The recreational reading exchange seems to be getting a lot of use.  I just put several more books out to fill out the shelves.  The Thanksgiving break is coming (just one week away!) and this is the perfect opportunity to read something just for fun.

There are a wide variety of books in this collection. Just to give you an idea of what’s available for those who haven’t checked it out yet . . .

We have several Anne Tyler books.  Her novels center around interpersonal relationships and the growth of the characters.  She’s consistantly on the best seller list and her book Breathing Lessons won a Pulitzer, the best of both worlds.

There’s a copy of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.  If you appreciate British humor, you have to read this. If you prefer your science fiction a little more serious, there are 3 books from the Dune series also.

For horror lovers we have Anne Rice’s Queen of the Damned. 

If you like romance with a Christian focus, try Janette Oke’s Measure of the Heart.  There are also several other romance novels, including romantic thrillers.

We also have titles by John Grisham, Mary Higgins Clark, Agatha Christie, Danielle Steele, Barbara Kingsolver, Nicholas Sparks, James Patterson, and Nora Roberts. 

If you prefer non-fiction, we have books for you too.  There is a biography of Cary Grant, a copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul, and a copy of The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, just for starters.

 The Recreational Reading books are located on the second floor of the library just past the help desk.

     November is National Adoption Month. You will find books on various aspects of adoption on display on the second floor of the library. These items are available for loan, so if you see something of interest, feel free to check it out.

This year’s focus for National Adoption Month is on adopting children out of foster care.  According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in 2005 there were 115,407 children waiting to be adopted out of foster care. The number of infants available for adoption has fallen over the last several years. Older children were once seen as unadoptable but now make up a large number of the children waiting for a permanent home.

 Personally I don’t think you’re ever too old for costumes and carving pumpkins but if you would like to celebrate Halloween in a little more grown up way, check out the Halloween book display on the second floor of the library.

If you don’t find something interesting there, try the Read It Forward display in the corner near the Help Desk. These books are free to take without checking out. Just bring them back when you’re done. The bottom shelf has scary and suspenseful books you may enjoy.

The library now has recreational reading materials (in other words, fun books) available. These books are located on the second floor of the library, in the corner just past the children’s section. You don’t have to check out these books.  Just take what you want and bring it back when you’re finished.  Or, pass the book to someone else who will enjoy it.

Some of the authors we currently have available are John Grisham, Robin Cook, Janette Oak, Anne Tyler, and James Patterson. Plus there are a lot of authors I’ve never heard of. Sometimes these are the best choice - there’s nothing like discovering an new author you love.

Generally, academic libraries don’t collect popular fiction and other fun books. Some would argue that providing recreational reading falls outside our responsibility and should be left to the public library but I disagree.

First of all, students aren’t our only patrons. Staff members have expressed an interest in borrowing books to read over lunch or for pleasure reading at home. This is a great way to provide for that.

Also, I believe any reading is a good thing, an exercise for the imagination, an excursion into someone else’s world. Even if that world was created by Danielle Steele, there is benefit in this form of escape.

Literary works, part of the regular library collection, are important in the educational experience. Many of these are also read for pleasure. There’s a reason why authors such as Mark Twain, Edith Wharton, and Jane Austin have lasted this long: they tell a good story.

Still, sometimes you need a break. You need to read something fun and light, something to relax with and not worry about the test that follows. Sometimes, you just need a little brain candy.

Stop in and check out the display of books on surviving college (second floor near popular magazines and newspapers). I chose these books based on the kinds of questions and concerns I’ve heard from incoming students, including adult students who’ve been away from school for a long time.

Remember that my job is to help you learn to use the library’s resources. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you need help using library resources or getting started on your research paper. 

Some of the books displayed are:

How to Get A’s in College consists of advice from real students in areas such as time management, choosing classes, writing papers, and handling stress.

Going Back to School: College Survival Strategies for Adult Students has a lot of great advice on general college success issues but focuses on issues common to returning adult students.  It includes information on time management, taking tests, speaking in front of the class, coping with math anxiety, and balancing family and academics.

Conquering Math Anxiety discusses learning styles, math study skills, tips for working through anxiety, and the relationship between math anxiety and test anxiety.

Research Strategies: Finding Your Way Through the Information Fog is an excellent resource for learning solid techniques for conducting research.  It includes advice on effective use of the internet, using journals and magazines, and writing the final paper.