LibraryThing: State of the Thing - February

LibraryThing: State of the Thing Dear {NAME}, Welcome to the February State of the Thing! In this issue we announce our new Notifications feature, highlight updates to LibraryThing Recommendations, present an interview with author and former LibraryThing employee Megan Fazer Blakemore, invite members to participate in our annual Valentine’s Hunt, shine a spotlight on our most recent TinyCat Library of the Month, dish out lots of book world news, present all of our regular columns, and offer 3,030 free Early Reviewer books! You can like LibraryThing on [Facebook]( and follow [@LibraryThing]( on Twitter and [librarythingofficial]( on Instagram for news and updates. New Notifications We are in the process of enhancing and expanding our existing Notifications feature, and have added two new types of notification on the site. Previously we alerted members when they received new LibraryThing messages in their inbox, but now we also let them know: - When they get new book recommendations. - When new members join the groups they administer. Messages will continue to function as they have in the past, as we begin to send the new notifications for shorter and simpler types of alerts. The new [Notifications page]( allows members to view all notifications, both current and past, while the ability to turn notifications on and off by type, as well as to request notification digest emails, is now available in [Account Settings](. Planned future notifications include: - When the member’s import is complete. - When new Early Reviewer batches launch (if an ER member). - When members are mentioned by username in Talk. Come take a look at the new notifications feature, and let us know what you think [on Talk](. Recommendations Update This past December we announced the release of our [New Recommendations]( feature, with improved, more personalized recommendations for recently-published books, three different display styles, recommendations by genre, and the ability to add books to your wishlist, from the [Recommendations page](. Spurred on by the positive response from members, our developers got to work, and in [last month’s issue]( of State of the Thing we were pleased to be able to present some [improvements to this new feature](, with recommendations now being filterable by tag and by publication date, and with members having the ability to see new books by authors they already have in their libraries, or to exclude those books entirely. The developers kept working, and the improvements kept coming! We're now happy to announce that we have added a page that displays [your newest batch]( of personal recommendations—the most recent ones, that you haven’t seen yet, or that you viewed most recently. When these new recommendations are generated, they will be announced as part of our [new notifications system](, announced above. View your newest recommendations [here](, and let us know what you think about this [on Talk](. Interview: Megan Frazer Blakemore LibraryThing is very pleased to sit down this month with children’s author, middle-school librarian and former LibraryThing employee [Megan Frazer Blakemore](, whose newest middle-grade fantasy, [Princess of the Wild Sea](, was published in January by Bloomsbury Books. A Junior Library Guild Selection, this story of a young princess raised in isolation as the result of a curse placed upon her has earned starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly and Booklist. See an excerpt below, and the full interview [here](. Q. [Princess of the Wild Sea]( has been described as a loose adaptation of Sleeping Beauty. Why do you think that fairy-tales are such a popular jumping-off point in children’s fiction? What is it about Sleeping Beauty specifically that led you to choose it as a framework for your story? Megan: As a writer, I think it’s fun to play with existing tropes and the expectations of genres. When your audience is children, their knowledge of these expectations is, naturally, limited. Fairy tales offer a way to play that children can understand and appreciate. This generation of kids is not only aware of fairy tales, but also retellings and fractured fairy tales, so they are primed for this kind of story. As for why Sleeping Beauty, this story has always been one that frustrates me. The titular princess has so little agency and, in many versions, is the victim of extreme violence. I wanted to give her more power and choice. This also gave me a