Reader's Guide
Overview
Over 1 million books are published in the United States every year (and the number keeps climbing). Choosing which of those books you're going to read can be anything but simple.
Author Alerts
Want to know right away when an MVLC library orders a new title by your favorite author or performer? Sign up for Author Alerts via email or text!
To help you, we’ve gathered some resources aimed at guiding readers & book clubs to their next favorite book.
Bestsellers Lists
Want to keep up with the most talked about books? Inform your book choice by perusing these Bestsellers lists.NY Times Bestseller Lists
Powell's Books Bestseller Lists
USA Today's Bestseller List
NPR Books
Customized Recommendations
Not sure what to read next? Just enjoyed a great movie and want something new that will fit your interests? Fill out a customized form and tell us a little about your interests. We’ll get back to you with some personalized suggestions!
Books – Adult
Books – Young Adult
Movies/TV
NoveList
Need a little help deciding on what your next read is going to be? With over 150,000 fiction titles, and more than 4,000 custom created articles and lists (subject guides, award winners, Readalikes, etc.), NoveList can help connect you with great reads.
NoveList Plus Your one-stop shop for everything non-fiction and fiction (for NPL library card holders only).Other Great Sites for Readers
Book Verdict Expert reviews of books and media.Powell's Books Review–A–Day. Book reviews sent to your email, 7 days a week.
Fresh Fiction The best feature of this website is the variety of subscription newsletters that can be delivered to your email inbox on a weekly basis.
Booklist Book reviews and more from the American Library Association.
New York Journal of Books Book reviews for a variety of genres.
Books and Authors from Gale Get title recommendations, reading lists and more!
Book Page Great reviews and reading ideas for your book club.
Book Talks Reader’s Advisory Reviews from NPL Librarians
Award Winners
When you’re short on time, long on desire, and willing to read only the best.
Barnes & Noble Directory of Award Winners
American Library Association's Stonewall Book Award
Lambda Literary Foundation Award
Man Booker Prize
National Book Critics Circle
National Book Foundation
Listen to Books
You can listen to your NPL and MVLC audio books many different ways. We offer audio books on CD, Playaways (MP3 players with a preloaded audio book title), and access to Overdrive, a collection of digitally downloadable audio books for your PC, Mac, or mobile device. Use the online catalog to see the NPL and MVLC collection of audio books. Use Overdrive just like a regular library – if a book is available, you can check it out and download it from home.
eBooks for your eReader
Download free ebooks from the Overdrive digital collection to your computer or mobile device. Use your MVLC card to borrow additional titles from libraries across the state.
Large Print Books
The Library has a collection of large print fiction and non–fiction books located on the first floor in the Reading Room.Book Clubs @ NPL
**Due to current public health concerns and library space restrictions, many of the NPL book groups are going virtual. Please check out events calendar for virtual meeting opportunities for book groups and contact us with questions.**
Novel Ideas
The Library’s fiction book club for adults meets one Thursday evening at 7:00pm each month and welcomes new members. Meeting dates and book selections can be found on our event calendar. Contact our Reference staff for help requesting titles.
Just the Facts
The nonfiction book club for adults meets one Wednesday evening at 7:00pm each month and new members are always welcome. Meeting dates and book selections can be found on our event calendar. Please contact our Reference staff for help requesting any of the titles.
Retired Readers
The Retired Readers Book Group invites you to join our monthly book discussion for retired readers to chat about books on a variety of themes, including classics, contemporary and popular fiction, and even a little nonfiction. A general interest reading group for the young at heart! This group meets on the second Wednesday each month, from 2:00-3:00 pm. VIRTUAL meetings via Zoom will begin October 2020. Please contact the Reference Department to inquire about selections and participation: 978 465-4428 x242, or visit our event calendar for details.
Book Club and Author Info
Books clubs have special needs. We need to know our books are discussable. We need to know our club choices won’t tank. We need to know more. Well, here’s more. These resources were selected for their uniqueness, thoughtful features, and in some cases, rank popularity. Go forth and book club.
Book Browse Reading guide questions and more.Reading Group Guides An online community for book groups, including questions for discussion.
Reader’s Circle Aside from being an international book club list and extensive awards and review source, the Reader’s Circle also offers book clubs a way to schedule author phone chats for their meetings. A site worth seeing.
The Booklist Reader The free features (there are some paid features) make this a worthwhile stop on your book club tour.
Oprah’s Book Club Oprah loves a good read. Here are her choices.
Newburyport Literary Festival
Newburyport Literary Festival The Newburyport Literary Festival is an exciting two-day spring festival celebrating reading, writing, and the love of books. The festival features more than 50 writers of distinguished fiction and non–fiction, including short story writers, children's authors, biographers, nature writers, critics, screenwriters, poets, novelists, and journalists who read and discuss their work in venues throughout Newburyport's historic downtown.Other Library Catalogs
Boston Public Library All residents of Massachusetts may get a BPL card.Boston Public Library eCards A Boston Public Library eCard is a virtual library card that allows you to instantly use all of BPL’s online resources including eBooks.
NOBLE North of Boston Library Exchange (a nearby group of libraries).
Commonwealth Catalog (catch all of the Massachusetts libraries in this catalog).
LibraryThing It’s alive!!! Part library catalog, part blog, all genius – LibraryThing is a way to catalog your home library (making it searchable with tags), to get book recommendations, or to riff on your favorite authors.