Category Archives: Staff Writer

Back to School, Back to Books: Nonfiction for Lifelong Learners

Book Clubs, Library Collections, Staff Writer,

August means back-to-school season is in full swing – but learning isn’t just for students. Back to School Month is a great reminder that curiosity doesn’t end with graduation. Whether you’re heading to a classroom, picking up a new hobby, or just love expanding your mind, nonfiction books are the perfect tools for lifelong learning

At the Germantown Community Library, we believe education is a journey that continues throughout life. From practical learning strategies to inspiring deep dives into the way we think and grow, our nonfiction shelves offer something for anyone who wants to keep learning – no matter their age or stage in life.

Learning How to Learn: Strategies for Smarter Study

Whether you’re helping a student, going back to school yourself, or just want to sharpen your skills, these books offer practical advice on how to absorb, retain, and apply new information more effectively.

Suggested Reading:

  • Lean Learning: How to Achieve More by Learning Less, by Pat Flynn
  • Keep Sharp: How to Build a Better Brain at Any Age, by Sanjay Gupta
  • Outsmart Your Brain: Why Learning is Hard and How You Can Make It Easy, by Daniel T. Willingham

The Science of the Mind: Psychology and Cognitive Growth

Understanding how we think, learn, and change is a powerful part of lifelong education. These titles dive into the science behind learning, behavior, and mental flexibility.

Suggested Reading:

  • The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business, by Charles Duhigg
  • Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions, by Temple Grandin
  • Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman
  • The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain, by Annie Murphy Paul

Personal Growth Through Lifelong Learning

Learning doesn’t always look like a classroom. These books explore how continued education – formal or informal – can lead to personal development, creativity, and a deeper understanding of the world.

Suggested Reading:

  • Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, by Angela Duckworth
  • Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, by David Epstein
  • Knowing What We Know: The Transmission of Knowledge: From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Magic, by Simon Winchester

Ways to Stay Curious All Year Long

Back to School Month is just the beginning – here are some simple ways to make learning part of your everyday life:

  • Take a Class: Whether online or in person, learning something new keeps your brain sharp. (Tip: Ask us about Universal Class and Transparent Languages, two free online resources available from the library!)
  • Join a Book Group: Discussing nonfiction with others can deepen your understanding and expose you to new ideas. We have two nonfiction book groups at the library – a History book group, and a general Nonfiction book group.
  • Start a Learning Challenge: Pick a subject you’ve always wanted to explore – then dive into books, podcasts, and videos on that topic.
  • Teach What You Learn: Sharing your knowledge with others helps you retain it and builds confidence.

The Library is Your Lifelong Learning Partner

At the Germantown Community Library, we’re here to support your educational journey – whether it’s formal, casual, or just-for-fun. Stop in this month and check out our nonfiction collection for fresh ideas, smart strategies, and plenty of inspiration to keep learning all year long.

Erin L., Adult Services Specialist

Celebrity Book Clubs: Find Your Next Favorite Read!

Book Clubs, Library Updates, Staff Writer,

We’re thrilled to introduce a brand-new resource here at the Germantown Community Library: a monthly display featuring a book selected by a popular celebrity book club. If you’re curious about what’s trending in the popular literary world, this is the perfect way to stay in the loop. Alongside the featured monthly pick, we’ve also created a binder filled with past selections from three highly-respected book clubs: Reese’s Book Club, Read With Jenna, and the GMA Book Club.

Celebrity book clubs have grown in popularity because they offer a curated reading experience that often highlights diverse, thought-provoking fiction. Whether you’re a fan of Reese Witherspoon’s picks, Jenna Bush Hager’s selections, or the varied choices from Good Morning America, these book clubs spotlight a variety of books that resonate with readers everywhere. It’s a fun way to discover something new, especially when it comes from someone who knows how to pick a great story!

Reese’s Book Club
Reese Witherspoon’s picks often feature strong female protagonists, emotional depth, and compelling stories. Because of her love of reading, she wanted to connect with fellow readers by sharing stories centered around women to elevate their voices. On top of that, with her background in film and a knack for finding stories that can also translate well to the screen, her book club selections often spark powerful discussions. In addition to the main book club, Reese’s Book Club also has a Young Adult (YA) branch. Though selections are made less frequently, the YA picks still focus on diverse, female-centric stories that resonate with teen readers.

Read With Jenna
Jenna Bush Hager’s book club focuses on heartwarming stories, often with themes of family, relationships, and personal growth. Her selections are known for their emotional depth, thought-provoking subject matter, and their ability to connect with a wide and varied audience.

GMA Book Club
The GMA Book Club, curated by the team at Good Morning America, seeks to showcase book picks from a wide range of compelling authors, often spotlighting both new and classic bestselling works of fiction. These books are chosen for their broad appeal and strong storytelling.

