Staff Reviews

Staff Reviews

Kids / YA Review July 2026

Finding My Spark by Isabelle Jameson

Alex, the protagonist of this picture book, knows he is a boy. He can’t bring himself to say – out loud – the words in his head. His feelings begin his story – worried, afraid, unhappy. The illustrations convey these very well.

Eventually, Alex writes a letter to his mom. She helps him to draw a picture to show his family, and then he tells his class. He wants people to use he/him pronouns. He wants to be called Alex.

His feelings change - relieved, brave, happy. He had the feelings before he had the words. A picture helps him tell his truth.

I remember an altercation with another child – Marty - when I was small. Grown-up interventions ensued. “What happened” was explained by others. I thought, “That’s not right.” It was so obvious in my head - but I didn’t have the words to clarify the facts or my feelings – also I was crying. Feeling powerless to communicate a correction, is what I remember most. (If I met Marty today, I’d explain the whole thing!)

All kids have felt worried or afraid or unhappy. All kids would rather feel relieved or brave or happy. I think this picture book will support many kids to feel these emotions themselves and/or have empathy for others. It might even help them to find words about a specific truth in their own lives. We hope there is room for this Canadian book in your library.

Picture Book pr8383099

 

 

Adult Review July 2026

The Plunge: Maverick Swimmers, an Unlikely Quest, and the Transformative Power of Cold Water by Chris Ballard

A look at cold water swimming, from solo and community quick dippers to events organized by the nascent International Ice Swimming Association, held around the world.

As with “Born to Run,” this is very much a character study of fascinating outliers and eccentrics, along with those dealing with trauma, from the famous (Lynne Cox, Wim Hoff), prize winning (a US Olympic swim team member) and everyday (a CDN getting over the loss of his wife). It also, much like James Nestor’s “Breath” is filled with very readable popular science in greater depth with historical and current research. I haven’t had a book more fun to read than this, year to date.

Adult Non-Fiction pr8342608

  

Shadow Ticket by Thomas Pynchon

A satirical noir in the form of a 1930s private eye thriller that looks at the emerging threats of fascism and new technologies, this is the Great American cheese novel you didn’t know you needed.

Adult Fiction pr8096175

  

 

 

 

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Category: About

Return Policy

Material purchased from Library Bound that is received by the Library with a production defect, may be returned for a full credit or a no charge replacement.

An order duplicated by Library Bound, or a title that does not fit the Library’s ARP profile, may be returned for a full credit.

Material received by the Library with processing specifications that do not match the Library’s processing profile, may be returned for a full credit or a no charge replacement.

  • Returns must be made within 60 days of the invoice date
  • Authorization from Customer Service is required to return material that is cancelled by the Library


Credits
Library Bound will issue a credit for all acceptable defective material in a timely manner.  Please do not claim a credit or short pay an invoice until LBI has issued the appropriate credit.

Return Authorization Contact Information
Print Material:
LBI East                                                     LBI West                         
Lisa Strome                                               Michael Gray
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AV Material:
CD Music & Video Games                        DVD Material
Tracy Reid                                                     Anna Kardas    
Music & Video Game Coordinator           DVD Coordinator  
519-885-3233 x29                                       519-885-3233 x30       
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Customer Cancellation Policy

Customers requesting an order cancellation should contact one of the following:

Print & Audiobooks:                                CD Music & Video Games:
Lisa Strome                                                 Tracy Reid
Print Coordinator                                       Music and Video Game Coordinator
1-800-363-4728 x24                                   1-800-363-4728 x29
519-885-3233 x24                                       519-885-3233 x29
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DVD Material:                                           Multilingual Material:
Anna Kardas                                               Sue Clarke
DVD Coordinator                                       Multilingual Selection Specialist
1-800-363-4728 x30                                  1-800-363-4728 x32
519-885-3233 x30                                      519-885-3233 x32
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We will confirm receipt of your request within 2 business days. We will then respond within 5 business days to notify you if the material is eligible for return. 

We can cancel an order if the material has not been shipped from the vendors, and only if we have return privileges with that specific vendor. Special circumstances will be dealt with individually. 

Please note, we have an automatic 12-month back order cancellation date, unless we have been notified of an alternate date by the library. In most cases, material orders in our system that have reached 12-months from the initial order placement date will be automatically cancelled.

To avoid placing a duplicate order, please check the status of your order by contacting one of our Specialists, or by checking your order status on our website.

 

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Category: About

Imagine working with an industry leader where excellence and expertise is our standard. With over 100 years of experience in the material wholesale industry, Library Bound has placed a high value on establishing a workplace culture where people are challenged and treated with trust and respect every day.

We are an opportune employer who seeks to find skilled individuals to join our team. Our customers are our top priority and they are entitled to quality products catalogued and processed to the highest standards, and delivered in a timely fashion. It is our job at Library Bound to meet or exceed all the requirements of our customers. At Library Bound, we recognize that our greatest resource is our associates. It is our goal to promote and maintain a work environment that enables associates to function at their highest level. Our colleagues can expect:

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What’s in it for you?

Our workplace culture has a relaxed but results-driven atmosphere. Our team is intelligent, committed to supporting public libraries and hard working. We offer competitive wages and:

  • Health and dental benefits
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  • Flex time or compressed workweeks
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  • Personal time off during the holiday season
  • Progressive vacation allowance
  • Discounts on personal material purchases

 

Library Bound is currently hiring in our Processing, Cataloguing, and Print departments.  If you would like to join our team, we welcome you to submit your resume.

Please apply to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  Thank you for your interest in Library Bound.

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Category: About

Your Canadian choice for all your library needs  

Library Bound Inc. provides solutions to Canadian library needs. Specializing in print, video, music, audio books, and multilingual products, Library Bound has the materials to create a collection that your patrons will enjoy.

We also provide the services you need to ensure that all your material is shelf-ready. We offer acquisition, cataloguing, processing, and Automatic Release Programs as part of our complete package of services.

Contact us today for more information on how we can meet your specific collection needs.

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Category: About

Library Bound works in an environment of mutual respect with our customers and suppliers to deliver quality services at a fair price.  Our primary goal is to provide products and programs that offer competitive choices to Canadian libraries, while ensuring our company’s long-term viability through sound fiscal management and operational efficiency.

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