Week 5: Building Base Knowledge (Part II)

Assignment #1

Goodreads:
I have been checking my Goodreads account on a more regular basis and have been attempting to add titles I have read and sort them into bookshelves.  Additionally, I have been adding co-workers and other friends in an attempt to follow what others are reading.  Additionally, I have noticed that as I add more titles, the recommendations provided by Goodreads have been more accurate and on par with titles I would like to read.  Creating bookshelves has helped as well, as it will make recommendations based on the specific shelf if I want to read in a particular genre.

SF Site:
I have failed miserably in keeping up with checking this website each day.  I have not read enough titles in the Science Fiction to truly appreciate this website, but I added the website to the favorites bar on my work computer as a reminder to check it more frequently (something I should have done back in week one).  I will definitely say that the SF Site is a readers' services tool that I will recommend to customers who read in this genre and are looking for help finding a new title. 

Assignment #2

I have not had much experience working with EarlyWord since doing so in LATI a few years back, but have enjoyed going through and exploring the website as a refresher.  It is wonderful having a reader's services tool that encompasses all of the popular reading lists that many of our customers enjoying using, all in one place.  As we discontinue the practice of printing Hot Titles list, EarlyWord is another resource, in addition to the BCPL webpage, that we can recommend to customers who are searching for popular titles.  Additionally, I subscribed to the newsletter so that I will receive email reminders in case I forget to check the website as frequently as I should.  

I think the Movie & TV Tie-in lists will be a great resource for both recommending upcoming materials that will be popular to customers and also for merchandising and creating displays.  These books can often be hard to find and/or think of when you are creating a Movie & TV Tie-in display, so these lists will be very useful resource to consult.  In addition, I know that I will continue to use EarlyWord to easily locate Best Sellers and Award Winners lists, as well as the categories lists on the left hand side when answering specific genre related readers' services questions. 

Assignment #3

I chose Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls by David Sedaris, which I found in the Atlantic - Books to Look Forward to in 2013, which was released on April 23, 2013.  This humorous, travel writing title is written in essay format and follows David Sedaris' usual engaging, conversational and witty writting style.  David Sedaris is a popular comedic writer who appeals to readers who enjoy reading humorous stories that are witty and off the wall.

I would recommend this title to those who enjoyed other works by David Sedaris, as well as Dave Barry's Only Travel Guide You'll Ever Know by Dave Barry as it too is humorous and witty, and written in essay format.  Another option would be Sh*t My Dad Says by Justin Halpern because it is funny and uses a conversational and unconventional writing style that helps add to the humor.