Avid readers of all ages have hand picked some of the year’s top book releases to be added to local library shelves.
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Book lovers selected everything from the history of Samoan tattooing, to tips on beekeeping, with cooking, European travel, and memoirs proving popular with older readers.
People thought books were going to be dead with the introduction of Kindles, but if you get on a plane there’s half a dozen people reading books.
- The Book House’s Roland Yetman
The Book House’s Roland Yetman said engaging the community in selecting books is shown to increase library memberships and in turn book borrowing.
Mr Yetman has almost 40 years experience in the publishing world, and travels the coastline from Cairns to Melbourne helping libraries add to their selections.
“You’re lucky if you enjoy your job, and I love mine,” he said.
His career began in the United Kingdom, where he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Michael Palin and Geoffrey Archer.
“I was working in a bank and most of my day was spent making mistakes while looking out the window,” Mr Yetman said with a laugh.
An opportunity selling Mills and Boon romance novels opened the door to a life surrounded by books.
“People thought books were going to be dead with the introduction of Kindles, but if you get on a plane there’s half a dozen people reading books,” he said.
He describes books as “better than a Mars bar”, and said the variety they offer and their tactile nature is maintaining their popularity with the public.
He said books on computer coding and programming are growing in popularity, and a large number of parents visited the Bega Library this week to choose books for their children.
“People have selected everything from board books, lots of tactile stuff for kids and picture books, through to early beginner books, junior and young adult fiction and lots of non-fiction for kids too,” he said.
He said 92-year-old broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough’s latest book is one of the most popular of the year, while former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce’s autobiography is not proving quite as in demand.
Films also proved popular, with a new selection of movies to be added to shelves.