Northeast Ohio Regional Library System
Back to the Book XXII: Bookaverse, Book Discussion, and Books Celebrating the Neurodiverse and LGBTQ+ Communities
Date/Time
10/25/2023
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM Eastern
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM Eastern
Event Registration
Competency
Readers' Advisory
Event Description
It is hard to believe that this is the 22nd Back to the Book. This year we are focusing on the Bookaverse, Book Discussion, and Books Celebrating the Neurodiverse and LGBTQ+ Communities
Celebrating Neurodiversity in Books
Katie Shepard will join us virtually to share her books that include neurodiverse characters as well as some other authors and titles to highlight this community.
Katie Shepard is, in no particular order, a fangirl, a gamer, a bankruptcy lawyer, and a romance author of Bear with me Now and Sweeten the Deal . Born and raised in Texas, she frequently escapes to Montana to commune with the trees and woodland creatures, resembling a Disney princess in all ways except age, appearance, and musical ability. When not writing or making white-collar criminals cry at their depositions, she enjoys playing video games in her soft pants and watching sci-fi shows with her husband, two children, and very devoted cat.
Presenter:
Katie Shepard is, in no particular order, a fangirl, a gamer, a bankruptcy lawyer, and a romance author. Born and raised in Texas, she frequently escapes to Montana to commune with the trees and woodland creatures, resembling a Disney princess in all ways except age, appearance, and musical ability. When not writing or making white-collar criminals cry at their depositions, she enjoys playing video games in her soft pants and watching sci-fi shows with her husband, two children, and very devoted cat.
BookTube, Bookstagram, and BookTok, Oh My: Understanding the Online "Bookaverse" As Tool for Professional Development
In this session, participants will learn how to engage with bookish social media spaces as a site of professional development. Whether you enter as a passive observer or an active creator, these online spaces can be a robust tool for collection development, programming ideas, lesson planning, and advocacy. Plus it's fun! Participants will leave this session with ideas for how to find content on social media to ignite ideas and address needs in the school library, as well as inspiration for how to join in by sharing content of their own!
This presentation will start by covering the different social media platforms and their respective bookish subspaces: Bookstagram, BookTube, and BookTok. Participants will learn about the value of building a curated feed in each of these spaces and building networks. We will look at hashtags, recommended accounts to follow, and best practices for finding useful content. Additionally, we will look at genres of participation both as a participant in these spaces and as a content creator.
Participants will be guided through setting a purpose for their participation in social media spaces in the Bookaverse, developing a framework and strategy for that participation, and developing goals for building their personal networks in one or more social media sites. They will also learn language for articulating the value of participation in the Bookaverse on yearly evaluations and professional development plans.
Learning Objectives:
Tara Gold is a high school librarian in Durham, NC. She has a PhD in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she researched adolescent literacy practices on BookTube, and a master's in Library and Information Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. Gold has dabbled in book blogs, book Tumblr (Booklr), Bookstagram, BookTube, and BookTok. She has also served K-12 schools as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and student teacher supervisor.
You will have a choice from the following two breakout sessions after lunch.
Making it Happen: Discussions 101
Are you new to book discussion? Have you ever wanted to start a discussion group, but didn't know where to begin? From book choices to group dynamics, this session will share information to help ensure that your discussions are meaningful and fun for both the participants and the discussion leader.
Presenter:
Mary Frances Burns, Librarian Emeritus
Mary Frances came to Ohio in December 1994 to assume the Directorship of Morley Library, the public library in Painesville. Under her leadership, the library district passed a bond issue for $11.6 million to build a new library, which opened in late fall, 2004. Mary Frances retired in 2015. Much to her surprise, this position lead her to book discussions, a special interest that she still pursues. Mary Frances leads two book discussion groups, one of which is a cooperative venture with Lakeland Community College. She participates in one other for which she only needs to read the book!
Deep Dive!: Enhance and Diversify Your Book Discussion Programs
Two veteran book discussion leaders will share their ideas for spicing up your book discussions. You will come away with fresh picks, unique titles and ideas to bring more diversity to your discussions. We will consider the benefits and practicalities of offering “deep dive” readers’ series. Plus, we will review the pros and cons of in-person, virtual and combined formats, and how to include the author. Finally, we will share some tips and tricks that we’ve learned over the years, with opportunities for your participation.
