Day 12 - Blog 12 Days of Christmas

We are nearing the end of blog 12 days of Christmas and as usual it has been a good thing for me to sit and reflect at the end of the day.

I usually say that I will continue to do this more regularly throughout the year but then only blog during #blogJune.  So unless there are more blogging challenges out there, you probably won't hear from me (except for my final post tomorrow) until June!

I couldn't really find an appropriate mantra for today so there isn't one.

I'm still on holiday and for me, it really doesn't feel like the new year has started until I return to work - which will be next week.

This week I will be working on putting myself in a positive mind frame for my return to work.  I will be drumming up some enthusiasm and excitement for my return.  Thinking about possible projects or how I will work towards finishing the projects I know I have to complete.  I will be thinking about what things I can do with my staff to keep their enthusiasm for the job up and/or what new things can be learnt/taught.  Most of all I will be thinking about my community - I miss them when I'm on holidays and they are what really makes the job for me.  So I will be thinking about them and what they might like to see happening in the library.

I already have one exciting thing booked for this month - one of my favourite authors will be doing a book launch in our library!!  I'm so excited as I've been waiting 12 months for this book to come out and I really do like this author.

Our library is also hosting a workshop for the annual Camp Creative next week.  I hope to stick my head in on this workshop and see if I can pick up a few pointers.

See I'm already generating some enthusiasm for my return!!

PS Bootcamp resumed today so I didn't have to come up with my own.  It was one of our biggest classes with 33 ladies (I think).  It was so good to be back in the company of such a large and supportive group of females!!  And, of course, to be put through the paces by our bootcamp leader, Shelley!

#blogjune Post 23 - Lazy Sunday or Going to Karly Lane's Book Launch

I was going to post some of my funny poetry that won me some baby stuff when I was on maternity leave with Miss A - but alas, I can't find the book that I wrote it all down in.

So now I'm at a loss what to post about.

This afternoon I went to Dymocks book store at Park Beach Plaza in Coffs Harbour for Karly Lane's book launch of her new book, Burnt.

I actually purchased the book when it was first available as an ebook, but this afternoon I purchased a print copy for our library.

I have been a fan of Karly since reading The Cattleman's Runaway Bride about 3 years ago.  Karly also writes as Karlene Blakemore-Mowle.

I have had the pleasure of hosting Karly at Bellingen Library twice, well three times if you count the session she did as part of this year's Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival.  I like to support local authors, and Karly is really down to Earth and friendly, which helps when organising book talks in the library.

This afternoon was very enjoyable.  A couple of other local authors also turned out to congratulate Karly on the launch of new book.  Greg Barron and Jenn J McLeod have also been kind enough to talk at my library.  Even though I am not an author/writer, Karly, Jenn and Greg make me feel a bit like part of the support team.  I highly recommend Karly's, Greg's and Jenn's book(s) to all so go and buy (or borrow) them!!

Greg will be at Dymocks Coffs Harbour next Saturday at 11am to launch his second book, Savage Tide.

It is interesting attending book launches at book shops and then wondering if they are more successful for authors then visiting libraries.  I mean, at book shop book launches, people can purchase the book, whereas at the library, most people assume that the library already has a copy or will purchase a copy and wait for that to become available to loan, rather than spend the money.

However, I think libraries offer a more comfortable conversation space then book shops - or maybe I just get distracted by all the other books available in the book shops that I find myself looking more at what is on the shelves, then paying attention to what the author is saying.  What do you think?

Regardless, it was somewhat booky weekend for me.  I started reading my TBR pile and finished of The Farmer's Wife by Rachael Treasure this morning.  However, I have not even started watching anything in the TBW pile.  Let's hope there isn't much work from 2nd job this week so I might be able to sneak in some reading and watching!!

#blogjune post 5 - What is "local" when it comes to authors?

Since yesterday's post was so late, I feel like I'm doing 2 posts in one day.  However, I know if I leave posting till this evening it probably won't get done as I have a lot of other work that I need to complete and it should really take priority.

Yesterday I mentioned that I was at Library HQ for a team leaders meeting.  As usual we had many things to discuss but I thought I'd post about one of those things - local authors.

Ok, it was more about do local author's titles belong in a local studies collection?  Or should they only belong in a local studies collection if they are about the area or about someone in the area that the library is located in?

We often get asked if we have books by local authors and unless you know who they are, it is quite difficult to find them.  I can imagine this gets more difficult in larger city libraries.

The other question is, what determines a "local" author?  How long should they live in the area before they are determined "local"?  Are they only "local" if they were born in the area or what if they were born in the area but then moved away before they started writing?