chance to think about who gets to be the hero of stories and what it even means to be a hero. These are the types of questions I like to grapple with with students, so it all came together. Visit the blog to [read the whole conversation](. Valentine’s Hunt [HuntBirds]LibraryThing’s romantic [Valentine Treasure Hunt]( has returned, running from Valentine’s Day through February 28th. Come amass your collection of hearts as you search through our website, solving the fourteen clues, to find pages on LibraryThing. When you find the right page, you’ll get a banner announcing you’ve found a heart. Everyone who finds at least two hearts receives a profile badge, with other prizes available the more clues you solve. Come brag about your collection of hearts (and get hints) on [Talk](. The Talk of LibraryThing What conversations are going on in our groups? - Members are listing their [February Book Purchases](, over in the [What did YOU buy today?]( group. - The branching out of sci-fi authors into fantasy—aka [Joining the Dark Side](—is being discussed by our [Science Fiction Fans](. - A discussion of [Literature About Classical Music]( is being undertaken by the members of the [Classical Music]( group. - Readers and book collectors are comparing the [Shelf Capacity]( of their home libraries, over in [Book Talk](. Speaking of Groups, if you’re new to LibraryThing, there’s a group for that: [Welcome to LibraryThing](21)! List of the Month Come join LibraryThing’s List of the Month project, as we create a new thematic book list each month. Like all of our [Lists](, the List of the Month draws upon the knowledge of the LibraryThing community, while also aiming to provoke discussion around each theme. See our [wiki page]( for a complete List of the Month list, and join us over in our [Talk group](, for further discussion of the project. February List of the Month. In honor of Valentine's Day, our List of the Month for February is devoted to our [Favorite Romance Fiction](. From classic love stories to contemporary romance novels—if it's about romantic love, it belongs on the list! Head over to our list of [Favorite Romance Fiction]( to add your top ten choices. Check out other recent Lists of the Month: - January: [Best Biographies, Autobiographies and Memoirs]( - December: [Top Five Books of 2022]( - November. [Noirvember: The Best Noir]( - October. [Mythical Monsters of the World]( - September. [Best Spy Fiction]( Hot on LibraryThing Here are some titles that have been particularly hot on LibraryThing in the last month: //www.librarything.com/work/22916297 - [Spare]( by [Prince Harry]( - [Someone Else's Shoes]( by [Jojo Moyes]( - [Encore in Death]( by [J. D. Robb]( - [How to Sell a Haunted House]( by [Grady Hendrix]( - [Georgie, All Along]( by [Kate Clayborn]( - [The House in the Pines]( by [Ana Reyes]( - [Hell Bent]( by [Leigh Bardugo]( - [The House at the End of the World]( by [Dean Koontz]( - [Maame]( by [Jessica George]( - [Victory City]( by [Salman Rushdie]( - [Unnatural History]( by [Jonathan Kellerman]( - [River Sing Me Home]( by [Eleanor Shearer]( - [The Cabinet of Dr. Leng]( by [Douglas Preston]( - [The Writing Retreat]( by [Julia Bartz]( - [The House of Wolves]( by [James Patterson]( - [Chain of Thorns]( by [Cassandra Clare]( - [Exiles]( by [Jane Harper]( - [Secretly Yours]( by [Tessa Bailey]( - [The Devil's Ransom]( by [Brad Taylor]( - [Just the Nicest Couple]( by [Mary Kubica]( Hot in Libraries Here's what's hot across [thousands of public libraries]( in the United States: - [Spare]( by [Prince Harry]( - [Lessons in Chemistry]( by [Bonnie Garmus]( - [The House in the Pines]( by [Ana Reyes]( - [Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow]( by [Gabrielle Zevin]( - [Demon Copperhead]( by [Barbara Kingsolver]( - [It Ends with Us]( by [Colleen Hoover]( - [Verity]( by [Colleen Hoover]( - [It Starts with Us]( by [Colleen Hoover]( - [Mad Honey]( by [Jodi Picoult]( - [The House of Wolves]( by [James Patterson]( - [The Boys from Biloxi]( by [John Grisham]( - [A World of Curiosities]( by [Louise Penny]( - [I'm Glad My Mom Died]( by [Jennette McCurdy]( - [The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo]( by [Taylor Jenkins Reid]( - [Just the Nicest Couple]( by [Mary Kubica]( - [Hell Bent]( by [Leigh Bardugo]( - [Without a Trace]( by [Danielle Steel]( - [Remarkably Bright Creatures]( by [Shelby Van Pelt]( - [A Man Called Ove]( by [Fredrik Backman]( - [Atomic Habits: Tiny Changes, Remarkable Results: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones]( by [James Clear]( This data was collected by Syndetics Unbound, a LibraryThing/ProQuest project to enrich the library catalog. The search data is fully anonymized the day it is collected. For more information about Syndetics Unbound, please visit [Syndetics.com](?utm_source=LT&utm_medium=sott&utm_id=main). Free Books from Early Reviewers! Our Early Reviewers program pairs publishers and authors looking for reviews and book buzz with readers looking for their next great read. This month we’re pleased to feature our very first titles from a number of new publisher participants, including the [The Quarto Group](, offering a major new work on color in the animal kingdom, [Display: Appearance, Posture and Behaviour in the Animal Kingdom](; and [Tapioca Stories](, presenting [There’s a Monster in the Kitchen!](21), the new English-language translation of an Argentinian picture book. Explore the full list and [sign up to request books](. [He Said He Would Be Late]( [Künstlers in Paradise](C3%BCnstlers-in-Paradise) [Display: Appearance, Posture and Behaviour in the Animal Kingdom]( [STFU: The Power of Keeping Your Mouth Shut in an Endlessly Noisy World]( [The Vanishing at Castle Moreau]( [Iron Widow]( [The Metropolitan Affair]( [There's a Monster in the Kitchen!](21) [Benjamin Banneker and Us: Eleven Generations of an American Family]( [Windswept Way]( [Wandering Souls]( [Counter Attack]( [The Big Sting]( [Blind Trust]( [The Last Saxon King]( [A Brighter Dawn]( [Indigo Isle]( [The Rail Splitter]( [Why Sinéad O'Connor Matters](C3%A9ad-OConnor-Matters) [The Lost Galumpus]( Our February batch of Early Reviewers has 3,030 copies of 156 books. The deadline to request a book is February 24th, 6pm Eastern time. Did you win a book recently? When you receive your book, make sure you head over to your [Books You've Won]( page to mark it received. After you've read your book, add your review to LibraryThing. First, add the book to your LibraryThing catalog. Then click the pencil-shaped "edit" icon next to the book, or click "edit book" from the work page. Type your review into the Review box, and click "submit" to save it. Reviewing your books gives you a greater chance of winning books in the future, while neglecting to review lowers your odds. For more information, visit the [Early Reviewers Help Page](. Book World News: In Memoriam Award-winning American poet [Linda Pastan](, whose work was known for its exploration of the beauty and pain of everyday events, [has died at 90](. The author of fifteen collections of poetry, beginning with the 1971 [A Perfect Circle of Sun](, she was twice nominated for the [National Book Award](Book+Award+finalist)—in 1983 for her [PM/AM](, and again in 1998 for her [Carnival Evening](. Pastan was also the recipient of the Dylan Thomas Award, a Puchcart Prize, and the Ruth Lilley Poetry Prize in 2003, amongst many other honors. She served as the Poet Laureate of the state of Maryland from 1991 through 1995. American author [Ted Bell](, who left a successful career in advertising to pen a series of bestselling thrillers, [has died at 76](. Retiring from his first career later in life, Bell published his first novel, [Hawke](, in 2003, launching the immensely popular [Alex Hawke]( espionage series. In addition to his writing for adults, he also penned two bestselling time-travel adventures for younger readers. Beloved English author and illustrator [Graham Oakley](, who is particularly celebrated for his series of classic picture books about a group of church mice and their feline friend, [has died at 93](. From its 1972 debut, [The Church Mouse](, to its 2000 conclusion, [The Church Mice Take a Break](, the books in [The Church Mice]( series are known for their warmhearted stories and detailed, painterly illustrations. Two entries in the series, [The Church Mice Adrift]( and [The Church Mice in Action](, were Highly Commended runners-up for the 1976 and 1982 [Kate Greenaway Medals](Greenaway+Medal+Shortlist). Other losses in the book world this past month: - [Jean Anderson](, American food writer and cookbook author, [has died at 93](. - [Richard J. Anobile](, American film producer and author, [has died at 76](. - [Jim Bradbury](, British historian specializing in medieval warfare, [has died at 85](. - [Carin Goldberg](, American graphic designer and cover artist, [has died at 69](. - [Georgina Hammick](, British poet, novelist and short story writer, [has died at 83](. - [David Harris](, American