Evanston is a city of readers. I learned that fact pretty soon after starting the job. Some cities have libraries with decent, unexciting attendance. Evanston Public Library, by contrast, is a hopping joint. I can take a popular book, put it on the first floor, and watch it disappear almost instantaneously (for example, I put out a copy of the new Harry Potter and the Cursed Child yesterday, turned around for one second, turned back and *poof!!*).
Along with being good readers, Evanston residents are good suggesters (not technically a word – I know). They discover books I’ve never seen or heard about and pass them along to me. Some of these suggestions I take to heart. Others I have to pass on. Here then are some recent suggestions received of titles that will be hitting our shelves very soon:
First up, travel. Since I moved the travel section to the other end of the second floor our books have been flying off of the shelves at an almost alarming rate. With that in mind I received this note from a fellow librarian: “An adult patron was looking for travel books on Niagara Falls. I did a search but not much came up. There was a Fodor’s Toronto but it was checked out. There may not be much out there, but I thought I would mention it.” As a result, I’ve just put in an order for loads of Niagara Falls and Toronto books. Look for these on the shelves soon.
And speaking of travel, Evanston readers know no bounds when it comes to traversing the globe. One reader asked specifically for The Pilgrim Road to Trondheim. Oslo to Nidaros Cathedral by Alison Raju. Though walking from Trondheim to Oslo may never have occurred to you before, it’s not as if there isn’t a book for it out there somewhere.
The next one came from a local author. Her name is Cynthia Gallaher and her latest nonfiction reference/memoir is “Frugal Poets’ Guide to Life: How to Live a Poetic Life, Even If You Aren’t a Poet.” In one section on Chicago’s long-running cultural poetry organizations, she is sure to cite the Rhino Poetry Forum & Peer Exchange that has taken place months at Evanston Library for years, as well as Rhino’s reading series at the local Brothers K coffeehouse. You will also find that the book contains a special section on the history of the Chicago poetry scene, including the birth of the poetry slam. With a blurb from the great Sandra Cisneros, this one was a slam dunk (forgive the pun).
Next up, something for the conspiracy minded amongst us by Nick Schou and David Talbot. Called Spooked:How the CIA Manipulates the Media and Hoodwinks Hollywood, the book discusses “how the CIA created a special public affairs unit to influence the production of Hollywood films and TV shows, vets articles on controversial topics like the drone assassination program, and grants friendly reporters background briefings on classified material, while simultaneously prosecuting ex-officers who spill the beans on damaging information.” On shelves soon.
Sometimes authors are well known to a specific core group of readers but unknown to libraries. Such was the case with Tony Evans. A local reader was surprised that we didn’t have more of his books, particularly Kingdom Man. I selected some more of his books (which fall under the designation of religious self-help) and added them.
Books about food and nutrition are difficult to keep up with sometimes. Often I rely on the bestsellers, just to figure out what’s working out there. More than one reader, however, pointed me towards Kellyann Petrucci’s Dr. Kellyanne’s Bone Broth Diet: Lose Up to 15 Pounds, 4 Inches — And Your Wrinkles! — In Just 21 Days. Haven’t heard of the bone broth diet before? It’s probably the one I get the most requests for these days. The more you know.
And finally, computer books are so tricky to understand, buy, and weed. How do I know that I’m keeping the most up-to-date and useful titles on my shelves? I’ve had a lot of help recently from a local expert, so when you peruse our computer titles you’ll find only the most recent, useful material. That doesn’t mean I don’t still need some help, though! Hat tip to the reader who suggested I buy Create Your Own Website the Easy Way by Alannah Moore. It’s new. It’s useful. And websites aren’t going away anytime soon, so if you’re curious just check it out today.
Can’t find what you’re looking for at EPL? Fill out our handy patron request form and I’ll get right back to you.
Happy reading!
