MLA Conference Report ~ Genre Blocks

Massachusetts Library Association Annual Conference 2008 Report

Genre Blocks: Romance

Speakers: Cathy Maxwell and Nanci Milone Hill

11:00 a.m. Friday

My conference companion agrees to attend the program, Genre Blocks: Romance with me; she’s a high school librarian and the last time I was in her library, I noticed she had an entire section devoted to romance. The conference program says that the romance genre is one of the most popular of fiction and perhaps the most misunderstood. As a graduate of the school of “give them what they want” I’m ready to hear what the presenters have to say.

Our first speaker, Nanci Milone Hill, reference librarian and NoveList contributing author, asks the audience how many of us read romance novels. More than half raise a hand. She makes a joke when she “confesses” that she’s an inveterate reader. I wonder if all the romance novels I read in high school count. In any case, I’m already thinking about making a display of the genre the minute I get back to my library. I can’t wait. I want to see if they fly out of the library as fast as she says they fly out of the box when they get to the book store. She presents her powerpoint (see http://www.nevinslibrary.org/romancereadersadvisory.html) and gives us more than just what’s on the print out. Things to know: Romance novels have a satisfactory ending (what’s not to like?), the love story is the most important facet though there may be multiple plotlines, the hero and heroine have a love/hate relationship in the beginning of the story; the romance is usually challenged and the story is generally told from both character’s point of view. Three things from her talk resonate. The first, a gay and lesbian romance book group at her library can’t get enough copies of titles for everyone because not enough libraries have them – shame on us here in Massachusetts where gay marriage has been legal for what can now be said to be years. The second is that interest in romance novels began to rise after 9/11 because they reaffirm that people are basically good at a time when some of us are thinking it ain’t so. The third is that romance novels contain strong female characters (I wonder, what are the characteristics of a strong female character circa 2008?) In closing Hill gives us a complete list of romance resources, and pokes fun at book covers by spoofing titles with her made up ones - “I Married a Sissy Boy” (from a cover with a bride kissing a frilly bow tied groom) and “Okay, You’re Taller Than Me, Happy Now?” (she barely reaches his naked solar plexus when they kiss).

Romance author Cathy Maxwell, speaks next. The romance novel is all about commitment and the reader wants to read about valuable relationships. Today’s romance writers are sticklers for facts, especially writers of historical romance because readers are much more discriminating than they used to be. Romance writers are an amiable and cooperative group. Her Harper Collins editor, sitting on the side of the room, nods in confirmation. Local romance authors willing to visit your library can be contacted through The New England Chapter of the Romance Writers of America http://www.rwanational.org/.

Then it’s question time. A correctional facility librarian tells how romance/fantasy books by Diana Gabaldon are the most pilfered in her library, which prompts Maxwell to surmise that if the inmates had been reading from the start they might not be where they are today. It’s nice to be reminded that reading changes lives. (See the "Books Change Lives" report available from The Center For The Book http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/1996/96106.html). Next, my conference companion wants to know how she can tell from a review just how explicit the sex is in an upcoming title (don’t forget, she’s a high school librarian). Hill refers her to the exhaustive resources list she’s provided – All About Romance http://www.likesbooks.com/ uses a “sensuality” rating system.

At this point I become preoccupied with wondering if what is really meant is sexual instead of sensual or explicit vs. implicit. Isn’t sensuality more a matter of taste and preference, relating to the senses? Before I get totally stuck, the HP guy is handing out free copies of Maxwell’s latest “In the Highlander’s Bed” and participants are lining up to get them autographed. I grab my copy, my companion takes one look at the cover and says she’ll never be able to put it in the collection at her high school without inviting a challenge and we make our way to lunch.

~ Sara Woodbury, Director, Tilton Library, South Deerfield

WMRLS Grand Finale Poetry Slam Results

As a result of last winter's WMRLS Poetry Slam Information Roundtables conducted by librarian Adam Novitt, nine participating libraries conducted very successful Poetry Slams and 22 of the winning library poets came together on Sunday, May 25 at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art to compete in the WMRLS Grand Finale. Including our guest poets, we had over 75 people attend this inspiring event.

