Book Reviews & Booklists

Hennepin County Library “If You Like…” lists
Hennepin County Library has put online “a handy reference guide to authors and genres.” Users may browse all the subject categories, which range from Christian Fiction to techno-thrillers and horror. Search the database by author or theme, or view the links to other resources from Hennepin County Library. 
If you Like is a wonderful readers’ advisory resource for librarians and book lovers alike!

Goodreads
Goodreads is a great place to pick your next book. Find hundreds of book lists, quotes from your favorite authors, and the favorite books from the past year. Create a free account to have a custom made book list just for you, calculated by the preferences you give.

Indie Bestsellers
Indiebound.org is a list of independent book store sellers bestsellers.

The Kirkus Review
The Kirkus Review is a household name for a reason. Search book lists by genre, see which novels won awards, watch author interviews, and subscribe to their “Fully Booked” podcast which discusses newly released books. 

Literature, Arts, and Medicine Database
LITMED is an annotated bibliography of prose, poetry, film, video and art which was developed to be a dynamic, accessible, comprehensive resource in MEDICAL HUMANITIES, for use in health/pre-health and liberal arts settings.

New York Times Bestseller Lists
Find out who’s on and who’s off on the New York Time’s Bestseller Lists. 

NoveList
Novelist is a subscription online readers’ advisory tool that helps readers find new books based on books they’ve read or topics in which they are interested.

Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller Lists
Publisher’s Weekly includes bestselling titles in fiction AND nonfiction titles, as well as bestselling titles in audio, mass market, religion, and children’s books.

What’s Next: A Searchable Database of Novels in Series
What’s the right order for the Nevada Barr books? What’s Next is an up to date, searchable listing of adult fiction in series. A “series” is two or more books linked by character(s), settings, or other common traits.
Information Links

Book Series in Order

The goal of this website is simple: to list the series of every book in order.

Library Catalogs

NORTHERN WATERS LIBRARY NETWORK (NWLN)
NWLN is the regional shared catalog of NWLS member libraries. With a library card patrons can directly request, renew, and can check the status of items either checked out or on hold.
WISCAT
WisCat is the Wisconsin library catalog and can be used to search for items outside the local system. To fill out a WisCat request, use Spooner Library’s ILL Request Form.
WORLDCAT
WORLDCAT is a worldwide catalog of library collections. A user-friendly search page is available for patrons searching the catalog from home.

Library Databases

• NoveList – A readers’ advisory database with over 150,000 fiction titles, and over 4000 custom created articles and lists. Access Feature Articles, BookTalks, and Book Discussion Guides along with Author Read-alikes, Readers’ Advisory training content and a variety of other reader materials.
• NoveList K-8 – A readers’ advisory database for grades K-8 with collection of titles, BookTalks, Recommended Reads book lists and more.
• TeachingBooks.net – Thousands of resources for k-12 multimedia fiction and nonfiction reading activities for educators, librarians, students and families supporting language arts, book clubs, art educators, social studies and much more.

Library Digital Media

DIGITAL BOOKS, AUDIOBOOKS, MUSIC, VIDEOS
Wisconsin’s Digital Library catalog offers downloadable media (electronic books, films, music and audiobooks) to read on a pc or play on portable devices. For CD burning permission refer to the Digital Rights Information section at the bottom of each title page. Please review the Help Center to learn more.  To access Wisconsin’s Digital Library on your reading device and/or cell phone, download the Libby app.

Local Newspapers

Burnett County Sentinel: ​The Burnett County Sentinel was the county’s first newspaper when Matthew Westcott began publishing on Feb. 19, 1875. The Sentinel continued weekly until its building and presses were destroyed by fire in 1909. The business was sold to its competitor. The Journal changed its name to “Journal and Sentinel”, but later reverted to the Journal of Burnett County. When the Journal folded in 1962, Wilbur A. Nelson revived the Burnett County Sentinel. Following his death in 1975, his wife, Marjorie Nelson and son, Gary Nelson operated it until Feb. 1, 1994, when it was purchased by Mainstream Publications. It was then purchased by Eugene Johnson on Dec. 1, 1999 (website). The office is located at 114 W. Madison Ave., Grantsburg, WI 54840 and is open from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm Monday – Friday.

Spooner Advocate: The Spooner Advocate, founded in 1901, is Washburn County’s leading source of advertising, news, and other information. Located at 251 E. Maple Street, the Spooner Advocate and its companion Total Market Coverage (TMC) product, The Weekender, serve all of Washburn County and parts of Burnett County, with a combined circulation of nearly 20,000 and a penetration rate of 99 percent of households in the area (Pulse Research Survey).
The Spooner Advocate office, located at 251 E. Maple St., Spooner is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.