In My Mailbox #10

Thanks to The Story Siren for hosting this wonderful meme every week : D

Some fantastic swaps. I have made friends with some really generous people through the swapping site. Thank you all again for your kindness : D

Fate by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Tattoo by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls (recommended by Clover to save for when I need a good cry)

Doing It by Melvin Burgess (part of the Sex in Teen Lit book-list from Once Upon A Bookcase)

Diving In by Kate Cann

Amy by Mary Hooper

The Named by Marianne Curley

Won from Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Theodore Boone by John Grisham

I have taken this one into the library I will be working in from September. Going back to one of the interview questions about getting Boys into Books I thought this would appeal to boys. What do you think????

 From my awesome book buddy Clover. We regularly swap our books as we have such similar tastes - I will admit she is more diverse than I am ;) Plus she reads insanely fast, I have to keep track of her wish-list books to make sure I have what she wants : D Check out her IMM's to see what I sent her this week ;)

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

Shade by Jerri Smith-Ready

Fat Kid Rules The World by K. L. Going (part of BISPMonth at Once Upon a Bookcase)

The Boyfriend List by E Lockhart

So another amazing book week for me. What did you get????

Saturday Spotlight: News

Apologies for the lack of consistency this week. It has been rather busy and emotional.

Firstly for those that don't know - plus I had the official letter this morning - I have a job : D

From September I will be a Middle Grade/Teen Librarian at a local Comprehensive School. I had the interview Tuesday. My first interview in 12 years. So you can guess how nervous I was. I had arranged to stay for the day and work in the library just for experience, I was told to go back to the office after 10 that morning and the decision would be put to the short-listed candidates. We were all in the office together. I think if I hadn't been chosen I would have burst into tears : D So that is the reason I haven't been about much this week. I have been back and for the library to get used to it and not feel overwhelmed in September. I am sure I will be a little overawed to start with but that is normal.

I also wanted to get used to dealing with the lunchtime rush to the library. Surprisingly it is used for otehr things than reading. I have already come across a young girl with food issues - she likes to hide her lunch among the bookcases (: So I have had to think of ways to tackle that problem. She already thinks I am strict and not nice : D

Plus this couldn't have come at a better time. It is a lifeline for our house, as my poor hubs has been unemployed for nearly 18 months now. It has really taken its toll on our family & relationship. So here is a wonderful opportunity to rebuild our lives : D

Secondly, it is asastars 8th Birthday today. I really don't know where it has gone. She had a birthday tea in the house last night and then 2 friends to sleepover. One of which went home at 10:45 as she wanted her Mum. You forget how little they really are.

So I would just like to wish my little/big girl a very Happy Birthday and tell her how much I love her and how proud I am that she is my daughter *sniff*.

I am hoping next week will be a bit more productive with regards to the blog : D Thank you for putting up with me *hugs you all*

Birthday Giveaway at Girls Without a Bookshelf

Firstly Happy 20th Birthday Dwayne, I hope you have a lovely day and much happiness at all times : D

In celebration of Dwayne's birthday she is having a giveaway at her blog Girls without a Bookshelf

I will show you what she is giving away but you have to promise not to enter as I really, really, really NEED these books : D

Dwayne has given the option of having 7 winners with one book each or 1 winner with all 7 books - being a complete bookaholic I want all 7 (Sorry I know its greedy but I really, really - yep you get the picture)

*Drum roll* The books are:

So now I have told you - but you still can't enter *pokes tongue out*

Good Luck Everyone : D

Monster Monday: Trailer: Fairyland Magic by Alison Maloney/Patricia Moffett

Synopsis: From Amazon

It's unbelievable, but true. Watch a fairy appear from the pages of your book, then make it fly out of a flower and dance among the trees. This book includes five spreads which trigger an augmented reality experience. All you need is a computer and a webcam. Simply load the disc contained in the book and watch as fairies come alive!

Monster Monday: In My Monsters Mailbox #1

Following on with the IMM hosted by the wonderful The Story Siren, I thought I would show you the goodies the girlies have had over the last few weeks : D you can also see that I am not the only book addicted person in our house : D

The girlies just love getting stuff in the mail it makes them feel really special : D Thank you to the lovely Jenny at Wondrous Reads for sending the big one these books.

Alison Dare, Little Miss Adventures by J Torres/J Bone

Alison Dare, The Heart of The Maiden by J Torres/J Bone

Big one said: Yay I have comics.

Asamum said: they are called graphic novels.

Big one heard: blah, blah, blah.

Big one said: yeah, comics. Then she dashed off to her bedroom to read/hide them before her sisters could see them : D Review to come : D

An Awfully Beastly Business - Werewolf versus Dragon by The Beastly Boys

An Awfully Beastly Business - Sea Monsters and Other Delicacies by The Beastly Boys

Big One said She did pick one of these up from the library but would give them a go *asamum sigh*

The Dark Horse by Marcus Sedgwick

The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge

Ally's World Collection by Karen McCrombie

All picked up at a local 2ND hand book stall. However, I didnt realise there were duplicates of some of the Ally's World and she now doesn't have the complete set :( These have also been reprinted and the new covers are beautiful : D

A massive thank you to Walker Books for these books to review. They are so pretty. Little one wants to know if there will be Moshi toys as she wants to dress them up in all the pretty outfits shown in the book.

