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Who out there is ready to curl up with a great book and read the hours away? I know I sure am! I love to read and cannot think of a better way to celebrate National Book Month. There have been quite a few of you out there that are sad Hope is closed for remodeling, but not to worry. The library has many ways to help you get to that favorite classic novel or new author.

Did you know that anyone can request a “book bundle”? All that you need to do is get online at www.mybcpl.org and go to the upper right-hand corner, click on “request a book bundle”, answer a few questions, and the library staff will pick out some authors for you to try. All you need to do is tell us what type of genre you like and what you are in the mood for, then we will pick them out and have them ready for you to pick up at the front desk. This is a great way to try some new authors.

Another great feature the library has available to get a book in your hand is “NoveList Plus.” This feature is included on the website. In the upper right-hand corner, click on “Books and More”, then click on “Find your Next Book”, and then enter the NoveList Plus name. It is so easy to search for a book by its title, author, or series name. There are curated lists of books, articles, book club suggestions, and award-winning novels.

I really like to find out what my friends are reading by just asking them, or going to the “Goodreads” app. This is conveniently included on our website as well. I always enjoy glancing at the “Readers’ Favorite Books 2024” to see if I missed a book I had forgotten about and still want to read. I also enjoy searching this app for different quotes by subject. Who knows, I might want to use a quote for this very article!

The “Book Connections” app found under “Find your Next Book on the website connects you to the Indiana State Library’s INSPIRE site. This site caters to both Children and Teens and Adults and Professionals. These are all teaching books. There are recordings from various authors and illustrators, homeschool support groups, as well as a wide range of books to choose from. Check it out if you haven’t already.

If you have searched all the above apps, asked your friends for recommendations, and yet you still cannot find that one title you really want to read, then click on “Interlibrary Loans”, or in library speak, “ILL”. After you have clicked on Interlibrary Loan simply enter the keyword for the genre that interests you or type in the book title, author, ISBN, or year of publication on the left side of the screen. Then press the search button and you should see various copies of the book you are interested in. Click on that title, fill in your name, library card number, e-mail address, and phone number. When you are finished simply click on ILL or on a little icon of two hands shaking. The item will arrive from some place around the state and the library will notify you when it is ready to be picked up! If that sounds like too much work just ask a librarian to do it for you!

Hope to see you at the Hope Library or online to celebrate National Book Month. Who knows, you might even be able to say what Frank Zappa used to say: “So many books, so little time.”