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Scott Bonner Awarded The Lemony Snicket Prize

I’ve seen several articles on this yesterday and today, and I cannot begin to tell you how amazing it is for me to see Scott Bonner, director of the Ferguson Public Library, recognized with the Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity (link)

Ferguson library a sanctuary during unrest

Photo by J.B. Forbes

In case you don’t know who Scott Bonner is, he is the director of the Ferguson Public Library in Ferguson, Missouri. He is the only full time librarian on staff, and had only been on the job for about a month when Michael Brown was shot and killed. When the schools and businesses of Ferguson closed down because of a fear of rioting after the verdict there. Bonner kept the library open and provided resources, education, and a safe place for children and other members of the community.  Donations supporting his work have meant that he has been able to hire a children’s librarian.

He is a librarian who is just doing his job, and he is a hero. Congratulations, Mr. Bonner.

Posted on March 25, 2015 by , Reply

Women in Horror Month: “She’s a librarian, ok?”

Hi, my name is Kirsten Kowalewski, and I am a librarian.

I am currently living in a state where the governor just attempted to use tax dollars to start a state-run news service and is recommending cutting library funding. The past two weeks have also been the culmination of a year of hostility from the governor and the state board of education toward our elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, who is, like me, trained as a librarian and school media specialist and is a certified teacher.  The state legislature is stripping her of her powers and assigning them to the state board. When Indiana Senate president David Long was asked about it, he implied that she wasn’t up to the job. “She’s a librarian, ok?” This has left me steaming.

The Librarian Avengers are putting you on notice, Mr. Long.

So, what’s all this got to do with women in horror?

A number of awesome librarians have contributed to promoting the horror genre and keeping this website alive. Many of them are women, and all of them are amazing. I have been lucky to work with Becky Siegel Spratford (author of The Reader’s Advisory Guide to Horror Fiction), Patricia O. Mathews (author of the reader’s advisory guide Fang-tastic Fiction), Lucy Lockley (also known as the RAT Queen), Kelly Fann, Julie Adams, and others, and to connect through the site with Heather Whiteside Ward. If you want horror fiction to thrive, and its audience to grow, you’ve got to have the librarians on your side, and (whether it’s right or not) a lot of librarians are women.

In conclusion, I give you Evie Carnahan, Librarian Most Likely To Break A Mummy’s Curse:

 

 

Don’t underestimate the librarian. It could be your last mistake.

Posted on February 2, 2015 by , Reply

Book Review: Myths and Legends: King Arthur by Daniel Mersey

King Arthur (Myths and Legends) by Daniel Mersey

Osprey Publishing, 2013

ISBN: 1780967233

Available: Paperback, Kindle edition, library binding

 

Osprey’s King Arthur is an ambitious undertaking. Attempting to synthesize the Arthurian mythos in 80 pages is no easy task, but Mersey does a fantastic job of hitting all the major beats. Lavishly illustrated, this is a book perfect for the young or young at heart, and properly evokes the mystery and majesty of one of Britain’s most compelling and enduring myths.

Mersey is able to capture the stylistic essence of classic Arthurian storytellers such as Geoffrey of Monmouth and Sir Thomas Malory, yet he leaves room to delve into the various theories regarding Arthur’s historical existence as well as the influences the legend has had on pop culture.

This is a positively wonderful book, both as a reference and as an enjoyable, exhilarating read; a perfect and necessary edition to the library of anyone who has an interest in the Arthurian legacy.

Highly Recommended for all ages.

Reviewed by Bob Freeman

 

Editor’s Note for Librarians: This book is part of the fantastic Myths and Legends series from Osprey. The books in the series cover some myths and legends that you won’t find covered in detail for the layperson anywhere else. An example of that is their book Jason and the Argonauts (reviewed here) There’s almost nothing out there unless you want to read the original or a children’s version, and this fills that gap. Many of them would be great reference material. I want to say that this series was a huge gamble for Osprey, and they are hoping that libraries will appreciate the books in this series. Without more of an audience, this beautiful and well-researched series likely will not continue. Please take time to take a look at these books– I don’t think you will be disappointed!

Posted on November 15, 2014 by , Reply
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