NNLM Reading Club has a New Look

Did you know that the NNLM Reading Club made its debut in November 2018? Prior to the pandemic, our regional offices packaged and shipped eight books and collateral material to libraries across the country who wanted to get the conversation started around a health topic such as mental health, substance abuse, or healthy aging. Sometimes these topics have a stigma associated with it, and we thought that one way to address these sensitive topics is discussing the protagonist in a novel or discussing a personal experience in a memoir. You proved us right. From November 2018 until March 2020, NNLM distributed 788 kits reaching over 6,300 readers nationwide who discussed health and wellness representing 21 health topics and 79 book titles. We also received numerous notes of appreciation and testimonies for how a book discussion made a difference. “Love the book program – easy to do,” one librarian wrote to NNLM. “You have everything organized, including discussion questions.” Although NNLM no longer mails books to participating libraries, we continue to select topics and books to choose from. Each month, a small and dedicated team collaborates to identify three books around a health topic. Our selection criteria: Author or book is award-winning or a national bestseller Book reviews or reader ratings are consistent and positive Titles are published or reprinted within the current five years with the exception for Classics Diverse voices are represented Publications are a...
Source: The Cornflower - Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Tags: Blog NNLM Reading Club Source Type: news