For bookworms in Bradford West Gwillimbury, a new year means a whackload of new books to read.
The BWG Public Library has launched a new service called My Personal Librarian to help people who need recommendations find their next favourite books.
“This service is convenient because you can do it online. We also offer this service for anyone who wants to come in and talk to us,” said Elizabeth Campbell, the library’s information services librarian.
“We developed it over the summer and tested it on staff. It’s not an original idea — a lot of other libraries are doing it now.”
Basically, anyone with a BWG library card can fill out an online form, which includes questions on what types of books you enjoy reading, preferred format (print, large print or audio), and spaces to write in some of your favourite books, authors and themes, and what movies and TV shows you enjoy watching.
A team of librarians reviews the information and sends an email with about 10 suggestions, Campbell said, adding the turnaround is about seven days.
Although the form is only open to people with a library card, anyone can ask librarians in person at the library, at 425 Holland St. W., for book suggestions.
Campbell said people will often say they have read everything by their favourite authors and are looking for something new, and My Personal Librarian is a good way to help them.
The form is only for books, but if it is successful the library may develop another one for recommendations for movies, TV shows, video games, and music. Now, people can only get suggestions for those through the librarians.
Currently, some of the most popular books being checked out of the library include anything by James Patterson and John Grisham, Michelle Obama’s biography, and anything “on revelations about what goes on in the White House,” Campbell said.
“We want to help them find the next great book they’re going to read.”
10 of the best-selling books for winter 2019:
- Judgment by Joseph Finder
- The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty
- The Better Sister by Alafair Burke
- The Moment of Lift by Melinda Gates
- I Owe You One by Sophie Kinsella
- A Matter of Malice by Thomas King
- Cat and Nat’s Mom Truths by Catherine Belknap and Natalie Telfer
- Blessing in Disguise by Danielle Steel
- The First Lady by James Patterson
- The Gown: A Novel of the Royal Wedding by Jennifer Robson
