Next month, the Monday Book Club is reading "Winnie the Pooh."

 

Yes, it is an adult book club.

 

A very smart man in our group made the recommendation. (Thanks Ed!) We are taking a break from the adult themed books that  we generally read. Winnie the Pooh fits the bill for holiday light-heartedness. 

 

I did not grow up a fan of Winnie the Pooh books. I was, and am, a Snoopy fan above all. During my seventies childhood, Disney Winnie the Pooh films were the rage. I was, and am, a huge Tigger fan. I loved watching his bounciness on screen and his go-go attitude. (In fact, that's probably what he and Snoopy have in common, but Snoopy has a level of cool that Tigger does not. Snoopy knows when to chill.)  I've heard others say that they find Tigger annoying. I can see that, but he is magnetic to me. Have you ever thought about what your favorite Winnie the Pooh character says about you?

 

I became a Winnie the Pooh book fan when I started reading the books to my daughter. She was a Roo lover. She has always been fun-loving with a child-like love of cuteness. She is also an only child, which I think speaks volumes about her attraction to the little kangaroo. Anyway, my husband and I sat on the child's bed and read every night for over a decade. Winnie the Pooh was a regular part of the rotation. We soaked up stories about Pooh getting his head stuck in the rabbit hole, getting stung by bees, taking off with a blue balloon. The stories about friendship and innocent wonder hold up a century later; Coincidentally, next year is Winnie the Pooh's 100th anniversary.

 

What better season to read children's books then the onset of winter? Seriously, they are not just for kids. Staff members like to gather around the circulation desk at the library during quiet times and have Miss Carolyn read to us! 

 

I started a picture book collection at the high school where I previously worked. It was considered so strange that the school auditor came to my library and asked me to show him these picture books that I was supposedly buying for the teens. He was shocked when I showed him a wall full of them. While it took awhile for the kids to realize that reading picture books was not uncool, it truly became popular. The kids would even sit and read to each other. There is something about children's stories that invite us to share them, even more than the novels we love to read in adult book club.

 

Even if you don't currently have a child in your life, I encourage you to wander your way into the children's room to relive your childhood or remind you of what you loved to read to your children. Then, stop by my office and let me know your favorite Winnie the Pooh character and why. 

 

Have a wonderful week,

Melissa

 

Update on book orders

I want to update you on the status of our book orders as we transition to a new company. I noted in this newsletter a few weeks ago that our old book company, Baker and Taylor, is going out of business. We are now transitioning to a new company called Ingram. (Read more about the closure here.)

 

Ingram is quickly taking on new customers. I suspect they are more than doubling the size of their customer base. We have been told that they are quickly onboarding new employees. I imagine that behind the scenes they are also working with publishing companies to quickly get more books to their warehouses. 

 

All of this, in sum, means that book distribution is slow. We know that you have fewer new book choices on our shelves and that holds are slower than normal. We are reliant on this book sale system that is currently in flux. We are trying to fill holes with Amazon, but they too are experiencing some delays. We do expect things will get back to normal in a couple of months and appreciate your patience.

 

I will continue to update you on the status of the book sale system over the coming weeks. Please let me know if you have questions. -MM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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