From the Director

Library news and happenings.

More and More Cookbooks

I select the cookbooks for the circulating collection at the central library. In every two week order cycle, there are at least 10 – 20 new titles and often many more. I read in Publishers Weekly that about 24,000 cookbooks are published each year! That’s a lot of cookbooks; no wonder we can’t add all of them to our collection.

Of course the Food Network and the rise of celebrity chefs, each of whom seems to have a series of cookbooks, have contributed greatly to the publishing explosion in this genre. Now the American Library Association (ALA) is getting on board too!

At our upcoming annual conference in Chicago, there will be a “cooking pavilion featuring a variety of chefs preparing recipes and signing autographs.” Attendees can see displays of the latest in cookbooks, watch live presentations on barbecuing and mixing cocktails for every occasion, learn a new approach to culinary art, and hear about making gourmet restaurant food at home.

This will be a library conference with some new “ingredients” and I’m looking forward to it! It will be a break from all the meetings. There are often drawings for prizes….maybe I’ll be lucky and win some new cookbooks for our collection.

Book

“Screen Doors and Sweet Tea” by Martha Hall Foose
9780307351401
AnnR

Comments

I just tried a couple recipes from one of KPL's cookbooks entitled "Down Home with the Neelys". The Broccoli Cheddar Cornbread and the Sock-It-To-Me-Cake were both delicious! Good to know about the ALA cookbook venue as well!

By JenniferC, 06/16/2009

I would be interested in cookbooks for gluten-free, wheat-free, and dairy-free diets. I`m allergic to a weird assortment of foods, from chicken to vinegar to oregano,as well as cow's milk and gluten.

By Carolyn Bristol, 06/18/2009

I try to buy cookbooks in these areas, Carolyn, but if you see some I have missed, please submit them as patron requests for consideration. Do check our catalog. Use "gluten-free diet" as the subject.

By Ann, 06/22/2009

It would be great if you could include cookbooks on pregnancy nutriton as this is an important part of pregnancy. Women need to increase their intake of foods rich with folic acid and iron during pregnancy. Plenty of lean protein, starchy carbohydrates and avoiding sugary foods will also help. A good diet during pregnancy allied to a sensible exercise and workout regime can work wonders!

By Paul, 07/21/2009

I doublechecked....most of the books on pregnancy and prenatal care include significant sections on nutrition. Both are subjects in our catalog: "pregnancy" and "prenatal care". Most of these books are in the medical number of 618.2 rather than the cookbook number. This is a popular topic so if you learn about books we don't have and should, please submit them as patron requests.

By Ann Rohrbaugh, 07/22/2009

Damn !! 24,000 cookbooks !! That’s Too much of cookbooks

By Ameda, 08/01/2009

I would be interested in cookbooks on vegan diets. I find it hard as a vegan, to come across a cookbook with good recipes keepin us vegans in mind!

By nav chahal, 10/14/2009

Great Article! I love cookbooks and am always on the hunt for the best!! Another mention-worthy website I would recommend is http://cookingwithtricia.ca/recipes/, great recipes and very informative Mary

By Marylin, 04/06/2013