Archive for April, 2023

Tuesday, April 18th, 2023

Come Join the 2023 Poetry Month Hunt!

April is National Poetry Month, and we’re springing into the season with our new Poetry Month Hunt!

We’ve scattered a quiver of quills around the site, and it’s up to you to try and find them all.

  • Decipher the clues and visit the corresponding LibraryThing pages to find a quill. Each clue points to a specific page right here on LibraryThing. Remember, they are not necessarily work pages!
  • If there’s a quill on a page, you’ll see a banner at the top of the page.
  • You have almost two weeks to find all the quills (until 11:59pm EST, Sunday April 30th).
  • Come brag about your quiver of quills (and get hints) on Talk.

Win prizes:

  • Any member who finds at least two quills will be awarded a quill badge
    Badge ().
  • Members who find all 12 quills will be entered into a drawing for one of five LibraryThing (or TinyCat) coaster sets and stickers. We’ll announce winners at the end of the hunt.

P.S. Thanks to conceptDawg for the European Robin illustration!

Labels: events

Thursday, April 13th, 2023

TinyCat’s April Library of the Month: The Traveling Library CCTX

This month I had the pleasure of interviewing a traveling nonprofit library in Texas working to get more books in the hands of readers who need them. And they just celebrated their 2nd birthday! Congratulations to The Traveling Library CCTX (Corpus Christi, TX). Here’s what their Founder and Executive Director Abigail Trevino had to say about the library:

Who are you, and what is your mission—your “raison d’être”?

The Traveling Library CCTX is exactly how it sounds! We’re a traveling library! A library on wheels! A bookmobile! These are all things that we have been called and have loved. It doesn’t matter how people describe us because the mission has always been the same. Our mission is to provide access to knowledge, encourage the exercise of rights, provide inclusion in society, and freedom for all. The Traveling Library provides knowledge to those in need by providing literature and other resources that are needed. The mission of The Traveling Library was inspired by my grandfather and uncle, who were both big supporters of education and reading.

What an inspiring story of origin! Can you tell us more about how your library supports the community?

The Traveling Library CCTX supports the community by providing literature to areas that might not have access to it. We accomplish this by bringing the traveling library that is fully stocked with books!

We also partner with other local organizations that can help us distribute other resources that are needed. For example, we partnered with a local organization that provides period hygiene products to people that need them at no cost. We bring these products with us when we are serving vulnerable populations such as the unhoused community. Another community partner is the Corpus Christi Hooks, our local double AA affiliate baseball team. Various staff from the CC Hooks will join us when we do story time at local schools. Sammy the Seagull is a fan favorite among the kids! 

How fun! Speaking of story time, what are some of your favorite items in your collection?

The Traveling Library CCTX is an intellectual freedom library meaning we carry and have all sorts of books. Because of this, I would say that some of my favorite books in our collection are our banned books, specifically Fahrenheit 451. I love the message the book conveys, and of course it doesn’t hurt that I love Ray Bradbury. The entire Judy Moody series is always one of my favorites: I loved those books as a kid! 

What’s a particular challenge your library experiences?

Like any other nonprofit organization we struggle with finding the monetary donations that it takes to run this mobile library. A particular challenge that we are currently facing is not enough space! We currently operate out of a small cargo trailer and have too many books to fit inside. We’re currently trying to raise funds for the purchase of a much larger trailer that can hold a lot more books and serve more areas in our city! 

What’s your favorite thing about TinyCat?

I love that TinyCat is easy to operate and the staff is very personable. Every time I have needed help, a staff member responds quickly and offers as much help as they can!

We’re so glad to help!

Want to learn more about The Traveling Library CCTX? 

Visit their website at https://www.thetravelinglibrarycctx.com/, follow them on Facebook/Instagram/Pinterest, and explore their full TinyCat collection here.


To read up on TinyCat’s previous Libraries of the Month, visit the TinyCat Post archive here.

Want to be considered for TinyCat’s Library of the Month? Send us a Tweet @TinyCat_lib or email Kristi at kristi@librarything.com.

Labels: libraries, Library of the Month, TinyCat

Wednesday, April 5th, 2023

Happy 7th Birthday, TinyCat

It’s TinyCat‘s 7th birthday!

We started giving small libraries the best, most user-friendly and affordable library management solution—all powered by LibraryThing—back in 2016. With over 31,000 signups, we’re proud to help schools and classrooms, churches, game clubs, human rights groups, nonprofits, and so many other organizations with their lending libraries. (You can check out some of our featured Libraries of the Month on the blog.)

We look forward to continuing TinyCat’s growth with new features and improvements on both LibraryThing and TinyCat. Our latest developments on LibraryThing, on top of our “LT2” design upgrades, include spot-on New Recommendations and the ChatGPT-engineered “AI Search“. We’ve also been making lots of little tweaks and improvements to TinyCat this year with our newest developer @rebeccaamax, including a big feature that allows you to add multiple Admin Users to TinyCat.

To give you all our thanks during TinyCat’s birthday celebration, we have a couple of treats for you:

Store Sale

For the next month until Friday, May 5, we’re running a major sale on all of our CueCat scanners, barcode labels, and TinyCat merch in the LibraryThing Store.

