We Totally Do This to You

I'm a big fan of the blog Swiss Army Librarian, where Brian Herzog shares stories from his job behind a reference desk in Massachusetts. A recent anecdote is a good example of why.

A man phones the library with an inquiry: "Does Laurence Maroney have tribal tattoos on his arms?" The eventual answer is all well and good, but the best part is the footnotes, in which Herzog explains his strategy for dealing with vague questions: let them talk. It's a trick that works in bookstores, too.

The full posting is here.--David E

Miscellaneous Bookish Blogs 2

The best book blog you're not checking out is Reading Copy from the folks at online vendor ABEbooks.com.



It doesn't seem quite right to include the behemoth that is Powells blog. They hardly need the publicity, but it is a very fine blog, nonetheless.

The book blog at London's Guardian alternates between maddeningly Anglo-centric and delightfully eccentric. It's always worth a look.

Print Is Dead is still waiting for its name to become true. Until then, it's a good guide to things book-related.--David E

The Critics

In an age of shrinking book review sections in most major newspapers, it's stunning that National Public Radio has increased its coverage. Reviews, interviews, excerpts--they're all here.



It's not a blog, but no one can ignore the New York Times Sunday Book Review. For advance notice of forthcoming books, try Publishers Weekly.--David E

Publishing Insiders

If you want to see how books are made (and I can't in good conscience recommend that you should), here are a few blogs to visit.

The pick of the litter has to be Editorial Ass--it's short for "assistant." An anonymous worker bee began her blog years ago, and she's still at it, detailing the foibles of publishing from the inside. It's very candid and very funny.



If you want even more dirt, visit Galley Cat for publishing industry gossip or The Book Publicity Blog and Publishing Talk to totally geek out.--David E

Newspaper Book Blogs

Most newspapers have a book blog. If you only read one, make it Jacket Copy, from the Los Angeles Times. For my money, it's probably the best general-interest book blog of any of American newspaper.



If you want more, try the very opinionated, very funny Between the Covers from the Miami Herald; Book Patrol, which is really bookseller Michael Lieberman writing for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer; and the ever-reliable Paper Cuts from the New York Times.--David E

Miscellaneous Bookish Blogs

I'm never sure what to expect when I check in with Bibliophile Bullpen. That's why I keep going back.



Cover designer Henry Sene Yee shows off his work on his blog.

The University of Rochester travels the world in a book on the blog Three Percent.--David E

Shhh... Librarians Blogging

Hands down the funniest library blog is the Lake Mills Library blog. Someone in Wisconsin is having a lot of fun. Mostly it's descriptions of recent acquisitions. Some are loving and kind. Some are, well, not. I'm surprised that it hasn't been censored out of existence yet.



I'd be remiss if I didn't direct you to Swiss Army Librarian, where Brian Herzog gives you the view from behind the reference desk. Please also visit The Library of Digress for interesting library-related news from around the world. Closer to home, Booked in St Paul reviews recent additions to their collections.--David E

Bookstores Who Blog

Magers and Quinn is hardly the only bookstore with a blog. I'm a big fan of The Common Reader from NYC's McNally Robinson bookstore.



A slightly quirkier but no less entertaining blog is Open a bookshop, what could possibly go wrong?. Subtitled "Two Blokes, One Bookshop, No Idea," it's the history in blog of the Big Green Bookshop in north London. They began the blog even before they opened the store. I'm happy to report both are still going strong.--David E

In the Corners of My Mind

Your faithful blogger is away on vacation, but I've lined up some reading material to keep you busy until I return. Each day, there will be a new posting. Together, they form an idiosyncratic guide to some of the blogs I like. Maybe you'll like them too.

First up is The Book Bench. It's The New Yorker magazine's blog on things bookish. The box below shows the last ten posts from the bench. You can click any title to see the full posting on The New Yorker's website.