Need a book recommendation? Look to Pierce County Library

Lynne Zeiher

Pierce County Library System

Winter is a great time to snuggle up indoors with a good book. Finding one that you really are going to like can be a challenge, but the Pierce County Library has a variety of ways to make that easier.

First and foremost is the wonderful, knowledgeable staff at all our branches, including the Peninsula branch in Gig Harbor and the Key Center branch. As you might guess, the staff read a lot, and many are eager to share their favorite books with everyone.

No one person is totally familiar with every genre, but the interests of the staff are fairly eclectic, and together we have most areas covered — if not all of them.

Recommendations at your fingertips

There are so many books and even lots of book lists, but there is nothing better than getting a personal recommendation from a friend. We do this in lots of different ways. On the Peninsula branch page on the library’s Web site (http://www.piercecountylibrary.org/blogs.aspx?blog_id=15), the staff contributes its own short reviews of some of its favorites.

Frequently, a staff member will also display his or her own “book of the day” at the library card services desk and will be happy to talk about it with you. These books tend to go fast.

Write your own reviews

Book lovers love to share books. The PCLS catalog allows you to write your own book critique. Look up a title, such as “Eat, Pray, Love,” and add your own rating and review — or see what other patrons have written about it.

Book lists

When you are searching for a book at home to put on hold and pick up soon, try one of the 50 book lists on PCLS’ Web site. These are organized by catalog and reading age.

The list includes “Nancy Pearl’s Picks” — she is a nationally known book lover from Seattle who also is an action figure toy — “100 Books Before Kindergarten,” “Guys Read-Books for Boys” and “Somewhere in Time-World Historical Fiction.”

New authors

Most readers have their favorite authors; however, writers can’t produce new titles as fast as people can read them, so the search for a new author or title occurs frequently.

One of the book lists on our Web site is “debut fiction” (http://www.piercecountylibrary.org/booklists.aspx?list_id=206&type=list), which features first titles of promising new authors.

Patti at Peninsula updates the list quarterly. The downside can be that, so far, these authors will not have a series of books, and the next one may be a while, but think how cool you can be recommending a brand-new author to your friends.

Quick picks

If you are in a hurry, try the “Books Plus to Go” unit just inside the door at both Peninsula and Key Center. These are hand-selected, cool new titles, as well as movie tie-in books that are easy to grab: Just check out, and you’re ready to go.

Tools for self-discovery

Another tool to use at home or in the library is Novelist, a database of thousands of titles that lets you search for books in lots of different ways. You can look up an author you like, and it will give you a list of similar authors. You also can find fiction titles based on the time, place, subject or type of characters in the book.

Have reviews come to you

“Dear Reader” is a fun, free subscription service that sends you monthly e-mail newsletters which feature reviews of selected books. There is a long list of newsletter topics to choose from.

“Dear Reader” also has an online book club. Get to “Dear Reader” via the PCLS Web site at http://www.piercecountylibrary.org/reading-books/book-lists/dear-reader-lists.htm.

Make it true

These tools also work for non-fiction readers who are looking for more choices. One of the book lists features titles (books and films) from “Ken Burns World War II Documentaries.”

The Peninsula reference librarians, Adam and Beverly, are also starting a non-fiction book discussion group for adults. Their first discussion will be at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 15 at the library, and the featured book with be “Welcome to Your Brain.”

Future titles will be selected by the group. Call the branch to sign up for the discussion.

PC Reads

The non-fiction book “Three Cups of Tea” will be the one everyone who’s anyone in Pierce County will be reading. It’s the featured book for this year’s Pierce County Reads, which starts this month and culminates in March.

There are special programs planned, including a presentation by the author. Watch the Gateway soon for more information, or drop by the library to pick up a flier.

And remember, a great thing about books is you can read them over and over again, especially if you have forgotten what happens. Or, if you aren’t crazy about that story, you can skip to the last page, find out what happens and go on to another one.

There are no book police, and you don’t have to write a book report. It’s all for fun and relaxation.

Lynne Zieher works for the Pierce County Library System. She can be reached by e-mail at LZeiher@