anti-war activist and journalist, [has died at 76](. - [Philip Kogan](, British publisher and science author, [has died at 92](. - [Paul La Farge](, American novelist, essayist and academic, [has died at 52](. - [Victor S. Navasky](, American journalist and magazine editor, [has died at 90](. - [David Sutherland](, Scottish illustrator and comics artist, [has died at 89](. - [Edel Wignell](, Australian children’s author, journalist and poet, [has died at 85](. - [Gabrielle Williams](, Australian young adult author, [has died at 59](. Book World News: Freedom of Expression In our [September 2022 issue]( of State of the Thing we reported on the brutal [on-stage attack]( on author [Salman Rushdie]( at a literary event at the [Chautauqua Institution]( in western New York state. Stabbed repeatedly in the neck and abdomen, he spent six weeks recovering in hospital, and has lost eyesight in one eye, as well as the use of one of his hands. Now, six months later, Rushdie’s new novel, [Victory City](, has just been published, and he has spoken out publicly for the first time since the attack. Interviewed by [David Remnick]( in [The New Yorker]( magazine, the author, long an icon to free speech advocates, expressed his gratitude at having survived the attack, reflecting on the effect it has had on his life and the life of those around him. Keenly interested in the reception his new book will receive, and whether that reception will be colored by the attack, Rushdie is still recovering, and will not be attending any public promotional events for the book’s release. Elsewhere in the United States, in the meantime, the ongoing battle over library curation and school curricula continues to unfold. In Florida, teachers in one county worry that parental rights legislation [could land them in legal trouble]( if they don’t remove specific books from their classroom libraries, while the overall effect of book restrictions nationwide has led to [a significant reduction]( in the number of books being purchased by libraries. The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) has released a [new resource for authors]( whose books have been challenged or banned, while We Need Diverse Books has opened applications for its [Books Saves Lives Grants](, which provide up to $10,000 in diverse books to school libraries. A new [PEN America report]( has highlighted the most banned picture books of the 2021-22 school year, while [a new study from the Brookings Institute]( has highlighted the connections between politics and school libraries, when it comes to books with controversial content. Book World News: Awards Awards and Prizes. The winners of the [American Library Association’s]( [Youth Media Awards](—twenty different awards, many given out in multiple categories—[were announced in late January](. The winner of the [Newbery Medal](Medal), recognizing “the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children,” was [Amina Luqman-Dawson]( for her debut children’s book, [Freewater](. [Newbery Honors](20Honor) were given to [Andrea Beatriz Arango]( for [Iveliz Explains It All](, [Christina Soontornvat]( for [The Last Mapmaker](, and [Lisa Yee]( for [Maizy Chen’s Last Chance](. The winner of this year’s [Caldecott Medal](Medal), given annually to “the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children,” was [Doug Salati]( for his [Hot Dog](. [Caldecott Honors](Honor) were awarded to [Jason Griffin]( for [Ain’t Burned All the Bright](, written by [Jason Reynolds](; [Michaela Goade]( for [Berry Song](; [Janelle Washington]( for [Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement](, written by [Angela Joy](; and [Christopher Denise]( for [Knight Owl](. The [Printz Award](Award), given to “a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature,” was awarded to [Sabaa Tahir]( for her [All My Rage](. [Printz Honors](20Honor) were given to [Lily Anderson]( for [Scout’s Honor](, [A.L. Graziadei]( for [Icebreaker](, [Sacha Lamb]( for [When the Angels Left the Old Country](, and [Eliot Schrefer]( for [Queer Ducks (and Other Animals): The Natural World of Animal Sexuality](. The [Coretta Scott King Awards](Scott+King+Award), which recognize outstanding African American children’s authors and illustrators, were given out in the Author category to Newbery-winner [Amina Luqman-Dawson]( for her [Freewater](, and in the Illustrator category to [Frank Morrison]( for [Standing in the Need of Prayer: A Modern Retelling of the Classic Spiritual](, written