Review of 2015

So, a lot has changed since I last wrote on this blog - 'Miss' is now 'Mrs' and my new position isn't so new any more. My new position still involves working with children's literature and education, but in a HE setting and with a specialist children's collection. It has been fascinating to work with MPhil and Phd students who are so passionate about a range of children's literature, from picturebooks to graphic novels and digital storytelling. It has also meant I have been trying to read more academic childrens literature publications and journals to improve my knowledge of criticism and literary theorists which has been interesting. 

I have also moved from working as a solo librarian to being part of a team of qualified librarians and a large wider community of librarians. There has been plenty of opportunities to get involved in CPD and luckily I have a supportive boss who encourages me to attend. So, I have updated my cataloguing skills with RDA and further MARC 21 courses, E-Journals training and creating exhibitions using special collections. The course I enjoyed the most was 'UX in Libraries' which explained how to conduct different ethnographic studies in libraries to understand how users use and value your space. This picks up elements of the research I conducted in school librarianship and I have been able to already complete some mini studies. I can't wait to develop this aspect of my role.

I have also got involved in the Penumbra group which encourages all members of staff (whatever their level) to participate in  a placement at another library. I was able to get involved in the re development of the website and a relaunch which was a great way of meeting new people across different libraries. This has led to me being voted as a representative on a committee providing a wider CPD programme which develops courses for other Librarians and I took part in organising a course on marketing. As a result, I was asked to do a similar presentation at our recent conference. Looking back, it's amazing how many opportunities I have had and what I have achieved in the last year!

Socially, I am now part of two book clubs - one reading the Carnegie award winners (set up by a small team of other Librarians) and another reading current YA. This explains my reading history (see below). I have been encouraged to start up Goodreads by my lovely friends who live abroad so we can keep track of books read and share reviews. I put all 500 of the books in our house on the lists which has helped just knowing what books we have at home!

Too many crochet items have been made for the house and for loads of new babies which were born in 2015. Crafting has become another way of relaxing and I really enjoy crochet and embroidery.

Review of 2015 in books:

Due to my new found love of Goodreads and the ability to check my own library account, I could complete this overview of books that I have read and enjoyed in 2015. My list of books is very YA and children's book focused due to work but on reflection, I like that it is a mix of current and classics reads.

A book with more than 500 pages
A classic romance
A book that became a movie-The Giver by Lois Lowry
A book published this year – The Rest of Us Just Live Here- Patrick Ness
A book with a number in the title – Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamoira Pierce
A book written by someone under 30 –
A book with nonhuman characters – Flora and Ulysses by C.J.Flood
A funny book – Spectacles by Sue Perkins
A book by a female author – Tinder by Sally Gardner
A mystery or thriller – The haunting by Margaret Mahy
A book with a one-word title – Trouble by Non Pratt
A book of short stories – The Little Bookroom by Eleanor Farjeon
A book set in a different country – The school at the Chalet by Elinor M. Brent-Dyer
A nonfiction book – The life and crimes of Agatha Christie by Charles Osbourne
A popular author’s first book- Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
A book from an author you love that you haven’t read yet – My life is goldfish by Annabel Pilcher
A book a friend recommended –
A Pulitzer-Prize winning book
A book based on a true story – Knight Crusader by Ronald Welch
A book at the bottom of your to-read list
A book your mom loves –
 A book that scares you – The coldest girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
A book more than 100 years old- The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole
A book you can finish in a day – The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
A book with antonyms in the title –
A book set somewhere you’ve always wanted to travel –
A book that came out the year you were born
A book with bad reviews- When Mr Dog bites by Brian Conaghan
A trilogy
A book from your childhood- Junk by Melvin Burgess
A book with a love triangle – Every day by David Levithan
A book set in the future
A book set in high school – Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
A book with a colour in the title – Blackberry Blue and other fairy tales by Jamila Gavin
A book that made you cry – The Humans by Matt Haig
A book with magic – The stronghold by Mollie Hunter
A graphic novel – Dark Satanic Mills by Marcus and Julian Sedgewick
A book by an author you’ve never read before – Infinite Sky by C.J. Flood
A book you own but have never read – To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
A book that takes place in your hometown – (Good luck finding one!)
A book that was originally written in a different language –
A book set during Christmas-Five Children on the Western Front by Kate Saunders
A book written by an author with your same initials –
A play
A banned book
A book based on or turned into a TV show – Five Children and It by E.Nesbit
A book you started but never finished- Berlin by Rory MacLean

What would your list look like?

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