March Book Reviews

Published by The Reading Agency, The Library Book is a celebration of the institution from authors, celebrities and self-confessed bibliophiles. Published during the height of library closures personalities ranging from Alan Bennett to Caitlin Moran share anecdotes on their library adventures, lessons learnt, friends made and beliefs made possible by the power of books and the dark grey buildings that house them. 

Uplifting and humorous at times - a good addition to any bedside or coffee table.




When Kendra moves back to England from Australia she leaves a turbulent past behind to be confronted with a new problem. Becoming an inadvertent nanny to her new landlord's children, she is embraced by the whole family.. not as happy as you may think she'd be by this turn of events. Kendra tries to strike a balance in her new life whilst trying to fight her own demons and come to terms with what happened in the past.

An unusual choice for me but I'm glad I persevered with it. I wasn't aware till very recently that one of our prime ministers had been assassinated and once I found out, I wanted to know the whole story. Ready for the history lesson... Turns out it's all rather dull and British really. John Bellingham had had enough in 1812 after a long dispute with the British government regarding a wrongful and long stay in a Russian prison. having no aide to afforded to him by the government of the day he did what he believed the last possible act of justice by shooting Spencer Perceval in order to gain an audience for his grievances.

For the novice historian this was very easy to follow with extracts from the trial and background of both the principles well explained. A must for any history buffs.

A Monster Calls is Patrick Ness' fourth novel after the Chaos Walking trilogy. Built upon from the original idea of Siobhan Dowd, this tells the story of 13 year old Connor coming to terms with his mother's fatal illness. This story is beautifully illustrated by Jim Kay and won both the Carnegie and Greenaway awards in 2012 (the first o do so in the medals history).

An emotional and heart wrenching story, easily read in one sitting when the monster comes calling he helps Connor to admit the truth and share his story, his fears and hopes. A coming of age story for this generation which will resonate for years to come.

 A zombie story with a twist.... R is a zombie but when he meets Julie, things start to change. As they get to know each other and share their stories, R is changing, memories are returning, life could be getting back to normal but the boneys don't think that way. 

It's so nice to read a zombie story with an original perspective and I thoroughly enjoyed Warm Bodies.. can't wait for another instalment.








An exploration of two teenage girls from very different backgrounds looking for love and acceptance in a world turned upside down.

When Jill's father died she lost all meaning to her life, closing herself off from family, friends, and her boyfriend Dylan she tries to find her new place in the world. Her mum is trying to do the same and invites Mandy into their loves.

Mandy is 33 weeks pregnant, fleeing from her mother who doesn't love her and a stepfather who abuses her, the only love she's ever known is an afternoon with a boy called Christopher.. who may or may not be the father of her baby. 

A story full of powerful emotion and self discovery, I couldn't put it down!

“A library once lost is lost forever”

The quote above is one of my originals with a hint of Jane Austen for good measure! I suppose this post is really about me putting in my penny’s worth about public libraries and the precarious state they find themselves in these days. I remember coming across a quote whilst I was writing my dissertation three years ago (which focused on 2008’s National Year of Reading) which stated that more people visited a library then went to a professional football match or the cinema (Framework for the Future­, 2003: 12).

I have to say three years on, it doesn’t feel this way. I work in three different level libraries in Wiltshire and there are increasingly times when the only people in the library are the staff. Now I’m not saying that I want the library to be choc-a-bloc full all day everyday, I’m realistic but it has recently started to feel like the media hype might be right. Visitor and issue figures for public libraries are suffering a downfall nationally which can be blamed on the use of eBooks and new technology or the nature of life these days; more people working longer hours, commuting longer and therefore not having enough downtime. This may be my naivety coming across but I would have thought with the national media coverage the library profession has had over the last couple of years this would boost our numbers, not have a negative impact.

Wiltshire have not been affected as drastically as neighbouring local authorities in terms of cuts and there is relatively little difference on the frontline between now and 2009. None of the 30 libraries in Wiltshire have been closed, our 5 mobile routes are still in existence and our smallest ten libraries are now volunteer led with library assistants working behind the scenes. There has been a reduction in opening hours and the introduction of self service RFID machines in all libraries have been the only public facing cuts, but this is to be expected. Behind the scenes there has been a reduction in staffing top down from management to admin staff, librarians and frontline staff and a cut to our stock fund and budget for three years running. Therefore for the public who do use us it feels like business as usual... behind the scenes we are still trying to provide the same level of service on limited staffing, time and resources whilst also trying to attract new members.

