1. Choosing Your Next Book
Baldwin Public Library
October 10, 2009
How to access databases from home:
• Go to: http://www.baldwinlib.org/databases
• Find the database that you want:
o All of these databases below will be listed under “Literature and Reader’s Advisory”
o Or try the a-z databases list. You can go directly to that list by going to:
http://www.baldwinlib.org/databases-a-z/
• Click on the link for that databases
• Type in your library barcode and pin number
o If you have an Alternate ID, make sure that you enter it in all CAPITALS
• Voila! You’re at the database
Great Databases:
• Novelist: The best resource out there for finding a good novel of any genre
o Favorite Feature: Author read-a-likes. Have you read every book by your favorite author? Click here to
find similar authors and why they’re alike
o Favorite Feature: Recommended Reads. No matter what your taste, you’ll find books that fall into
everything from Western Romances to Dystopian Science Fiction
o Related Database: Try booklist online for your nonfiction books
• Booklist Online: Get book reviews, search for books, and learn about upcoming books
o Favorite Feature: Check out their RSS feeds, you can find out book news from home automatically
o Favorite Feature: Click on “Media” at the top and find out all about great Audiobooks, both from a plot
point of view, and from a listening point of view.
• What’s Next: Find all the books in a series, in order
o Favorite Feature: Want to try a new series and don’t know where to start? At the bottom choose your
reading level and favorite genre and get a list of authors with series books in that genre
• Pearl’s Picks: Get a list of 10 of Pearl’s favorite books each month to help guide your reading
Kathryn Bergeron
o Favorite Feature: The books reviewed aren’t always new. A lot are older titles that you can easily find
Adult Services Librarian
available in the library, even when all our new books are checked out
248/554-4650
Kathryn.Bergeron@baldwinlib.org
Presentation Slides Available at:
http://www.slideshare.net/baldwinlib/choosing-your-next-book
2. o Update: Pearl’s Picks last issue was released October 2009. Old lists will remain on our website
• What Do I Read Next: Pick out what you like in a book, and get recommendations of similar books.
o Favorite Feature: Help Me Find a Book – Choose a book you read and why and get suggestions
o Favorite Feature: Who? What? Where? When? – Can’t remember that book you read last year, but want
to recommend it to a friend? Type in a character’s age, a place, or a topic and get a list of books
matching it.
Kathryn Bergeron
Adult Services Librarian
248/554-4650
Kathryn.Bergeron@baldwinlib.org
Presentation Slides Available at:
http://www.slideshare.net/baldwinlib/choosing-your-next-book
3. In Library Resources:
(1) Book Page: America’s Book Review – a free resource with book reviews, published each month
a. Favorite Feature: Meet the Author – a brief look into the thoughts (and handwriting) of your favorite authors
b. Favorite Feature: Bestseller Watch – See what’s great that’s being released soon and put it on hold before
everyone else
(2) Book Lists: Pre-made lists of books on all kinds of subjects
a. Adult: Books for adults
i. Librarian Picks: put out four times a year in both fiction and non-fiction. Our favorite books of the season
ii. Communal Reading Bookmarks: Find out what Oprah is reading or take part in the Great Michigan Read,
just by browsing for bookmarks at the Adult Services Desk
iii. Miscellaneous Booklists: Everything from “1930s Bestsellers” to “Mystery Award Winners” and everything
in between.
b. Young Adult: Books for Young Adults (Teens)
i. Best Books: Find out the best books of the year for teens and by teens
ii. Great Reads: Divided up by age groups, find great reads for your young adults
iii. Genre Lists: Mysteries for Teens, Historical Fiction for Teens, and more
iv. If You Liked: Takes popular books and gives teens similar books to try out
c. Youth: Books for children
i. Books by Age: Great books for young, middle, and advanced readers
ii. Books by Length: Is your child ready for chapter books? Try these lists.
iii. Books by Genre: Books of all types for all kinds of readers
d. Can’t find a bookmark for it? The Librarians would be happy to print you out a list to meet your needs
Browsing the Library:
(1) Book Club Books: A whole room full of well-written books from a variety of genres
a. Favorite Feature: It’s easy to browse. Walk up and down the wall searching for that great book that you haven’t
read yet
b. Bonus: The books check out for four weeks
Kathryn Bergeron
(2) New Books Shelves: The latest in the Baldwin libraryServices Librarian non-fiction, and young adult
Adult collection: fiction,
248/554-4650
a. Favorite Feature: Be among the first to read these great books, get them for three weeks, and impress your friends
Kathryn.Bergeron@baldwinlib.org
Presentation Slides Available at:
http://www.slideshare.net/baldwinlib/choosing-your-next-book
4. (3) Hot Picks: If you’ve been waiting for that book for weeks, or need to read a new book now, it’s a great collection. They go
out for one week with one renewal.
a. Hot Tip: There are no holds, so if you run out of time, bring the book up to the circulation desk to return it, and
check it back out
Web Resources:
a. Suggested Reads: (http://www.baldwinlib.org/suggested-reads/) – Find book news, reading lists from Baldwin, and
links to external resources for reading.
b. Youth Books: (http://www.baldwinlib.org/books/) – Find online book lists for children
c. Ebooks and EAudiobooks Suggested Reads: (http://www.baldwinlib.org/suggested-reads-ebooks-and-
eaudiobooks/) – If you’ve ever wanted to download books from home, try these suggested titles
d. Baldwin Catalog: (http://catalog.baldwinlib.org/) – Have you tried the links at the bottom of our catalog
homepage? Find bestsellers, award winners, and more.
Kathryn Bergeron
Adult Services Librarian
248/554-4650
Kathryn.Bergeron@baldwinlib.org
Presentation Slides Available at:
http://www.slideshare.net/baldwinlib/choosing-your-next-book