So you can imagine how interesting and confusing this discussion became.

I'm not sure if we answered all the questions we had but we did decide that Local Studies collection should only have titles that contain content about the particular area no matter who wrote it, and that authors that live or have lived in the area (maybe a bit more discussion to be had) can be marked with a "local author" sticker.

What does your library do?

The Readers and Writers are Coming

The Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival is happening next week, and so begins the take over of our shire with reading and writing addicts.

As a librarian, it's a little bit exciting for me because I will get to rub shoulders with some well-known and not so well-known authors, and share the excitement with fellow readers.

However, I was not always excited about meeting authors.  I thought it would be a bit like meeting your favourite actor and being disappointed because they were nothing like the character you fell in love with in which ever movie or television show they star in.

And sometimes it is like that.  Sometimes it's not really the author you care about.  It's the characters that you fall in love with.

Sometimes meeting the author can be disappointing and leave you wondering how someone like that managed to write characters that you managed to love so much.

And sometimes the opposite happens, and you meet and listen to an author you've never read, and suddenly you need to devour their book(s) as soon as possible and you wonder why you never read them in the first place.

I must say that in the last five years of living here, I have met more authors than ever before.  And I must say that I have not been disappointed with any of them.

However, I do know a number of people who will never come to author events/presentations, even if that author is their favourite author - because they really don't want to know about the author or the process they followed writing their books.  They would be more excited if they could meet a character(s) from the book(s) they love.

So where do you sit dear blog reader?  Are you a meet the author junkie or are you happy just to know the characters?

Blog December Post 26/Blog12DaysXmas Post 2 - Share the Love of Reading

Today's Destiny Card is Love.

Love is a strong word that is sometimes used too much and sometimes used not enough.

There are many things I love but this is not what this post will be about.

On the second day of Christmas.... I learnt about "reader activism" - thanks to a retweet by @flexnib of the following blog post: Rise up, readers

The article talks about "reader activism."  So how can you become a reader activist?  The article suggests the following:

Write reviews on your favourite bookstore websites or those most often visited. On Amazon, for example, this makes a difference in the way a writer's books appear as "recommendeds". Use GoodReads like the passionate publicist you can now be. Let authors know that you are supporting them - as reader activist Peta Kelly does. Send out links to friends, sharing news of book blogs such as this one - or a particular review or article that's inspired you. Send them far and wide. Buy new, not second hand (no royalty for the author). Don't lend too generously; buy books for others - and for yourself. Most of all, value your vital part in any writer's success - or survival. Time matters as much as money. Use social media. Make your views known, and make them count.

I always have good intentions of writing reviews of the books I've read, but then don't follow through - unless I'm doing reviews for Australian Library Journal (I class that as work not leisure).

I do use GoodReads to record what I've read and what I'd like to read, but only rate books using the star method - no reviews.

I try to let the author know that I've enjoyed their books when I can.  And I use social media to spread the word.

However, I rarely buy new because I use the library and when I do buy new, I certainly share or donate to the library.

So based on their suggestions, would you consider yourself a reader activist?

Other suggestions include:
If somebody lends you a copy of a book she loved, buy a copy to give to another friend.
If you can’t afford to buy a new book, borrow it from your library. If a book you want to read is constantly on hold, ask your library to order another copy. Australian authors receive a small annual payment related to the number of copies of their books held in libraries, so every copy does help.
If an author you enjoy asks you to join her email list, don’t hesitate. Email lists are the best way authors have of communicating with their readers and letting them know of events, media interviews and that next book. You can also let your own friends know there’s a new book coming, making yourself look very knowledgeable in the process! 
Attend literary events featuring authors you’ve enjoyed reading. Invite a friend along. Ask the author a question. She won’t bite – she will be relieved that someone has asked a question.
If you’ve just finished a book you loved, let your online community know about it. Sometimes a passing reference in a Facebook post is all it takes to convince a reader to finally buy that book she keeps hearing about.

I particularly like the "attend literary events" suggestion.  I find it interesting that a number of people don't like to meet the author of their favourite books as it may spoil the illusion - like meeting the actor that played your favourite character and they are nothing like them.  And some don't want to know what makes the author ticks - they just like to read.

Do you like meeting authors of your favourite books?

If you are interested in attending a literary event - the Bellingen Readers and Writers Festival is on in March 2013 - I'd love to say hello to my fellow blog readers!!

So in the end this blog post was a bit about love - it is about sharing the love of reading via reader activism!!