by [Carole Boston Weatherford](. [Coretta Scott King Honors](20Scott%20King%20Honor) in the Author category were given to [Ibi Zoboi]( for [Star Child: A Biographical Constellation of Octavia Estelle Butler](; [Alicia D. Williams]( for [The Talk](, illustrated by [Briana Mukodiri Uchendu](; and [Tommie Smith]( and [Derrick Barnes]( for [Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice](, illustrated by [Dawud Anyabwile](. [Honors](20Scott%20King%20Honor) in the Illustrator category were awarded to [April Harrison]( for [Me and the Boss: A Story About Mending and Love](, written by [Michelle Edwards](; [Johnnie Christmas]( for [Swim Team](; and [Dawud Anyabwile]( for [Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice](, written by [Tommie Smith]( and [Derrick Barnes](. The [Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award](20Scott%20King/John%20Steptoe%20New%20Talent%20Award) was given to [Jas Hammonds]( for [We Deserve Monuments](, and the [Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award](20Scott%20King/John%20Steptoe%20New%20Talent%20Award) was given to Caldecott honoree [Janelle Washington]( for [Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement](, written by [Angela Joy](. Dr. Claudette McLinn, the founder and executive director of the [Center for the Study of Multicultural Children’s Literature](, was awarded the [Coretta Scott King – Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement](. The [Sydney Taylor Book Award](Taylor+Book+Award), named in honor of groundbreaking Jewish American children’s author [Sydney Taylor](, is presented annually by the [Association of Jewish Libraries]( “to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience.” This year’s winner in the Picture Book category was [The Tower of Life: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs](, written by [Chana Stiefel]( and illustrated by [Susan Gal](; in the Middle Grade category, the winner was [Aviva vs. the Dybbuk]( by [Mari Lowe](; and the winner in the Young Adult category was Printz honoree [When the Angels Left the Old Country]( by [Sacha Lamb](. [Honor Books](Taylor+Honor) were also chosen in each of the categories, and notable titles named. For a complete list of winners, honorees and notable books, please see this [AJL announcement](. Many other [ALA Youth Media Awards]( were also announced, including the [Mildred L. Batchelder Award](L.+Batchelder+Award), the [Pura Belpré Award](Belpr%C3%A9+Award), the [American Indian Youth Literature Awards](American+Indian+Youth+Literature+Award), the [Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature](252FPacific+American+Award+for+Literature), and the [Theodor Seuss Geisel Award](Award). Please see the [ALA announcement]( for the complete list of awards and winners. The winners of the inaugural [Margaret Wise Brown Board Book Award](Wise+Brown+Board+Book+Award), to be given out by the [Children’s Book Committee]( at Bank Street College of Education, [have been announced](, with [Give Me a Snickle!]( by [Alisha Sevigny]( winning in the 0–18 months range, and [Me and the Family Tree]( by [Carole Boston Weatherford](, illustrated by [Ashleigh Corrin](, winning in the 18­-36 months category. In the world of adult letters, this year’s winners of the [Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards](Premier%27s+Literary+Award), intended to honor literary achievement by Australian writers, [have been announced](. The winner of the Victorian Prize for Literature was [Jessica Au]( for her[Cold Enough for Snow](, which also won in the Fiction category. The winner in the Nonfiction category was [Eda Gunaydin]( for [Root and Branch: Essays on Inheritance](, while the winner in the Poetry category was [Gavin Yuan Gao]( for [At the Altar of Touch](. The winner in the Indigenous Writing category was [Lystra Rose]( for [The Upwelling](, while the winner in the Young Adult category was [Kate Murray]( for [We Who Hunt the Hollow](. Also in Australia, [a number of authors were chosen]( as [Order of Australia]( recipients this past January, on Australia Day. Among those so honored were emeritus professor and writer [Judith Brett]( and novelist and nonfiction writer [Liz Byrski](. In the United States, the winners of the 2023 [Andrew Carnegie Medals](, given out by the [American Library Association]( in recognition of “the best fiction and nonfiction books for adult readers published in the U.S. in the previous year,” [have been named](. The winner