Presenters:
David McNally is the Adult Services Librarian Supervisor at the Beachwood Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library, where he has worked for the past 12 years. He leads two monthly book discussions, one in-person and one virtual. He spent the prior 17 years working in children’s services at three different CCPL branches, as well as the Lakewood Public Library. David graduated from Kent State with his MLIS in 2000. He also attended Baldwin-Wallace College where he obtained a BA in Business Administration.
Kate Merlene is the Adult Services Librarian Supervisor at Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Orange Branch, where she has been a longtime, passionate advocate for connecting people with their next great read. She leads three monthly book discussions and annual deep-dive reader’s series with her colleague Dave McNally. She has moderated fiction panels for Library Journal’s Virtual Day of Dialog, and is part of CCPL’s author event team. She writes Library Journal’s daily column Book Pulse, which provides current title, author, and media information for librarians who buy and recommend books.
"Everything I Know About Myself, I Learned from Mystery Novels" : queer coming of age through the lens of crime fiction
Kristen Lepionka, author of the award-winning Roxane Weary mystery series and founder of Queer Crime Writers, talks about queer identity, writing life, and how mystery novels have educated her along the way.
Presenter:
Kristen Lepionka (she/her) writes queer stories about smart women in tough spots, including the award-winning Roxane Weary private investigator series and the forthcoming One of Those Girls (Minotaur). She likes: telling stories, inclusivity, cats, tattoos, iced coffee, film noir, museums, DIY, looking at stars, sunflowers, and hot sauce. She lives with her partner and two cats in Columbus, Ohio.
Celebrating Neurodiversity in Books
Katie Shepard will join us virtually to share her books that include neurodiverse characters as well as some other authors and titles to highlight this community.
Katie Shepard is, in no particular order, a fangirl, a gamer, a bankruptcy lawyer, and a romance author of Bear with me Now and Sweeten the Deal . Born and raised in Texas, she frequently escapes to Montana to commune with the trees and woodland creatures, resembling a Disney princess in all ways except age, appearance, and musical ability. When not writing or making white-collar criminals cry at their depositions, she enjoys playing video games in her soft pants and watching sci-fi shows with her husband, two children, and very devoted cat.
Presenter:
Katie Shepard is, in no particular order, a fangirl, a gamer, a bankruptcy lawyer, and a romance author. Born and raised in Texas, she frequently escapes to Montana to commune with the trees and woodland creatures, resembling a Disney princess in all ways except age, appearance, and musical ability. When not writing or making white-collar criminals cry at their depositions, she enjoys playing video games in her soft pants and watching sci-fi shows with her husband, two children, and very devoted cat.BookTube, Bookstagram, and BookTok, Oh My: Understanding the Online "Bookaverse" As Tool for Professional Development
In this session, participants will learn how to engage with bookish social media spaces as a site of professional development. Whether you enter as a passive observer or an active creator, these online spaces can be a robust tool for collection development, programming ideas, lesson planning, and advocacy. Plus it's fun! Participants will leave this session with ideas for how to find content on social media to ignite ideas and address needs in the school library, as well as inspiration for how to join in by sharing content of their own!
This presentation will start by covering the different social media platforms and their respective bookish subspaces: Bookstagram, BookTube, and BookTok. Participants will learn about the value of building a curated feed in each of these spaces and building networks. We will look at hashtags, recommended accounts to follow, and best practices for finding useful content. Additionally, we will look at genres of participation both as a participant in these spaces and as a content creator.
Participants will be guided through setting a purpose for their participation in social media spaces in the Bookaverse, developing a framework and strategy for that participation, and developing goals for building their personal networks in one or more social media sites. They will also learn language for articulating the value of participation in the Bookaverse on yearly evaluations and professional development plans.
Learning Objectives:
- Upon completion, participants will be able to describe their personal learning needs that can be met through participation in the Bookaverse.
- Upon completion, participants will be able to identify which social media platforms would suit their learning needs and why.
- Upon completion, participants will be able to articulate the value of social media as a professional development tool.
Tara Gold is a high school librarian in Durham, NC. She has a PhD in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she researched adolescent literacy practices on BookTube, and a master's in Library and Information Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. Gold has dabbled in book blogs, book Tumblr (Booklr), Bookstagram, BookTube, and BookTok. She has also served K-12 schools as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and student teacher supervisor.You will have a choice from the following two breakout sessions after lunch.
