#librariesstrong

[rosecorcoranwrites]

Fun fact, your local library has tons of books about writing and publishing, including Writer’s Market, which lists current agencies and publishing houses, as well as what sort of writing they accept.  Do yourself a favor and check them out!

[pugetsoundarchives]

Collins Memorial Library reading room, circa 1961

Perry donates books to Collins Library as Taylor looks on, 1969

Goman directs movers inside the Collins Library entrance, 1954

Happy National Library Week! This year’s theme is “Libraries = Communities”, and we’re grateful to be part of the Collins Memorial Library community here at Puget Sound. From working with liaison librarians to create engaging class sessions for students to hosting library events, we love collaborating with the rest of the library staff!

[oberlinsciencelibrary]

In this time of unrest and uncertainty, the Executive Board of the American Library Association (ALA) affirms our unequivocal support of ALA members, all library workers and the broader library community. 2020 has taken a toll on libraries and library workers. All of us have had to pivot to provide services online, and for many of us, with shrinking resources. Library professionals have shown ourselves to be innovative and forward-thinking. Yet, like everyone, we have been forced to make difficult decisions, both for ourselves and the communities we serve.

Thank you, ALA Executive Board, for your statement, concluding:  “The core values of librarianship transcend the vicissitudes of politics and will remain our polestar as we continue to advocate for ourselves and our communities from a position of strength and moral courage.”

[aclslibrarian]

Josh M., from our Galloway Branch, is back to show you 3 basic opening strategy principles for Chess so you can plan your first move. 

Don’t forget to subscribe to ACLS’ YouTube and click the 🔔 to receive notifications for new storytimes, crafts, sing-alongs and STEM videos.

[aclslibrarian]

Sing! Sing-a-long!

Don’t forget to subscribe to ACLS’ YouTube and click the 🔔 to receive notifications for new storytimes, crafts, STEM videos and songs!

[aclslibrarian]

Gail, from the ACLS Hammonton Branch, figuratively and literally serves up food for your brain. Watch this online version of her “Trivia & Treats” night.

Don't forget to subscribe to ACLS' YouTube and click the 🔔 to receive notifications for new storytimes, crafts, and STEM videos.

[aclslibrarian]

UnCovered: “The Silent Patient”

UnCovered review by ACLS Librarian Pam Saunders: “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides

This first novel by screenwriter Alex Michaelides is a thriller that spans the domestic and the psychological thriller subgenres. Famous painter Alicia Berenson is living a seemingly perfect life when she, allegedly, shoots her husband five times. Refusing to speak afterwards, even in her own defense, she is convicted of the crime and sent to a psychiatric hospital rather than prison. Psychotherapist Theo Faber is obsessed with her case and finagles his way into a job at the hospital so he can become her therapist because he believes he can get her to talk. We learn the story through Theo’s first person narration interwoven with Alicia’s diary entries. The diary entries, which read more like dialogue, provide necessary background. Theo’s many lapses in professional ethics and behavior are rather jarring, but one find’s oneself rooting for him to succeed in getting his silent patient to speak and explain the mystery of why she did it, or perhaps did not. The plotting is intricate and twisty and will keep most readers guessing until the end. Almost inevitably, the movie rights been optioned. I think readers will find it intense, intriguing, and ultimately shocking.

“The Silent Patient” has been on the NYT Bestseller list for over 22 weeks. If you have already read it, try one of these read-alikes also available from ACLS in digital format: “A Good Man” by Ani Katz, “Sister” by Rosamund Lupton, “The Girl Before” by J.P. Delaney.

[aclslibrarian]

“The Girl in the Wall”

UnCovered review by Egg Harbor City Branch Manager Tiffanie Haynes of Daphne Benedis-Grab’s “The Girl in the Wall.”

This book is a teen book with everything. The main characters Ariel and Sera were best friends until Sera betrayed Ariel. Which turned her best friend and all her other friends against her, but they are forced together by Ariel’s birthday, which is going to be the event of the year -with a private concert given by a rock star in a mansion. The event of the year though quickly turns into the nightmare of a lifetime when a terrorist crashes the party. The storyline takes place within the space of a weekend, but that does not limit the book at all. It has everything you want from a good teen book: drama, love, and a ton of suspense.

This book is only one of two teen books written by this Daphne Benedis-Grab, but it is well worth a read. If you’re interested in learning more about the author, I suggest looking her up on her website Daphnebg.com, and if you are a cat person you will love the graphics on her page.

According to Tiffanie, “The Girl in the Wall” definitely falls under the too-good-to-put-down category. She suggests both teens and adults check it out from OverDrive where it’s available as an eBook