Social Cataloguing

A lot of people come up to the perch asking me if I can tell them which books they've checked out in the past.  The simple answer is no.  There are a couple of reasons why.  First, our program for checking out books deletes a library patron's record once items are returned.  Second, and most importantly, the library doesn't keep a record of what a patron has checked out in the past to protect his or her privacy.  The library only has a record of current checkouts.

Although the library doesn't keep lists of books previously borrowed, that doesn't mean you can't.  There are social cataloguing websites to help you keep track of what you've read, rate books, and write reviews.  You can also see what other people are reading and recommending, or you can join a virtual book club discussing a selection you liked (or disliked).

LibraryThing and Goodreads are probably the most popular and well known social cataloguing websites.  I've had an account with LibraryThing for years (as perchlibrarian, naturally), and it's personally enriched my reading experience.  My list of books includes those I've finished reading and those I'm currently reading.  Sometimes I like looking through my list to see what I've read before (because I can't remember everything I've read) and to see how many books I usually read in a year.  Other times I like seeing recommended books and occasionally find a few new reads.

Social cataloguing websites are just one way to enhance your reading experience.  For more ideas on how to add to your reading enjoyment, stop by the library--it won't cost you much!

Ever yours in reading from the perch.

"Fall" Into a Book

The leaves are changing color, the days are getting shorter, and the nights are turning cool.  No doubt about it, fall is here.  I don't know about the rest of you, but this time of year makes me want to cuddle in a blanket on the sofa with a cup of tea and a good book.  And if you're looking for some books for those long nights, allow me to make some suggestions:

• The Walk (Richard Paul Evans)  A man loses everything--his wife, his business, his house--and copes by walking from Seattle to Key West, meeting different people along the way while he gets back on his feet, literally.
• Eat, Pray, Love (Elizabeth Gilbert)  A woman reboots herself by eating in Italy, praying in India, and finding love in Indonesia.
• The Hearts of Horses (Molly Gloss)  During the winter of 1917, a young woman horse whisperer connects with horses and a small community in Eastern Oregon.
• The Cider House Rules (John Irving)  The story of a doctor and orphanage director along with his favorite orphan in rural Maine.
• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Washington Irving)  The classic tale of a headless horseman chasing a lanky schoolteacher.
• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (J.K. Rowling)  An orphaned boy discovers he's a wizard and learns all about the magical world at a special school in the British countryside. 
• Farmer Boy (Laura Ingalls Wilder)  The farm is both a place of hard work and comfort for a young boy in Upstate New York.

Of course, there are many more books you can find in the library that are great fall reads.  Maybe you have a favorite fall book?  If you do, share it with the rest of us!

Wishing you a fabulous fall from the perch.