 Like many public services, we are all trying to learn quickly how to do more with less. It would be interesting to find out if different authorities have had the same reaction from the public, or are those that have had to fight more publicly picked up a new following? I do feel in Wiltshire for all the media attention libraries have had over the last two years there is little reflection in the visitor and issue figures. Of course there will always be the customers who come in and lend their support, those who you’ve never seen before come in to make sure you’re not closing and tell you that they will fight alongside if anything may happen but overall there has been no increase in membership or active borrowing and libraries are quieter than a year ago.

We also have to fight against those who believe the library has had its day – most recently the tirade from beloved children’s author Terry Deary (who coincidentally I had just put a display up in the library to celebrate his 20 years of Horrible Histories... thanks Tel!). Anyone who believes libraries are not an essential service are clearly a few sandwiches short of a picnic. This comes down in my honest opinion to ignorance of the range of services which are now provided by libraries. In times of austerity, libraries become even more important, helping with services such as job clubs, CV workshops, benefits help and in its purest form providing a social space for people to interact. There are also those who believe eBooks and digital publishing has filled the void of libraries. Yes, many local authorities now provide an eBook service alongside print but the number of publishers who do not publish electronic material make an e-collection very limited (Wiltshire’s collection at the moment is just under 3000 titles which include non-fiction and children’s titles). Not everyone can afford an e-reader or want an e-reader and those that can and do in my experience still have a fondness for the printed word as well.

Librarianship has always been an ever evolving profession, staff and spaces have to be adaptable and willing to change and that’s how libraries have survived through history. If you think about a library even twenty years ago it was a completely different service... the imposed silence rule if nothing else... I’d love to know if anyone can still enforce this with success in the public sector! Whose to say what the next twenty years will bring but I am confident that with new technologies the library service will find its place... there will always be a need for a free service to help people navigate new technologies and promote the pleasure and benefits of reading. In my own mind I do hope it’s not completely virtual... there is something about walking through the doors of any library and exploring the shelves which you can’t get from a screen.

The more immediate problem is reaching different audiences and promoting our value to those who may believe that the library has nothing to offer them. Yes it’s all about technology these days; facebook, twitter, linkedin, snapchat etc but how do you reach those who are caught in the digital divide? Do you go back to envelope stuffing? Local advertising is always beneficial and you should be able to rely on word of mouth but causing a stir about the library isn’t cheap and with ever cutting budgets we need to become innovative in the ways we market our services.

I have no doubt that libraries will still be around fifty years from now, maybe not in the same capacity that we are now but there will always be a place for a service which thrives on helping and enabling communities, providing a safe and impartial environment for all who need it. What we need to do is make sure that we continue to adapt to society’s needs and embrace new technologies and are able to deliver these services in an efficient and helpful way. There is a little bit of hope for the future though... the pictures below were taken in Calne Library... a Love Libraries display that ran through February asking members to share why they loved their library.

February Book Reviews

Let's get one thing straight.... There's no such thing as too many demigods! This is the third Heroes of Olympus book which sees Jason, Leo, Hazel and Frank unite with our fave greek demigods Percy, Annabeth and Piper! Their mission... to save the world, no biggie! 

Annabeth has a mission of her own, evoked by her mother Athena she must find the sacred mark to stop the world imploding whist Roman and Greek Gods fight against each other and themselves. With monsters and enemies galore the group of 7 try to fulfil the prophecy laid out before them whilst stepping over hormones, emotions and angst worthy of any teenager. Another brilliant episode... do I have to wait two years for the next one?

A contemporary case for the amazing Sherlock Holmes and his trusty sidekick Doctor Watson. Reading this with the dramatisation of Benedict Cumberbatch in my mind got a bit confusing as Horowitz sets his case in Victorian Britain but he does brilliantly in capturing the essence of the main characters with cameos from Lestrade and Moriarty.

The case of The House of Silk has a slight contemporary twist which was shocking in a historical setting and although I haven't read any original Conan Doyle I felt that this focussed more on the intrepid detective and his sidekick than the case in question. Has definitely made me want to read some of the original chronicles though.



An interesting twist on the normal secondary school teen drama. It's the week  of Xanthe's  thirteenth birthday and the first week back at school. Her best friend is amazing, the boy she likes finally likes her back and life is pretty sweet but Kelly has it out for her and things are about to take a turn for the worst.

As accidents begin to happen and Kelly keeps getting Xanthe in to trouble  she begins to think this isn't going to be her year but a frank conversation with her great grandmother changes her whole world. A funny and realistic portrayal of school life with a bit of supernatural thrown in.. a brilliant page turner for 9yrs+

An ironic choice of book over the Valentine's week... A comical and contemporary look at women over 35 who haven't managed to find 'the one' yet. 

