Top Circulating Travel & History

The Yellow Books, 1887 . Fine Art. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 18 May 2016.
http://quest.eb.com/search/108_303306/1/108_303306/cite

“Knowledge is like money: To be of value it must circulate, and in circulating it can increase in quantity and, hopefully, in value.”
― Louis L'Amour, Education of a Wandering Man  

In the library, "circulation" means a lot of things.  What's sometimes called the "library card desk" is also known as "circulation".  When we look at a book's record, we count how many times it has checked out as its "circs". The library's collection floats (items checked out at one branch and returned at another stay at the branch at which they are returned), but its items circulate.

Looking for some travel inspiration or to do a little armchair exploring? Here are the most popular books system-wide that focus on geography and travel - from guidebooks both near and far to travel memoirs,

Top Circulating Travel Books

1.  Moon Handbooks [guidebook series]

2. Hiking to History by Robert Julyan

3. American Ghost by Hannah Nordhaus

4. Lonely Planet: Mexico by John Noble

5. Sandia Mountain Hiking Guide by Michael Elliott Coltrin

6. 100 Things to Do in Albuquerque Before You Die by Ashley M. Biggers

7. Elephant Complex by John Gimlette

8. Walking Albuquerque by Stephen Ausherman

9. Braving It by James Campbell

10. Camping New Mexico by Melinda Crow

11. Fodor’s California

12. At Home With Ernie Pyle by Ernie Pyle

13. The Rough Guide: Mexico

14. Fodor’s New York City

15. Frommer’s Easyguide to Costa Rica

16. Home Sweet Anywhere by Lynne Martin

17. Moon: New Mexico by Zora O’Neill

18. Lonely Planet: Southwest USA’s Best Trips by Amy C. Balfour

19. Eyewitness: Southwest USA & National Parks by Randa Bishop

20. The Wonder Trail by Steve Hely

21. Grand Canyon by James Kaiser

22. Explorer’s Guide: New Mexico by Sharon Niederman

23. Our Indian Summer in the Far West by S. Nugent Townshend

24 Fodor's Complete Guide to the National Parks of the West

25. A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

The top circulating history books have a wide range - some newer titles, some older, a fair amount of local.

Top Circulating History Books

1.  Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta by Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Heritage Committee

2. Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow

3. The Road to Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson

4. In the Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson

5. Killing Kennedy  by Bill O’Reilly

6. The Apache Wars by Paul Andrew Hutton

7. Trump Revealed  by Michael Kranish

8. Whistlestop by John Dickerson

9. 1491 by Charles C. Mann

10. Anatomy of Malice by Joel E. Dimsdale

11. Where the Jews Aren’t by Masha Gessen

12. My (Underground) American Dream by Julissa Arce

13. Historic Ranches of Northeastern New Mexico by Baldwin G. Burr

14. High Road to Taos by Mike Butler

15. An American Genocide by Benjamin Madley

16. Valiant Ambition by Nathaniel Philbrick

17. Founding Mothers by Cokie Roberts

18. Forty Autumns by Nina Willner

19. Walking the Llano by Shelley Armitage

20. Look Into My Eyes by Kevin Bubriski

21. "All the Real Indians Died Off" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

22. The Railroad and the Pueblo Indians by Richard H. Frost

23. Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates by Brian Kilmeade

24 Doña Teresa Confronts the Spanish Inquisition by Frances Levine

25. New Mexico Myths and Legends by Barbara Marriott

 

Do you have any recommended history and/or travel reads? Let us know in the comments!

What to do when you're in a reading slump

Lately, I've been in a major reading slump. The same thing happened to me last year around this time. Right now, I find myself wanting to read, but then when I start reading, I can't get into the book and decide I'm not really in the mood to read after all. This has happened to me with several different books now, so I've finally accepted that I am, in fact, in a reading slump.

Sometimes, when I'm in a reading slump, I'll try to read things I wouldn't normally read, or that I don't read as often, so I've been trying to read some non-fiction, but even that's been a struggle. Instead, I'm doing the exact same thing now that I did last year: binge-watching TV. Here's what I've been binge-watching during my slump.

Dexter
Entourage
The Walking Dead

I've also been doing a lot coloring in an adult coloring book one of my friends gave me. As much as I've enjoyed watching those shows and coloring, I kind of wish I was doing something else to get through the slump--writing, maybe, or taking up a new hobby. Some days, I think I'll try painting, or learning embroidery, or, if I'm feeling ambitious enough, learning how to quilt. Those thoughts last maybe a minute or so before the TV goes on, which sometimes results in me feeling like I'm wasting my days watching TV instead of doing something productive, or at least a little more active.

