#holdshelf: January 2013
The hold shelf is the polygraph test of the library world. What are people truly interested in reading? Check the holds. While the popularity of certain titles is universal (see: Wimpy Kid, The Hunger Games, etc.), often times there will be a run on a book you never expected. As famous librarian, the famous Rasheed Wallace once famously said (and I quote), “Hold shelf don’t lie.”¹
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¹Look out – faux sports reference.
Every month (save the months when we don’t) The Children’s Literature Bill Clinton (John Schumacher) and I recap what’s on our hold shelves and invite you to do the same. I’m up first. The theme seems to be Regional Flair:
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
The only notable thing here is that it’s the original wimp, and not one of the more recent installments.
Aquamarine by Alice Hoffman
Unexpected!
I, Jack by Patricia Finney
Another surprise.
Scary Stories 3 by Alvin Schwartz
This is a mainstay.
Surviving Me by Reginald Raab
This is pretty cool because this book is written by a teacher who works at the school. We have multiple copies in the library and they’re always circulating.
Weird Michigan
I think they have these for other states too, right? I am a fan of Michigan miscellanea, so I get the appeal.
American Chillers: The Michigan Mega-Monster by Jonathan Rand
Have I told you yet about the R.L. Stein of Michigan? His name is Jonathan Rand and his books are like our mitten state version of Goosebumps. Every elementary library has them. After creating the Michigan Chillers series, he went national with American Chillers.
Plunked by Michael Northrup
This has been a steadily popular book. It’s always checked out and often lands on this shelf.
Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman
Still going strong, this one! It’s been a hold shelf regular since the beginning, and, it appears, for some time to come.
The Cloud Searchers (Amulet, Book 3) by Kazu Kibuishi
Nothin’ new here.
John Schumacher upped the ante with a hold shelf video:
And now it’s your turn. Thank you to everyone who submitted their hold shelf.
via @Liblaura5
via vlrstn750
via Abigail L.
via Sylvie Shaffer
via Lindsay W.
via @bookdiva414
via @SEMSLibraryLady
via @heidihuestis
via @BenjiHaiku
via @stylinlibrarian
via @erinlibrary
via @CuriousStGeorge
via @sotomorrow
via @LibraryFanatic
Look for more #holdshelf next month.
(Top image: polygraph by spiralstares http://www.flickr.com/photos/spiralstares/1466785860/)
Filed under: Articles
About Travis Jonker
Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.
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Sam Eddington says
+5 points for the Rasheed Wallace reference. The only thing missing was that look on his face after someone calls a foul on him where his eyes bug out of his head…
PragmaticMom says
I adore looking at hold shelves. It’s the voyeur in me hoping to make sure I read all the “good” books!
Angie says
I enjoyed looking at the #holdshelf pictures. It was my first time to contribute a picture, and I will definitely make this a monthly habit (save the months you don’t). I spied many similar titles I have in my library then added some to my future order list. Thanks!
Vicki Kouchnerkavich says
If I were Jeff Kinney I would be so thrilled to see my books on so many of these hold shelves!!
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