Table of Contents
Most Popular . . .
More . . .
Hotlists 2008
Crime Fiction - embedded
Ranganathan's Five Laws:
Books are for use.
Books are for all; or Every reader his book.
Every book its reader.
Save the time of the reader.
A library is a growing organism.
Out and About. . .
I'm playing around at Shelfari, LibraryThing, and Good Reads. I've set up links to my pages on these sites. And, yes, I have a hard time keeping up-to-date on these sites...
I've set up "shelves" from these sites on Overbooked - here
Overbooked is spacing out: Myspace: Overbooked and Crime Space - and, facing out: Facebook profile.
Overbooked specializes in providing timely information about fiction (all genres) and readable nonfiction. Overbooked has been online since 1994. Overbooked is a work in progress . . .
Overbooked is the winner of the 2008 Louis Shores - Greenwood Publishing Award: to recognize excellence in book reviewing and other media for libraries. The award recipient is selected for significant achievement related to a reviewing process that helps librarians make selection decisions.
FAQ
Page Modified: June 18, 2008
Notes about Overbooked, and some answers to frequently (and infrequently) questions.
What is Overbooked? | Requesting a link,title listing or review? | Who?
What is Overbooked?
It is resource for ravenous
readers. Special efforts are made to alert readers to books that they may not
become aware of via other book-related resources. Like a good library, Overbooked
is intended to provide access to all kinds of book-related information. So,
with any luck, there will be something to please almost everyone, and, unfortunately,
perhaps something to offend almost everyone. I (Ann the Overbooked) consider
eclecticism to be a good thing and encourage omnivorous reading.
My expertise is related to reading. I am not able to assist anyone find agents or publishers. For information about writing please try: Writers Write, Absolute Write, Writer's Digest, Writer's Resource, etc.
Overbooked (a.k.a. Book Links) went on-line in 1994. The Overbooked Web site resides on Central Virginia's Community Online. Overbooked is anon profit volunteer project and a by-product of the work of the Chesterfield County (VA) Public Library's Collection Management department. The work is done by Ann Chambers Theis, Collection Management Administrator - that's me. Overbooked has visitors from all over the world and is currently averaging 75,000 + requests for pages a month.
Overbooked provides free access to information, and will not accept advertisements or paid sponsorships.
Overbooked and slightly overwhelmed is a way of life . . . 
Please understand that much of the ongoing volunteer work that goes into the
creation, development and maintenance of Overbooked is done on my nonexistent
lunch break or as an after work activity. I love my "real" job at
the library and it will continue to be my main priority. I have found out that
I have MS. I'm doing ok, but it has slowed
me down a tad. Ok, a fair amount, sometimes. So, be patient, and bear in mind
that I am an abysmal typist. I really appreciate comments, suggestions, corrections
and ideas for improving Overbooked but I may not be able to respond to all email
requests, depending on my "real" workload and health.
- Because I cannot live without books.
- It is fun.
- I'm fortunate to have a job I love and access to lots of information about books. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to share this information with other book lovers.
- It is a way to channel my obsessive tendencies to organize stuff.
When was Overbooked/Book Links created? Was it 1995 or 1994?
I thought it was around 1995. But, I can't recall for sure if our wedding anniversary
date is the 7th or the 9th of September - I know it was September. I am genetically
prone to be forgetful. The first almost sentence I ever spoke was "Gotten,
Daddy?", translated to mean "What have you forgotten, Daddy?" Mike (husband)
isn't forgetful and swears that I started all this in 1994 - "when you went
over to the dark side and I lost you." He's kidding (I think). What little memory
I have is used to store bookish data. <
What is with the 
wild hare jump for joy biased best bet bunny thingie?
Well, it seemed to be a good way of conveying my elated response to a good book.
I have been known to do an enthusiastically happy book dance when I got my hands
on a good book. The book dance involved a bit of bouncing and hopping about,
so the bunny seemed like it might fit. Plus it was cute and free.
Requesting a link, a title listing or a review?