All 22 poets competed in the first round; the top ten winners of the first round competed in round two; and the top five winners of the second round competed in round three. The final tally of first, second, and third place winners are as follows:

First Place: Jacob Snow representing the North Adams Public Library
Second Place: Shariff Butler representing the Springfield City Library
Third Place: Seth Brown representing the North Adams Public Library

Thank you to:

• The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art for hosting this wonderful event
• Poet librarian, Vanessa Vargas for serving as our Poetry Slam emcee
• To each and every guest poet for sharing and performing their unique and thought-provoking poetry
• To our enthusiastic audience for encouraging and supporting our guest poets
• And to the following "Poet Slam" libraries: Forbes Library (Northampton), Milne Library (Williamstown), Monterey Library, North Adams Public Library, Springfield City Library, Stockbridge Library Association, West Stockbridge Public Library, Wheeler Memorial Library (Orange), and Worthington Library.

~ Janet Eckert, WMRLS

Training change

Hi all: I'm sorry to announce that the ReferenceUSA training scheduled at Forbes Library on June 3 has been cancelled by the trainer. If it's rescheduled, it won't be until fall sometime. The NoveList training on June 17 is still on!
We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the RefUSA cancellation. -- Rick Hart

Poet Slam at the Springfield City Library

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YouTube Video Description

Shariff's winning performances - first, second, and third rounds. Poetry slam held at the Springfield City Library (Mass.) on April 12, 2008

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Springfield City Library - Poetry Slam on YouTube

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YouTube Video Description

"Daisy's performances from the April 12th slam held at the Springfield, Mass. City Library Poetry Slam"

© 2008 YouTube, Inc.

Springfield City Library Poetry Slam Winners on YouTube

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YouTube Video Description

"Maurice performs at the April 12, 2008 Poetry Slam at the Springfield (MA) City Library."

© 2008 YouTube, Inc.

WMRLS Grand Finale Poetry Slam

WMRLS Poetry Slam Grand Finale
Sunday, May 25 from 2:30 to 4:30
at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

Featuring poets from the following WMRLS Member Libraries:

Milne Library, Williamstown * Monterey Library * North Adams Public Library * Springfield City Library * Stockbridge Library Association * West Stockbridge Public Library * Wheeler Memorial Library , Orange * Worthington Library * Forbes Library, Northampton

Our Grand Finale will take place in the Auditorium of the Eric Carle Museum. Admission to the auditorium, the museum shop, and the museum café is free. Our audience will be provided with special red stickers for free admission to the store and café (if you would like to purchase items and/or refreshments). There is a fee for museum admission if audience members would like to arrive early and tour the museum.

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art now has our event featured on their online calendar of events at: http://www.picturebookart.org/Programs_Events/Upcoming/#E508

Support our Library Poets! Join us at our WMRLS Grand Finale Poet Slam on May 25.

Monterey Library Poetry Slam

We had 41 people attending Monterey's first poetry slam, and 13 poets. The poets ranged from ages 11 and up, and one of the 11 year olds was one of the top five! Vanessa Vargas' emceeing kept everyone's enthusiasm at a high pitch for almost two and a half hours. In a very close finish JoAnna Spies came in first, Kit Patten second, and Kent Godfrey took third. All are planning on attending the next round at the Eric Carle Museum. Some of our poets are already writing for the next WMRLS Slam, which can't come soon enough!

Author Night at the East Longmeadow Public Library

The East Longmeadow Public Library has invited four local authors of young adult fiction to participate in a book discussion and book signing. This event will take place on Wednesday, May 28th from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. in the library’s Community Room. The four authors are M.P. Barker - A Difficult Boy, Michelle Kwasney - Baby Blue, Judith Jaeger - The Secret Thief and D. Dina Friedman - Escaping into the Night. These authors reside in central and western Massachusetts and all have recently been published. Please join us for a fun and informative evening and get your books signed! Brief summaries of their books are given below.