Be sure to take advantage of the deals and stock up this month while you can: https://www.librarything.com/more/store.

“Books & Cats” TinyCat Giveaway

To celebrate 7 years, we’re giving away 7 prizes to our TinyCat members! 6 of our 7 winners—all chosen at random—will have the choice to receive a free set of TinyCat/LibraryThing coasters or a free TinyCat pin. The grand prize winner will receive our very last, organic-cotton, TinyCat tote bag in stock (pictured right), perfect for all of the book hauls and beach gear this summer.

Here’s how to enter the “Books & Cats” TinyCat Giveaway:

  • Give us your books & cats! Post a “shelfie”—a picture of your favorite bookshelf in your library—or a picture of your cat/s (we will accept other fur babies).
  • Post your pics in the TinyCat Group on this Talk thread, or tag @TinyCat_lib in a post on Twitter: just be sure to include a link to your TinyCat library too.
  • The deadline to enter your “Books & Cats” post is Friday, May 5 (23:59:00 EDT).
  • Want a bonus entry? Post a photo or two with your books AND cats (or fur babies).

Giveaway winners will be selected and notified the week of May 8. Best of luck, and thanks for another great year with TinyCat!

Labels: birthday, sale, TinyCat

Monday, April 3rd, 2023

April 2023 Early Reviewers Batch Is Live!

Win free books from the April 2023 batch of Early Reviewer titles! We’ve got 173 books this month, and a grand total of 3,192 copies to give out. Which books are you hoping to snag this month? Come tell us on Talk.

If you haven’t already, sign up for Early Reviewers. If you’ve already signed up, please check your mailing/email address and make sure they’re correct.

» Request books here!

The deadline to request a copy is Tuesday, April 25th at 6PM EDT.

Eligibility: Publishers do things country-by-country. This month we have publishers who can send books to the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia and Mexico. Make sure to check the message on each book to see if it can be sent to your country.

