Question: What is your policy on book lending?

Heather Maloney, Library Director: I share! Unless it’s a library book then I’m a little more protective. 😉

 Michelle McKinney, Reference/Web Services Librarian: It depends on the book and who I’m lending it to…I’ve lost a few faves over the years and those folks can’t borrow from my anymore. 

Kellie Tilton, Instructional Technologies Librarian: I am an advocate of book lending! But only if I know the person well enough to know the book is coming back at some point. 

Lauren Wahman, Instruction Librarian: No policy. All of my books come from the Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County. 

Julie Robinson, Library Operations Manager: Hardly ever. Streamlined my collection to keep mainly my absolute favorite hardcovers and first editions which I NEVER lend and the rest I borrow from the library.

 Pam Adler, Public Services Assistant: Depends on the book. I rarely loan my hardcovers but if I have an ebook it’s yours to borrow. 

Question: How do you feel about giving a bad or negative review?

Heather Maloney, Library Director: Reading opinions can be very personal (especially if reading for leisure) so I keep it constructive and from a place of my own personal preference.

 Michelle McKinney, Reference/Web Services Librarian: I like reading them if I don’t like a book. Sometimes I can’t find the words to describe why I don’t like a book and reading other people’s negative review helps. 

Kellie Tilton, Instructional Technologies Librarian: I think if the reviews are given critically, I’m okay with them. I also appreciate when reviewers acknowledge the difference between issues they personally had with a book and the issues that are problematic on a more general level. 

Lauren Wahman, Instruction Librarian: I appreciate honesty and understand that not everyone is going to like the same books as me. 

Julie Robinson, Library Operations Manager: I try to keep it concrete and give specific examples, but just because I don’t care for a book doesn’t mean someone else won’t love it. I never want to discourage anyone from picking up a book. 

 Pam Adler, Public Services Assistant: Reviews/opinions. I will give my opinion, good/bad/indifferent if asked. 

Question: Do you have an e-reader?

Heather Maloney, Library Director: I do read on my iPad occasionally — print books give my eyes a break after so much screen time. 

 Michelle McKinney, Reference/Web Services Librarian: Yes, I own a Kindle Touch and use the Kindle app on my laptop and iPhone. 

Kellie Tilton, Instructional Technologies Librarian: Yep!

Lauren Wahman, Instruction Librarian: Of course! A Kindle and an iPad Mini. 

Rachel Lewis, Technical Services Manager: Yes (Kindle Paperwhite)

Julie Robinson, Library Operations Manager: Kindle app on my iPad…super convenient. Still enjoy a “real” book in my hand, but having the library at my fingertips is very addictive!

 Pam Adler, Public Services Assistant: Yes! I love my Kindle.