Connect ArchivesBrodart Connect Final Chapters in 2019 Posted on January 15, 2020 in Posts in 2020 by Brodart Final Chapters in 2019 - Read More read more about Final Chapters in 2019 Connect - A Year in Review Posted on December 18, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Throughout the year, we’re proud to highlight the key resources that help make libraries great, along with special anniversaries and collection development strategies Connect - A Year in Review - Read More read more about Connect - A Year in Review Looking Ahead to 2020 Posted on December 18, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart In the words of my favorite (fictional) president, Jed Bartlet of "The West Wing," "What’s next?" Librarians are always looking ahead, wondering what will enchant and entice their patrons in the coming year. Looking Ahead to 2020 - Read More read more about Looking Ahead to 2020 National Book Award Finalists Posted on November 20, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart National Book Award Finalists National Book Award Finalists - Read More read more about National Book Award Finalists STEM and Comics Team Up Posted on November 20, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart STEM, STEAM, STREAM. These are all acronyms for a teaching approach that focuses on a combination of core concepts, including Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), and sometimes Art (STEAM) and Reading (STREAM). STEM and Comics Team Up - Read More read more about STEM and Comics Team Up 10 Deadlines Only a Librarian Would Understand Posted on November 20, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart For librarians, deadlines invite a special chance to embrace the sometimes absurd—but always rewarding—task of meeting patrons’ unique and changing needs. 10 Deadlines Only a Librarian Would Understand - Read More read more about 10 Deadlines Only a Librarian Would Understand Celebrating Sesame Street Posted on October 16, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Let’s take a look back at the late 1960s, when television, in many respects, was grim. If the nightly news wasn’t reporting on race riots in America, it was broadcasting body counts in Vietnam. Celebrating Sesame Street - Read More read more about Celebrating Sesame Street A Breath of Fresh Air Posted on October 16, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Have you ever noticed that in most sitcoms there’s an episode where characters go camping and…it’s a disaster? A hilarious disaster, but still a disaster. The great outdoors can be a tough place. As I write this, mosquitoes are waiting just outside my back door for their next meal. A Breath of Fresh Air - Read More read more about A Breath of Fresh Air September Is Literacy Month Posted on September 18, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart As librarians, literacy is something close to our hearts. We are readers, searchers, and devourers of facts. As information becomes easier to access but more complicated to manage, there are now many different kinds of literacy we can help our patrons navigate. September Is Literacy Month - Read More read more about September Is Literacy Month Woodstock Revisited Posted on August 21, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart By the time they got to Woodstock, they were half a million strong… at least according to the Joni Mitchell song. In actuality, 400,000 might be a more realistic number. Woodstock Revisited - Read More read more about Woodstock Revisited Toni Morrison: 1931 – 2019 Posted on August 21, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Toni Morrison, a giant among twentieth century American writers, died yesterday in New York City. She was 88. Words are hard to find today to sum up her life, her literary work, and her influence in this country and around the world. To say one thing is to leave something else out of perhaps equal importance. There is not time and space enough here to sum up this person. Toni Morrison: 1931 – 2019 - Read More read more about Toni Morrison: 1931 – 2019 What is #ownvoices? Posted on August 21, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart As readers and librarians, we are finding that the publishing world is making an effort to seek out more diverse perspectives and voices and to honor stories about characters from groups that have previously been marginalized. These groups include ethnic minorities, different sexual orientations and identities, and those with disabilities. The We Need Diverse Books movement (WNDB) has really sparked conversations and moved the ball forward. What is #ownvoices? - Read More read more about What is #ownvoices? Does Your Library Carry Las Novelas Gráficas? Posted on July 17, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Over the last decade, graphic novels have gained in popularity and are now widely considered an essential component of almost any library's collection. Beyond graphic novels in general gaining recognition, librarians have been clamoring for expanded Spanish graphic novel collections. Does Your Library Carry Las Novelas Gráficas? - Read More read more about Does Your Library Carry Las Novelas Gráficas? Maya Angelou Posted on July 17, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart There was a lot going on in 1969. As a result, there are quite a few 50-year anniversaries being observed this year. Right around the time that men first walked on the moon and hippies were flailing around in the mud at Woodstock, one of the most important books of all time was also being published: Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Maya Angelou - Read More read more about Maya Angelou Kekla Magoon Posted on