Someone Is Always WatchingThe All-AmericanFuneral Songs for Dying GirlsWith Every MemoryThis Is Where It EndsFrank and BertThe Nightingale AffairEdible Wild Plants, Volume 2: Wild Foods from Foraging to FeastingI'll Be ThereWednesdays at OneThis Is NOT a Unicorn!The Care and Keeping of GrandmasHow to Count to ONE (And Don't Even Think About Bigger Numbers!)There's a Monster in the Kitchen!NightbloomThe Song That Called Them HomeHer Only WishLike the Appearance of HorsesWhen Worry WhispersMoonlight MemoriesTestimony: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Failed a GenerationMole and TellEverything PossibleThe Last Lion of KarkovThe Light of Eternal SpringMine for KeepsThe AdultGranny Came Here on the Empire WindrushLydia's Journey: An Armenian Refugee's StoryCry, Baby: Why Our Tears MatterBuffalo GirlOKPsycheCode CrisisMe ThreeWhy Can't I...: A Story Book About KindnessFour in HandThe Wasp QueenYour Body Is a Revolution: Healing Our Relationships with Our Bodies, Each Other, and the EarthNomenclatures of InvisibilityThe Carolina VariantGood Grief, the GroundThe Inner Ear of Don Zientara: A Half Century of Recording in One of America's Most Innovative Studios, Through the Voices of MusiciansSTEWdio: The Naphic Grovel ARTrilogy of Chuck DCall of the NightingaleDown a Bad RoadThe Angels' KeepLearning on the Fly and Laughing Till I Cry: A Journal of Mothering My Daughter from Ages One to SevenMattison Mouse CountsBreaking Midnight: A True StoryBallad of the KingSave Me a Seat!: A Life with MoviesIn This MomentThe Heart's ChoiceBut I Already Said GoodbyeLittle Mutilations: Three Body Horror NovellasThe Alice CurseCurseHandwriting Practice Workbook, Ages 4-10: With Positive AffirmationsOur WolvesSocial VampireRace, Politics, and Irish America: A Gothic HistoryIllusions of Camelot: A MemoirWild Monogamy: Cultivating Erotic Intimacy to Keep Passion and Desire AliveFormat Your First eBook: Without Special Tools, Skills or Software.The Melancholy Strumpet MasterLies That BindDeepGarden of Earthly DelightsA Beginners Guide To Organizing Your Life: Relax and Unwind with an Organized House, Life, and MindMurder at the MillDouble-Decker DreamsB/RDSEver the Night RoadMrs Wynter InvestigatesTo the Moon Investing: Visually Mapping Your Winning Stock Market PortfolioA Parent's Guide to Raising an ADHD ChildThe Banned Books Compendium: 32 Classic Forbidden BooksThe Hollow BoysL. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future, Volume 39EternityThe Celtic Veneration of Water From the Late Bronze Age to the Medieval Period, and the Search for the Lost Celts of BritainThe 400-Hour Workweek: Time Management Secrets from 8-Figure Business OwnersThe World in Your Hands: A Guide to Every Nation: Learn About History, Language, Nature, and More in this Fascinating World TourEsprit de CorpseRaising Little Learners: Tips and Strategies for Boosting DevelopmentFalling For the MarkHey! It's Me! It's Lilly EverleaThe Full Gospel in Zion: A History of Pentecostalism in UtahWindtakerAnangokaaThe Book of Gaheris: An Arthurian TaleThe ArtifactBody CountHeidelberg of The Norfolk 17Kafka in TangierDiego the Smelly DogThe Starved GodThe Isolated SéanceRun Girl RunSocial VampireShe Left No NoteWho Will Wear The Crown?Intermittent Fasting for Women 40, 50 and OlderOver 50 Exercises That Support Cross Training: A Revolutionary Guide to Prevent InjuryFloppy: Tales of a Genetic Freak of Nature at the End of the WorldQuestioning Rebound: People and Environmental Change in the Protohistoric and Early Historic AmericasA Practical Application of Dark Psychology: Identify Gaslighting, Learn Body Language, and Uncover Mind Control Techniques to Defend Yourself Against a NarcissistBiblical Bedtime Stories For Kids: New Testament Amazing Moments; Pointing Your Children To God, Ages 4 – 8The Angels' KeepSparks FlyingBack To Yoga: A Whole-Body Routine You Can Do Anywhere in 30 Minutes or Less to Increase Energy, Focus, Relieve Stress, Lower Anxiety and Improve Flexibility, Balance, and StrengthMake The Onions Cry: An Airing of GrievancesParade of StreetlightsCity of RubyShadowsideA Lunatic's LaughMontpelier TomorrowOur Lying KinCryptocurrency QuickStart Guide: The Simplified Beginner’s Guide to Digital Currencies, Bitcoin, and the Future of Decentralized FinanceWorld DiscoveryGuidelines of Cross Training for Women: Why Women Can and Should Lift Like a Man to Look Like a GoddessRoland Finds a Magic StoneNight is for HuntingFor Whom the Fury RollsYou Make Your Path By Walking: A Transformational Field Guide Through Trauma and LossThe Reclaimed KingdomAfterworld: The Haunted Realm Beyond Our StarsBiblical Questions and Answers for Smart Kids: Quizzes Focused on the Book of Exodus to Help Your Children Grow and Learn about God—Who He Is, His Love, and His Relationship with Humanity, Ages 7-12Biblical Questions and Answers for Smart Kids: Quizzes Focused on the Book of Exodus to Help Your Children Grow and Learn about God—Who He Is, His Love, and His Relationship with Humanity, Ages 7-12The Breastfeeding Family's Guide to Nonprescription Drugs and Everyday ProductsGRE Reading Comprehension: Detailed Solutions to 325 Questions (Sixth Edition)Organizational Development Essentials You Always Wanted To KnowDigital SAT Reading and Writing Practice Questions (2023)Wise Little One: Learning to Love and Listen to My Inner ChildTales of the Forgotten FoundersHeart 2046BonelessCherishBreaking Midnight: A True StoryWilliam Newman's AdventuresThe Blue Prints of Deuteronomy: 20 Days Devotional Bible Study GuideOne Night with the DukeBobishThe Well-Mannered Horse: Developing an Ideal Equine BuddyWorthy in LoveIronbound PathStableHorse Care for Kids: A Fun Guide for Young Equestrians Introducing Different Breeds, Simple Daily Care, and Beginning Rider TechniquesLivingskyBallad of the KingThe Elephant in the RoomA Skeleton in Bone CreekGolden HeartsLyrics for the Loved OnesHow to End Your Pandemic Relationship Without Even TryingHeart: A 12-Session Study of LukeBlood Will TellPAWsitive Vibes — DogsRon RickThe SherangivanThe Journal of M.A.NDead WestBiblical Bedtime Stories For Kids: New Testament Amazing Moments; Pointing Your Children To God, Ages 4 – 8Healing KissThe Last GenerationHow to Share What You've MadeEverything She SaidThe RebirthJourney to HolbrinCurseThe Little Girl at the Bottom of the Picture: A Journey of Selfless DiscoveryBreak Out Of Burnout: Real Life Solutions For Beating Burnout To Live The Stress-Free Life You Always ImaginedThe Edge of Life: Love and Survival During the Apocalypse

Thanks to all the publishers participating this month!

21st Century Author Akashic Books Alcove Press
Algonquin Books Beaufort Books Bellevue Literary Press
Bethany House BHC Press BOA Editions, Ltd.
Book Publicity Services Books Fluent Brazos Press
Brighter Side Publishing Broadleaf Books Cinnabar Moth Publishing LLC
City Owl Press ClydeBank Media Crystal Lake Publishing
eSpec Books Galaxy Press Gibbs Smith Publishing
Grand Canyon Press Greenleaf Book Group Hidden Shelf Publishing House
Little Fox Books Mirror World Publishing NewCon Press
Nosy Crow US Platypus Media PublishNation
Purple Diamond Press Read Furiously Revell
Rootstock Publishing Science, Naturally! Small Beer Press
Somewhat Grumpy Press Storybound Publishing Tapioca Stories
Tundra Books The University of Utah Press Vibrant Publishers
WorthyKids Zibby Books

Labels: early reviewers, LTER