in the [Fiction](20Carnegie%20Medals%20for%20Excellence%20in%20Fiction) category is [Julie Otsuka]( for [The Swimmers](, while the winner in the [Nonfiction](Carnegie+Medals+for+Excellence+in+Nonfiction) category is [Ed Yong]( for [An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us](. The [Bollingen Prize for American Poetry](, awarded biennially by [Yale University Library]( to “the best book published during the previous two years or for lifetime achievement in poetry,” [has been awarded]( to [Joy Harjo]( for her [Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light: Fifty Poems for Fifty Years](. The committee praised Harjo for her “spellbinding body of work that unsettles new forms of language, and continually challenges the possibilities of where poetry has been and where it can still arrive.” English PEN has [announced the 2023 recipients]( of its PEN Translates Awards, which provides funding for the translation of many award-winning books. Fifteen books from fourteen countries and ten languages were selected, including “Home” by [Andrea Tompa](, to be translated from the Hungarian by [Jozefina Komparaly](; and “Yoghurt and Jam (or how my mother became Lebanese)” by [Lena Merhej](, to be translated from the Arabic by Nadiyah Abdullatif and Anam Zafar. For a complete list of winners, [see this announcement](. In science fiction news, [John Scalzi]( has been [named the winner]( of the 2023 [Robert A. Heinlein Award](, presented annually “for outstanding published works in science fiction and technical writings to inspire the human exploration of space." Additional Award News This Month: Winners. [The AAP Prose Awards]( | [The Albertine Translation Prize]( | [The BolognaRagazzi Awards]( | [The Caledonia Novel Award]( | [The Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Diamond Dagger]( | [The Drue Heinz Literature Prize]( | [The Edge Hill Short Story Prize]( | [The Golden Poppy Awards]( | [The Indie Champions Awards]( | [The Jewish Fiction Award]( | [The Ledbury Poetry Competition]( | [The RNA Lifetime Achievement Award]( | [The Science + Literature Selected Titles]( | [The Science Fiction Debuts Prize]( | [The Society of Authors Translation Prize]( | [The Southern Book Prize]( Shortlists / Finalists. [The Edgar Awards]( | [The Gotham Book Prize]( | [The MUD Literary Prize]( | [The National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) Awards]( | [The Oregon Book Award]( | [The PEN America Literary Awards]( | [The Rathbones Folio Prize]( | [The Romantic Novel Awards]( | [The Waterstones Children’s Book Prize]( | [The Wingate Literary Prize]( Longlists. [The Dublin Literary Award]( | [The Dylan Thomas Prize]( | [The International Prize for Arabic Fiction]( | [The Klaus Flugge Prize]( | [The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards]( | [The PEN/Faulkner Award]( | [The Plutarch Award]( | [The Republic of Consciousness Prize]( | [The Walter Scott Prize]( | [The Yoto Carnegies]( Other Book World News Bookselling and Publishing The labor unrest at the New York headquarters of HarperCollins, which we have been chronicling in State of the Thing over the last half year—see our coverage of the brief, one-day worker strike in the [July edition]( the news of [layoffs]( and the union vote to[authorize a second strike]( in the [October edition]( the commencement of that [second, ongoing strike]( in the [November edition]( and our reportage of solidarity with the striking workers on the part of [authors]( and [literary agents]( in [last month’s edition]( to finally be coming to an end. After three months on strike, it has been announced that a [deal has been struck]( between the publisher and union, and that employees will be returning to work on February 21st. While labor troubles are hopefully dying down at HarperCollins, they are on the rise at Amazon, with the BBC reporting on [unionization efforts at Amazon warehouses]( in New York, and workers at Amazon UK’s Coventry warehouse recently [walking out for a one-day strike](—the first industrial action taken at the giant corporation’s British facilities. In other Amazon news, the US Federal Trade Commission is said to be [considering an antitrust case]( against the company. In [last month’s edition]( of State of the Thing we reported on the issue of AI-generated content and the use of ChatGPT in the publishing world, announcing LibraryThing’s own response to this type of content in terms of a new provision in our [Terms of Service]( outlawing AI-generated