The Fort Bend County Library System has unveiled its newest web tool, “Books, etc,” which provides additional personal service to library patrons with highlights on books by favorite authors, in favorite genres or on topics of interest.
Patrons looking for a new book to read can look at online lists of bestsellers or award-winners, and they can also sign up to receive free e-newsletters on their specific reading interests.
Clicking on the “Books, etc” icon on the libraries’ webpage, www.fortbend.lib.tx.us, opens up the selection of book lists and free e-newsletters to which patrons can subscribe. Once patrons have made their e-newsletter selections, they will receive an e-mail on a regular basis as the library highlights new titles in that category.
Each e-newsletter includes a brief description of the books, as well as links to the library’s catalog so the library patron can easily reserve the titles that interest them.
Some of the featured categories include fiction bestsellers, children’s picture books, mystery novels, romance novels and science fiction and fantasy novels. For nonfiction enthusiasts, e-newsletters are available on business and financial books, science and nature, and nonfiction bestsellers.
Library patrons who are interested in politics or history may want to sign up for the “Book TV This Weekend” e-newsletter, which provides a brief summary every Friday of upcoming programming on C-Span II Weekend BookTV, as well as links to streaming video of the prior week’s featured programs.
Library patrons can learn more about their favorite authors by subscribing to the “Meet the Author” e-newsletter, which provides profiles of today’s top authors. Subscribers can find out what inspires and motivates these writers, as well as get a revealing glimpse of the person behind the book.
The “Books on the Air” e-newsletter highlights books and authors that have been talked about on recent radio and TV programs.
Patrons can read book reviews by the library’s own staff on the “Staff Picks” selection. The “Staff Picks” topic for April, written by Youth Services Coordinator Susan King, focuses on several books about Abraham Lincoln in recognition of his 200th birthday this year.
“Books, etc” also features a “Hot Topic” list, which highlights a specific subject of current interest each month. The “Hot Topic” for April is “Recession Survival Tips for the Budget-Conscious Consumer.”
“Books, etc” also provides selections of award-winning books and bestseller lists. The “Bestseller and Award List” link opens up a page of all sorts of award-winning books, such as Pulitzer-Prize winners, top books for children and teens and ALA notable books.
There is no charge to subscribe to the “Books, etc” e-newsletters, and the book lists are available to everyone.
Additional e-newsletters will be added to the service as time goes by, library officials stressed. They encouraged patrons to occasionally review the selections to see what new choices are available.