Amelia Lockwood is 37, has friends to die for, a high-flying job in TV but no-one to wake up. That is all going to change when she goes on a night course guaranteed to find her a man to marry before the year is out. What ensues is a plotted history of Amelia's disastrous exes who she has to track down and ask 'what went wrong?'. With a monk, an out-and out gay guy and a mental patient in her history what will Amelia's dating future bring and will she be able to handle it? 


The spell has been broken - I have found a William Nicholson book I did not fall in love with... ironic really given it's title. This is one of Nicholson's earlier offerings which left me feeling very little of anything. Bron is nearing his thirtieth birthday and has never found the woman to who he can say those three little words .. so what does he do? He writes a book about it naturally! Bron's research into love at first sight sets him on a journey with the femme fatale Flora who doesn't believe in love but he is desperate to change her mind. The writing is classic Nicholson but I felt that something was missing. He does ensemble novels so well and yet this one plot just didn't have any heart in it. Bron is a likeable enough character but you just feel the need to shake him and tell him to get over it... mind you haven't we all wanted to do that to one of our friends at one point or another?

Reflections on the CPD23

I made it... WOOHOO! It’s been a long slog and I know I haven’t kept to the timetable but I am very happy to have completed the CPD23 course. It has been an invaluable tool in CPD learning about different applications that I otherwise may not have heard of.

The beginning of the course, working out a personal brand and finally getting my blog up and running has been really helpful. Realising how much of an online presence I have really shocked me and so I have changed the way I interact on certain social media to maintain a professional  persona if you will (as much as I can). Social media has also helped me to network in ways that wasn't possible ten years ago and have meaningful discussions with colleagues I may not otherwise ever get the chance to meet. A course like this gives you the push you need to look at yourself in a professional light and work out where your strengths and weaknesses lie. It’s also very interesting to see other professional’s views on subjects that in turn influence your own. This programme has pushed me to look at online tools such as dropbox and Google docs which I have heard about but never made the time to explore properly. 

What I need to make sure now is that I keep up with new applications and theories by actively following colleagues’ blogs and keeping up to date with publications such as CILIP Update.

Thank you to all the CPD23 bloggers who have made the programme educational and fun, bringing their own perspectives to applications and programmes and sharing their knowledge with the rest of the profession.

What’s next for me? Well I am working my way through chartership and am ready to start pulling my portfolio together so watch this space... and who knows what might happen at work... every day is a challenge but one I’m ready for!

Strengths, Interests and Volunteering (Things 21 and 22)

Strengths and Interests

As part of my chartership I have been looking at my strengths and interests to make sure that my CPD is going in the right direction. I conducted a SWOT analysis whilst writing my PPDP and asked my line manager to contribute as well... very open to constructive criticism.

Since studying at Sheffield and writing my dissertation I have taken a keen interest in reader development but this seems to be the part of librarianship that is slowly dying. If you look at organisational charts of ten years ago you would see a full time post of reader development librarian but these roles have now been watered down and folded in to librarian positions. I spent a day shadowing Wiltshire Council’s library operations manager who as part of his role is responsible for reader development from everything to reading lists to the running of the six book challenge, author events and more. I have written about this before and so will not go into too much detail here (Reflections on Shadowing). I have been very lucky that since this shadowing experience an expressing an interest in reader development, colleagues higher in the library service have given me opportunities to work in this field; creating reading lists, helping with stock selection and working  on the national reading well campaign collection (part of the four core services set out by the SCL).

Interests outside of librarianship have helped to influence displays and events including dramatic readings of favourite poets and read the film displays. Looking at your strength and interests and updating your CV whilst in a positive mood can be very beneficial. In terms of interview tips the best I can say is be yourself, prepare well and don’t act your way through an interview. Remember it’s as much about making sure it’s a good fit for you as much as the company you’re interviewing for.  

Volunteering Experience

In the blog post for thing 22, Bronagh McCrudden spoke about the idea of experience catch22 and she could not be more right. Especially in this job market young people are finding it harder and harder to get breaks into employment and not everyone can afford to volunteer for free.

A lot of the experience I have in the library sector has come from volunteering opportunities. When I went to library school I had no specific library experience and felt that I was going in behind everyone else. I have volunteered in a local studies library and a public library whilst studying and job hunting and it was not until I had these experiences that some of the theory I learnt made sense.

After a talk given by David Smith of the Hull Local Studies Library as part of my degree studies I approached him about work experience at the library. This was at a time when the library was moving into its new facility and so a lot of my time was spent cataloguing stock. At this time the library wasn’t open to customers which was a shame but I learnt a lot about the different stock the library held and anecdotes about research undertaken on behalf of customers. I spent a day a week at the library for six months before having to focus on my dissertation.

