There’s a good chance you are longing for the days when you could simply walk into the library to pick up a book, watch a DVD, browse the internet or peruse the rest of the endless available services and materials. You’re not alone! So, in the spirit of the library being closed but many services still being accessible, we bring you a list to immerse you back into the wondrous world of libraries (and all things associated with)!
The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders by Stuart Kells
If you have ever had any inclination to learn about libraries, their history, and what they mean to those around the world then Kell’s book will be a great introduction into the world of a bibliophile. From Kirkus Reviews: “More miscellany than catalog, the book assembles snippets from a wide variety of disciplines into an eclectic history of libraries as cultural, political, aesthetic, literary, mnemonic, and, above all, personal phenomena dedicated to collecting and preserving the written word.”
Buried in Books by Kate Carlisle
One of the books in Carlisle’s Bibliophile Mysteries, this book tells tale of book-restoration expert Brooklyn Wainwright on her journey to marriage. Will things go smoothly on her wedding day? In a mystery like this, there are sure to be some twists and turns worth reading about. The Library Journal exclaims: “A terrific read… great fun all around!”
Library 2020: Today’s Leading Visionaries Describe Tomorrow’s Library by Joseph Janes
With all of the current uncertainty surrounding the status of libraries due to COVID-19, it’s more than interesting and somewhat relieving to hear what these visionaries believe libraries will look like in the future. Also, with the inevitable push towards online materials (heavily influenced by our quarantine predicament), I believe it is important to understand where libraries are headed. For those of you interested in a career within a library system, this book will be an important supplement to your curriculum.
A Pleasure to Burn: Fahrenheit 451 Stories by Ray Bradbury
A companion to the literary triumph Fahrenheit 451, A Pleasure to Burn is a collection of sixteen shorter stories that are the precursor to the masterpiece by Bradbury. When things feel like they are collapsing around us, and getting our hands on physical books seems like a distant future, let us be grateful that it isn’t worse and book burning is but a thing of the distant past. However, if you prefer visualization, there are two movie versions (one from 1966 and a recent release in 2018), though they can’t hold a candle to the original text.
While you should definitely stay inside and not risk trying to visit any libraries or bookshops right now, that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy this harrowing film about the widow Florence Green, who dreams of opening a bookshop in a town that really doesn’t want one. Seattle Times says: “It’s beautifully evocative of the musty, inviting smell of a bookshop on a cool day…”
Hopefully, with any luck, one (or all) of these recommendations will help you get your library fix and help ease the monotony and dullness of your quarantine. Remember to maximize your free time with our available online resources (Kanopy, OverDrive, Hoopla) until the day you can finally walk back through our doors.
~ posted by Alex W.
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