A Short List of the Wells Public Library's Most Popular Titles of 2012

As 2012 winds down we're taking a look back at some of the most popular books of the year. A few weeks ago I posted some of the "Best Of" lists that abound this time of year, but now I'm going to focus on the books that were popular here in Wells.

Probably the most popular book of the year was, and continues to be, Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn. Published last June, the last time I checked there are 354 people throughout the Minerva system still waiting to read it.  Fortunately, there are over 100 copies, so the wait shouldn't be too long if you haven't had a chance to read it yet.

Other fiction titles that were popular in 2012 include Mission to Paris by Alan Furst, Defending Jacob by William Landay, The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman, A Wanted Man by Lee Child, The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny, Home Front by Kristin Hannah, Lone Wolf by Jodi Piccoult,and Summerland by Elin Hilderbrand.  The Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce, and Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead were popular this summer. Janet Evanovich's two books,Notorious19 and Wicked Business were also popular, as were the several books published by James Patterson this year.  And we can't forget the enormous popularity of the 50 Shades of Grey series by E.L. James.  

Nonfiction titles that were popular this year include the memoirs When We Were the Kennedys by Maine author Monica Wood, Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed, and Lots of Candles Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlen. Other popular memoirs were Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? by Mindy Kaling, and Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson. Another non-fiction book,  Quiet: the Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain has been growing in popularity since it was published earlier this year.

These are only a few of the thousands of books checked out this year; we'd love to know what your favorites were in 2012.

Happy New Year, and here's hoping that 2013 brings you health, wealth, and a few more good books to read.

ebooks at the Library

A Nook Color ereader device.

This article came through on my Facebook page this morning, and I thought it was interesting because  it discusses what libraries are doing to prepare for the expected post-holiday flood of new ereader owners.  Here at the Wells Public Library we've been ready for  some time now to help you with your ereader and ebook questions.

First, a bit of explanation.  An ereader is the device on which you read your ebook. While you can download and read books on your PC or laptop, most people read them on smaller devices, such as  a Kindle, Nook, or  iPad.    By ebook, I'm referring to the actual content, or title of the book. 

You can get ebooks for your ereaders in a couple different ways.  You can either purchase them (via Amazon or Barnes and Noble), or you may borrow them through the Wells Public Library Overdrive subscription. There are a few places where you can access free ebooks, for example, Project Gutenberg.org

The process of setting up and loading books on to most ereaders can be a bit frustrating to first-time users.  That's why the staff here at the library is more than happy to help you get up to speed.  We do suggest that you give us a call and ask to set up an appointment, though.  That way we can make sure that we allow enough time to answer all your questions and make sure that you're comfortable with your device.  And, if you get home and realize you have more questions, we're also available for follow-up visits.

For those of you who haven't made the jump to ebooks yet, the library has some ebook readers available for check out.  We have one Kindle, and a Nook color that may be checked out with a valid Wells Public Library card for 2 weeks.  We've already loaded books on them, so all you have to do is check it out and start reading.    A list of what books are on each device is below.  And if you're not ready to borrow one, but just want to take a look and see what the fuss is about, stop by our ereader table near the Reference desk.  You can sit down and play with a Kindle or Nook while in the library.
 
Our aim is to assist readers to access books no matter the format.  So, if you are the new owner of a new ereader and need a bit of help getting started, or if you'd like to ask about checking out an ereader, just give us a call at 646-8181. 

These books are available for checkout on our Kindle device:
Austen - Emma
Flynn - Gone Girl
Hoffman - Lost in Translation
Patterson & Karp - NYPD Red
Skloot - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Taylor - Daughter of Smoke & Bone
Tolkien - The Hobbit 

These Books are available for checkout on our nook color device:
Betty Crocker - Betty Crocker Cookbook
Child -  A Wanted Man
Collins - The Hunger Games
Gabaldon - Outlander
Kipling - The Elephant's Child: How the Elephant Got His Trunk
Roberts - The Welcoming
Tolstoy - Anna Karenina  
 

End of the Year Lists

Well, the year is winding down, and in the library world that means that everyone, and I do mean everyone is coming out with its list of the year's best books.  

First up is The New York Times with a list of the 100 Notable books of 2012.  I was sorry to see that out of the nearly 70 books I've read this year, only 2 of them, The Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter, and Canada by Richard Ford are on this list, although I am on the waiting list for Ian McEwan's Sweet Tooth.

If you need anymore lists, the blog Largeheartedboy has created a list of all the Best of lists for 2012.  This list will be updated every day as more lists are available.

So, if you're out of something to read and need  ideas, or if you're in the mood to be overwhelmed by all the books you haven't read yet, check out these pages to get more ideas.

Later this week I'll post a few of my favorites for the year, and during the month I'll post some of the staff favorites, as well as the most popular books among our patrons this year.

Hedgehogs, Pajamas, and Climate Change

The Wells Public Library will be closing out September with a wide variety of programs for all ages and interests.

First, on Tuesday, September 25th at 1:15 we will kick off our new Afternoon Book Discussion Group.  This group is in addition to our popular evening group, and is designed especially for those unable to attend in the evenings.  Our selection this month is The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery.  I still have about 100 pages left, and must admit that it's been a bit of a struggle at times, but am  enjoying it.  If you're interested in joining this group, call me or email me: cschilling@wellstown.org, or 646-8181 ext. 206.  We promise to end our discussion by 2:45, so if you need to pick up your child from the elementary school you'll have plenty of time to do so.

Later that evening, you may want to put the kids in their pj's, grab a stuffed animal and come to the library for our Pajama Storytime at 6:30 p.m.  Devin will have great stories and songs to get everyone ready for a good night's sleep.

