The highest accolade that a piece of children's literature can receive is a chorus of voices shouting "Again! Again!" when the story is finished. Measuring what makes a book stick out to children isn't always easy, but awards panels try their best to strike a balance between books that are most likely to be read front and back, over and over, and books that are most likely to make a lasting impression for readers of all ages. This year, I have been given the honor of presenting the most recognized children's books of 2018. The materials on display come from long lines of winners and honorab...

If you are feeling inspired by the July/August Staff Picks, Dear Summer: Letters in Literature, here are some websites that facilitate and encourage letter writing. Postcrossing is an international project in which one exchanges postcards with strangers around the world. Sendsomething.net is a place...

[caption id="attachment_30247" align="alignright" width="225"] June 2018 staff picks[/caption] School design is a modern problem; modern in the sense that it originally developed in response to the industrial revolution, and the complexities of industrial society.  An ever-incre...

{{unknown}}     Co-Authored and Co-Curated By Anika Paris and Jasmine Sykes-Kunk Fifty years ago this month, Columbia University students, as well as some staff, faculty, committed activists,...

Staff Picks January/February 2018 Survivors, Settlers and Assimilators: Transforming Jewish Identities

{{unknown}}   As a new member of the Library Services team, I am very excited and proud to curate my first Staff Picks Collection, The Common Thread: Domestic Arts and Handcraft on the second floor of the Gottesma...

[caption id="attachment_28062" align="alignnone" width="300"] Colorful bookmarks paired with new, acclaimed children's books display information about the awards represented in our collection.[/caption] September is a month of new starts for many, especially those returning to school. What could b...

In my non-vacation life I read the lighter fare, the pulpier the fiction the better. I find it is perfect for the train and taking a break when work/school is too much. Which means I have to change it up on vacation. Hence my Unconventional Beach Reads Staff Picks for July/August. When I head to the beach I take the weightier books - figuratively & literally (I read Atlas Shrugged on vacation, which makes most people look at me askew) But I have the time, and no place to be. When I need a break, I can stare at the horizon or go swimming. The figuratively w...

When looking for a book to read, do you have to stop and think whether or not you’ll be able to see yourself in the pages? A common idea about what makes a book great is how easy it is for readers to relate to the characters or plot. While this usually rings true, many readers are often le...