If it’s not already, winter break will soon be upon us all, and what better place to spend some free time than at the library? That’s right. Throw on your warmest jacket, track down everyone’s mittens (matching not required), and make your way to a heated place filled with tons of possibilities for everyone’s imaginations. Today we are chatting with Liz Anderson, a children’s librarian at the Georgetown Branch of D.C. Public Library. Inspired to follow the library track as she dove into the young adult book blogging community, Liz shares some fab book recs for all ages, which queen is part of her winter festivities at work, and what reads she’s most excited for in 2017.
The Georgetown Branch of the D.C. Public Library
What book did you most adore as a child?
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey. My mother would read it to me and tell me about her experiences growing up in Maine and picking blueberries.
What book you are constantly recommending?
I’ve been recommending Harriet the Invincible by Ursula Vernon to so many children. It made the 2016 Amelia Bloomer List and is a ridiculously fun read.
What book has the longest waiting list at your library?
Right now it’s probably The Girl With the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer.
What your favorite feature of your library?
We have a terrace behind our library—complete with tables and chairs—where we always have our end-of-summer reading party. It’s great in good weather.
What’s one of the more memorable things you found in a returned library book?
I once found a note from a mother to a child which read something along the lines of, “Dear Bob, Have a wonderful day at school and have fun at the museum! Here is a picture of an ambulance.” with a little ambulance drawn on it. The ambulance seemed a bit random but quite adorable.
How do you celebrate the winter and the holidays at work?
This year we’re throwing a Winter Party. We’ll have wintry stories including Jingle-Jingle by Nicola Smee and Cookie Count by Robert Sabuda. We’ll also have crafts such as making pipe cleaner and paper snowflakes, and decorating foam gingerbread people. We’re planning a cookie decorating station and we’ll wrap things up by showing Frozen. There’s also a Winter Reading Challenge; It’s a great way to keep the kids motivated to read while they are on vacation.
What titles should we look out for in 2017?
Personally, I am really looking forward to When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon and The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertali. For middle grade readers I’m especially curious about Forget Me Not by Ellie Terry and Spirit Hunters by Ellen Oh.
Thanks so much for sharing with us, Liz!
We hope you all find some comfort and joy at your libraries this winter, and are looking forward to a whole new year of precious borrowed books!
Liz Anderson is a Children’s Librarian at a public library in D.C. where she reviews middle grade and young adult books for School Library Journal and blogs sporadically at Consumed by Books. She is a feminist with many geeky interests. She lives with her boyfriend in the city and when she is not working, she enjoys reading, writing, cycling, cooking, baking, and snuggling with her two cats, Asuna and Eowyn. Find her on Twitter and Instagram.
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