November. 24, 1999

Library to sponsor on-line book discussion

The San Juan Island Library will start sponsoring this week an on-line book talk forum for patrons. This new service will allow patrons with E-mail to submit their own book reviews, comments, and reading suggestions to a public mailing list. They will also be able to read reviews and thoughts from other subscribed library patrons. Once a patron 'subscribes' to this E-mail list, they will automatically receive the book reviews and comments sent in by others. They will also be able to submit their own reviews and comments by sending E-mail to bookworm@sjlib.org. Patrons subscribe to this book talk list by sending an E-mail to bookworm-request@sjlib.org and including the following in the body of the message: 'SUBSCRIBE bookworm name@address.com', substituting their own e-mail address in place of 'name@address.com.' Says Library director Kathleen McHarg, "We've long looked for ways to help promote shared reading experiences between patrons. Though no substitute for face-to-face book groups and intimate conversations with friends, this non-traditional discussion forum provides a great way to help promote reading and shared reading experiences among patrons." A second mailing list, 'calendar@sjlib.org,' is available for the discussion of anything pertaining to the planning, scheduling, and running of community events on the island. Anyone wishing to join this list can subscribe by sending an E-mail to 'calendar-request@sjlib.org.' To learn more about these new mailing lists, attend a presentation at the Library on Sat. Dec 4 at 10:30am, or Tues. Dec. 7 at 10:30am, both to be held in the Library meeting room. Or, call Wade Guidry at the Library at 378-2798 for more information.