So if you’re looking for some new ideas of what to read next, come check out the new display, browse the past picks, and maybe find your next great read—one that’s already been loved by celebrities and their book clubs. And don’t forget that the Germantown Community Library also offers a wide variety of book groups. Whether you’re interested in fiction, nonfiction, or mystery—or all of the above—there’s a group for you. Joining a book group is a great way to connect with fellow readers and enjoy engaging discussions. For more information, visit https://germantownlibrarywi.org/book-groups/.

Erin L., Adult Services Specialist

Comics Aren’t Just for Kids: Adult Graphic Novels And You!

Staff Recommendations, Staff Writer, , ,

Welcome to the wonderful world of adult graphic novels! Maybe you’ve heard that graphic novels “aren’t real books” or are “for kids”.

Well, as an adult, I’m here to dispel some rumors. First off, there are graphic novels for kids, just like there are cartoons for kids. In that same vein, there are graphic novels for adults!

Just like I wouldn’t show a child Attack on Titan or The Simpsons. Or Archer.

Sometimes (a lot of times actually), graphic novels can show some dark themes, and shows them visually. There’s horror graphics, action graphics, graphics about war, depression, and more mature themes that appeal to adults.

Things can be more than one thing! I mean, the Marvel Comics have had a huge impact on the Blockbuster movie circuit for the past decade, and those are all, yep, GRAPHIC NOVELS!

Graphic Novels, comics, manga, they all fall into the same category. “Books with a lot of pictures.” But just because a book has pictures doesn’t mean it’s not REAL reading. Some of the best stories I’ve ever read have come from graphic novels. And, yeah, they’re taken seriously has a medium. The reason I know that is because a lot of really good, NOT AIMED AT CHILDREN movies and TV shows came from comics and graphics. The Walking Dead! V for Vendetta! Scott Pilgrim vs The World! All of these an MANY more came from graphic novels and comics.

Bottom line is graphic novels are for everybody, and there’s something out there for everyone. It’s a great genre where beautiful illustrations and great stories combine into a wonderful morsel of entertainment for you, the reader. And YES. It is reading. Even if there’s pictures.

Want to know more? We made a video about it!

Do you have graphics recommendations? Donations? Questions?
Email me: ssiebers@germantownlibrarywi.org

Read cool books!

Shannon S.
Youth Service Specialist
Adult Graphic Novels Collection Manager

Reader’s Advisory: Choosing Books for a Book Discussion

Staff Recommendations, Staff Writer,

Are you the lucky person who gets to pick the next book for your group to discuss? Feeling a little pressured? Here are some tips and suggestions that can help make the decision a little easier. 

Start by considering the needs of the individuals in your group. Does anyone need large print or an audio version? No matter how great the book, if someone can’t participate because it’s not available in the format they need, don’t pick that book.  

Next, consider the group’s interests as well as what they’ve recently read. As one patron mentioned recently, “I am so tired of depressing books!” Her group had read four books in a row that left her feeling down. Most groups need variety to maintain interest among members. 

Another consideration is whether group members are willing to buy the book, or do they prefer to get copies from the library. If they want to get their copies from the library, it’s important to choose titles that are at least a year old and not in high demand. What does “in high demand” mean? Titles are typically in high demand when they are less than a year old and/or on the New York Times bestseller list. Older titles can become in high demand when a movie or TV series based on the book is released (for example, “American Prometheus”, which is the book “Oppenheimer” is based on). If the book you want is in high demand, you could choose a different book by the same author. 

One more thing to consider is how your group likes to discuss the book. Will you (or someone else) be leading the discussion? Is the group comfortable with a rambling conversation that can go in any direction, or do they prefer having a framework? If the group needs a framework, you may want to limit your selections to books that have discussion guides/questions. Sometimes these are included in the book itself, other times you can find them on the internet. Try the publisher’s or author’s websites first. Sometimes there aren’t any “official” questions, but you might find questions created by another group that have been posted for anyone to use. You can also try LitLovers: https://www.litlovers.com/. LitLovers has discussion questions for specific titles as well as generic questions that are good for most books. They also have guides for starting and running book groups. 

Now that you have some guidelines for choosing a book, all you need is to pick one! Still feeling overwhelmed? Take a look at past selections from the library’s book groups here: https://germantownlibrarywi.org/book-groups/. Every book read by all of the groups is listed here. And below are my 15 fiction and nonfiction favorites, chosen from those lists. 

Fiction

The Art of Racing in the Rain / Garth Stein Racing, Dogs, Illness, Family 
The Bees / Laline Paull Bees, Communities, Change 
The Bonesetter’s Daughter / Amy Tan   Family, Aging, China, Customs                                                   
Finding Nouf / Zoe Ferraris           Mystery, Saudi Arabia, Customs 
The Half-Drowned King / Linnea Hartsuyker Historical Fiction, Vikings, Roles 
The Immortalists / Chloe BenjaminFamily, Destiny 
The Last Town on Earth / Thomas MullenHistorical Fiction, epidemics 
Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand / Helen SimonsonAging, Love, Family, Social Roles 
My Antonia / Willa Cather  Classic, Coming of Age, Immigrants 
The Nest / Cynthia D-Aprix Sweeney   Family, Relationships 
Never Let Me Go / Kazuo IshiguroComing of Age, Dystopian
The Number One Ladies’ Detective Agency / Alexander McCall SmithMystery, Botswana, Social Roles 
The Ocean at the End of the World / Neil GaimanFantasy/Terror, Coming of Age
The Pumpkin Rollers / Elmer KeltonWestern, Coming of Age 
The Silent Land / Graham JoyceMarriage, Death

