What is Overbooked? ~ Requesting a link,title listing or review? ~ Who? ~ Which URL?

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. Yeah CVCO! Yeah Ken Guyre! Overbooked is a non 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 between 2000 - 4000 requests for pages a day.

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.

Why do you do this?

• 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?
I'll try to accommodate requests for links which meet the selection criteria of both the web site and Central Virginia's Community Online. However, it may take quite awhile. 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'm working toward this. For now, please feel free to list your titles in the Booktalk area. If you can't wait for me to add a link please list yourself on the Booktalk discussion board. Booktalk averages around 1000+ hits a month, and the discussions/listings are covered by many popular search engines.

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.

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 ($865,000 +) and other aspects of the library collection. I've been a librarian for over fifteen 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 and YALSA divisions, and a past member of the CODES Reader's Advisory Committee. I'm currently on the CODES Collection Evaluation Committee and am on YALSA's Alex Awards committee. 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 my animals and a few known associates) by visiting the infrequently updated ACT home page.