Texas libraries named Star Libraries for 2017
Eleven Texas Libraries were chosen by Library Journal and Baker & Taylor as Star Libraries for 2017. This is tenth year that this selection process has occurred. Nationwide, there were 259 Star Libraries, each receiving three-Star, four-Star, or five-Star designations.
From 2009 through 2015, the four measures included were circulation, library visits, program attendance, and public Internet computer use. LJ Index scores are produced by measuring the proportional relationships between each library’s statistics and the averages for its expenditure ¬category. Last year, circulation of electronic materials, or e-circ, became the fifth statistic to contribute to a library’s LJ Index score.
Eligible libraries are grouped by total operating expenditures and, within each group, rated based on their differences from the means, or averages, of the five per capita statistics.
For example, in Texas, the Springlake-Earth library has an annual budget of only $50,000 to $99,999, but averages 16.7 visits to the library per capita and is ranked a five-Star library.
For the complete list, visit http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2017/12/managing-libraries/lj-index/class-of-2017/all-the-stars-2017-state-by-state
(Compiled from Library Journal reporting)
Texas Writes at the Alvarado Public Library in Alvarado Jan. 13, 2018
Texas Writes is a statewide program that brings accomplished authors to rural libraries for a half day of presentations and panel discussions. Each event is free and open to the public.
This event will feature presentations from authors Jeramey Kraatz and Karen Witemeyer at the Alvarado Public Library in Alvadaro, Texas, Jan. 13, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.. More information on the presentations will be posted prior to the event. To pre-register for this event, contact the library at (817) 783-7323.
KidLit: Writing for Children and Teens
Writing for kids is a terribly rewarding endeavor, but can be tricky; How do you know what age group your story is for and ensure that your work is resonating with your audience? In this talk Jeramey Kraatz breaks down the differences between Middle Grade and Young Adult novels and focuses on strategies to make your kidlit stories as dynamic as possible.
Jeramey Kraatz is the author of The Cloak Room series and The Space Runners series from HarperCollins. He lives in Texas, where he writes scripts for the cartoon industry and teaches.
Tapping Into Personal Emotions to Create Unforgettable Characters
No matter what genre you write, the key to creating a memorable experience for your reader is to tap into that universal element that makes us all human—emotion. The good news is that you’ve already done all of the necessary research. You lived! This workshop will teach you how to take personal emotion and turn it into powerful prose that will grab a reader’s attention and capture their heart by developing a genuine author voice, utilizing a deep point of view with your characters, and mastering the aspects of narrative pacing.
Karen Witemeyer is a life-long bookworm, living her dream by writing historical novels. Her books have consistently hit bestseller lists and garnered numerous awards. She lives in Abilene with her family. www.karenwitemeyer.com
(Compiled from organization’s press release)
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More than 300 booksellers receive 2017 holiday bonuses from author James Patterson, including 12 from Texas
On Monday, December 18, 2017, bestselling author James Patterson announced the names of more than 300 independent booksellers receiving grants totaling $350,000 (up $100,000 over previous years) as part of his Holiday Bookstore Bonus Program. Patterson partnered with the American Booksellers Association to distribute the funds, which were awarded to individual booksellers in amounts ranging from $750 to $1,250. The full list of the recipients appears at BookWeb.org/bonus.
The grant application asked one question: “Why does this bookseller deserve a holiday bonus?”
Patterson personally selected winners from bookstores all across the country, and many of the recipients come from areas hard hit by natural disasters, including Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston, Copperfield’s in Napa, and various stores in Florida. Nominated booksellers were praised for their perseverance in the face of these hardships, as well as for their contagious enthusiasm, skilled hand-selling, innovation, and, most important, dedication to books and reading.
“I was thrilled to increase the donation amount of this year’s bonuses given the overwhelming response we’ve had to past campaigns,” said Patterson. “This holiday season, in particular, underscored how deserving these booksellers are — many of the recipients came from stores that dealt with major damage from hurricanes and wildfires, in addition to the challenges they faced in an ever-changing retail environment. These bonuses are my humble acknowledgment of their commitment to putting books into the hands of readers, and I hope these grants make a positive difference in their lives.”
American Booksellers Association CEO Oren Teicher said, “With this expansion of his Holiday Bookstore Bonus Program, James Patterson continues to demonstrate his extraordinary commitment to literacy and independent booksellers. In a year that has proved so challenging to many booksellers because of natural disasters, we are even more grateful. Thanks to his ongoing generosity, over twice as many independent booksellers who are working so hard to serve their communities by connecting authors and readers of all ages will receive well-earned bonuses.”
In 2016, Patterson donated $250,000 in holiday bonuses to 149 independent bookstore employees across the country; in 2015, he donated $250,000 in holiday bonuses to 87 bookstore employees. In 2014, he awarded $1 million in grants to 178 independent bookstores that were recognized for doing an outstanding job of fostering a love of reading in young children. Over the past decade, Patterson has given away over a million books to students and visited hundreds of schools to advocate for youth literacy.
Twelve Texas booksellers from three cities—Austin, Houston, and San Antonio–received holiday bonuses from Patterson.
AUSTIN
Abby Fennewald, BookPeople
Fernando A. Flores, Malvern Books
Staci Gray, BookPeople
Consuelo Hacker, BookPeople
Michael Stuart, BookPeople
Thomas Wilkerson, BookPeople
Susan Post, BookWoman
HOUSTON
Cathy Berner, Blue Willow Bookshop
Laura Garcia, Katy Budget Books
Valerie Koehler, Blue Willow Bookshop
Stacey Ward, Katy Budget Books
SAN ANTONIO
Susanna Nawrocki, The Twig Book Shop
(Information compiled from booktrade publications)
(Information and photo from organization’s press release)
New Writers and Historians Project launched in Galveston
Humanities Texas makes grant to Bryan Museum
GALVESTON — Galveston’s Bryan Museum recently launched its New Writers and Historians Project, which aims to make the museum’s collection accessible to students while also promoting critical thinking and creative writing.
Over the last few months, the museum has developed a series of virtual reality videos for seventh-grade Texas history courses. These videos provide students the opportunity to explore the Bryan Museum by using touch controllers that interact with designated elements of the museum and its collection. Students are able to move through the museum and study paintings, sculptures, and artifacts that bring Texas history to life. The virtual reality tours will be accompanied by guided discussions, critical thinking exercises, and creative writing activities.
This initiative was funded in part by a grant from Humanities Texas. To learn more about the New Writers and Historians Project visit The Bryan Museum’s website.
(Information from organization’s website)
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