In this issue:
- Poetry month
- Update from CELA Executive Director Rina Hadziev
- Featured title for adults: The accidental further adventures of the hundred-year-old man
- Top five books last month
- Kids and teens: CELA and the Canadian Children’s Book Centre collaborate
- Featured title for kids: The Mystery of Black Hollow Lane (Black Hollow Lane #1)
- Top five for kids
- Top five for teens
- Service tip: designates
- Holiday Hours
- TD Summer Reading Club award winner announced!
- TD Summer Reading Club update
- Stay connected!
Poetry month
After 9/11 when there was a surge in poems being written and shared, Billy Collins, the US Poet Laureate at the time, was asked about the phenomenon. He responded it was “because poetry tells the story of the human heart.” It seems fitting that with all the changes happening in the world now that April is Poetry Month and the perfect time to delve into poetry.
Poetry can be intimidating but it doesn’t have to be. The popular poetry of Rupi Kaur, Mary Oliver and Billy Collins is all very accessible. But if you want a little more encouragement or guidance, we recommend Adam Sol’s book How a Poem Moves: A Field Guide for Readers of Poetry.
“The book is a collection of playfully elucidating essays to help reluctant poetry readers become well-versed in verse.”
Developed from Adam Sol’s popular blog, How a Poem Moves is a collection of 35 short essays that walks readers through an array of contemporary poems. Sol is a dynamic teacher, and in these essays, he has captured the humor and engaging intelligence for which he is known in the classroom. With a breezy style, Sol delivers essays that are perfect for a quick read or to be grouped together as a curriculum. Though How a Poem Moves is not a textbook, it demonstrates poetry’s range and pleasures through encounters with individual poems that span traditions, techniques, and ambitions. This illuminating book is for readers who are afraid they “don’t get” poetry but who believe that, with a welcoming guide, they might conquer their fear and cultivate a new appreciation.
We also want to feature some of our favourite Canadian poets and collections.
- Not One of These Poems Is About You by Teva Harrison. 2020. In this remarkable, frank, and gut-wrenching mix of words and images, Teva continues on her journey, grappling with what it means to live with metastatic breast cancer. Starkly honest and wholly profound.
- Resisting Canada: An Anthology of New Poetry by Nyla Matuk. 2019. Resisting Canada gathers together poets for a conversation bigger than poetic trends. The work included in Resisting Canada--by celebrated poets such as Lee Maracle, Jordan Abel, Billy-Ray Belcourt, Louise Bernice Halfe, Michael Prior, and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson--addresses, among other things, Indigenous agency, cultural belonging, environmental anxieties, and racial privilege.
- The 2019 Griffin Poetry Prize Anthology: A Selection of the Shortlist by Kim Maltman. The highly anticipated annual anthology of the best Canadian and international poetry. Each year, the best books of poetry published in English internationally and in Canada are honoured with the Griffin Poetry Prize, one of the world’s most prestigious and richest literary awards. Since 2001 this annual prize has tremendously spurred interest in and recognition of poetry, focusing worldwide attention on the formidable talent of poets writing in English and works in translation. Each year The Griffin Poetry Prize Anthology features the work of the extraordinary poets shortlisted for the awards and introduces us to some of the finest poems in their collections.
For more poetry check out our curated list or browse within the poetry category.
Update from CELA Executive Director Rina Hadziev
Dear patrons,
We hope you and your families are well and finding moments of calm in this unpredented time. We want to keep you up to date regarding CELA services, especially during COVID-19. As you may have heard the Province of Ontario has extended the state of emergency which has closed all non-essential businesses and prevents us from producing and mailing physical materials, including audio CDs and physical braille. This State of Emergency is now in place until May 12, when it will be reassessed. We will continue to update our website as more information becomes available.
We know you rely on our books for entertainment, information and education, and for those who receive books via mail we know this is an especially difficult time. We are having discussions with the government about the value and importance of physical materials for our patrons, but we also recognize that governments have to make hard decisions for the health and safety of all right now.