book reviews on the site. You can read that announcement and join the discussion about it [on Talk](. The controversy continues to build, with both [audiobook narrators]( and [illustrators]( now expressing their anger and concern at what these developments might mean for their respective professions. Library and Literary News A massive £500 million extension of the British Library’s St. Pancras location in London [has been greenlit](, with new galleries, event spaces, a communal garden and learning center and a new space for the [Alan Turing Institute]( all in the works. The planned project, which has been approved by the Camden council, will add 100,00 square feet to the library, and is hoped to improve the institutions interaction with the local community Library lovers and bibliophiles were recently charmed by Elisabeth Egan and Erica Ackerberg’s piece in The New York Times, [A Love Letter to Libraries, Long Overdue](, which offered a paean to these public institutions, praising their versatility, and the indefatigable efforts of those who run them. The comments section overflowed with personal stories of readers’ own interaction with the libraries in their lives—a sure sign that a chord had been struck. Fans of celebrated Japanese author [Haruki Murakami]( have had something to celebrate in recent days, as it has been announced that he would be [releasing his first novel in six years]( this coming April. Admirers of American novelist [Joan Didion](, particularly those with an interest in a deeper study of her work, also have cause to be pleased, as the New York Public Library has [recently acquired her papers](, as well as those of her husband [John Gregory Dunne](. Readers with a taste for real-life literary intrigue, in the meantime, will be interested in [the results of a decade-long investigation]( into the question of whether Chilean poet [Pabo Neruda]( was murdered by the Pinochet regime, as many have long suspected. TinyCat [TinyCat]( is the online catalog for small libraries, created by LibraryThing. It turns your existing LibraryThing account into a simple, professional, web-based catalog. Follow [@TinyCat_Lib]( on Twitter for the latest TinyCat news, and be sure to check out [LibraryThing’s Youtube channel]( for a range of TinyCat tutorials. of the Month. TinyCat’s featured library this past month was the [Centre for Family Literacy](, an Alberta, Canada-based organization working to promote a fully literate society. The centre’s Tutor Program Lead Sharon Smith and Literacy Specialist Genevieve Litwin sat down with Kristi this past month to answer her questions about the organization and [their library](. Q. Who are you, and what is your mission—your “raison d’être”?: The Centre for Family Literacy is a nonprofit organization that works towards a healthy, literate society where all are able to contribute and succeed. Our mission is to empower people, strengthen communities, and transform lives through literacy. In partnerships with community agencies, we support thousands of adults and children each year. We offer programs that participants can attend with their family, as well as ones they can attend on their own. Our family programs help parents and caregivers support their children’s early language and literacy development, while working on their own literacy skills. Programs just for adults include group classes and tutoring, and are designed to help adults build the basic reading, writing, math, and digital skills needed to function in today’s world. You can find the [full interview on our blog](. TinyCat Webinars. To learn more about TinyCat, join Kristi for a live demo Wednesdays at 1pm Eastern. Webinars are now on Zoom, so make sure to use our new [link to attend](. You can also check out our playlists of Tiny Tutorials on [LibraryThing's YouTube channel](, where Kristi walks you through various features of TinyCat in 30 seconds or less. If you'd like to schedule a webinar at another time or if you have other questions about TinyCat, you can reach Kristi at tinycat@librarything.com. Wait, That's It? That's all I have for the Thing this month! If you have any suggestions, or ideas for improving State of the Thing, please reach out to me at abigailadams@librarything.com. Happy reading, Abigail PS: If you'd rather receive a plain-text version, [edit your email preferences](. You can also read it [online](. This message was sent to {NAME}. Click to [edit your email preferences]( or [unsubscribe from future emails](.