Because I've been
slowed down with MS problems and a heavy work load at the library, I will be
limiting the addition of new links and concentrating more on original content.
At the present time I am not able to list ebooks, self-published titles and POD titles.
I am also not able to reply to all the requests for reviews I receive. I appreciate the offers and try to find reviewers whenever possible. I am currently concentrating more on the Author Connections section.
What is the correct URL for Overbooked?
Since Overbooked (Book Links) has been around for awhile there are actually
three URL's that will work for all the pages on the web site:
freenet.vcu.edu/education/literature/(pagename.html)
www.cvco.org/education/literature/(pagename.html)
www.overbooked.org/(pagename.html)
So, to reach the main page of Overbooked you can get there three ways:
http://freenet.vcu.edu/education/literature/index.html
http://www.cvco.org/education/literature/index.html
http://www.overbooked.org/index.html
I'd prefer users to rely on the www.overbooked.org URL's. It would make it easier to track page hits, etc. But, as far as I know, all three URL's will continue to be active. Overbooked is indexed on various search engines using any or all of the above URL's.
Who is Ann Chambers Theis aka Ann the Overbooked?
I'm the Collection Management Administrator for the Chesterfield
County Public Library
and am responsible for selecting fiction, films, and audio material for the
library system. The job also involves overseeing the materials budget ($875,000
+) and other aspects of the library collection. I've been a librarian for going on 20 years, and worked in bookstores for eleven years. I've have been
a bookie all my life. I'd hate to have to chose my favorite books, but if I
were
forced to pick just one it would be Alice in Wonderland by Lewis
Carroll. I am an omnivorous reader and disgustingly adaptable in regards
to my reading tastes. I like all kinds of books and am resigned to a life
where
there are "so many books and so little time." You may also have noticed a fondness
for bad puns, it is also genetic and not my fault.
I am a member of the American Library Association - PLA, RUSA/CODES and YALSA divisions, and a member of the CODES Reader's Advisory Committee. I'm the past chair of YALSA's Alex Awards committee and am chair of the YALSA Task Force to develop criteria for a First Novel Award. I'm also a member of the Virginia Library Association. I was born in Williamsburg, VA, went to college in New Mexico and library school in South Carolina. I've also lived in: Georgia, Florida, Kentucky and Ohio. If you are so inclined, you may find out a little more about me (or at least our animals and a few known associates) by visiting the infrequently updated ACT home page.
Hotlists
African American Fiction | Christian Fiction
2008 Excel Files: (download - print, sort, etc.)
Crime Fiction | Fiction | African American Fiction | Christian Fiction | Nonfiction Notables
Stars
Fiction: Jan-June | July-Dec Crime Fiction: Jan-June | July-Dec
Speculative Fiction Romance Historical Nonfiction | YA
Hotlists
Hotlists: Fiction | Crime Fiction
Genre Hotlists: Christian Fiction | African American Fiction
Stars
Fiction: Jan-June | July-Dec Crime Fiction: Jan-June | July-Dec
Overbooked is a volunteer project undertaken by Ann Chambers Theis: Collection Management Administrator, Chesterfield County (VA) Public Library. 9501 Lori Rd. or P.O. Box 297, Chesterfield, VA, 23832. Phone: 804.748.1760.
Overbooked is not an official Chesterfield County Public Library service. Overbooked.org is a nonprofit web site hosted by CVCO - Central Virginia's Community Online. Overbooked.com is a nonprofit web site in experimental mode. Overbooked does not endorse any commercial providers (or their products and services) linked to from this web site.
Join the Overbooked List - A quiet list for readers to share recent reads, keep up to date with details about new books, discuss favorite authors/titles, etc.
Comments, suggestions, corrections: Ann Chambers Theis (AKA Ann/ACT):
ann_overbooked@earthlink.net
or
ann@overbooked.com
I really appreciate all the e-mail I receive from avid readers and writers and regret that I am not able to respond to all correspondents. Special thanks to those folks who regularly help keep me on track - you know who you are....