If you are a fan of historical fiction A Difficult Boy written by M.P. Barker and Dina Friedman’s Escaping into the Night will interest you. A Difficult Boy is about two young boys growing up in Farmington, Massachusetts in the year 1839. Ethan and Daniel are indentured servants who suffer cruelty and hardship as they struggle to survive working for the wealthy Lyman family. The bond that forms between the two boys gives them strength as they struggle to right a terrible wrong.

Escaping into the Night is the story of Halina Rudowski who escapes from the Polish ghetto just as it is being evacuated by the Germans during World War II. Her struggle to survive tells the story of the underground forest encampments that saved thousands of Jews during the Holocaust.

If “real life” fiction is more to your liking then you will definitely want to check out Baby Blue by Michelle Kwasney. Blue’s life is falling apart. Her father drowned in the river, her new step father is violent and abusive towards her mother and her beloved older sister, Star, has run away. Blue is determined to put her family back together by finding her sister and getting help for her mother before it is too late. Michelle Kwasney’s latest book, Itch, was just released last month.

In Secret Thief by Judith Jaeger, Connie Grey strives to be the perfect student, athlete and daughter to a psychologically troubled mother. By the time she graduates from college she has a chronic ulcer and has become a kleptomaniac or “secret thief”. While spending the summer with her grandmother, Connie uncovers family secrets that help her to face the truth about her mother and her past.

We are hoping for a great turnout to support our local authors. Please call the Information Desk at (413) 525-5400, x158 to register. This program is free and open to adults and teens. The East Longmeadow Library is handicapped accessible.

The Library at Springfield Technical Community College invites you to join us for an exclusive screening of Ann Seidl's original film 'The Hollywood Librarian: A look at Librarians Through Film' on Thursday June 26, 2008. The 95 minute documentary triumphantly premiered at the 2007 American Library Associations Annual Convention in Washington D.C. and continued to garner appreciation and acclaim throughout it's national release (to selected libraries) during National Banned Book Week (9/29 - 10/06/07).

It is our pleasure and honor to host an evening celebrating all of the smart, funny, dedicated librarians in the film and in our own communities.

Showtime - 7:00 p.m. Scibelli Hall Theatre/Building 2

RSVP by June 23, 2008

Light refreshments

Ample, free, and safe parking

Suggested donations of $3.00 - $5.00 appreciated

For further information about the film, please visit http://www.hollywoodlibrarian.com

For all other inquiries or responses please contact Kim Noel at knoel@stcc.edu, visit our website at http://library.stcc.edu, or call 413-755-4564.

Database presentations at Forbes Library: NoveList & ReferenceUSA

Hi all: Forbes Library in Northampton is having two database presentations of interest to librarians, so we're inviting you to join us if you wish. Both events should take about 1 to 1 1/2 hours, the NoveList/readers advisory one maybe a bit longer.

The first, on Tuesday June 3rd at 1:30, will be on ReferenceUSA, the business information/white pages database which incorporates company information from many sources including annual reports, periodicals, and Census data, as well as yellow & white page listings. It's a great resource for small businesses, marketing, and job hunting, not to mention just locating companies and their contact information.

The second, on Tuesday June 17th at 1:30, will start with an overview of online reader's advisory tools linked in the Forbes website http://www.forbeslibrary.org/research/index.php?n=Books.Books, including outside links and our own reading lists. It then features a demonstration of the new NoveList interface & content, by EBSCO trainer Pamela Erickson -- something that is of particular interest to public service librarians. Since there has been some concern about the new version of NoveList, this is a good chance to hear from, and ask questions of, one of EBSCO's NoveList trainers.

Since both events are part of our regular public training series, we do ask that librarians who think they may attend RSVP to: rhart@forbeslibrary.org , or call 413-587-1012 -- RSVP not needed, but it will help us plan. Light refreshments will be served. If you would like a free parking pass for our lot (which is metered), we can provide one, and can send it via the delivery system if you give us enough time.

Hope to see some of you there! -- Rick Hart (Reference)

MLA Annual Conference Blog

Keep your eyes on the Massachusetts Library Association's (MLA) Annual Conference Blog. In the next few days, librarian bloggers will be sharing their unique conference experiences on this informative website.