Non-Fiction

Ants Among Elephants / Gidla Sujatha    History (India), Family, Politics 
The Boys in the Boat / Daniel Brown  Rowing, History, Friendship 
Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight / Alexandra Fuller     South Africa, Family, Resilience 
Dust Bowl Girls / Lydia ReederBasketball, History, Friendship 
Educated: A Memoir / Tara WestoverComing of Age, Resilience 
Empty Mansions / Bill DedmanBiography, History, Wealth
In the Heart of the Sea / Nathaniel Philbrick History, Whaling, Resilience   
Limping Through Life / Jerry Apps   Illness, Wisconsin, Resilience
My Life in France / Julia Child Food, France 
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes / Caitlin Doughty  Death and Dying, Humor
The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating / Elisabeth Tova Bailey  Illness, Snails, Nature, Resilience
They Left Us Everything / Plum Johnson Family, Aging 
Three Weeks With My Brother / Nicholas SparksFamily, Grief, Resilience 
A Time of Gifts / Patrick Leigh Fermor History, Travel
Wave / Sunila Deraniyagala  Disasters, Family, Resilience 

Reader’s Advisory

Staff Recommendations, Staff Writer, Uncategorized

Are you looking to read more, read “better”, or read something “different”? Do you ever feel clueless when you’re trying to find something to read? Does it seem like you keep seeing the same book, different title over and over? No surprises there, 80% of the US book market is published by just five companies! If a title does well, they will print many, many versions of it in the future. How many versions of stories about quirky, intrepid female spies evading the Gestapo while pining for an enigmatic co-worker “is he/isn’t he a covert enemy” love interest can they publish anyway?

This blog post is dedicated to introducing you to a variety of resources that can help you find something new and/or different to read.

Resources at the library

BookPage – This monthly magazine is available free at the library. It features articles on new books for all ages, book club suggestions, and usually has special features such as author interviews or in depth looks at different genres. January’s issue just arrived, and it’s a good one!

NoveList – If you’re a Wisconsin resident, you have free access to BadgerLink, Wisconsin’s Online Library, which provides licensed trustworthy resources from a variety of content providers. You can access BadgerLink from our website, or go directly to BadgerLink here: https://badgerlink.dpi.wi.gov/resources. Scroll down to NoveList. If it’s your first time, there is a short video to help users learn how to make the most of what NoveList has to offer.

New York Times Bestseller List – The current NYT bestseller lists can be found at the library’s New Book display. Each side (fiction and nonfiction) has a stand with the current week’s bestsellers. Bestsellers tend to be popular, so you might not find the book on the shelf; however, the Information Desk staff will be happy to put a copy on hold for you.

Library Reads – This monthly list of books is created from suggestions by library staff across the nation. It’s not a bestseller list, but you’ll probably see some items on the list that will also be found on best seller lists. You’ll find the Library Reads list on top of the New Fiction book shelf.

Magazines and Newspapers – Many magazines available at the library regularly feature articles on books. Time and Atlantic are both known for their coverage, but don’t forget that other magazines have them too. For example, if you’re interested in the outdoors or nature, Outside magazine and Mother Earth News are possibilities. For an all in one source, try the Library Journal, which covers hundreds of titles every month. Newspapers that the library carries also regularly feature articles on books. The Wall Street Journal has articles on new releases, and the Journal Sentinel is a good source for articles on books by authors from Wisconsin.

Book Club Lists – The library’s website lists all the books ever read by all our book clubs. Go to https://germantownlibrarywi.org/book-groups/, then search under the different groups to see what they’ve read.

Resources outside the library

Online book groups – Search for “online book clubs”. Even if you’re not interested in participating, these sites are a good source of ideas for books to read. A couple of the most popular groups are:

Additional online resources for book club suggestions, discussion questions upcoming books, book trends and more:

Need more tips? – Try googling “best books” or “reading suggestions” and then select the sites that look interesting to you. A recent search I did for “reading suggestions” came up with a wide variety of lists, including books recommended by TED Talk speakers. If you enjoy listening to TED Talks, you’re likely to find something of interest on this list. Some sites will require you to create an account, but if you don’t want to do that, you’ll still find plenty other sites to access.

And just like love, sometimes you find the right one when you’re not looking: the book I enjoyed most last year was Whale Hunt: The Narrative of a Voyage by Nelson Cole Haley, Harpooner in the Ship Charles W. Morgan 1849-1853. First published in 1948, this memoir was a fascinating look into a world long gone. I was looking over the shelves of the library’s ongoing book sale, and it caught my eye. Someone read it, donated it, and it found a new home on my own shelves.

Lynn R.
Adult Reference Librarian