Our team is working to find ways to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on our services. We’ve recently begun offering temporary access accounts for those who are eligible for our services but do not have a current library card. We’re expanding our support for designates; these are friends or family members who can assist our patrons to access reading materials digitally. We continue to add to our collection and to highlight titles of interest, so there is always something fresh and exciting for you to read.
In addition, we have added some new functions on our website, like the ability to filter for human narrated or human transcribed materials. In the coming days we will add the option of subscribing to magazines. And we are negotiating with newspaper suppliers to return access to as many newspapers as we can.
We want to reiterate our commitment to providing materials in a variety of accessible formats. Our team is now actively planning how we can best reintroduce services when the government permits us to return to full production and distribution.
We recognize that this is an especially difficult time for libraries and their staff, and we want to offer our support to both libraries and their patrons as we all navigate the unknown. We have been pleased to see the number staff signing up for our professional development webinars, but we are not surprised by the dedication of library staff in finding ways to best serve their patrons now and as we return to a new normal. If there are other ways we can assist you, please reach out to me or to Rachel Breau, our Manager of Member Services, who can be contacted via members@celalibrary.ca.
As always, our contact centre and support staff remain available to assist patrons and can be reached at 1-855-655-2273 or help@celalibrary.ca.
- Rina Hadziev, CELA Executive Director
Featured title for adults: The accidental further adventures of the hundred-year-old man
It all begins with a hot air balloon trip and three bottles of champagne. Allan and Julius are ready for some spectacular views, but they're not expecting to land in the sea and be rescued by a North Korean ship carrying contraband uranium. Soon Allan and Julius are at the center of a complex diplomatic crisis. Sequel to "The hundred-year-old man who climbed out of the window and disappeared." 2019.
Read The accidental further adventures of the hundred-year-old man
Top five books last month
Most popular with our readers last month:
- Careless love (Inspector Banks series. #25.) by Peter Robinson Suspense and thrillers
- Cobra Clutch (A "Hammerhead" Jed Mystery #1) by A. J. Devlin Mysteries and crime stories
- Five wives: A Novel by Joan Thomas Bestsellers
- Jigger Bunts: a western story by Max Brand Westerns
- The fortunate brother by Donna Morrissey Family stories
Kids and teens: CELA and the Canadian Children’s Book Centre collaborate
We are delighted to announce our new partnership with the Canadian Children’s Book Centre (CCBC), which is committed to raising awareness of the quality and variety of Canadian books for young readers. Each year the CCBC nominates outstanding children’s titles for a series of awards. CELA will be producing accessible versions of the shortlists for the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award, Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, Prix TD de littérature canadienne pour l’enfance et la jeunesse, and TD Canadian Children’s Literature Awards.
“The Canadian Children’s Book Centre is thrilled to be partnering with CELA to increase the number of accessible copies of shortlisted titles for four of our awards,” says Rose Vespa, Executive Director of the CCBC. “This partnership will help bring great Canadian literature into the hands of youth with print disabilities all across the country. We are grateful for this opportunity to work with CELA and break down some of the barriers preventing all young people from enjoying Canadian literature.”
In addition to the book awards the CCBC organizes Canadian Children’s Book week during the first week in May. This year, given the unique circumstances, instead of book events taking place in schools and communities, CCBC will host seven authors and illustrators for free virtual events using CCBC’s newly launched bibliovideo channel.
Featured title for kids: Arlo Finch in the lake of the moon (Arlo Finch series. #2.)
Arlo Finch and the Rangers of Pine Mountain Company are headed to Camp Redfeather for two weeks of archery, canoeing, and investigating the ancient monster who lurks in the lake's icy waters. But before they've even gotten on the bus, a major discovery puts Arlo, Indra, and Wu in jeopardy. Forces from beyond the Long Woods are after a mysterious item that only Arlo can recover. Sequel to "Arlo Finch in the valley of fire." Grades 5-8. 2019.