I strongly believe that the six months I volunteered at Catford Public Library helped me to get the job I have today. By experiencing the day to day running of a library I had a database of knowledge at my disposal for interview scenarios. Again this was a day a week in which I got to shadow library staff, take part in baby rhyme times and activities, learnt weeding policy and helped with school assemblies. This was invaluable experience that helped me talk more openly during interviews and gave me the confidence to go after jobs that I thought I was ill qualified for previously.

I am a strong believer in volunteering as work experience and giving people the opportunity to learn more about a profession that they are passionate about. As staffing gets tighter and budgets are cut it gets harder to find the time to devote to younger professionals who are the future of librarianship but it is one of the easiest ways to promote the profession to a younger generation.

An Overdue Apology

So I started my CPD23 journey back in November 2011 (OMG) and it's fair to say that I've had quite a languid approach doing bits and pieces here and there but I am determined to finish it by the end of this month (it's in print now... I have to do it!)

One of the issues (apart from my hideous lack of commitment and laziness) is getting to grips with these applications with a laptop that belongs in the 80s. It unfortunately has given up the ghost and the secure network at work does not let me download programmes and applications so it has made it difficult to explore these tools. 

With this in mind I'm going to skip on over to thing 20 and explore the library routes project and hopefully come February 28th I'll be able to reflect on what I believe is a truly great programme of CPD . Thanks to all involved in the CPD23 project and may I take this moment to recommend working through the programme to any who haven't embarked yet.

Cotham School Library, Bristol

After attending a career’s event at UWE in November I arranged a visit to Cotham School Library in Bristol with their Librarian. I’ve always been interested in school librarianship but the idea of lone working frankly scares the bejesus out of me (self confidence thing - I'm working on it though). Much like public librarianship I think there are hidden depths to the variety and scope of school librarianship that people don’t realise. This was affirmed after spending the morning in the library. The librarian works in a small team with two other library assistants on part time contracts but the running and maintenance of the library and the stock are ultimately her responsibility. Along with this there is also the need to liaise with teaching staff and the chance to teach information literacy sessions and other library sessions in the library and out in the school.

On the Cotham School website it says "The Library aims to be a whole school resource, providing materials for all aspects of school work as well as for the development of personal interest and recreational reading." The collection is very impressive and in my opinion lives up to it's aims. It also includes a staff collection with the latest development textbooks and a small adult fiction selection. The main library is a main floor and a mezzanine. The latter is a quiet sixth form study area which has a mezzanine collection of post 16 fiction along with a bank of computers and tables. This was very well used in the morning that I was there as it was exam time and free lessons can be spent here. The main floor has a bank of twenty computers, a large non-fiction collection and fiction collection including graphic novels. I was impressed by the range of the collection – the fiction collection runs from the predictable Jacqueline Wilson, Robert Muchamore but also has George RR Martin’s Game of Thrones and Philippa Gregory novels. I asked the librarian about the mix of junior, YA and adult fiction and there are age guidelines on the inside cover of the older spectrum. All issues and returns are run through the counter which means that staff can supervise what is issued. It was also interesting to note that the librarian doesn't use just one supplier and actually has reps come in to see her on a regular basis.

At break time the library becomes a hive of activity. Although there is a strict silence rule enforced there is a general hum of productivity with students using online facilities, printing homework or just sitting down to read for 10 minutes in between classes. Teaching staff are also timetabled on to supervise in the library during breaks and at lunch and there is a strong sense of discipline. The library is open both before and after school and student's are given every opportunity to use the facilities in the library during opening hours.

I know that one of the harder issues in school librarianship like academic librarianship is gaining the support and respect of the teaching faculty and making sure that the library’s voice and message is getting through to students. There is no better way of doing this than advocating your worth and value to staff. The librarian admitted she is very lucky in that she has a lot of support from both the head and deputy head of the school and weekly staff briefings are actually held in the library making it a vocal point of the school. There is still an issue though which to those outside the profession may not seem a big deal but to those who do the differentiation between librarians and library assistants is significant. Selling the value to libraries and their staff to teaching staff and parents is almost as important as selling it to the students themselves but it can be an uphill struggle. Workshops have been held with parents of year 7 students to support reading for pleasure and dealing with book recommendations but with mixed results.

Being here for just a few hours dispelled a few myths for me. It also taught me that maybe I could do this some day. It is a role with many different threads, it requires creativity and the lateral thinking and I truly believe school librarians in general must be some of the hardest working in the profession. I am not ignorant to the troubles this sector is having at the moment and the idea that schools, especially secondary schools could lose this invaluable resource is maddening and worrying in equal measure.