It’s January, and while Charles Schulz’s Lucy van Pelt might be relishing in catching snowflakes that are finally ripe, for many of us, this is a month for bunkering down. Last year I expanded upon our blogger-in-residence Arabella’s hermitage week, calling January hermitage month and I stand by that. This is also a perfect month for building (and hiding in) your blanket fort surrounded by books and/or viewing material that will last you the the majority of hermitage month (our initial loan periods might not allow you to keep a book for more than 2 or 3 weeks, but renewals are an option that can make your loan last you the whole month!).
January is also a common time for resolutions, but several of us here on the Free For All have already eschewed the tradition. Let’s face it, when the temperature drops into the single digits, many of us are simply focused on keeping warm and staying sane; never mind starting lofty goals or making big changes. So to help our patrons weather the weather, I was inspired by blog favorite Book Riot which posted “30 ideas For A More Bookish Winter” list. I created a similar list of 5 things you can do to get the most out of hermitage month, all of which can be achieved by going to or getting help from your friendly local library. Here goes:
1) Put a hold on a book that isn’t out yet
Give yourself something to look forward to with a finite date, rather than anticipating the squishy deadline of spring (March? April? June? When does spring weather start these days….?) Libraries often put orders for books they believe will be popular months in advance and the moment they do, you can put a hold on the book! This gets you higher up in the queue for the book (meaning less time waiting for it). Also, putting a hold on a book that is only on order gives libraries a sense of what out patrons are excited about, which allows us to order quantities that are appropriate for the hold list. After all, we don’t want only 3 or 4 copies circulating of a book that has 80 holds on it.
There are lots of ways to see books that are coming out in the future. Goodreads has lists for books coming in 2017 that are popular with members and books coming out in 2017 that are continuations of series. Searching the Internet for “most-anticipated 2017 books” will collate dozens of lists including ones from Vulture, Bustle, The Millions and, of course, Book Riot. Find your favorite author’s website (this blog favorite is a good example with it’s nifty countdown); you can always be sure that authors want their readers to know when to keep an eye out for their next books. You can also check out the Library’s Pinterest Boards for new items from each location that we’ve just ordered. Often these books haven’t come in yet, but if they’re on Pinterest, they’re in the catalog and that means they’re holdable. Give it a try and be one of the first in your community to read something new!
2) Read a book and watch the movie it was based on. Compare and contrast.
The order in which you do this is entirely up to you (as discussed here), but many of the books we have at the library, also have movie companions in our DVD collection. (What would Hollywood do without books?) If you’re the going-to-the-theater type, a small selection of upcoming movie adaptations being released in 2017 are listed here. Another, slightly larger list is available here or you could check out our Pinterest board specifically designed for comparisons of books and movies that are simultaneously in the library. Is there a better way to spend a wintry night (or day? or week?). I don’t think there is….
3) Ask a library staff member for a recommendation
One of the best things about working at a library is that there’s no dearth of things to read and watch. Because we already know the secret about putting books that aren’t out yet on hold, library workers are often among the first to read new books. We’re also irrepressibly eager to talk about books and movies we love, whether they’re new or they’re old favorites and we can help you get reading again after those moments when you just can’t. If you’re not sure what to read or watch next, ask one of us! We’ll be all too happy to help.
4) Attend a library program
Despite my introverted preference for bunkering down during the bleakest winter months, sometimes the best thing to do to get out of the winter doldrums is to get some social interaction. One of the best ways to meet people who share similar values, to learn something new from people presenting different ideas or to create something that will connect you with other people is to go to the library! Despite tending to offer a light amount of programming during the winter (weather unpredictability is a large factor here), the Library still offers quite the array of programs for all ages. Whether you’d like to learn a new skill, listen to a lecture or get in touch with your creative side, there’s something for all and it’s accessible to all because everything here at the Peabody Library is completely free.
5) Let NoveList help you find what you didn’t know you were looking for
As much as we love chatting books with our patrons, we do understand that it’s not always easy to ask someone for a book recommendation. Whether you’re unsure about your own preferences, have been unhappy with what you’ve been reading lately or just don’t know what you’re in the mood for, sometimes it’s difficult to come up with the words to ask for what you want. While sometimes a conversation can tease the words out, other times, it doesn’t. That’s why we have tools for patrons who just can’t find the words (and that’s all of us at some point). NoveList is great, free resource we offer that has tons of ways that you can find your next read. The home page offers suggestions based on the tone of the book like “whimsical and offbeat” or “sweeping and dramatic.” If none of their particular combinations make your heart flutter, you can create your own combo using the appeals mixer to find some surprising titles that you may not have considered.
Till next week, dear readers, if you try one or all of these ways the library can help you pass the winter with at least some of your sanity in tact, we’d love to hear about it. In the meantime, stay warm!