Library Love Fest

Banned Books Week!

What reminds you of Autumn? Pumpkins, apple-picking, that first brisk chill in the air? How about Banned Books Week? BBW takes place every year during the last week of September and recognizes the efforts of booksellers, teachers, and librarians who ensure that we, as citizens, have open access to information.  It's a time to reflect on the vital importance of our First Amendment rights. Take a peek at what Ken Davis has to say about BBW, get more info from the American Library Association, and check out this list of frequently challenged titles, including To Kill A Mockingbird, Native Son, Rebecca, and Brave New World.  What's your favorite challenged book? 

-Kayleigh    

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind

We are so thrilled to have Tavia Kowalchuk, Marketing Director for William Morrow, Eos and Cookbooks (imprints of HarperCollins Publishers) as a guest blogger today.  Tavia is excited about the publication of the forthcoming title, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.

Enjoy!

-Bobby 
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The buzz is building for the soon-to-be-released THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND –the inspirational true story about an enterprising teenager in Malawi who built a windmill from scraps found around his village and brought electricity—and a future—to himself and his family.

William Kamkwamba, grew up poor in Malawi, Africa, a country suffering from poverty, famine, AIDS and lack of basic services like plumbing and electricity. When William was 14 and unable to attend school because his family couldn’t afford the $80 tuition, he began thinking a lot about electricity. After being given a book about windmills by his local librarian, he decided to build his own using scrap metal, tractor parts, and blue-gum trees, which grew near his village. William’s home-made contraption succeeded in supplying electricity to his family’s compound. You can click here to read an excerpt from his memoir before the book is on sale (September 29th), but in the meantime, here is an exclusive interview with the librarian in Malawi who gave William the book that changed his life.

Meet librarian Edith Sikelo.  Mrs. Sikelo was sitting behind her desk at the library when William first walked in.



























She quickly noticed his interest in science books and encouraged him to keep reading. His library card soon grew to several pages, which Sikelo now keeps to show visitors, and to brandish to younger students as an example of success.
 
Mrs. Sikelo was recently interviewed by Tom Rielly, Community Director of the TED Conference, a major party in promoting William’s story throughout the world.

Fall Title Presentation

If you were unable to attend our title presentation at ALA in Chicago this past July, fear not!  We’re bringing our book buzz to you! Click on the links below to watch us talk about the hot books coming out in Fall 2009.  Each link is about 10 minutes long and we’ve listed the titles being discussed in each video.  Also attached is the handout that we made available to all attendees of the presentation.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions, comments, Academy Award nominations, etc.

Thanks!

-Virginia, Bobby and Kayleigh

Video 1A
Included in this video: Introduction, information on HarperCollins Catalogs, eGalleys, Book Club Girl, Library Love Fest (radio show), twitter (HarperLibrary), HarperLibrary's blog (Library Love Fest), Shelf Help, Kayleigh’s blog (The Roaring 20s), Earlyword.com and Harper Perennial.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2vF140GVoQ
Download ALA Title Presentation (Part 1A)

Video 1B
Included in this video: Information on Harper Perennial, and the following titles, Shelf Discovery, by Lizzie Skurnick, By The Time You Read This, by Lola Jaye, and Lies My Mother Never Told Me, by Kaylie Jones

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUe2jl8-sxE
Download ALA Title Presentation (Part 1B)

Video 1C
Titles included in this video: Bending Towards the Sun, by Leslie Gilbert-Lurie, Under This Unbroken Sky, by Shandi Mitchell, Evidence of Murder, by Lisa Black, How to Paint a Dead Man, by Sarah Hall and I Shudder, by Paul Rudnick

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZIX7h_a8WI
Download ALA Title Presentation (Part 1C)

Video 1D
Titles included in this video: Beneath the Bleeding, by Val McDermid, The Financial Lives of Poets, by Jess Walter, Anne Frank, by Francine Prose and The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, by William Kamkwamba

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sX-b-Eh06c0
Download ALA Title Presentation (Part 1D)

Video 1E
Titles included in this video: Not Lost Forever, by Carmina Salcido, Manhood for Amateurs, by Michael Chabon and Hummingbirds, by Joshua Gaylord
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjbIu4n5k3Y
Download ALA Title Presentation (Part 1E)

Video 1F
Titles included in this video:  Far from Zion, by Charles London, I am neurotic (and so are you), by Lianna Kong, The Hidden, by Tobias Hill, The Sand Fish, by Maha Gargash, Ten Storey Love Song,by Richard Milward and The Body in the Sleigh, by Katherine Hall Page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQgzm6b72TE
Download ALA Title Presentation (Part 1F)