For our last program of the month, join us on Wednesday, September 26th at 6:30 for a program on "Climate Change and You."   Wells resident Joe Hardy, an environmental educator, will give an overview of the issues involved , and will share tips on things we can do to reduce the impact of climate change.  I'm looking forward to hearing what Joe has to say on this topic.

Of course, these programs are in addition to our regular weekly programs:Mother Goose Storytime on Mondays at 10:30, Toddler Time on Wednesdays at 10:30, Stories and More on Wednesdays at 1:00, and our Knitting and Crochet Group on Fridays at 10:30.

All these programs are free of charge; for more information please contact the library at 646-8181.  

Have a great weekend, and we hope to see you at the library.

Wii Night

On Tuesday, September 18^th at 6:00 the Wells Public Library will be hosting a Wii Family Game Night. Bring your friends, parents, and siblings to participate in Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resorts. In addition, two Nintendo 3DSs  will be available that evening for cooperative Mario Kart play. 

Many of you may not be aware of this, but the library currently owns two Nintendo 3DS devices.  They may be checked out with a valid Wells Public Library card for 1/2 hour of in-library use.  We also have a small collection of Nintendo DS games that may be checked out for a 1 week loan period.

You may ask why the library offers these programs and services, since they don't seem to be related to traditional library services. Much research has been done over the past several years to determine the value or damage caused by video games, and most of the results have been positive.  It has been demonstrated that video games help promote problem solving, how to follow directions, how to creatively attack a problem without fear of failure, and to learn from your mistakes.

As Jane McGonigal, author of Reality is Broken : Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World wrote in  The Huffington Post;

 "When we play a good game, we get to practice being the best version of ourselves: We become more optimistic, more creative, more focused, more likely to set ambitious goals, and more resilient in the face of failure. And when we play multiplayer games, we become more collaborative and more likely to help others. In fact, we like and trust each other more after we play a game together -- even if we lose! And more importantly, playing a game with someone is an incredibly effective way to get to know their strengths and weaknesses--as well as what motivates them. This is exactly the kind of social knowledge we need to be able to cooperate and collaborate with people to tackle real-world challenges."

 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-mcgonigal/video-games_b_823208.html

If you want to learn more about this topic, McGonigal's book is available through the MINERVA online catalog.  For more information, you can always contact Devin Burritt, our Youth Services Librarian. He may be reached at dburritt@wellstown.org, 646-8181, ext. 202, or just stop by the Youth Services desk and talk to him in person.

Also, feel free to stop at the Check Out desk and check out one of our devices for yourself.  In addition to all the positive qualities listed above, they're just plain fun.

Storytimes!

For most of the country, Labor Day means back to school.  Here at the Wells Public Library it also means that our regular Storytimes resume.  Devin and Kayla are busily planning stories, songs, and crafts to entertain our youngest members.

Our Mother Goose Storytime on Mondays at 10:30 is for the very youngest children - ages 0 through 2 years and a caregiver.  This lapsit storytime features very simple books, rhymes, and bouncing songs.  

Toddler Time is designed for children ages 2 - 3 and their caregivers, and meets on Wednesday mornings at 10:30.  In addition to listening to great stories, children will sing songs, learn new rhymes and sing and move to lively music.

Stories and More meets on Wednesday afternoons at 1:00.  Children will hear stories, learn  songs and  rhymes, and complete a craft.  

In addition to these weekly events, we will also be adding a monthly Family Pajama Storytime for children birth to 5 years.  The first of these events will be on Tuesday, September 25th from 6:30-7:00.  Children are encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animals and come in their PJs for songs and stories.

Storytimes are a great way to introduce your child to reading and literacy through books, rhyme and music.  It's also a good opportunity to meet other families and children in the community. 

These programs are all free of charge and registration is not required.  For more information contact the library at 646-8181.  

 

Goodbye, Summer

Today is the Friday before Labor Day.  If you check a book out of the library today, the due date is September 21, the last day of summer. To librarians, it seems time is always flying; today it's still a warm August day with flip flops and iced coffee,  but by the time you finish your book and bring it back, we'll be wearing sweaters and drinking apple cider.

Here at the Wells Public Library, we're starting to catch our breath after a busy summer.  We enjoyed seeing everyone come in to the library to pick up the latest best-sellers, use the internet and wi-fi, attend a great program for adults and children,  or take part in the Summer Reading Program.  

Some of the highlights for me were the Fancy Nancy program featuring 30 young ladies in their fanciest outfits; the Friday afternoon Lego Club; our tribute to long-time Friend Norman Wilkinson; and the August Book Discussion of The Great Gatsby, complete with costumes and  a Roaring Twenties party. 

Another special part of this summer was our Teen Volunteer program. Twelve junior and senior high students were an invaluable part of the summer reading program as they helped prepare crafts, assisted with programs, and handed out prizes to the Summer Reading participants.  All of the teens who participated were  enthusiastic and helpful, and we enjoyed getting to know them better.

More than 300 children and teens, and 141 adults participated in our Summer Reading Program this year.  Thanks to those local businesses whose donations made summer extra special for some of our children and adults: Mike’s Clam Shack, Maine Diner, Joshua’s, Subway, Scoop Deck, Dairy Queen, Wells Beach Resort Campground, Wells House of Pizza, Wonder Mountain and Aw-Comon-In. 

We would also like to especially thank the Friends of the Wells Public Library for sponsoring the performers who enriched our summer and for providing incentives for our young readers.

Now that the end of summer is only 3 weeks away, we're starting to put together our fall programs. We'll have more on that later; for now, feel free to check our website to see a little of what we have planned.

Have a great weekend; we hope to see you soon.