June 19, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Did you know a real-life Styx growing up? Who most inspired you when you were Caleb and Bobby Gene’s age? Kekla Magoon - Read More read more about Kekla Magoon LGBT Pride Month Posted on June 19, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Balloons! Streamers! Boisterous music! Bright rainbow colors! Costumes, dancing, hands and hips waving, face paint, and glitter galore, plus more skin than one usually sees on the street. LGBT Pride Month - Read More read more about LGBT Pride Month OCLC's Top 100 Novels Posted on May 22, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Librarians love lists, and here is a fun one, with titles for all ages. OCLC has identified The Library 100 Top Novels of All Time. According to OCLC, literary greatness can be measured by how many libraries own a copy of a novel. OCLC's Top 100 Novels - Read More read more about OCLC's Top 100 Novels These Aren't Your Average Board Games Posted on May 15, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Summertime is nearly upon us. Soon, some of us will be riding our bikes, or perhaps cheering our family on as little ones engage in some fun summer sports. Beyond offering summer reading programs, how can librarians help to combat the infamous summer slide and keep patrons (especially children) coming in during the summer months? These Aren't Your Average Board Games - Read More read more about These Aren't Your Average Board Games A National Crisis Posted on May 15, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart As most librarians know, what appears in headlines will probably show up in libraries. Unfortunately, today we’re not talking about Publishers Weekly headlines. We’re talking about the opioid crisis. A National Crisis - Read More read more about A National Crisis Apollo 11 Posted on April 17, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Let’s look back over our proverbial shoulder to the spring of 1961. Here in the United States, there was an atmosphere of defeat. We were losing the space race with the Soviet Union, which on April 12 had just launched the first person ever into space, Yuri Gagarin. Apollo 11 - Read More read more about Apollo 11 Large Print Books Posted on April 17, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart As educators and librarians struggle to combat the dire reality of illiteracy and its impact on low graduation rates, meager job prospects, low income, and even crime, many remedies have been tried, with little success. Thankfully, one rather old-fashioned tool is gaining traction and showing promising results: using large print books with young, striving readers. Large Print Books - Read More read more about Large Print Books Guns: As American as Apple Pie Posted on March 20, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Guns are cool. Guns are bad. Guns protect us. Bad guys use guns. A gun is simply a device that can be used properly or improperly, just like cars or painkillers. Guns: As American as Apple Pie - Read More read more about Guns: As American as Apple Pie Spanish Language Collection Development Posted on March 20, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart The demand for Spanish materials in public libraries has increased dramatically over the past few years, and librarians have accepted the challenge to find the right titles for their library’s demographic. Spanish Language Collection Development - Read More read more about Spanish Language Collection Development A Universe of Stories Posted on February 20, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart As I'm writing this, the polar vortex is plunging deep into the nation, and it's hard to imagine that it’s time to get ready for summer reading! A Universe of Stories - Read More read more about A Universe of Stories Happy Earth Day Posted on February 20, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart What were you doing on the inaugural Earth Day, April 22, 1970? Maybe you were in diapers. Maybe you weren't here yet. Or, perhaps, like myself and Benjamin Braddock, you were a college student who was worried about his future. Happy Earth Day - Read More read more about Happy Earth Day Read Across America Posted on February 20, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart With so many ways to celebrate Read Across America 2019, where do you start? Our librarians offer up programming suggestions while sharing the unique library programs that worked for them. Read Across America - Read More read more about Read Across America Authors We Said Goodbye to in 2018 Posted on January 07, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart 2018 is now officially “in the books,” as the saying goes. At the beginning of the New Year, we take a moment to remember those who have recently completed their journeys here on Earth. Authors We Said Goodbye to in 2018 - Read More read more about Authors We Said Goodbye to in 2018 The Librarian Did It! Posted on December 19, 2018 in Posts in 2018 by Brodart We hear a lot these days about diversity and marginalized people’s need to see themselves represented in books. Librarians, however, don’t generally have that problem—there are LOTS of books about libraries and librarians. The Librarian Did It! - Read More read more about The Librarian Did It! 2018: A Year In Review Posted on December 19, 2018 in Posts in 2018 by Brodart As you enjoy the holiday season, helping patrons and settling down with a good book yourself, let’s take a look back at some of the tips, trends, and opinions we shared with you this year! We’ll close with a glimpse of four major conferences we attended, too. 2018: A Year In Review - Read More read more about 2018: A Year In Review