Video 1G
Titles included in this video: Notes Left Behind, by Brooke and Keith Desserich, The Lacuna, by Barbara Kingsolver, Lit, by Mary Karr, Wishin’ and Hopin’, by Wally Lamb and This Book is Overdue!, by Marilyn Johnson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBOV0CKk68A
Download ALA Title Presentation (Part 1G)

Video 1H
Titles included in this video: Be Careful What You Pray For, by Kimberla Lawson Roby, Gator A-Go-Go, by Tim Dorsey, Shadow Tag, by Louise Erdrich, and Horns, by Joe Hill

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysmUlveJzyU
Download ALA Title Presentation (Part 1H)

Video 1I
Titles included in this video: Encore, Valentine, by Adriana Trigiani, Making Toast, by Roger Rosenblatt, The Lovers, by Vendela Vida and A Pearl in the Storm, by Tori Murden McClure

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb6Sp0HEWk0
Download ALA Title Presentation (Part 1I)

 

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind

The buzz is building for the soon-to-be-released THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND – the inspirational true story about an enterprising teenager in Malawi who built a windmill from scraps found around his village and brought electricity--and a future—to himself and his family.

William Kamkwamba grew up poor in Malawi, Africa, a country suffering from AIDS and poverty. Like most in his village, his family struggled to survive as farmers and did not have access to electricity. The situation became all the more desperate in 2002, as Malawi experienced the worst famine in fifty years. William was 14 and his family could no longer afford his school’s $80-a-year tuition.

During this time William began thinking a lot about electricity, which only two percent of Malawians can afford. After discovering a book in a nearby library about windmills, he decided to build his own using scrap metal, tractor parts, and blue-gum trees, which grew near his village. William’s home-made contraption succeeded in supplying electricity to his family’s compound--enough for four lightbulbs and two radios! News of his invention spread, attracting many people across the world who offered to help him. Soon he was re-enrolled in school and traveling to the United States to visit wind farms, much like the ones he hopes to build across Africa. THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND tells the story of one boy’s struggle to advance himself from nothing, and his journey to inspire other Africans--and the whole world.

The following links are also helpful in learning more about William Kamkwamba and his forthcoming book, THE BOY WHO HARNESSED THE WIND.

WILLIAM'S BLOG: http://williamkamkwamba.typepad.com/
WILLIAM'S AUTHOR ASSISTANT PAGE: http://harpercollins.com/authors/35128/William_Kamkwamba/index.aspx
BRYAN MEALER'S AUTHOR ASSISTANT PAGE: http://www.harpercollins.com/author/index.aspx?authorID=35129
BROWSE INSIDE: http://browseinside.harpercollins.com/index.aspx?isbn13=9780061730320
MOVING WINDMILLS, William's Foundation: http://movingwindmills.org/
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arD374MFk4w
 

-Virginia

Mortal Friends

Would you know evil if it sat next to you?  That’s a good question – and one that New York Times bestselling author Jane Stanton Hitchcock answers in her latest page turner, Mortal Friends (in her words ‘a novel that has murder in it!’) Enter the dishy, political world of money and high society set squarely in Washington, DC. Her books have been described as “Ruth Rendell meets Dominick Dunne, for the sophisticated reader who wants the perfect beach read.” (Library Journal)

Libraries are near and dear to the heart of this wonderful writer.   Last week Jane flew to Chicago to attend the American Library Association conference where she spoke to over 300 librarians at the ALTAFF Book and Author Tea and signed countless copies of her witty, smart whodunit, Mortal Friends. 

She also took the time to write this message to librarians everywhere:

"Libraries are like houses of worship:  Whether or not you use them yourself, it's important to know that they are there.  In many ways they define a society and the values of that society.  Librarians to me are the keepers of the flame of knowledge.  When I was growing up, the librarian in my local library looked like a meek little old lady, but after you spent some time with her, you realized she was Athena with a sword, a wise and wonderful repository of wisdom."

