What I added-Alex Mendoza

Hello everyone,

My name is Alex and I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute

to this blog. I am a Library Assistant and Substitute teacher.

One of my favorite early experiences at the library was discovering

as a later elementary school student that you do not have

to wait until a class visit to check out desired items from the library.

As a result, I came to relish the sense of community I found there

along with easy to access new copies of Harry Potter, the next

serialized edition of Goosebumps, or the most interesting

animal of the week that I absolutely had to learn about next. 

For my contribution, I wanted to share some resources in this

post that have made reading and time at the library feel more

community oriented, along with links to examples of how each

project has been run in some southern California libraries that

I have frequented. Each of the following events, communities,

and competitions suggest avenues for hosting literary

discussions or showcasing reading/art inspired

creative works via social media, on behalf of library

organizations.

1. Book Clubs:

1. Explanation-Book clubs are an excellent way to foster

2. enthusiasm for a continued dedication to literacy and

3. are a program that can be held remotely, in person,

4. or with a dual-medium emphasis allowing participants

5. to compare novels to their cinematographic renditions. 

2. Example(s):

1. San Diego City Library Zoom Book Club

2. Fable App: Find The Right Book Club For You

3. Bookclubs.com 

1. Club Insomnia Thriller Book Club

2. Armchair Excavations Self Improvement Book Club

3. The Dark Resonance Horror and Suspense Book Club

4. Read the Classics Book Club      

5. Lemon Love Book Club: By and for Women Readers

6. Reese Book Club: Let Women's Stories Shine 

4.  Braille Institute Book Club for Low Vision Readers 

2. Booktube:

1. Explanation-

2. Booktube is an established genre of online content makers  

   who read much discussed works from emergent and well known  

   authors. This online community of video essayists shares their  

   insights on themes, characterization, offers reviews of the  

   selected material, and sometimes even offers discussion  

   forums for avid watchers to partake in together such as  

   on discord. Not to mention, the comments section can  

   serve as a great way to share and comment on one  

   another’s thoughts on the book of the day. Below are  

   just a few of those whose work I have heard or recommended. 

2. Example(s):

1. Merphy Napier:

2. Former publishing industry worker commenting  

   on bestsellers, fantasy, manga, young adult, and  

   dystopian literature

3.  Jesse The Reader:

4. Young adult literature enthusiast and contributor to the  

   epic-reads channel's movie-book comparison segment

5. Ariel Bissett:

6. Prolific commenter of short form literary mediums  

   such as graphic novels, poetry, manga, and short stories,  

   who occasionally discusses mental health topics

7. Jack Edwards:

8. English Literature graduate from Durham University 

   who reviews celebrity reading suggestions

3. Library and Reading competitions:

1. Explanation-

2. Libraries often provide patrons with opportunities to  

   submit  creative work, which can allow them to contribute  

   something meaningful  and visible to the library itself, or  

   obtain recognition for their talents.  These events allow  

   patrons to become acquainted with members of their  

   community’s artistic scene or sharpen the skills they  

   are proud of.  The opportunities below are localized to  

   my area in Southern California,  however, they are largely  

   widely held programs that many libraries  

   throughout the country offer to their patron-base. 

2. Example(s):

1. San Diego Writers Contest 

2. LA Bookmark Contest

3. San Diego Pride Themed Library Card Design Contest  

4. Matchbook Contest:

1. Explanation:

2. Libraries and literacy organizations may also consider,  

   and often offer,  participation in contests that entail the  

   showcase of mixed media skills such as art drawn on  

   unique mediums or the creation of unconventional   

   books that emphasize form as well as storytelling in  

   equal parts. In particular,   the accordion book project  

   below served as a way of manifesting connection  

   and community during the pandemic lockdowns and  

   became a gorgeous  fixture of the San Diego Bonita  

   Museum’s display section in 2022.

2. Examples:

1.  San Diego Library Foundation Matchbook Contest 

2. San Diego book Arts: Accordion books 

3. Coronado Library Chalk Walk Competition 

5. March Madness: Battle of the Books

1. Explanation:

2. March Madness Battle of the books adapts the  

   widely, highly  reputed fun that sports fans  

   experience testing their favorite athletes 

   against one another, into the literary realm. I  

   previously helped support  this program when  

   it was conducted at The Preuss School and I had  

   never seen the entire school community so  

   enthused to express their  opinion on a campus  

   event while comparing their favorite characters  

   towards each other. Overall, this is a great way  

   to stimulate patron  engagement as the rankings  

   proceed every week, as shown by a  prominent  

   display such as a poster at the entrance of the facility,  

   and it serves as an opportunity for Library Support Staff  

   to demonstrate  their knowledge of what books  

   patrons enjoy!

2. Example:

1. Preuss School March Madness: Battle of the Books