Where is Strawberry Moshi? by Moshi Moshi

Where is Strawberry Princess Moshi? by Moshi Moshi

Another massive thank you to Carlton Books for not only sending the girlies a wonderful book for review but a web cam to play the games with : D How amazing!!!! Waiting for their father to connect it : D I am going to post the trailer for this book later as it is so amazing : D

Fairyland Magic (Augmented Reality Book) by Patricia Moffet

Moving on to their library loot ;)

Middle one is really into this series  at the moment - bless her she said I know it isn't very difficult or good for your brain Mummy *big hugs* asamum said I don't mind what you reading, it is good for your imagination and at the end of the day you are reading *grins* asastar truly is a star : D

The Tiara Club by Vivian French

Charm Hall - Midnight Mayhem by Tabitha Black

Sundae Girl by Cathy Cassidy

Caddy Ever After by Hilary McKay

Astrosaurs Academy - Destination Danger by Steve Cole

Astrosaurs - The Space Ghosts by Steve Cole

Astrosaurs - Riddle of the Raptors by Steve Cole

Astrosaurs Academy - Volcano Invaders by Steve Cole

Unbelievably big one has read all of these already : D Part of her dyspraxia is that she doesn't sleep well, reading helps her calm down and get back off to sleep : D

Little one actually didnt pick up her usual ten books at the library - she is deeply into cookbooks at the moment and working out what she would like to make over the summer holidays : D I will try to get photos of her looking at the cookbooks later : D

In My Mailbox #9

Another Mad book week in my house, full of wonderful surprises & awesome books.

Thank you to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting this meme each week : D I actual squee each time she leaves me a comment : D I love, love, love getting comments.

Thank you to the lovely Ruth & Julia at Walker Books for sending these for review. 

The  Radleys by Matt Haig

Wasted by Nicola Morgan

A surprise from the author herself. Luisa offered me the book and I said No as how on earth is she going to make money if she gives away books for free. She sent it anyway *happy dances* with the cutest note, much squeeing was involved in the opening of ths parcel. Luisa you can bet I am going to read it :)

Swapped by A Kiss by Luisa Plaja

Ohh Tesco you tempt me with your BOGOF. My hubs is banning me from walking down the book aisle but my feet seem to find their own way there and the books just jump into the trolley all by themselves. They cry to me...'take me home', so how can I resist : D

Withering Tights by Louise Rennison

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

I have been following the wonderful concept of Body Image & Self Perception Month hosted by Once Upon A Bookcase as well as last years Sex in Teen Lit Month and thought it would be a good idea to read some of these books myself as well of some that have been raved about all over blogs and twitter : D Big thanks to all the lovely people that swap their books with me, I would never be so book endowed as I am without you : D

Sugar Rush by Julie Burchill

Skin by AM Vrettos

The Other Girl by Sarah Miller

Heartbeat by Sharon Creech

Good Girls by Laura Ruby

Huge by Sasha Paley

The Kiss of Death by Marcus Sedgwick

A Bad Boy can be Good for a Girl by Tanya Lee Stone

In The Deep End by Kate Cann

Phew, awesome or what??????

Saturday Spotlight: Libraries

As a regular library user here in Wales - the girlies and I go at least once a week. I have been asked to take part in a panel to review and overhaul the library system in my County Borough.

 

I was emailed a questionnaire and a document outlining the proposals.

Here are the basics:

Some facts and figures:

• 27,000 people use County Borough libraries regularly (approximately 20% of the population)
• 60,000 people use libraries occasionally (approximately 45% of the population)
• 600,000 books are borrowed each year.
• Readers can request any book from anywhere in the world to be obtained for them free of charge. (I did not know this, did you???)
• 80% of specially requested books are obtained for readers within 7 days.

 

 
Findings: 

• The number of libraries in the County Borough is much greater than that necessary to meet standards.
• The size of libraries (in total) is well below standard due mainly to the inadequate size of the main libraries.
• Opening hours are well above standard and are the best in Wales.
• Book provision is well below standard

 

Recommendations:  

• Fit for purpose library buildings
• High quality services to be delivered & sustained within the Councils core service budget????
• Co-locating libraries within otehr community facilities (eg Sports Centres/Community Centres) in effect creating a Life Centre/Community Hub - allowing operational savings/extended opening hours/easier parking
• re-evaluating spending in order to cut poorly performing provisions and reinvest the saving in book provision
• smaller libraries would become area specific & be funded by the local community
• a single library card to access all the libraries in Wales. Books can be borrowed/returned to any library - in the hope of better book provision/shared costs/meeting a larger part of the population & providing a few more jobs. This has already been implemented successfully in another part of Wales.
• Further online features to be made available. 

I have been asked to attend a meeting next week to discuss these proposals further. If you have any questions that would be good for me to ask I would be really grateful to have them.

One of my initial concerns would be that in changing the smaller libraries to area specific that they would be in danger of becoming stereotyped based on the demographics of that particular area. 

So I really would love to hear your thoughts/questions. Thank you all for taking the time to read this post : D