How can we cope with these stressful times? Stay calm and read books. But after 10 months you may be looking for something new to read. Some libraries are open for limited hours if you would like to visit and browse. But there are other ways to discover authors, titles or even genres that you never knew you loved!

Consider creating an account at goodreads.com. Once you do you can view the best books of 2020 as chosen by readers' votes. Goodreads also lets you keep track of the books you would like to read and post your own reviews once you've read them. Kirkusreviews.com is another website where you can browse the best books of 2020 as chosen by critics. You could also browse a list of the most anticipated books of 2021.

Although fantasticfiction.com only includes fiction titles, I highly recommend a visit to this site to browse all new titles published in the last 30 days or all upcoming titles to be published in the next 90 days. They're not rated but can be viewed by genre. In addition, you can search by an author's name to see every book the author has ever published, in order by series.

Another GREAT website to browse is your library's website. Every library has a link to a book catalog on their website. All the libraries in Sullivan County are part of the RCLS library system and share the same catalog. The home page of the catalog displays the current New York Times Bestsellers on a rotating shelf for your browsing pleasure. You can also search by title or author. Click on any title to read the description of the title and a list of all the libraries in our library system that own a copy of the title. Notice the tab called “read a-likes and recommendations”? Click on it to browse even more titles and authors similar to the one that caught your interest.

Finally think about joining a book club. The Liberty Public Library book club meets over Zoom on the last Thursday of each month at 1:00. Upcoming titles can be found at libertypubliclibrary.org under News and Events.

The Western Sullivan Public Library has a virtual book club the 4th Thursday of each month and a new virtual Catskill Rainbow Readers Book Club starting this month on the 4th Wednesday of the month. Visit wsplonline.org for more information.

Sunshine Hall Free Library has a Mystery Thriller Book Club that meets via Zoom on the first Wednesday of the month. Visit sunshinehallfreelibrary.org to find out more.

So hang in there and keep reading and we'll get through this.