adult" literature.

Assignment 2:

"New Adult" Needless Marketing Speak or Valued Subgenre?

     Author suggests adding the term "New Adult" but I'm not sure anybody can even define "Young Adult Literature". The age range has gotten fuzzy at both the lower and higher level. What exactly are the criteria determining that a book is Young Adult and not Adult? Adding another level between just adds to the confusion.

"Not Just for Teens"

     I would like a clear definition of what is a YA book. This article did state "Books for teens are designed to hook readers and keep them reading. In most cases, the first 15 pages of a YA novel introduce the protagonist, plot, and source of dramatic tension, something that can take nearly 50 pages in a book for adults." This supposedly would make it easier for anybody to be drawn into a story thus more adult readers.

     In this article I think too much importance was put on the Printz Award causing more Adult readers to crossover. Obviously Adults didn't flock to Twilight because of any award winning writing.

     Mom factor--I think change in parenting styles and generational refusal to "grow older" have greatly influenced mothers' reading choices. More mothers want to be their daughter's good friends and they also want to keep up with what the media says is must reading for everyone.

     Interesting that the Adult Crossover group is mostly women not men.

     Would have to agree that it is increasingly difficult to delineate between a teen reader and an adult reader.

Left a comment on Julie B.'s blog: "I agree about the possible readership of "New Adult " books and also that the term might not really describe the readership adequately.  I am not sure that there is a clear description of what even constitutes "Young Adult" fiction. I think the line between " Young Adult" and "Adult" fiction has become very blurred over the last few years. What would be the true definition of "New Adult" fiction? Adding an extra term seems unnecessary and only adds to the confusion.



Assignment 4:  Looked at Little Brown Teen and ForTeenMacmillan. I did not notice any big changes in Forthcoming publishing. Teen publishing will still have lots of paranormal, dark secrets, survival, dystopia, apocalypse and intense first/true love. Very current topics like transgender and even football injuries are covered as well as the regulars like family dysfunction, addiction, etc.

WEEK 6: BUILDING BASE KNOWLEDGE  (GENRES)  Part 2

Assignment 2

PREZI--Amazing amount of information. Little tricky to maneuver at first but gets very easy quickly. Descriptions of genres and subgenres are pretty clear. Would really like a copy of all the information it provides.

Assignment 3

Subgenres

Have to admit it was very difficult to find specific fan sites. Goodreads does have groups for all the subgenres I was interested in. Other interesting sites: bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com (Genre Book Clubs and Idea Boards), NYPL.org/blog, bookviewcafe.com. Have a feeling that Facebook would provide more sites.

COZY MYSTERIES--Lighthearted, set in a small town. Individual or small group solves a crime/puzzle  through personal observation. Violence is off screen.

Goodreads group has 3413 members. Shows a really wide range of authors. Readers usually like series-once they become comfortable with the main character/setting they just want it to continue.

cozychicksblog.com. Online home of 12 mystery authors--like Leann Sweaney and Maggie Sefton. They post regularly about their writing, latest releases and everyday lives. They want their readers to think of them as friends.

Other sites: Bookblogs.ning.com/group/cozymysteries.  Pinterest.com/wpfarmgirl/cozy-mystery-authors.

Some authors: Nancy Atherton (Aunt Dimity Mystery Series), M.C. Beaton (Agatha Raisin Mystery Series) and Rhys Bowen (Constable Evans Mystery Series and Molly Murphy Mystery Series).

RELIGIOUS/CLEAN ROMANCE-- Heart matters more than libido. Marriage or a steady relationship is typically the climatic finale for the two lovebirds.

By accident came across the Amazon customer discussion Romance forum. There is a sub group for religious romance. There are lots of people on the forum. Of course people are looking for what we usually think of as "typical" religious romance but also others who are looking for something a little more real and maybe in their words "descriptive".

Some authors: Janette Oke, Francine Rivers, Lori Wick, and Tracie Peterson.


TIME TRAVEL SCIENCE FICTION-- Characters visit the past or future and may encounter paradoxes, alternate timelines, and other logical conundrums.

In various discussions on the Web two different types of Time Travel Novels are apparent: those who use time travel as a narrative device that puts the characters in different settings and those in which time travel mechanics is the most important element. Because of this difference you will have a wide range of readers. 

Authors/Titles:

Time Line -- Michael Crichton
Time and Again -- Jack Finney
Corridors of Time and Time Patrol--Poul Anderson
Outlander series--Diana Gabaldon


Crossover titles:
Murder at Rosamund's Gate by Susanna Calkins. Historical Fiction (17th century London) and Mystery (actually fits most descriptors of Cozy mystery).

Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. Mixes Historical Fiction, Romance, Fantasy/Science Fiction-time travel.

WEEK 6: BUILDING BASE KNOWLEDGE (GENRES)  Assignment 1

STOP YOU'RE KILLING ME
Because we have so many mystery readers in White Marsh and because I don't read mysteries it was really important for me to find a good recommendation site. This site is absolutely everything you need to know about mysteries in one place-covers 4100 authors and 46,000 titles.

One of the most useful features is the listing of series in chronological order. Will use this lots. The many indexes like location, job, and diversity will help with identifying a title that a customer can not remember. Tried out the genre index and found that there is a sub-heading for young adults. This will be very useful when finding a title for Mystery assignment for  middle school and beginning high school.

Read-alikes has 18 different categories. Author read-alikes still a work in progress.

Really glad I was introduced to this--will use it a great deal. In fact have already used it twice with customers.

WEEK 5: BUILDING BASE KNOWLEDGE (Part II)

Had originally chosen GoodReads as the source to monitor but I have already described in the Week 4 assignment entry what I explored and enjoyed on that site.

Exploring Early Word has really been fun. It contains an amazing amount of information--a real treasure trove. I discovered so much including:
Display ideas
Chats with authors
Movie/TV show tie ins with books
Book Club Ideas
Reviews from TV/Radio/Magazines--all in one place.

Every time I look at it I find something interesting that I missed before.  Because it is so enjoyable I will definitely visit the site often and recommend it to other readers. Have signed up for the newsletter.

White Marsh has a diverse group of readers. Many mainstream readers but the genres that are popular are quite diverse. Will be beneficial to have good sources to keep informed.

Assignment 3--Coming Soon:

English Girl by Daniel Silva to be published July 16, 2013.

A beautiful young British woman vanishes on the island of Corsica, the British Prime Minister's career is threatened with destruction and recently retired Israeli spy Gabriel Allon is enlisted to enter the high stakes story.

Latest book in best-selling spy thriller series featuring Gabriel Allon. All the books in the series have made the NYT Best Seller List. Series is rapid paced, contemporary international intrique. Fascinating complex main character who is both an art restorer and a spy. Should appeal to current readers of this series and  also those who  enjoy John LeCarre, Brad Thor, Vince Flynn, Alex Berenson. 

Huge number of people on GoodReads  (400 +)  are looking forward to reading it. BCPL has a very large hold list (more than 200).