Making it Happen: Discussions 101
Are you new to book discussion? Have you ever wanted to start a discussion group, but didn't know where to begin? From book choices to group dynamics, this session will share information to help ensure that your discussions are meaningful and fun for both the participants and the discussion leader.
Presenter:
Mary Frances Burns, Librarian EmeritusMary Frances came to Ohio in December 1994 to assume the Directorship of Morley Library, the public library in Painesville. Under her leadership, the library district passed a bond issue for $11.6 million to build a new library, which opened in late fall, 2004. Mary Frances retired in 2015. Much to her surprise, this position lead her to book discussions, a special interest that she still pursues. Mary Frances leads two book discussion groups, one of which is a cooperative venture with Lakeland Community College. She participates in one other for which she only needs to read the book!
Deep Dive!: Enhance and Diversify Your Book Discussion Programs
Two veteran book discussion leaders will share their ideas for spicing up your book discussions. You will come away with fresh picks, unique titles and ideas to bring more diversity to your discussions. We will consider the benefits and practicalities of offering “deep dive” readers’ series. Plus, we will review the pros and cons of in-person, virtual and combined formats, and how to include the author. Finally, we will share some tips and tricks that we’ve learned over the years, with opportunities for your participation.
Presenters:
David McNally is the Adult Services Librarian Supervisor at the Beachwood Branch of Cuyahoga County Public Library, where he has worked for the past 12 years. He leads two monthly book discussions, one in-person and one virtual. He spent the prior 17 years working in children’s services at three different CCPL branches, as well as the Lakewood Public Library. David graduated from Kent State with his MLIS in 2000. He also attended Baldwin-Wallace College where he obtained a BA in Business Administration.Kate Merlene is the Adult Services Librarian Supervisor at Cuyahoga County Public Library’s Orange Branch, where she has been a longtime, passionate advocate for connecting people with their next great read. She leads three monthly book discussions and annual deep-dive reader’s series with her colleague Dave McNally. She has moderated fiction panels for Library Journal’s Virtual Day of Dialog, and is part of CCPL’s author event team. She writes Library Journal’s daily column Book Pulse, which provides current title, author, and media information for librarians who buy and recommend books."Everything I Know About Myself, I Learned from Mystery Novels" : queer coming of age through the lens of crime fiction
Kristen Lepionka, author of the award-winning Roxane Weary mystery series and founder of Queer Crime Writers, talks about queer identity, writing life, and how mystery novels have educated her along the way.
Presenter:
Kristen Lepionka (she/her) writes queer stories about smart women in tough spots, including the award-winning Roxane Weary private investigator series and the forthcoming One of Those Girls (Minotaur). She likes: telling stories, inclusivity, cats, tattoos, iced coffee, film noir, museums, DIY, looking at stars, sunflowers, and hot sauce. She lives with her partner and two cats in Columbus, Ohio.Location
Contact Person
Details
Who Should Attend: Anyone interested in learning more about the Bookaverse, Book Discussion, & LGBTQ+ Books and Authors
Competency: Programming and Readers' Advisory
Non-Member Cost: $160
NEO-RLS Bronze Member Cost: $120
NEO-RLS Silver Member Cost: $80
NEO-RLS Gold Member Cost: FREE
NEO-RLS Individual Member Cost: $80
There is an additional $35 surcharge for facility use and amenities.
Lunch will be provided.
We encourage you to register a minimum of three (5) days in advance for this event in order to ensure that we can accommodate your full participation in terms of seating, hand-outs, food, etc.
This event is supported by the State Library of Ohio with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
It’s never too late to save your library money. NEO-RLS Memberships are pro-rated! Call us today to join.
Competency: Programming and Readers' Advisory
Non-Member Cost: $160
NEO-RLS Bronze Member Cost: $120
NEO-RLS Silver Member Cost: $80
NEO-RLS Gold Member Cost: FREE
NEO-RLS Individual Member Cost: $80
There is an additional $35 surcharge for facility use and amenities.
Lunch will be provided.
We encourage you to register a minimum of three (5) days in advance for this event in order to ensure that we can accommodate your full participation in terms of seating, hand-outs, food, etc.
This event is supported by the State Library of Ohio with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
It’s never too late to save your library money. NEO-RLS Memberships are pro-rated! Call us today to join.
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