Catherine Atkins: All right, let's get started. Welcome to the YA Authors Cafe. Our topic tonight is Teen Read Week, and we will start off with guests YA librarians Hope Baugh, Christi Showman and Liz Bass. Welcome to all!

Liz: Glad to be here.

Christi: Hello everyone!

Hope: Thanks! It's good to be here.

Liz: I guess I should call myself Green Liz since there is another Liz

LindaJoySingleton: hi everyone

Catherine Atkins: The format is this: I will chat with the guests a half hour or so, and then we will open this up to questions. Guests, when you answer, please indicate a continued answer with a series of dots.... when you send your response.

Liz Burns: LOL, that's why I did my whole name, not only a Liz but a Liz B

Christi: Got it

Catherine Atkins: How about if I say LizBa?

Catherine Atkins: Okay, first question--Hope, what is Teen Read Week? Can you tell us a bit about it?

Hope: It is sponsored by YALSA...

Hope: and is held every year to promote teens' reading.

Catherine Atkins: And Christi and Kristin(welcome) please chime in after Hope with your thoughts on Teen Read Week.

Catherine Atkins: Christi first, please.

Christi: I think of Teen Read Week as a time to really focus on what teens want...

Christi: Of course, I try to do that *all* year....

Hope: Me, too! :-)

Christi: but with Teen Read Week we can get others, schools, teachers, parents on board as well

Christi: And don't forget the programming!

Catherine Atkins: Kristin, any special activities or philosophies happening for your readers on TRW?

Kristin Lade: I think it's a great way to make parents, teachers and generally adults, aware of Young Adult Literature

Catherine Atkins: LizBa, I billed you as a "Teen Literacy Advocate". Can you explain your thoughts of the importance of teen literacy, and your background?

Kristin Lade: we're showing Speak during TRW and I have a display of popular non-fiction to go along with the Get Real theme (I'm a little delayed, minor technical difficulties)

Liz: Yes. A few years ago I was asked by our local librarian to host a roundtable at the library for teens. . .I was asked because at that time I was the Mayor. So I did it and became interested in the idea of helping teens develop literacy in the language of politics.

Hope: How cool is THAT!

Christi: Wow!

Catherine Atkins: How did the kids respond, Liz?

Liz: It was a great session I had with the students. They were in 7th and 8th grade, so it seemed they wanted to talk about anything but politics. However, at base, politics is about how we treat each other and how we live together. We found some common ground.

Catherine Atkins: Christi, what is some of the programming you do to encourage teen readers during TRW--and beyond?

Christi: Well, this week we actually kicked off our new Anime Club....

Christi: and I've been encouraging everyone to vote for the Teens' Top Ten...

Christi: then, in December, as a delayed part of TRW (and thanks to Mary P) we're having an author visit our Advisory Board...

Catherine Atkins: Kristin, you mentioned the "Get Real" theme for this year's TRW. What does that phrase refer to?

Christi: My favorite "little" program, though, is having advisory board members put bookmarks in books they like that say "Teen Pick"

Catherine Atkins: Christi, that sounds like a great way to get kids involved. And Mary Pearson is doing an author visit, it sounds like? Lucky kids.

MaryP: (nope, not me)

Christi: Actually, Mary got us in touch with Laurie Faria Stolarz - we're psyched

Catherine Atkins: Hope, can you tell us about the Get Real theme for this years TRW?

Hope: To be honest, TRW is a relative "down time" for us. But we do promote the Teens' Top Ten for several weeks, and we try to do at least one specifically TRW-related program that week. This year, YA staff member Autumn Gonzalez is leading a book discussion on banned books, because "Freedom is for real."

Hope: "Get Real"....

Christi: I like that, Hope!

Hope: ...can be just about anything.

Catherine Atkins: I keep reading that non-fiction is speaking more to kids these days than fiction--what do you guys think? Liz/

Christi: I've been promoting non-fiction with the "Get Real" theme

Christi: Actually, I have to physically put non-fiction in kids hands sometimes....

Christi: but once we start talking about it, they get excited.

Hope: I wouldn't say "more" but there are definitely teens who only read nonfiction.

Catherine Atkins: Christi, what are some non-fiction faves at your library?

Christi: Right now.....Candyfreak by Steve Almond

Mary: by bribing us with candy, Christi

Christi: Possibly also because I'm giving out free candy to anyone who reads it!

Catherine Atkins: Hope, how about at your library?

