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Beach Reads 2023

Single hand holding a small book in a library.
Read up and start opening up your mind.

As summer ramps up and vacation calls, it’s the perfect time to read a good book while lounging beachside. As a librarian, here a few “beach read” recommendations sure to please any reader.  Each title promises to transport you to different worlds and capture the heart of this summer season.

Strong Women

Dive into a story of love, self-discovery, and sandy shores with “The Summer of Lost and Found” by Mary Alice Monroe. The story is set in the enchanting coastal town of fictional Sullivan’s Island. This novel brings together the lives of three generations of women as they navigate their personal journeys.

With vivid descriptions of the beach and an exploration of family dynamics, this book is a perfect beach read. For those seeking an emotional and touching summer read about family, chose this story. 

Thriller

If you’re craving a suspenseful thriller, “The Woman in the Window” by A.J. Finn is sure to keep you riveted. Set in the bustling city of New York during a hot summer, this psychological thriller follows an agoraphobic woman. (She’s deathly afraid of going outside of her home.)

She believes she witnesses a disturbing event in her neighbor’s house. As secrets unravel and tensions rise, the story will keep you on the edge of your seat, turning the pages.

Hollywood Glitz

If you want a blend of romance, history, and exotic settings, “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” is for you.  By Taylor Jenkins Reid (author of Daisy Jones & the Six) this book is a must-read! A captivating novel taking readers on a journey through the glamorous and wild life of Evelyn Hugo a fictional movie star. With its rich character development and fascinating narrative, this book brings you into the world of Hollywood and forbidden love.

Self-Discovery

If you’re in the mood for a light-hearted and delightful summer read, “Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman is an excellent choice. Meet Eleanor, a socially awkward woman with a strictly structured life. Join her on a heartwarming journey of self-discovery and unexpected connections.

This uplifting novel explores themes of loneliness, friendship, and the transformative power of compassion. This book makes a perfect companion for lazy days by the seaside.

No matter which book you choose for your summer adventures, find one that speaks to you. A book’s well-crafted story has the power to transport you to far-off places, stir your emotions, and leave lasting impressions.

So, grab your beach towel, slather on some sunscreen, and lose yourself in the pages of an enthralling summer read. Whether it’s a tale of romance, mystery, or self-discovery, these book recommendations are sure to boost your beachside bliss. Make your summer even more memorable and check out a book today from your local library!

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Social Media in Libraries

library-leadership
Customers inside a busy library with engaged employees

Marketing with social media has become a crucial tool for public libraries. Libraries need to connect with their communities and promote their services. However, managing a social media presence for a public library can be challenging. It’s important to follow best practices to ensure that your efforts are effective for your customers. Here are three best practices for social media in a public library.

Develop A Marketing Strategy

The first step in creating a successful social media presence for a public library is to develop a marketing strategy. Identifying your target audience, determining the types of content that will be most relevant, and creating a posting schedule. Consider the type of information and services your library offers. What events do you host currently, and what does the community you serve want when creating engaging content?

Engage with your audience

Social media is not a one-way street, it’s important to engage with your audience. Respond to comments and messages daily. You also need to actively seek out opportunities to connect with your community and add new followers. Encourage your followers to share their thoughts, ask for feedback and listen to what they have to say.

Be Consistent and Authentic

Consistency is key when it comes to social media. Make sure to post regularly and maintain a consistent tone across all platforms. Additionally, be authentic and transparent when communicating with your audience. Share the library’s mission and values, and let them know what makes your library unique. Be aware of trolls and make sure to have a “social media policy” in place to deal with misinformation.

In addition to these best practices, it’s also important to ensure that your library’s social media accounts are properly set up and managed. This means keeping your library’s contact information up to date, monitoring your accounts for inappropriate content, and ensuring account security.

Also, take the time to review your analytics and measure the performance of your social media posts. This will help you understand what works and what doesn’t and adjust your strategy accordingly. Social media coordinator is a good role for professional development in public libraries for your staff.

Social media is an effective tool for public libraries to connect with their communities and promote their services. By developing a marketing strategy, engaging and being consistent with posts, you can create an online presence for your library. Remember, social media is an ongoing effort, so be ready to adapt and evolve as the platforms and audiences change.

Check my personal website for more library-specific articles to develop your career path: KathyHusserTempe.com

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How COVID Changed Libraries

Shelves of books to promote reading and self-care.
Books make me happy!

No one would have predicted or ever thought possible a global pandemic would affect the way we learn, shop, or even work. Almost two years into our public health crisis and a few trends have emerged that will stay with us post COVID.  The way we do business especially in our libraries will change.

Remote Work and School

Flexible hours, working from home, reduced 40-hour work weeks have all become the norm on job postings and recruitments.  The expectation, new work life balance, COVID has provided, is the permission to enjoy a more fulfilling life outside of work. With online learning continuing in many families, working remotely is a necessity to provide a valuable education for our children. Check any advertisement for administrative support, accountant, engineer, and any job that can be done remotely is advertised as such. Even public service organizations have loosened up requirements to be in the office five days a week. But what about librarians using online tools and having eBooks so readily available now. Will people head back into the library building?

More Time Less Social Interactions

The lack of social interactions at work lends itself to more time at home, mostly alone or with close family. You save time getting ready for work and with less in person meetings when Zoom or Microsoft Teams will satisfy. The need to connect with human beings is greater now after lockdown. Whether increased time on social media is good or bad has not been determined. There is something to be said for potlucks and lunches out to celebrate a birthday or promotion with colleagues. Happy hour over Zoom is not quite the same as mingling and socializing in person.

Public Libraries

Finally, some jobs will never change into remote careers. We think of waiters, police officers, and librarians. These are service positions, and those duties do not translate to remote work. People-facing jobs will not be able to evolve into digital or remote activities. These roles require people, to perform in-person services and tasks. So, we need to ask the question will public libraries go away with the popularity of eBooks and streaming videos?  What will happen to libraries in the future with online programs, streaming music, and eBooks post COVID? Time will tell if libraries will meet customers’ needs.