Final Chapters in 2019 Posted on January 15, 2020 in Posts in 2020 by Brodart Final Chapters in 2019 - Read More read more about Final Chapters in 2019 Connect - A Year in Review Posted on December 18, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Throughout the year, we’re proud to highlight the key resources that help make libraries great, along with special anniversaries and collection development strategies Connect - A Year in Review - Read More read more about Connect - A Year in Review Looking Ahead to 2020 Posted on December 18, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart In the words of my favorite (fictional) president, Jed Bartlet of "The West Wing," "What’s next?" Librarians are always looking ahead, wondering what will enchant and entice their patrons in the coming year. Looking Ahead to 2020 - Read More read more about Looking Ahead to 2020 National Book Award Finalists Posted on November 20, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart National Book Award Finalists National Book Award Finalists - Read More read more about National Book Award Finalists STEM and Comics Team Up Posted on November 20, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart STEM, STEAM, STREAM. These are all acronyms for a teaching approach that focuses on a combination of core concepts, including Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), and sometimes Art (STEAM) and Reading (STREAM). STEM and Comics Team Up - Read More read more about STEM and Comics Team Up 10 Deadlines Only a Librarian Would Understand Posted on November 20, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart For librarians, deadlines invite a special chance to embrace the sometimes absurd—but always rewarding—task of meeting patrons’ unique and changing needs. 10 Deadlines Only a Librarian Would Understand - Read More read more about 10 Deadlines Only a Librarian Would Understand Celebrating Sesame Street Posted on October 16, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Let’s take a look back at the late 1960s, when television, in many respects, was grim. If the nightly news wasn’t reporting on race riots in America, it was broadcasting body counts in Vietnam. Celebrating Sesame Street - Read More read more about Celebrating Sesame Street A Breath of Fresh Air Posted on October 16, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Have you ever noticed that in most sitcoms there’s an episode where characters go camping and…it’s a disaster? A hilarious disaster, but still a disaster. The great outdoors can be a tough place. As I write this, mosquitoes are waiting just outside my back door for their next meal. A Breath of Fresh Air - Read More read more about A Breath of Fresh Air September Is Literacy Month Posted on September 18, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart As librarians, literacy is something close to our hearts. We are readers, searchers, and devourers of facts. As information becomes easier to access but more complicated to manage, there are now many different kinds of literacy we can help our patrons navigate. September Is Literacy Month - Read More read more about September Is Literacy Month Woodstock Revisited Posted on August 21, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart By the time they got to Woodstock, they were half a million strong… at least according to the Joni Mitchell song. In actuality, 400,000 might be a more realistic number. Woodstock Revisited - Read More read more about Woodstock Revisited Toni Morrison: 1931 – 2019 Posted on August 21, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Toni Morrison, a giant among twentieth century American writers, died yesterday in New York City. She was 88. Words are hard to find today to sum up her life, her literary work, and her influence in this country and around the world. To say one thing is to leave something else out of perhaps equal importance. There is not time and space enough here to sum up this person. Toni Morrison: 1931 – 2019 - Read More read more about Toni Morrison: 1931 – 2019 What is #ownvoices? Posted on August 21, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart As readers and librarians, we are finding that the publishing world is making an effort to seek out more diverse perspectives and voices and to honor stories about characters from groups that have previously been marginalized. These groups include ethnic minorities, different sexual orientations and identities, and those with disabilities. The We Need Diverse Books movement (WNDB) has really sparked conversations and moved the ball forward. What is #ownvoices? - Read More read more about What is #ownvoices? Does Your Library Carry Las Novelas Gráficas? Posted on July 17, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Over the last decade, graphic novels have gained in popularity and are now widely considered an essential component of almost any library's collection. Beyond graphic novels in general gaining recognition, librarians have been clamoring for expanded Spanish graphic novel collections. Does Your Library Carry Las Novelas Gráficas? - Read More read more about Does Your Library Carry Las Novelas Gráficas? Maya Angelou Posted on July 17, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart There was a lot going on in 1969. As a result, there are quite a few 50-year anniversaries being observed this year. Right around the time that men first walked on the moon and hippies were flailing around in the mud at Woodstock, one of the most important books of all time was also being published: Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Maya Angelou - Read More read more about Maya Angelou Kekla Magoon Posted on June 19, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Did you know a real-life Styx growing up? Who most inspired you when you were Caleb and Bobby Gene’s age? Kekla Magoon - Read More read more about Kekla Magoon LGBT Pride Month Posted on June 19, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Balloons! Streamers! Boisterous music! Bright rainbow colors! Costumes, dancing, hands and hips waving, face paint, and glitter galore, plus more skin than one usually sees on the street. LGBT Pride Month - Read More read more about LGBT Pride Month OCLC's Top 100 Novels Posted on May 22, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Librarians love lists, and here is a fun one, with titles for all ages. OCLC has identified The Library 100 Top Novels of All Time. According to OCLC, literary greatness can be measured by how many libraries own a copy of a novel. OCLC's Top 100 Novels - Read More read more about OCLC's Top 100 Novels These Aren't Your Average Board Games Posted on May 15, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Summertime is nearly upon us. Soon, some of us will be riding our bikes, or perhaps cheering our family on as little ones engage in some fun summer sports. Beyond offering summer reading programs, how can librarians help to combat the infamous summer slide and keep patrons (especially children) coming in during the summer months? These Aren't Your Average Board Games - Read More read more about These Aren't Your Average Board Games A National Crisis Posted on May 15, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart As most librarians know, what appears in headlines will probably show up in libraries. Unfortunately, today we’re not talking about Publishers Weekly headlines. We’re talking about the opioid crisis. A National Crisis - Read More read more about A National Crisis Apollo 11 Posted on April 17, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Let’s look back over our proverbial shoulder to the spring of 1961. Here in the United States, there was an atmosphere of defeat. We were losing the space race with the Soviet Union, which on April 12 had just launched the first person ever into space, Yuri Gagarin. Apollo 11 - Read More read more about Apollo 11 Large Print Books Posted on April 17, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart As educators and librarians struggle to combat the dire reality of illiteracy and its impact on low graduation rates, meager job prospects, low income, and even crime, many remedies have been tried, with little success. Thankfully, one rather old-fashioned tool is gaining traction and showing promising results: using large print books with young, striving readers. Large Print Books - Read More read more about Large Print Books Guns: As American as Apple Pie Posted on March 20, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart Guns are cool. Guns are bad. Guns protect us. Bad guys use guns. A gun is simply a device that can be used properly or improperly, just like cars or painkillers. Guns: As American as Apple Pie - Read More read more about Guns: As American as Apple Pie Spanish Language Collection Development Posted on March 20, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart The demand for Spanish materials in public libraries has increased dramatically over the past few years, and librarians have accepted the challenge to find the right titles for their library’s demographic. Spanish Language Collection Development - Read More read more about Spanish Language Collection Development A Universe of Stories Posted on February 20, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart As I'm writing this, the polar vortex is plunging deep into the nation, and it's hard to imagine that it’s time to get ready for summer reading! A Universe of Stories - Read More read more about A Universe of Stories Happy Earth Day Posted on February 20, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart What were you doing on the inaugural Earth Day, April 22, 1970? Maybe you were in diapers. Maybe you weren't here yet. Or, perhaps, like myself and Benjamin Braddock, you were a college student who was worried about his future. Happy Earth Day - Read More read more about Happy Earth Day Read Across America Posted on February 20, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart With so many ways to celebrate Read Across America 2019, where do you start? Our librarians offer up programming suggestions while sharing the unique library programs that worked for them. Read Across America - Read More read more about Read Across America Authors We Said Goodbye to in 2018 Posted on January 07, 2019 in Posts in 2019 by Brodart 2018 is now officially “in the books,” as the saying goes. At the beginning of the New Year, we take a moment to remember those who have recently completed their journeys here on Earth. Authors We Said Goodbye to in 2018 - Read More read more about Authors We Said Goodbye to in 2018 The Librarian Did It! Posted on December 19, 2018 in Posts in 2018 by Brodart We hear a lot these days about diversity and marginalized people’s need to see themselves represented in books. Librarians, however, don’t generally have that problem—there are LOTS of books about libraries and librarians. The Librarian Did It! - Read More read more about The Librarian Did It! 2018: A Year In Review Posted on December 19, 2018 in Posts in 2018 by Brodart As you enjoy the holiday season, helping patrons and settling down with a good book yourself, let’s take a look back at some of the tips, trends, and opinions we shared with you this year! We’ll close with a glimpse of four major conferences we attended, too. 2018: A Year In Review - Read More read more about 2018: A Year In Review
