1. Creating a Culture of Reading: Readers’ Advisory in the Academic Library Janice Derr, Pamela Ferrell, and Sarah Johnson Booth Library, Eastern Illinois University www.library.eiu.edu A Library State of Mind Conference ~ Oct. 22, 2015

2. About Booth Library, Eastern Illinois University Population of Charleston, IL: 21,838 (2010) Student enrollment: 8,520 (2015) Public, Master’s/L (Carnegie classification) Library collection: ~1 million volumes

3. Challenges to establishing popular reading collections Lack of support from library staff, administration, institution

4. Challenges to establishing popular reading collections Lack of support from library staff, administration, institution Budget woes

5. Challenges to establishing popular reading collections Lack of support from library staff, administration, institution Budget woes Perceived lack of interest by students

6. Challenges to establishing popular reading collections Lack of support from library staff, administration, institution Budget woes Perceived lack of interest by students Feeling that it’s not part of library’s mission

7. Reasons to get involved! Patron demand Research-based evidence Curricular connections Potential for increasing library usage & appeal

8. Where is the fiction section?

9. “Students still ask for fun books and for current novels; they value this service, and in fact new students may expect it based on their prior experiences in public and school libraries. Academic libraries should be fulfilling and building upon these expectations rather than letting them languish, and losing a crucial opportunity for engagement with the larger community in the process.” Smith, R. and Young, N. J. (2008). Giving pleasure its due: Collection promotion and readers’ advisory in academic libraries. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 34 (5), 520-26.

10. The benefits of reading Dewan, P. (2013). Reading matters in the academic library: Taking the lead from public librarians. RUSQ 52(4): 309-319. Dewan, P. (2015). Reading trends and college-age students: The research, the issues, and the role of libraries. Against the Grain 27(1): 28-31. Ross, C. (2000). Finding without seeking: What readers say about the role of pleasure reading as a source of information. APLIS 13(2), 72-81. improves our social skills increases our sensitivity to others’ viewpoints shapes our cognitive development helps us learn about the world adds to our self- knowledge provides information useful in daily life increases likelihood of student success correlates with improved writing skills & vocabulary

11. College-age people are reading! Rainie, L., and Perrin, A. (2015, Oct. 19). Slightly fewer Americans reading print books, survey finds. Washington, DC: PEW Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/10/19/slightly-fewer-americans-are-reading-print-books-new- survey-finds/ PEW survey results (April 2015), for 18-29 year olds: 80% have read at least one book in the last year They have read an average of 11 books in the last year Overall: women, young adults (18-29), and those with higher education & income are most prolific readers

12. College-age people are reading! “Best of all, the most significant growth has been among young adults, the group that had shown the largest declines in earlier surveys. The youngest group (ages 18-24) has undergone a particularly inspiring transformation from a 20 percent decline in 2002 to a 21 percent increase in 2008—a startling level of change.” National Endowment for the Arts, Office of Research & Analysis (2009). Reading on the rise: A new chapter in American literacy. 4, http://arts.gov/sites/default/files/ReadingonRise.pdf.

13. Furthermore, college students are interested in reading for pleasure. Study of Gustavus Adolphus students (2009): - liberal arts college, MN, 2500 undergrads - 93.0% of respondents (717 total) reported that they enjoy pleasure reading - they read broadly across a range of genres - greatest barrier: time constraints Gilbert, J., and Fister, B. (2011). Reading, risk, and reality: College students and reading for pleasure. College & Research Libraries 72(5): 478-483.

14. Curricular Connections

15. Popular Materials at Booth in the 1950s

16. Booth Library Collection Development Policy, 2013 RECREATIONAL READING BOOKS: In the interest of maintaining an environment that stimulates reading and discussion, the library will acquire current popular recreational reading books in both hardback and paperback editions. All of these materials will be cataloged and will appear in the online catalog. Gift materials are a frequent source for the Read & Relax (R&R) Collection.

17. The Usual Suspects of Selecting

18. Political Hopefuls’ Literary Efforts

19. Wide Ranging Titles

20. Genres in Read and Relax

21. Graphic Novel Collection

22. Ballenger Teachers Center YA Display: Dystopian Fiction

24. Promotion Physical displays Online displays Research guide Staff training

25. Physical displays Problem: Recreational reading collection located on first floor doesn’t receive much foot traffic.

26. Physical displays Solution: Create table top displays on the main floor.

27. Tie into popular culture Downton Abbey exhibit put up after the season finale.

28. Current events Display with resources on same-sex marriage.

29. Displays created by students. Display of books that have been made into movies, created by one of our student workers.

30. Online displays

31. Research guide

32. Staff training MyMediaMall NoveList LibraryThing GoodReads

33. Implementation suggestions Start small donations items already in collection Back up any proposal with research Reach out to faculty with curricular connections Get interested staff involved Good luck!