Bookish Wedding Dresses, Library Pugs, and More News For Library Workers

I have another round-up of library-related news items, and for once, I feel like all of these articles managed to spark a little joy in me. It feels a little strange to talk about wedding dresses and library dogs when there are so many pressing issues in the world, but I also know that joy is rebellious.

Let’s dive in!

Edgar Award Winners

The Edgar Award winners were announced at the end of April! Some of the big winners were Robert Crais’ The Big Empty (Best Novel), Caroline Fraser’s Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers (Best Fact Crime), and Tiffany D. Jackson’s Blood in the Water (Best Juvenile). Given that I’m a big mystery/thriller fan, I’m also interested in the books that didn’t make the shortlists–S.A. Cosby’s King of Ashes didn’t make the cut, for example, which feels like a crime in and of itself. Regardless, congratulations to the winners, and on to another year of excellent books!

The Making of American Girl

In honor of the company’s 40th anniversary, American Girl Publishing is releasing a new book, The Making of American Girl, on May 12. For the first time, readers can go behind the scenes with never-before-seen art, letters, and materials from the American Girl archives. This is more of a coffee-table book than a narrative nonfiction title, but I bet it will go over big with the nostalgic Gen X and millennial patrons at your libraries. Heck, I’m thinking of buying a copy for myself for my birthday this year!

Libraries Are the New Bridal Boutiques

Watch out, Kleinfeld’s: library staff and volunteers at the Scottdale Public Library in Pennsylvania designed a wearable wedding dress made entirely out of upcycled book pages! It started as a way to draw people to the library’s used book sale and spark conversations about how books can have multiple uses, but now it’s captured people’s attention across the country. The dress is really awesome, and the paper flower details are gorgeous. I’d have loved some of those for my own wedding.

You’ve Heard of Library Cats…But How About Library Pugs??

The Dorset Village Public Library in Vermont has two resident library pugs! Signs in the library caution visitors about the “killer” pugs, but these good babies are all bark and no bite. They’re also featured prominently on library merchandise, including hoodies, totes, and bags of dog treats. Just look at those little faces!!