Check out this great video taken of Jane while she signed books in the Harper booth at ALA:

More raves for Mortal Friends!
“Mortal Friends is at once witty, sophisticated and chilling -- imagine Edgar Allan Poe and Edith Wharton collaborating on a mystery. This novel had me guessing and turning the pages until the very end, and even then, I was surprised. Nobody else out there writes, or entertains, like Jane Stanton Hitchcock.”
   — Susan Cheever

“Mortal Friends is a brilliant mix -- an expertly paced novel of suspense and a cutthroat comedy of manners. In Jane Stanton Hitchcock’s skilled hands, these Capitol killings show D.C. society for what it is -- Deliciously Criminal.”
   — Linda Fairstein

We’re so in love with Mortal Friends and you will be, too – once you’ve read it!  So…to the lucky first 25 who reply to this post, we will send a complimentary copy of Mortal Friends.  We’d love to hear what you think of this juicy page turner so send in your reviews and we’ll gladly post them.  Happy Reading!

-Virginia

ALA 2009- The Roaring Re-Cap

The Roaring 20s has a new look, and a new post! Now that ALA 2009 is behind us, I will be posting regularly again on Roaring, so be sure to send me some feedback on the new design! And while you're checking out the page, take a peek at my Fall/Winter picks from our Title Presentation.  Trust me, you don't need to be a 20something to enjoy these books.

-Kayleigh    

Labor Day

If you attended BEA or ALA this year, you might have heard us raving about Joyce Maynard's latest, Labor Day, an in-house favorite.  In a manner evoking Ian McEwan's Atonementand Nick Hornby's About a Boy, Joyce Maynard tells a story of love, sexual passion, painful adolescence, and devastating betrayal as seen through the eyes of a thirteen-year-old boy—and the man he later becomes—looking back on the events of a single long, hot, and life-altering weekend.  Check out the video, browse inside the book, or download the podcast.  Download LABOR DAY Story Behind the Book.  Happy Reading!

Windy City, Here We Come!

Well, it's that time of year again.  Our department is headed to Chicago for ALA 2009, and we are loaded up with goodies.  Between galleys, symtio cards, and tote bags, we've got giveaways covered.  Be sure to stop by our booth and meet us in person--we're Booth # 1911.  For a full list of our author signings, head over to Early Word.  And of course, don't miss our title presentation!

See you in the Windy City!

-Kayleigh

The Today Show profile: Libraries

Yesterday morning (June 11th) the Today Show ran a segment on the important role libraries play during the recession, using data and resources provided by the ALA and public libraries.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

The ALA Public Information Office worked with the Today Show on this segment and has followed up to encourage NBC affiliates to take up the story locally. But you can help extend the reach of this positive story in several ways:

1)      Include the Today Show link on your library Web site

2)      Reach out to your local media this week with your local story (particularly NBC affiliates), complemented by national data from the ALA. Two key data points from the Today Show were: 73% of public libraries report they provide the only free access to the Internet in their communities. This rises to 83 percent for rural libraries: http://tinyurl.com/mupmzd and www.ala.org/plinternetfunding . Also, 68 percent of Americans have a library card: http://tinyurl.com/9ewpcc.

3)      Take advantage of free ALA resources to help tell your story to media, elected officials and funders. 

And here's some more information of interest:

Job-Seeking in U.S. Public Libraries
Using data from the Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study, the issues brief discusses the range of library resources available to job seekers and the challenges to maintaining these services. Additional briefing reports are at the following link.  Get a free copy of the PDF by emailing Larra Clark at lclark@ala.org.

Advocating in a Tough Economy Toolkit
Get tips, tools and messages that work.

Get the word out!

For questions or support around media outreach, please contact Macey Morales, mmorales@ala.org, or Jennifer Petersen, jpetersen@ala.org, in the ALA Public Information Office.
For questions or support around advocacy tools, please contact Marci Merola, mmerola@ala.org, or Jaclyn Finneke, jfinneke@ala.org.
For questions or support around statistics and research, please contact Denise Davis, dmdavis@ala.org, or Larra Clark at lclark@ala.org.

Ducklings

Not every post on this blog has to be book related, does it?!  Just watch this…

This reminds me of something that happened at the American Library Association conference last year in Anaheim. As librarians and exhibitors poured out of the convention center, a deafening screech of brakes turned our collective heads. A mother and her ducklings had been crossing a busy street and the ducklings were too little to hop up the curb to the safety of the sidewalk. The driver of one of the ALA shuttle buses slammed on his brakes to avoid hitting the little fuzz balls. He put his hazard lights on, hopped off the bus and picked up the babies and put them on the sidewalk. Everyone on the bus and on the street started cheering and giving him the thumbs up. It was just one of those moments that gave us all a lift – especially the ducklings!

-Virginia