While select library branches are now open for limited curbside service, we have a lot of patrons who are missing the days when they could enter the library to browse the shelves. If you are a reader who chooses books to read by browsing, read on for some alternative options for finding your next great read.

First of all, if you are struggling to figure out something to read, our staff are happy to help. You may contact Julie, our Readers' Services Coordinator at jwendland@lennox-addington.on.ca or 613.354.4883 ext. 3371 for book suggestions tailored to your personal preferences or to place holds on new books by your favourite authors.

We have recently launched an online version of our TD Summer Reader Club at ReadSquared (countylibrary.readsquared.com). This specialized app has book lists and curated book suggestions for you to consider. It has a social element too:  you can see book reviews others have left, as well as what books are trending in our County. It's open for adults, teens, kids, and tots.

The library subscribes to NoveList on your behalf, which you can access here with your library card. This database allows you to search through 100,000s of titles by appeal factor, genre, and subject matter, so you can discover books that have the exact qualities you look for in a great read.

Our website also has a pile of readers' advisory articles and resources that have been created by our staff. Check out our archive of Staff Picks or Coleen's themed articles filled with suggestions for books that you can borrow through our digital collections (Overdrive/Libby and Hoopla).

You can sign up for our Next Reads e-newsletters, which sends book suggestions straight to your inbox. Subscribe to one or all of the following e-newsletters: News & Events, New Arrivals, Can-Lit, Staff Picks, and Children's. All of the newsletters are linked directly to our catalogue so reserving items that spark your interest is a seamless process.

Speaking of our online catalogue, it too is a good substitute for book browsing in person. You can use it to search for specific books, but you can also scroll through endless lists of titles by genre, format, or date added to the collection. I like to click "Search" with the title field empty and then sort by Publication Date (Newest First) to see all of the items the shiny new books we have recently acquired. Thankfully, we've have begun receiving all of the new books that have been waiting for us during the library closures – there is a lot to choose from! You also have the option of placing holds on books that are on-order, so you can get a head start on the wait list of popular authors.

For more information on curbside service, click here

Originally published in The Napanee Beaver.