Where are the Good Books?

"Can you suggest a good book to read?" is a common request at the Reference Desk. Wellesley Free Library has several resources to assist you in finding the perfect book.

Novelist - is an online Reader's Advisory database that you can reach from the library catalog. On the Search Page of the catalog, click on the Reference and Information Tab, then on databases, and scroll down on this page and click on Novelist (or just click on the underlined Novelist on the left). You will find books by author or title, Read Alikes, Book Lists, Award Winners, Recommended Reads by genre, and even some websites that offer more recommendations. So, for instance, if you are looking for some more thrillers to round out your reading history, the Recommended Reads list on Novelist offers 13 different types to browse--from Medical to Serial (termed Hunting Humans) to Legal Thrillers. Remember, however, you will need your library card number to use Novelist from home.


Book Page - Wellesley Free Library offers a print review source of new titles of interest--adult, children's, audio, and book group titles. You may take a peek at some of the highlights of the September issue by clicking on the underlined Book Page to your left OR stop by the library and pick up your own copy on the book display in the New Book Foyer as you enter the library. The image at the right shows the September cover, and some of the featured authors are Curtis Sittenfeld, Kathy Reichs, and Christopher Paolini. Enjoy!


Bookletters - is an e-mail newsletter that is sent to you regularly to alert you to new books in an area of interest. You choose the ones you would like to receive. Some are sent by the staff of Bookletters while others are hand selected to feature by our Reference Staff. We even have a newsletter with the Top 10 requested books at Wellesley Free Library called Wellesley Favorites. So, whether your allegiance is solely to fiction, mystery, thrillers, sci fi or you won't pick up anything but non-fiction, Bookletters has something for you. Sign up for the newsletters of your choice on our webpage by clicking on the underlined Bookletters on the left.

Now you have some resources to try out. Stay tuned, I will have more ways to find books of your choice tomorrow.