Staff Picks Spotlight: Personalized Book Recommendations from Your Librarians

I often rely on recommendations from others, whether they’re from a friend, book club, radio program, or best-selling list. Did you know that our library posts the updated New York Times Best Seller List for both fiction and nonfiction every week? The list is posted in the “New Release” section, one of the most popular sections of our library, across from the circulation desk. The highlighted titles can be found in Wickson’s collection. This is one of my favorite places to browse for a book if I don’t have anything particular in mind, but I also love a good recommendation, which is why I’m thrilled to report that earlier this month Wickson Library began featuring “Staff Picks” in the adult fiction endcap displays.

Now you don’t have to wonder what our librarians’ favorite books are. We began by featuring Jennifer Harden, the library’s Programming Specialist. Jennifer’s favorite genres are romance, mystery, romantasy (romance + fantasy), and psychological thriller. She likes books with a good plot twist and interesting character relationships and prefers reading large print.

A few of her all-time favorite books include: The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner, The Push by Ashley Audrain, The Woman in the Window by A.J. Finn, Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson, Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid, Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, and Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.

While the New York Times Best Seller list can be a great place to look for your next read, recommendations from local librarians offer a more personal touch, not only in what you might want to read, but in the way they allow us to get to know the person making the recommendation.

For instance, I can see that two of Jennifer’s favorite authors are Sarah Addison Allen and Ruth Ware, as her endcap display includes several books by both authors including The Girl Who Chased the Moon, Lost Lake, and Other Birds by Sarah Addison Allen, and The Lying Game, The It Girl, and Zero Days by Ruth Ware. A few additional fun facts about Jennifer are that she usually doesn’t read the sequel, and she will not finish a book if it doesn’t grab her in the first three chapters!

When you head to the library this week look for a new “Staff Picks” endcap display featuring librarian Kristen Gere. And in case you missed it, Jennifer’s recommendations are still available for check out. We will be featuring a new “Staff Picks” for various Wickson Library staff members every month or so to help you get to know your librarians, a few quirks they have, and some of their favorite books. Happy reading!