Program Recommends Books

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— The library has the answer for those who finish reading a best seller but don’t know what to check out next.

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The Springdale Library

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The Springdale Library participates in the NextReads program, which can suggest possible new books. NextReads is a free service.

“The program can help you discover books you would be interested in that you wouldn’t find on your own,” said Anne Gresham, library technology coordinator.

Users access the program in two ways, Gresham said. Both methods begin by going to the library website then clicking on NextReads in the list of links on the left.

You can sign up for email messages that list recommended books by checking the categories and creating an account. The recommendation lists can be accessed without an email account by clicking on the name of the category, Gresham said.

Steven Jones, who was looking through new nonfiction books Tuesday at the library, said he would be interested in the program. Jones said he has used the library extensively since moving to Springdale from Rogers a year ago.

“I would be interested in using that type of program,” Jones said. “I read a lot of books on science and geography.”

The categories include some of the more popular genres in the library, said Marcia Ransom, library director. The categories include fantasy, historical fiction, kid’s books, mystery, biography, fiction, science fiction, business and personal finance.

The recommendations include a link to check availability in the library, Ransom said. Users with Springdale Library cards can place the book on hold, she said. The recommended books are not necessarily in the library, she said.

“We’ve had a lot of luck with having most of them,” Gresham said.

An email to the library requesting a recommended book the library doesn’t have can produce results, Ransom said.

“We want to know what our readers want,” Ransom said.

The program helps the library complete its mission, Gresham said.

“We want to put interesting books into people’s hands,” Gresham said.

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