NEWS
8 • Thursday, February 11, 2021
OVER THE MOUNTAIN JOURNAL
Reading Through the Pandemic
STAFF PICKS We asked local librarians to list some of their favorite and most popular books of 2020:
From Page One
Reading books, according to research gathered by Healthline.com, strengthens the brain, increases empathy, builds vocabulary, prevents cognitive decline, reduces stress, aids sleep, alleviates depression and lengthens lifespan.
HOOVER LIBRARY - contributed by Amanda Borden, Pam Bainter, Stephanie Beaver, Krysten Griffin and Samm Hamilton
For adults: “His Truth is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope” by John Meacham and John Lewis “Mrs. Everything” by Jennifer Weiner “Leave Only Footprints” by Conor Knighton “The Dutch House” by Ann Patchet (2019)
Reading as Therapy
Recommendations and Interests
According to each of the libraries, recommendation requests have been on the rise.
O’NEAL LIBRARY - contributed by Gloria Repolesk, Amanda Westfall, Matt Layne, Michelle Cheng, Anthony Vacca and Lindsy Gardner For adults: “Transcendent Kingdom” by Yaa Gyasi “Dear Edward” by Ann Napolitano “Pew” by Catherine Lacey “Deacon King Kong” by James McBride
Journal photo by Jordan Wald
“Reading is definitely therapeutic,” said Hoover librarian Justin Rogers. “Not only does it expand your vocabulary and knowledge, but it allows for some healthy escapism.” A good book will take its reader on a journey, Rogers added. For instance now, reading can shift focus from the pandemic and socio-political stressors to the books’ main characters and their journeys, their struggles. Hoover Public Library Director Amanda Borden noted that she typically travels quite a bit, but she wasn’t able to for much of 2020. “Books allowed me to venture to other locations while remaining safe in my home,” she said. “I read 109 books in 2020.” That’s 25% to 30% more than she normally reads. According to local librarians in the Over the Mountain area, it’s all about finding something that interests you. What interests a reader can be a moving target, changing with the environment around them. Hoover librarian Krysten Griffin said she spoke with a lot of people online who had trouble reading over the past year. “I did too until I found a genre that really clicked for me,” she said. “For whatever reason, fantasy is exactly what I needed right now. It’s a genre I have always enjoyed but never really read much of, but about 50% of what I’ve read over the last four months has been fantasy.” Both during and in the wake of pandemic shutdowns in the spring, library staff had a firsthand view of just how much people needed to read in times of crisis. Facilities scrambled to organize new curbside services to supply nondigital readers with physical books. “When we opened for curbside service, we had 250 cars that first day,” Borden said. Upon reopening the Hoover Public Library in July, Borden and her team witnessed people shedding tears of happiness. The Homewood Public Library team built on the curbside service, offering Bonus Bags filled with books and activities curated by staff based on the patrons’ likes and dislikes.
Staff at the O’Neal Public Library in Mountain Brook noted that they now have a request form on their website, “My Reads,” that helps parents connect with a librarian for personalized recommendations for their kids. Above, O’Neal staff members Anthony Vacca and Michelle Cheng with a few suggestions.
Lifestyle books that focus on baking, knitting, organization and such are increasingly popular since people are sheltering at home and have more time to focus on hobbies and activities. Staff at the O’Neal Public Library in Mountain Brook noted that they now have a request form on their website, “My Reads,” that helps parents connect with a librarian for personalized recommendations for their kids. In addition, their “Shelf Care” page is packed with suggested titles for adults and teens. Hoover library assistant Samm Hamilton surmises that people are looking for more recommendations because they simply have more time on their hands for reading. “I helped a sweet gentleman (recently) who specifically wanted to try Faulkner, ‘because it’s about time and if not now, when?’” said Samm Hamilton, library assistant at Hoover. “I’ve also helped people put a finger on what exactly it is they like.” What people are looking for during the pandemic varies based on their interests. Hoover library specialist Pam Bainter found in her interactions at the library and via book groups that what people have been reading during the pandemic has fallen into two distinct categories. “Those who read for information/ understanding seem to gravitate toward history,” Bainter said. They are reading
to try and understand what is happening, whether that be past pandemics or other times of crisis. Readers who are looking to escape gravitate toward genres such as travel books, true crime, biography and fiction. At the Vestavia Hills Public Library, light-hearted books have been
‘Throughout the pandemic, we have had some patrons say that they specifically are choosing more lighthearted, feel-good books such as romance, chick lit and beach reads.’ VESTAVIA HILLS LIBRARY IN THE FOREST DEPUTY DIRECTOR DANIEL TACKETT
the big contender. “Throughout the pandemic, we have had some patrons say that they specifically are choosing more lighthearted, feel-good books such as romance, chick lit and beach reads,” said Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest Deputy Director Daniel Tackett. “These feel-good books allow them to escape, if only for a little while, from
the reality of the pandemic and its effects.” According to data collected by Hoover’s library staff, fiction was a leader in 2020, especially on digital services. “We had 70,000 more checkouts of fiction titles in 2020 than in 2019, while nonfiction only increased by around 13,000,” Rogers said. O’Neal children’s librarians noted that there has been an uptick in requests for more nonfiction to support at-home learning. Homewood cited a rise in people searching for more diverse books in response to rising social movements. “A lot of our patrons are also asking for social justice books,” said Judith Wright, Homewood Public Library assistant director and teen librarian. “People have always turned to books during times of uncertainty and we saw that more than ever in 2020.” Leslie West, head of adult services for Homewood’s library has noticed a large number of requests for historical fiction, cozy mysteries, beach reads and suspense thrillers. Nonfiction readers have opted for crime, cookbooks and self-help most frequently. Kids followed the social justice trend, said Laura Tucker, head of children’s services for Homewood’s library, as well as requesting graphic novels and books about animals, humor and space.
For teens: “You Should See Me in a Crown” by Leah Johnson “Furia” by Yamile Saied Méndez “Dragon Hoops” by Gene Luen Yang “Fable” by Adrienne Young For children: “The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver” by Gene Barretta “96 Miles” by J.L. Esplin “Class Act” by Jerry Craft HOMEWOOD LIBRARY - contributed by Judith Wright, Leslie West and Laura Tucker For adults: “Untamed” by Glennon Doyle “Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud and The Last Trial of Harper Lee” by Casey Cep “The Guest List” by Lucy Foley “An American Marriage” by Tayari Jones (2019) For teens: “Stamped” by Jason Reynolds “Clap When You Land” by Elizabeth Acevado “Cemetery Boys” by Aiden Thomas “We Are Not Free” by Traci Chee For Children: “You Matter” by Christian Robinson “When Stars are Scattered” by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed VESTAVIA HILLS PUBLIC LIBRARY Joi Mahand For adults: “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett “Ring Shout” by P. Djeli Clark “The Mountains Sing” by Nguyen Phan Que Mai For a full list of library picks, visit otmj.com.