What do you do when you're in a reading slump? Do you have any suggestions for hobbies I can try, or recommendations on how to get out of a slump? Let me know in the comments!

Top Circulating Food & Crafts Books

The Yellow Books, 1887 . Fine Art. Encyclopædia Britannica ImageQuest. Web. 18 May 2016.
http://quest.eb.com/search/108_303306/1/108_303306/cite

“Knowledge is like money: To be of value it must circulate, and in circulating it can increase in quantity and, hopefully, in value.”
― Louis L'Amour, Education of a Wandering Man  

In the library, "circulation" means a lot of things.  What's sometimes called the "library card desk" is also known as "circulation".  When we look at a book's record, we count how many times it has checked out as its "circs". The library's collection floats (items checked out at one branch and returned at another stay at the branch at which they are returned), but its items circulate.

Right now, the days are getting shorter and colder, and our minds are turning to eating and crafts as we prepare to hibernate by a warm fire. Our top circulating food and wine books include the comfort of vegetarian one-dish meals, hearty slow cooking, and nourishing broths, but also touch on one chef's coming of age story, healthy digestion, and a discussion of cooking techniques. Plus, five of the top twenty-five titles hail from the Southwest tradition!

Top Circulating Food & Wine Books

1.  The Pioneer Woman Cooks by Ree Drummond

2. New Mexico Cocktails by Greg Mays

3. Bowl by Lukas Volger

4. Dinner for Two by Julie Wampler

5. The New Mexico Farm Table Cookbook by Sharon Niederman

6. Every Day Super Food by Jamie Oliver

7. The Nerdy Nummies Cookbook by Rosanna Pansino

8. Cooked by Michael Pollan

9. Back to the Kitchen by Freddie Prinze Jr.

10. Joy of Cooking by Irma von Starkloff Rombauer

11. Eat Your Heart Out by Dean Sheremet

12. New Mexico Beer by Jon C. Stott

13. Southwest Slow Cooking by Tammy Biber

14. The Complete America's Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook by Jack Bishop

15. Bone Deep Broth by Taylor Chen

16. Preserving Family Recipes by Valerie J. Frey

17. Baking by Dorie Greenspan

18. Ingredienti by Marcella Hazan

19. Cake by Alysa Levene

20. National Trust Kitchen Cookbook by the National Trust

21. The Pueblo Food Experience Cookbook by Patricia M. Perea

22. Taste and Technique by Naomi Pomeroy

23. Healthy Gut Cookbook by Gavin Pritchard

24 The Forks Over Knives Plan by Alona Pulde

25. 32 Yolks by Eric Ripert

Crochet seems to be the most popular craft around here! People might be less eager to embark on  Thomas Thwaites' "holiday from being human," we imagine, and turn themselves into goats for the holiday season, but it seems like a popular read nonetheless!

Top Circulating Craft Books

1.  DIY Woven Art by Rachel Denbow

2. Knitless by Laura McFadden

3. Supercraft by Sophie Pester

4. Etsy Excellence by Tycho Press

5. We Love to Craft Christmas  by Annabel Wrigley

6. Beginner's Guide to Writing Knitting Patterns by Kate Atherley

7. Becoming  by Cindy Crawford

8. The Flower Chef by Carly Cylinder

9. Japanese Paper Embroidery by Mari Kamio

10. Mandalas to Crochet by Haafner Linssen

11. Knitting Lingerie Style by Joan McGowan-Michael

12. The Complete Book of Chalk Lettering by Valerie McKeehan

13. Inventive Weaving on a Little Loom by Syne Mitchell

14. Quilting For the Absolute Beginner by Cheryl Owen

15. GoatMan by Thomas Thwaites

16. A-Z of Embroidery Stitches 2 by Country Bumpkin

17. The Quilt Block Bible by Rosemary Youngs

18. Boho Crochet by Julie Brooke

19. The Flower Workshop by Ariella Chezar

20. Learn to Weave with Anne Field by Anne Field

21. Paracord Fusion Ties by J.D. Lenzen

22. Paper Goods Projects by Jodi Levine

23. Denim by Emma McClendon

24 Crochet Geometry by Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby

25. Designer Crochet by Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby

Do you have a favorite craft book or cookbook you'd like to share? Let us know in the comments!