Read Arlo Finch in the lake of the moon (Arlo Finch series. #2.)
Top five for kids
Most popular with kids last month:
- Broken Pieces: An Orphan of the Halifax Explosion (Compass series) by Allison Lawlor
- Masterminds: payback (Mastermind series. #3.) by Gordon Korman
- The case of maker mischief (West Meadows detectives. #2) by Liam O'Donnell
- The hidden folk: stories of fairies, dwarves, selkies, and other secret beings by Lise Lunge-Larsen
- Wonder kids: the remarkable lives of nine child prodigies by Charis Cotter
Top five for teens
Most popular with teens last month:
- The glass arrow by Kristen Simmons
- The radioactive boy scout: the true story of a boy and his backyard nuclear reactor by Ken Silverstein
- Head games by Mariah Fredericks
- The dead inside: a true story by Cyndy Etler
- The finest creation by Jean Rabe
Service tip: designates
If a patron would like some additional assistance managing their CELA account, there is the option to appoint a designate. A designate can:
- Get books for a patron through celalibrary.ca
- Submit a Proof of Disability for a patron within My Account
- Make changes to a patron's account or service by calling Contact Centre.
Patrons can name a designate by emailing the Contact Centre at help@celalibrary.ca or by calling 1-855-655-2273. When declaring a designate, please provide the designate's name, email address and phone number.
Holiday Hours
CELA will be closed on Monday May 18 in honour of Victoria Day. We will re-open on Tuesday May 19.
Webinars
Are there topics related to accessibility that you would like to see included in our webinars? We regularly update our content and always appreciate hearing ideas from library staff. Send your suggestions to members@celalibrary.ca.
Orientation webinar
An overview of CELA service, including collections offered, eligibility, how to order DAISY audio books or other alternative format books for your library, patron registration, and promotional ideas.
Thurs, June 11 2:00-3:00pm EDT
Frontline staff webinar
This 45 minute webinar will provide an introduction to CELA services for your colleagues who need to understand the basics about your CELA service so they can direct patrons appropriately.
Educator Access Program webinar
This 45 min webinar will introduce the CELA Educator Access program which allows public libraries to offer educators at the elementary, secondary and post-secondary levels in their community access to CELA services on behalf of students with print disabilities. This webinar is for both educators and public library staff.
CELA and accessible library services for kids and teens!
This hour-long webinar will present an overview of CELA’s collections for kids and teens who cannot read print due to a learning, visual or physical disability, also known as print disabilities. Participants will also learn techniques to make story-times and other activities inviting to kids with disabilities and will feature how to promote accessible services for kids and teens in your community.
Braille webinar
Curious about braille? In this webinar you will learn what you need to know to offer braille materials to your patrons, including the different types of braille, delivery options for your patrons and supporting braille literacy efforts.
TD Summer Reading Club award winner announced!
Our heartiest congratulations go to Moose Jaw Public library which received the 2019 TD Summer Reading Club Accessibility Award. The Moose Jaw library won the award in recognition of the special efforts made to reach out to a variety of community organizations including literacy camps, programs for children on the autism spectrum and the Canadian Mental Health Association, to issue a welcoming invitation for all to participate.
The application included comments from parents thanking the library for going the extra mile to make sure that children with disabilities were not only invited by welcomed by the community to participate.
Congratulations Moose Jaw on your well deserved award!
TD Summer Reading Club update
The TD Summer Reading Club has officially announced that this year’s program will be exclusively online. Printed materials, including the accessible notebooks, will not be distributed this year and will be held for use next year. More information about the announcement is available on the TDSRC website.
Given the situation with COVID-19 we have made the difficult decision to pause the TDSRC Accessibility Award for 2020. We do encourage all libraries to do their best to consider accessibility as they plan online programs for this summer and we would love to see what you come up with so that we can help share your good work with other libraries.
Stay connected!
Visit CELA's social media, including Twitter and Facebook for more news about what's happening in the world of accessible literature.
