Booklamp: Like Pandora for Your Books

Anybody familiar with the Music Genome Project? How about Pandora? Basically, the Music Genome Project is the science that makes Pandora work. Experts take a look at over 450 different musical characteristics for each song that is in the MGP database, and this data is used by Pandora to find music that is right up your musical alley.

Well, what if I told you that the same kind of thing exists for books? Pretty cool, no? Booklamp is the front end of the Book Genome Project, just like Pandora is the front end for the Music Genome Project. The Book Genome Project takes a look at the language, story, and characters in a book, and turns them into information that can be used to find similar books to what you are already reading.

The Book Genome Project uses computer intelligence to come up with data points on a scene by scene basis. BGP calls this collection of data the BookDNA, and the BGP gives you book suggestions that are similar to the BookDNA of the book you are interested in, or let's you find books that are similar to a specific piece of the book you like.

For example, The Maze Runner by James Dashner has a huge chunk of Tunnels/Combined Spaces/Underground Environments in its StoryDNA, and Pacing is one of the higher points in the LanguageDNA. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian has Partying/Deviance as one of its top points in StoryDNA, and Pacing is also one of the highest points in its LanguageDNA.

The Book Genome Project is adding new titles constantly, so see if your favorite books are on it and see if it works for you to find your next favorite book =D

Teen Librarian's Toolbox: If You've Got the Passion...

So originally, I was going to do a post on The 2012 Project but then I figured that I should probably tell you a little bit about the site that this brilliant idea comes from. So, this week we will be talking about Teen Librarian's Toolbox :)

"Ths mission of TLT is to provide fast, easy to use resources for teen librarians who are short on time, staff, and money . . . but not on passion." I don't know many teen librarians who don't fit into that category, and I think TLT does a good job fulfilling this mission.

TLT is made up of three people, Karen Jensen, Cutler Creech, and Tim Jensen. Karen has been a Young Adult/Teen librarian for the past 19 years and a reviewer for VOYA magazine for the past 10. Cutler is an eighteen year old author who loves dystopian novels. Tim, Karen's Mr., loves Monty Python and might sometimes steal books that Karen is reading.

In addition to The 2012 Project, which is super cool, she writes book reviews, Reader's Advisory Posters,  Teen Programs in a Box (who doesn't need a ready made program sometimes), and stuff about YA advocacy.

I've connected with TLT on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, and if what she does sounds interesting to you, I'd highly advice her resources.

AdLit.org: What about The Older Ones?

At my library, we host a literacy play group every Friday. Its a time for kids to learn literacy skills in a fun environment, and a chance for moms and dads to relax while their children play. Its kind of like a play date at the library.

The program has been well attended, and kids learning about reading while they play is really cool to watch. Early literacy is something that many libraries support and work into every program that they have. Something on the same token, but that still doesn't get as much notice, is adolescent literacy.

Turns out that we focus on teaching kids how to read in grades k-3, but then we start to focus on having kids read to learn. For adolescent readers that might struggle a little bit, this shift causes them some problems.

This situation is something I didn't really think about until I looked up AdLit.org. This is a website filled with useful research, videos, podcasts, articles, and information to equip educators and parents to help adolescent readers have the literacy skills they need.

The site also includes information on getting ready for college and several reading lists. Even though I wasn't familiar with the site until recently, I'm definitely going to start checking it out.

Small Demons: The Devil is In the Details

Ever wonder why you like a particular book? It's probably because the characters are awesome, the plot is so taut, or the ideas are just intriguing. But, what if it is also the details that are contained in a book that make it so awesome.

Small Demons is a website that lists all the details contained in a book, and then connects those details with other books with the same details. Let's so Albert Einstein shows up in your favorite detective story. Small Demons will list all the other books with Albert Einstein in them. What if you enjoy books that have been turned into movies. Small Demons will list those for you as well.

When I get done with a book, I'm always looking for the next thing to read. Oftentimes, I want something similar to the book I just finished. I thought Small Demons would make it really easy to do this :)