Liz: That's my favorite subject! To participate in community life -- and particularly to get your point across to boards, councils, etc., you have to know the lingo. I'd like to see more young people in government and that is the ticket in. Reading and understanding how to be understoodl

Catherine Atkins: Liz, what are some ways to encourage teen literacy in government?

Hope: Our statewide high school book award program has several nonfic titles in the contenders...

Hope: ...They are popular. For example, the graphic novel, PERSEPOLIS.

Catherine Atkins: (Kristin, not sure if you are here--technical difficulties?)

Christi: Oh, yes....I agree with that, Hope. Persepolis is popular at our library, too

Liz: More politicians should get out into schools and libraries. More students should get into schools. It may be a question of role modeling. Making contacts outside one's usual sphere is what it is all about.

Hope: Liz, those 7th and 8th graders who didn't seem to want to talk politics at the moment...

Catherine Atkins: Liz, as a retired educator, did you find non-fiction more popular with your students than fiction?

Liz: I mean students get into the political world. Sorry.

Hope: ...They will remember that their mayor wanted their opinions.

Catherine Atkins: I agree, Hope.

Liz: Yes. In a small town that matters. You run into people everywhere.

Hope: On a recent Teen Library Council (TLC) book buying trip, one of the members chose a book of funny things that Democrats had said. So of course, we had to buy the book of funny things that Republicans had said, too.

Liz: Are there library programs (either on computers or otherwise) that help students interpret newspapers and magazines?

Christi: A book buying trip - what a great idea! I think my teens would love that

Catherine Atkins: On the Get Real theme, does non-fic get non-readers reading? More so than fiction? Christi?

Christi: Liz, I do some of that one on one at the library, but we don't have a specific program

Hope: And the last presidential election was held on a TLC meeting night. Half the members were tapped into the Internet via their cell phones to hear the election results while we talked.

Christi: Yes, I think so....

Christi: Partly because non-fic doesn't always seem like *reading*...

Christi: You may be looking for some interesting fact or just at the pictures....

Christi: but my thought is that is *still* reading and it can inspire further reading in other realms

Liz: When kids are researching things on the internet, are they able to read material critically or is that a problem?

MaryP: (yes!)

Hope: It made me feel hopeful. ('Sorry! I keep forgetting the dots.)

Catherine Atkins: (Kristin, please chime in if you're here--don't want to leave you out!) Does technology actually improve reluctant readers access, rather than make things worse?

Christi: Liz, I think that is still sometimes a problem....but kids are getting more internet savvy

MaryP: (oops, sorry, I was chiming in on Yes to Christi's comment--don't know about the internet)

Catherine Atkins: I think it does, despite the doom and gloom you hear about video games et al. Anyone, feel free to chime in.

Christi: If they're getting pointed in the right direction, then yes.....(in response to Cathy's question)

Liz: I am interested in the comment that non-fiction doesn't seem like reading. Tell me some more about that.

Catherine Atkins: Meaning that new technology gets kids *more* involved in info and into the wider world than before, in my opinion.

Christi: And, there is a lot of literacy required of computer use and video games

Christi: I agree

Kamran: what about many video games have teen fiction follow-ups...

Christi: Hi Kamran - yes, that's a good point...

Catherine Atkins: Good point--another way to get kids reading and writing--

Hope: Yes. Halo books are hugely popular here...

Christi: I've had kids ask for books after seeing the anime, or playing a game

Liz: Like comic books? I think I'm out of my cultural space here.

Catherine Atkins: Hope, what are Halo books/

Hope: And I bought some Warcraft books based on a patron request.

Christi: Sometimes, Liz. But, also novels

Catherine Atkins: Liz, going back to your teaching/principal time, how did you get reluctant readers interested in learning more?

Kamran: Exactly, just like comic books. I still thing some of the best YA stuff I read was after a video game

Hope: Halo is a computer game. A member of our Anime Club asked if we could set up a Halo tournament, and I wanted to say yes, but it's a pretty violent game.

Catherine Atkins: Hope and Christi, what are some ways you encourage teen reading all year long?

BethGallaway: a researcher on cognition and gaming said gamers speed FOUR TIMES as much time on reading websites, cheat codes, fanfiction, strategy guides etc - related to a game as s/he did actually playing it - so there is in game reading and outside of game reading too

Hope: We had a very successful SimCity tournament, though. I'd like to try more.

Liz: Always by listening very carefully to whatever they said. By noticing. By speaking to them with respect. It is so important to model civility so they can see its advantages. You actually can get more done.

