Ericaʼs Corner

by ERICA SOMMER

Greetings, librarians!

As I write this, I envision a busy summer reading program filling your days, and recall fondly a new reader “summarizing” for me the picture book she had recently read—page-by-page in an excited tone—so that she might proudly walk away with a sticker for her accomplishment. It was such a thrill to experience moments like these, and I wish you a summer filled with the same good vibrations.

The ALA Annual Conference in Chicago will be wrapping when this article publishes. If you were able to attend, you heard about our exclusive new partnership with Bound to Stay Bound Books! For over 100 years, BTSB has been supplying the highest quality, KidProof guaranteed library bound editions in the industry, and we are excited to be offering popular series and standalone titles, including those normally only published in paperback, to our public library customers. We look forward to cataloging, processing, and quickly turning your orders around so that you can add these wonderful editions to your collection.

Erica Sommer is the manager of Brodart's Children’s & Young Adult Programs. She is excited to share her insights in article form as a featured LittleOne contributor. Check our upcoming issues for more from Erica!

In other share-worthy news, Brodart Youth Services held our first full-day Collection Connection at the James V. Brown Library in Williamsport, PA, last month. Publishers presented their summerfall 2023 children’s and teen title highlights at the event, and those book previews are now available on our YouTube channel. Visit our playlist to view them, and find selection list links for each presentation in Bibz under our Recommended Lists section, Children’s > Featured. If you’d like to follow along with a title list to take notes, send me an email at the link below and I’ll send it right over to you.

Stay up-to-date on all that’s new here at Brodart by following Brodart Youth Services on social, and check out our monthly BookWorm newsletter, which includes staff book reviews, series announcements, and links to selection lists focused on timely topics and trends—including graphic novel and Spanish language selections and news. If it’s book discussion guides, storytime activity kits, or other Boredom Busters (like Cat Ninja’s feline favorites topping the page this month!), visit our Resources page

I’m happy to assist with your youth services collection and programming needs. Please reach out to BYS@brodart.com to get the conversation started.

Until next issue, happy reading!