Q: What do you hope to accomplish with your blog? Is it to one day become an author yourself, just for fun, maybe get some online attention, or maybe something very different?
Great question! This blog has changed so much since it first started. I had intended to blog about setting up a new school library, but got so busy with the library that doing so never happened. The blog sat for half a year or so, and then I went, "Hey, why don't I start reviewing what my students read?" It blossomed from there.
This month, I'm focusing on books connected to Michigan, my home state. There are books by Michigan authors, and books about/set in the area. I'm covering books for all ages, but I still focus on my charter school library (as opposed to my school/public library, my second library job). This gets these books some publicity, especially those that are small press or independently published, like Haylee's Treasure (review and author interview available). It also allows me to work on my reader's advisory skills, because my students often have to research their home state, or do book reports of books tied to Michigan.
I toy with the idea from time to time of adding advertisements. Most likely, this would not be for personal gain, but as additional money for my tiny budget. I don't know, what do you readers think of that idea?
This Feature and Follow Friday question is great! I hope we learn a lot about each other through it.
Just a reminder, I'm very busy at work on Fridays and do not have a chance to get back to new followers until the evening or later in the weekend. Please be patient. :)
Wow! Am so glad you love your job! I could almost sense the happiness of being surrounded by books everyday! I envy you! :D
ReplyDeletenew follower and here's my FF for the week!
Kate @ KISSKITKATEY
Haha, thanks! I'll be sure to follow you, too. :)
DeleteWhat a terrific post. I love libraries, librarians and the like. You have such a great reason to start a blog.
ReplyDeleteAs for advertisements, I have been struggling with the same question. I'd like to support my blog, just to keep it up to date and running, more than anything else-- it's not like I could support myself on it-- so I haven't done it yet, but I may. Since I do a lot of reviews on Amazon, I may start there-- they give you a penny or two if someone clicks on your review and buys the book. I say, if you can, do it. But I was warned that I needed to have a lot of pageviews daily before this would be useful at all. But it's always good to get more information before launching into something like that.
New follower.
Christina @ Ensconced in YA
My FF
Thank you for following, and for your thoughts on advertising! Maybe I should do the Amazon thing - or IndieBound, as I think they offer something similar. I'll follow you back shortly. :)
DeleteHopping through. I like that you have some focus for your blog. The Michigan theme is cool.
ReplyDeleteMy Hop
Thanks for visiting ~ I hope you'll come back for more of my Marvelous Michigan Month! :)
DeleteVery cool that you are focusing on a theme :)
ReplyDeletehttp://carabosseslibrary.blogspot.com/2012/10/follow-friday.html
I am shocked I wasn't following you before... I just always thought I was...! Thanks for stopping by my FF!
ReplyDeleteAngie
Angela's Anxious Life
Thanks for finally following! ;)
DeleteI love how passionate you are about books! Working at the library, with the kids and blogging about books, just awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanx for visiting my FF!
Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace
New Follower :)
You are very passionate about books. That is so cool.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by.
Cute bio! I love it!
ReplyDeleteNew Follower
Julie~ My FF
Thank you! I'll follow you back. :)
DeleteI think it's awesome and interesting that you're currently reading books from/about Michigan! I wish I could do the same, but being a military brat, I've lived in way too many states, lol! Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDelete-Novel Reveries
I'm a military brat, too (actually, my dad went back to active duty on retiree recall to teach ROTC after originally retiring when I was a teen). You could always have lots of state focuses - just think of how many months you could fill! :)
DeleteAt least yo0u had noble thoughts behind your blog. I just blogged for myself.
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas. Thanks for visiting.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of reviewing all the books your students read. I have gone through phases on my blog where I read and review the stuff my kids read, but to tackle the entire reading list of all your students is quite impressive.
ReplyDeleteAaron (Dreaming About Other Worlds)
Haha, I'm not quite the ambitious; I only read the most popular stuff when it comes to reading what my students read. But I do try to read what they might like.
DeleteSo jealous that you have TWO library jobs! I would probably be in heaven. I like the idea of the themes that you're doing. And how it will be helpful to the students as well. Do you get many students visiting your blog? I would love to get my students to do that, and have even shared my website address with ones who leave my school after 8th grade and want to know how to keep in touch with me about books. Thanks for stopping by my blog, I'm a new follower!
ReplyDeleteNo, I would actually get in trouble, and maybe even lose my job(s), if my students came here. We are not supposed to interact with students through social networking.
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