Catherine Atkins: Noticing what they're already interested in and building on it, Liz? I like that.

Hope: We have a teen specialist on duty ALL OF THE HOURS THAT THE LIBRARY IS OPEN.

Hope: (Yes, I was putting that in all caps to make a point.)

Catherine Atkins: Hey, Kristin--talking about reluctant readers and what they like to read. Feel free to chime in--special programming you may do.

Hope: But we also have teen advocates in every department of the library.

Christi: oops....lost my message

Liz: Yes, and one thing that is very important. Recognizing success. Some adults do not recognize success when they see it. So they miss it, or not notice it. The moment gets lost.

Christi: I ask for short reviews and we post them on our Teen Blog

Kristin Lade: I wish we had that Hope... I wish I could be there to help all the teens all the time, sometimes I feel bad if they get a staff member that's not as 'teen friendly'

Christi: I also *ask* them about what they're reading.....I want them to know that their reading opinions count in my selection

Hope: It's a huge job just to keep up with what's current in YA lit, adolescent development...

Liz: I like that idea, Christi!

Hope: ...and the teen years are as crucial a window as the preschool years...

Liz: Well said.

Hope: ...but teens aren't as cuddly as toddlers, so sometimes it's harder to get support for them.

Catherine Atkins: Kristen, what are some successful ways to be teen-friendly, encourage reading?

Hope: Not at my library (thank goodness!) but in many places, unfortunately.

Christi: I agree, Hope

Mary from x.x.x.41 left this message 3 minutes ago:

It's nice to be able to help choose what books your library gets

Catherine Atkins: Liz, can you give an example of "recognizing success" that might slip by if a perceptive adult doesn't look for it?

Kristin Lade: I try to do what Christi does... with books, as well as other media. ie CDs.

Christi: Everyone - Mary is one of the teens in my advisory board

Hope: Hi, Mary!

Catherine Atkins: Hi, Mary--that's great you can choose books. How does that work at your library?

Mary from x.x.x.41 left this message 2 minutes ago:

Hi

MaryP: (Mary, if you click the JOIN CHAT at the bottom of your screen your messages will appear like the others)

Christi: We've been lucky enough to get advanced reading copies of books and the teens get to read and review them

Liz: Yes, if someone has refused to all along to read an assignment, but you catch them trying to figure out lyrics in some written form, you should note with pleasure that reading works. Or something to that effect. Be in their world once in a while.

Hope: One of the reasons I love working in a public library is that I can "just" be a trustworthy adult..

Catherine Atkins: "Be in their world once in a while"--that's great. And i agree.

Mary from x.x.x.41 left this message 72 seconds ago:

Christ lets us give her ideas for books, discuss them, and talk about the genres we like

Kristin Lade: When I see kids in the stacks, checking out books, I try and pop up and give them other suggestions that they might also like.

Hope: ...I don't have parental power over anyone, nor will I ever be grading anyone. Yet I'm not a peer.

Liz: I like that.

Christi: I love that, too, Hope

Catherine Atkins: How do you keep kids coming back, Kristen, Christi, Hope--do you build "regulars" in a certain way?

Hope: Simple, low-cost ways to encourage "readers advisory relationships" include...

Christi: I make a point to talk to teens when I see them around the library....

Hope: ...having a "Question of the Day" notebook near the phone. When teens come to borrow the phone to call for a ride home, ask them to answer the QotD...

Liz: Sometimes we grown-ups have to stop and think about the value of reading ourselves. Rededicate ourselves to its power in order to transmit that enthusiasm to young poeple.

Christi: and just slowly build those relationships....reader's advisory, homework help, etc

Christi: Good idea, Hope

Christi: Also, Cathy....my teens bring in their friends, which is great

Hope: ...This is a low-pressure way to start feeling comfortable with each other. Then, when the teen needs some actual library-related help later one, he or she feels comfortable asking us.

Kristin Lade: Our book club and Runescape days, keeps regular teens coming back... and Summer Volunteers, so I guess it's a bit through programming

Hope: Development of "regulars" is EVERYTHING.

Christi: Oh yes, volunteers are a big way I've built a group, too

Kristin Lade: I like that idea Hope

Catherine Atkins: (Oops, sorry Kristin--I see your name is with an I, not E) Great ideas, all. Okay, now if our audience has questions, please send a question mark and I will call on you in order. Do ? then hit "OK" to send, then type your question and I will call on you.

