The handout from the program "Choosing Your Next Book" on October 10, 2009 Learn how to use the library's many resources to choose your next book.

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