By: Richard Hallman, M.Ln.
Back to my favorite topic, old favorites for modern libraries.
When a new volume arrives in a beloved series, demand often rises for earlier entries in the series. Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone “alphabet series” (so named because there is a book for every letter in the alphabet), is nearing its end. NPR’s Maureen Corrigan underscored the popularity of this series when she said, “Makes me wish there were more than 26 letters.” When the final book in a series is published, some readers like to start over again, reading from the beginning. This is a cue for librarians to check their holdings and reorder any missing titles or replace copies that are particularly dog-eared.
Library patrons often take a new interest in titles that appear on “best books” lists. One book that appears on many such lists is How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie. Originally published in 1936, this is a book that is still relevant today. It explains how to make people like you, win others over to your way of thinking, and change people without causing offense or arousing resentment. Hmmm…
Here’s what the New York Times said about the book on its 50th anniversary: Reluctant Dale Carnegie’s 50-Year-Old Classic
“Think and Grow Rich” is another older title that is constantly coming out in new editions, updated versions and audio versions. Napoleon Hill explains that people can succeed in any line of work, and that they can do and be anything they can imagine. This one is a replica of the original 1937 edition:
One of my favorite assignments in library school was researching what was happening the week we were born. I will confess that I have never read this one, but the New York Times bestselling title for the week when I came into the world was “By Love Possessed,” by James Gould Cozzens (later made into a movie starring Lana Turner – Click here for details.) It’s still in print, and still listed in the latest version of H.W. Wilson’s Fiction Core Collection. Maybe this will inspire you to check out popular books from when you were born!
For reference:
- Y is for Yesterday ISBN: 9780399163852
- How to Win Friends and Influence People ISBN: 9781439167342
- Think and Grow Rich ISBN: 9780143110163
- By Love Possessed ISBN: 9780786705030
Richard
Budding collection developer Richard Hallman finally set aside his dreams of becoming a rock star, movie director, and/or famous novelist to embrace librarianship. Click here for more.
Librarian to Librarian 