Hope: But development of a welcoming atmosphere for non-joiner-shy-people for whom one does of eye contact is enough...that's important, too.

Kristin Lade: Because the 'regulars' then bring their friends. and soon their hooked too!

Catherine Atkins: Hope, yes, the right approach for the shy kids is *crucial*--and subtle! I was one of them.

Christi: So true, Kristin

Liz Burns: I was wondering if anyone had done anything with partnerships/ collaborations with local schools

Rosie: I did tonight

Hope: Yes - Parent Student Book Discussions, Poetry Open Mikes, promotion of Summer Reading... MANY

Debby G: Do you think teens are reading less these days than they did in the past?

Hope: No.

Hope: I think they are reading more.

Christi: Not at all

Debby G: That's great to hear.

Mary from x.x.x.41 left this message 6 minutes ago:

definitly reading more

Kristin Lade: We have an Intergenerational Book Group that meets three times a year. The reading specialist with the middle school brings over 20 kids....

Catherine Atkins: What are they reading more *of*, guys? Graphic novels or all reading in general?

Hope: Everything.

Christi: Well, both graphic novels *and* in general

Kristin Lade: then we meet with 6-8 senior citizens and have a book discussion.

Hope: Cool program, Krisin!

Hope: 'Sorry KrisTin.

Liz: I agree.

Kamran: Is the subject matter of what teens are reading different from what it was some years ago?

Kristin Lade: I definitely think they're reading more. Look at the Harry Potter craze.

Christi: I think, in general it's very similar...

Christi: growing up, relationships....

CRK: What reaction do you have to a book about how to use novels with kids in a therapeutic way? Like a counselor using a story with a teen?

Hope: Teens are still interested in love, the meaning of life, how to be a person, the usual.

Christi: finding out who you are....the themes are still there

Hope: I say that as if I had any business speaking for "all teens." Hah!

Debby G: Why do you think boys typically read less than girls?

Christi: CRK - I think that can work in some settings if the teen is open to it

Christi: I saw a great presentation about that, Debby....

Hope: CRK - Stories are HUGELY important. Information is only one teeny thing.

Christi: part of it may be attention; part may be the mode of stimulation...

Catherine Atkins: Kristin, Liz Bass, Hope, Christ--any of you can answer these questions, by the way.

Liz: Are there statistics on that?

Christi: but, really, a *lot* of books out there are girl-centric, I think

Christi: I don't mean that as a bad thing

Hope: Fiction can be a great starting point for talking about difficult topics...between counselor and patient, parent and teen, and so on.

Kristin Lade: I'm afraid I have to leave early, but it was wonderful to discuss with all of you. Happy Teen Read Week!

MaryP: If you could have your one "pie-in-the-sky" event to attract teens to the library and reading, what would it be? Teens who are present can you answer too?

Hope: Bye, Kristin. 'Nice talking with you!

Christi: I'd love to have an all-day author fest with workshops and discussions

Catherine Atkins: Thanks for coming, Kristin!

Liz: Maybe involve the newspaper. Make it an event that gets in the paper.

Christi: With lots of food and music

Liz Burns: at my library there's been some talk about those who are 18-20, is anyone doing special services for those out of high school?

Christi: What about you, Mary....what do you wish we could do?

goldbla: Curious...do books checked out in the library mirror what's being devoured off the shelves of big chain bookstores or do you see your own unique patterns emerging in the library setting?

Hope: Well, the last time we did a survey, one of the teens suggested we get a swimming pool. Hmm.

MaryP: Okay, Liz, you're the politician, can you work on those? ; )

Christi: Liz Burns....I don't specifically target the 18-20 group, but I wish I could

Liz: Our library is right next to our skatepark, so you can imagine the conversations that go on in that space

CRK: On the counseling theme again, do kids come and ask about a book about, say GLBTQ issues? Or eating disorders? Or what themes?

Mary from x.x.x.41 left this message 16 minutes ago:

I think it would be great to have a bunch of authors come and just get to talk to them

MaryP: (and waterproof books to go with it, Hope?)

Hope: (Hah! MaryP, good idea!)

Christi: I think each library has its own pattern

MaryP: Thanks, Mary! That is something us authors can contribute.

Catherine Atkins: That's a great question from goldbla--about the popularity of books in stores as reflected in libraries.

Christi: I've even seen ours shift since I've been there

Liz: The author idea is good. But storytelling may not get all the play it deserves after kids grow up.

