Reading Interests of Adults Image credit: Victor GAD Marija Dalbello Reading Interests of Adults Introduction Rutgers School of Communication and Information dalbello@rutgers.edu

Welcome and overview _______________________________________ Course philosophy (foundational assumptions and methods) Match student assumptions with course focus Course objectives Organization and content Assignments

A readerly introduction _______________________________________ Starting with self-reflection: Reading histories are autobiographical Reading histories are embedded in time-life events Reading histories note emblematic books, places, states and our relating to others …

Other observations on reading _______________________________________ Readers encounter texts within a “horizon of expectation” Experience of reading is cumulative and individualized Genres are structured, ensure predictability And yet readers are quite unpredictable And serving readers is challenging

Reading and imagination _______________________________________

Established so far _______________________________________ Reading does have politics Reading is personal and difficult to study Studying reading is not about texts but people Approaches: psychoanalytical, cultural analytical, … Libraries need to be reading and information institutions Librarians need to explore reading from readers’ point of view

Back to course pragmatics _______________________________________ Course website main content index Check weekly introductions for to do’s (e-college) Readings, discussion, virtual office, etc. in e-college shell At course website - syllabus, lectures, schedule, assignments

Course website http://comminfo.rutgers.edu/course/online/585_home.htm

Quick course overview _______________________________________ Fit reading and readers in broader context of society culture institutions institutions such as libraries commercial enterprises such as publishing society and culture as shapers of readers’ fantasies Understand how readers’ interests are met by institutions How librarians can better serve readers Understand structure of genres Examine popular genres

Course organization _______________________________________ Module I (Weeks 1-5, 15) Cultural Production, the Society, and the Consumption of Texts popular culture, history of reading Term Paper (historical analysis), Discussions Module II (Weeks 6-14) Reading Genres and Genre Readers genre theory, genres: detective, SF, romance, western, horror, new age … Term paper (study of readers), Discussions Module III (Weeks 6-14) Programming and Collection Development RA tools: genre guides, online, interviewing Discussions, observation & field research

Assignments _______________________________________ Course website for instructions, due dates and schedule This week’s to do’s: study class materials to understand course requirements Personal Reading Profile and Theme of Emphasis due read, discuss, journal, complete survey order textbooks online

Reading is _______________________________________

I look forward to the course … Marija Dalbello _______________________________________ I look forward to the course … Marija Dalbello