Resources For Readers At Every Turn Of The C.H. Booth Library
Whether you are new to the C.H. Booth Library or have been going there for years, you may be surprised to learn there are many resources right under your nose that you may not know about.
Reference Department Head Amy Schumann and Circulation Manager Anne Mastroianni give insider scoop on how patrons can make the most of their reading experience.
NoveList
Utilizing the library’s NoveList database is a game-changer when seeking out great book recommendations or trying to find a series list.
For those already with a library card, the site can be accessed by visiting chboothlibrary.org and selecting the Digital Resources tab, then choosing Online Research and NoveList.
From there, readers of all ages can browse by genre, author, book titles, audiobooks, keywords, and more.
“It’s not just about a book’s plot, it’s how you feel,” Ms Schumann said of the NoveList search options.
Staff Advice
Want to know what the staff at the library have enjoyed reading lately? Check out the “Staff Picks” bookmarks, available at the Circulation Desk on the second floor, for insight on good reads.
More than half a dozen members have their own bookmark, each with six books selected.
For example, Ms Mastroianni’s bookmark includes Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips, The Book of M by Peng Shephard, Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson, Lanny by Max Porter, The Night Tiger by Yangsze Cho, and There There by Tommy Orange.
The Newsletters
Every month the library has the latest BookPage magazine that features reviews for new books, interviews with authors, and snippets of the first few pages of books.
C.H. Booth Library patrons can pick up a free copy at the front desk, as well as in the Periodicals Room on the second floor.
The library also sends out its own digital newsletter called Wowbrary for free, through e-mail, every Wednesday.
“The alerts feature the latest bestsellers, movies, audio books, children’s titles, cookbooks, mysteries, travel guides, health books, and more purchased by the library,” a recent press release from the library stated.
People can sign up for Wowbrary with or without a library card by visiting wowbrary.org.
Booking Forward
On the second floor of the library, the Booking Forward poster board highlights popular new releases coming to the C.H. Booth Library this year.
Being one of the first to know what books are coming in allows patrons the opportunity to hold their place in renting out a copy to minimize wait time.
Upcoming books include:
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Weather by Jenny Offil and In the Land of Men by Adrienne Miller, release date February 11;
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The Other Mrs by Mary Kubica and The Holdout by Graham Moore, release date February 18;
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The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson and Apeirogon by Colum McCann, release date February 25;
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Writers & Lovers by Lily King and The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich, release date March 3;
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The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel, release date March 10;
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The Boys From the Woods by Harlan Coben, release date March 17;
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The Glass Hotel by Emily St John Mandel, release date March 24; and
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The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd and A Thousand Moons by Sebastian Barry, release date April 21.
Book Clubs
There are currently three book clubs that meet regularly at the C.H. Booth Library. They meet at different times and have different reading lists.
The Non-Fiction Book Club meets at 1 pm on the first Tuesday of every month (except July and August) in the third floor Reading Room. Books planned for 2020 include:
- February 4: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by Willian KamKulamba and Bryan Mealer
- March 3: Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover
- April 7: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
- May 5: The Library Book by Susan Orlean
- June 2: The Pioneers by David McCullough
- September 1: The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck
- October 6: The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
- November 3: Lincoln’s Last Trial by Dan Abrams
- December 1: The Feather Thief by Kirk Wallace Johnson
The Thursday Night Book Club meets at 7 pm on the third Thursday of every month in the Gathering Room. Books planned for 2020 include:
- February 20: Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon
- March 19: Whisky When We’re Dry by John Larison
- April 16: Florida by Lauren Groff
- May 21: Warlight by Michael Ondaatje
- June 18: A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan
- July 16: Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner
- August 20: Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk
- September 17: The Topeka School by Ben Lerner
- October 15: I Remember You by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
- November 19: Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout
- December 17: Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips
The Monday Daytime Book Group meets at 1 pm on the second Monday of every month in the Antiques Room. Books planned for 2020 include:
- February 10: The Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner
- March 9: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
- April 13: The Reckoning by John Grisham
- May 11: The Last Stone by Mark Bowden
- June 8: Beneath the Apple Leaves by Harmony Verna
- July 13: The Lines We Leave Behind by Nina Riggs
- August 10: The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
- September 14: The Bright Hour by Nina Riggs
- October (date yet to be selected): Mr Dickens & His Carol by Samantha Silva
- November 19: There There by Tommy Orange
- December 14: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Walk-ins are welcome for each club.
For more information about these resources, visit the C.H. Booth Library at 25 Main Street, call 203-426-8552, or e-mail reference@chboothlibrary.org.