Hope: Goldbla - I think the patterns are slightly different, but I do think they feed each other, not just one direction.

LindaJoySingleton: I like Mary's idea, too

Debby G: Weird. I offered to speak at both of my local libraries, and there wasn't interest. Maybe I'm not a big enough name or something. It would have been free.

Catherine Atkins: Does the popularity feed on itself in each location? Liz Burns, did we skip your question--go ahead if so!

Liz: A storytelling session with teens. Why not? Let them be the tellers.

Christi: What!? If you're in New England, Debby, I'd love to have you :)

Catherine Atkins: Stacey, glad to have you here!

Debby G: Thanks, Christi... only 3,000 miles away.

Catherine Atkins: Okay, more questions--please send question mark.

Catherine Atkins: Lots of info here tonight! The transcript will be fun to read--thanks all for the great ideas.

Hope: The Hoosier Storytelling Festival last weekend had its second annual storytelling slam for high school and college students. It was a hoot.

Christi: In response to you, Cathy - I think the popularity is cyclical....

Christi: I even go to the bookstores to see what's getting displayed and it affects my purchasing....

Hope: Storytelling is DEFINITELY for teens. We had a teen story group here for a while.

Catherine Atkins: Interesting, Christi. Debby, go ahead.

Debby G: Do awards have impact on what teens check out (that isn't required reading)?

Liz: I'm going to suggest the Hoosier Fest to our local librarian

Christi: I think it depends on the award

Hope: www.storytellingarts.org is the website for the Hoosier Storytelling Festival and Storytelling Arts of Indiana

Catherine Atkins: Which awards have the most impact, Christi?

Christi: Unfortunately, the Printz isn't all that well-known with my teens (despite my talking about it)....

Liz: Thanks!

Christi: I think the Best Books for Young Adults list is influential...

Christi: As are the Teens' Top Ten

Christi: Partly because teens' have influence in those awards

Kerry Madden: There were teen storytellers at the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN...

Catherine Atkins: Christi and Hope, do you handsell fave books--do the kids ever handsell books to you that you then order?

Christi: Definitely! We do both

Christi: One of the best books I read this year came as a recommendation from my teens

Christi: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Hope: Kerry: Yes! I haven't been to Jonesborough for a few years, but I know that many of the "elders" in storytelling are committed to bringing up future tellers.

Mary from x.x.x.41 left this message 10 minutes ago:

Twilight is a great book

Hope: Cathy - yes! Handselling both ways here.

MaryP: Liz, your angle is a little different--entrenching reading more in the public eye through politics and newspapers. I love this. But how do you get reporters on board? The Luann comic strip just did a piece on TRW which really surprised me, but generally teen books get the short shrift in the public eye. How can we change that?

Catherine Atkins: Great question.

Kerry Madden: Thanks, Hope. Yes. It was like being a kid again listening to all the stories - five tents packed with all ages, listening to stories...the teens were prominently figured as storytellers too - it was very exciting to see

Hope: Yes. Great question. Especially since there has been so much clueless "reporting" of YA lit lately.

Liz: I've had great cooperation in my career with reporters. This is 33 years through schools, politics, one book. You have to keep sending notices to them of things they might be interested in. Some they take up and some they dump. Eventually you wind up trustworthy

Hope: Kerry - That's great to hear! Thanks for sharing that.

Christi: My challenge to adults during TRW is to actually *read* YA literature, not just talk about it

Liz: And then they start calling you.

Catherine Atkins: Liz, you are also a published author--what is your book(which fits very well with our theme!)

MaryP: Thanks, Liz. So the ALA needs to keep sending press releases? Or perhaps individual librarians?

LindaJoySingleton: Excellent, Christi! I've got my Mom hooked on teen books, they're usually better than adult

Debby G: My mom likes them too!

Christi: I'm slowly getting the rest of our staff hooked

Christi: My mom usually doesn't know the difference, so I give her YA lit as gifts!

Debby G: lol

Catherine Atkins: I agree that teen books are almost always better than adult--Mary, I've heard great things about Twilight. What did you like best about it?

LindaJoySingleton: I think I saw Debby's book listed as a Best Books on the YALSA list -- I read it and loved it

LindaJoySingleton: (nominee, I mean)

Debby G: Thanks Linda! I'm so happy it got nominated

Christi: Oh wait - I'm slow at picking up who everyone is......I loved your book, too, Debby!

