Are you ready for a reading challenge?

Are you ready for a reading challenge for 2010?

The aim is that over 12 months you will have 12 different reading experiences - and share them with others.

You can write about this on the readers advisory wiki.

You can check out some reading ideas with these other reading challenges.

The library of shadows

I know this blog is not usually used for reading suggestions, but I thought I would make an exception to this practice.

Try The library of shadows by Mikkel Birkegaard. This first novel is a thriller with some parts of it reminiscent of The shadow of the wind. It will probably appeal to people who read for story and language. There are some evocative descriptions of libraries and reading. The novel shows how subversive libraries and reading can be (as well as how dangerous). Plus is is fun to discover why 'passive reading is no joke'.

Neal Stephenson and reading

There is an interesting interview with Neal Stephenson about his new novel Anathem, but also including some ideas about how choosing to read requires a "certain discipline". Read the extract about the choice of reading and comments about this idea.

How does this influence your delivery of library services, including how you market readers advisory work outside the library?

Why do we read? A flickr set.

For those of you who were at the NSW State Library Readers Advisory Seminar in March, you may remember writing down the reasons why you read on pink heart shaped post-it notes (it was a romance-themed seminar, after all!.

Ellen Forsyth at the State Library has done a great job putting all of these photos on flickr.

So for all who contributed, and all those who weren't there on the day - but have always wondered 'why do Librarians read?' - check it out.

This would also be a very useful way to promote reading with the public.