Liz: If I were to suggest a YA book to a fellow Board member to read, what would it be? Remember, old Board members don't usually like to read and have almost nothing to do with teenagers.

Debby G: When you order books for your libraries, do you have to worry about sexual content, swear words, etc.?

LindaJoySingleton: I think MaryP's book has been nominated, too

Mary from x.x.x.41 left this message 6 minutes ago:

I loved the story, I thought it was well written, and it had a very suspenseful ending

Debby G: Thank you!

goldbla: A deserving nomination, Debby. I can't believe your libraries didn't put you on a marquee!

MaryP: (yes, it has, Linda, thank you ; )

Catherine Atkins: Cool, Mary. Okay, guys--how about some good YA recommendations to get non-teens reading YA's? Go ahead and name some fave, accessible YA's.

Debby G: Wow, thanks, Stacy!

Catherine Atkins: Lindsey, go ahead.

Christi: Not really, although I may think about it when recommending a book to a specific teen

Christi: Liz....I liked A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly....

LindaJoySingleton: One good new one is by Bennett Madison called LULU DARK CAN SEE THROUGH WALLS

lindsey: What are some methods you use to take teens from being extrinsically motivated (like book it by pizza hut) to being intrinsically motivated. And are there and extrinsic motivators that don't involve pepporoni?

Mary from x.x.x.41 left this message 3 minutes ago:

Twilight, anything by Tamora Pierce

Christi: I think one of the best intrinsic motivators is getting to have a say in what the library buys

Liz: Thanks to Christi and Linda for those suggestions.

Christi: And just getting to share ideas with others....

Catherine Atkins: (Just want to get in that Liz Bass also has a text for young people featuring creative writing exercises--it's excellent--) Liz, what's the title?

LindaJoySingleton: I really enjoyed Dorian C.'s DANCING IN RED SHOES CAN KILL YOU

Christi: Extrinsic - we had an auction this summer where the *money* was earned by time spent reading

Liz: Writing: One Day at a Time.

Hope: Debby G: I'm lucky that "my" YA section is intended for high school students, based on content, not reading level. I try hard to make sure we have a wide variety, and that staff have a lot of resources to help patrons (customers) find books that are right for them. So I don't worry about swear words and sexual content per se. We do try to have two positive or "okay" reviews for each book, though. If there are no reviews, then I look at other resources more carefully, or even the book itself.

LindaJoySingleton: And of course MaryP LORELEI STREET and Debby's STORKY

GingerN: My teen advisory board suggests books and over the summer all of the teens could submit book reviews

LindaJoySingleton: Another I gave a 5* rating to in my book list is DEEP by Susanna Vance

Catherine Atkins: Definitely Lorelei--I haven't read Debby's book yet but I'm looking forward to it.

MaryP: (thanks)

LindaJoySingleton: I'm looking forward to Catherine's AMBER book, too

Catherine Atkins: Oh, Linda, I loved DEEP--a great page-turner.

Mary from x.x.x.41 left this message 94 seconds ago:

Got to go, shcool tomorrow. Bye eveyone!

Catherine Atkins: Thanks, Linda.

Christi: Bye, Mary - thanks for coming!!

LindaJoySingleton: I usually post reviews and comments on fave books on my blog

MaryP: How about The Beet Fields by Gary Paulsen for non-teens, sort of a memoir to ease them back into the teen years.

Debby G: My favorite YA books this year are A Room on Lorelei Street and I Am the Messenger

Catherine Atkins: Okay, all, time to wrap things up at the YA Authors Cafe. Thanks so much to Liz Bass, Christi Showman, Hope Baugh and Kristin Lade for a great chat. And to all of you for your wonderful questions!

Christi: Thank you so much for having m

Hope: Thanks, Cathy, for moderating!

Debby G: Thank you very much. And CAtherine too!

Liz Burns: I've got to go, bye all!

lindsey: Thanks for answering that Christi. I'm always trying to find a way not only to get reluctant readers to read, but to want to read for the pure love of reading

LindaJoySingleton: thanks! Great speakers!

Liz: Thank you. It was fun

Christi: Me, too, Lindsey

Christi: I had a blast, everyone :)

MaryP: You were all amazing! I can't wait to go back and read this. You make me want to work in a library!

goldbla: Thanks for answering our questions and thanks, Catherine, for great moderating.

Catherine Atkins: The show is ending but anyone who'd like to stay and chat more is welcome to do so. You're welcome, Hope and Christi. Had a great time. Thanks, Liz.