Match Book: Readers’ Advisory in the Public Library

Rosenberg’s First Law of Reading: Never apologize for your reading tastes. Kaite’s mother’s corollary: Life’s too short to read bad books.

The Readers’ Bill of Rights  The right Not to Read.  The right to Skip Pages.  The right to Not Finish.  The right to Reread.  The right to Read Anything.  The right to Escapism.  The right to Read Anywhere.  The right to Browse  The right to Read Out Loud.  The right Not to Defend Your Tastes.

Why RA?  Over 60% of library users come to the library for leisure reading  Fiction is the lion’s share of that 60%  Not enough reserves  Get to know your patrons and collection and forge introductions for both

Why NOT RA? “Reading opens the world. Readers’ Advisory is one of the best services a library can offer.” Tim Grimes, Asst. Administrator, Ann Arbor Public Library, ALA, July 1996.

RA History  Structured RA service in urban libraries.  Recognized by ALA w/Adult Education Roundtable and Reading with a Purpose courses  Increased scholarly work on RA. Over 70 types of readers identified in one article  1940 RA service declined  1990 RA service resurgence (with changes)

RA Knowledge & Service  Understanding a book’s appeal  Readers’ Advisory Online sources  Current trends in Readers’ Advisory  The Readers’ Advisory Interview

Book Appeal  Pacing  Characterization  Story Line  Frame  Other

Pacing  How quickly are character/plot revealed?  Dialogue vs. Description  Short sentences, short paragraphs, short chapters?  Multiple plotlines, flashbacks, different points of view, straight line plot?  Is the ending open or closed?

Characterization  Are characters developed over time or are they stereotypes?  Is focus on a single character or several who intertwine?  Is characterization most important aspect of story?  Is character developed during the course of a series of books?  Are they memorable?

Story Line  Does the story emphasize people or situations/events  Is the focus interior/psychological or exterior/action  What is the author’s intent? Serious v. light; comedy v. drama?

Frame  How prominent is the setting or time period?  How does the book make the reader feel? What mood does the book evoke in the reader?  Is a special background integral to the story?

Other  Cover art  Jacket blurb  Book size  Title

Annotations  The core of articulating appeal  Basics  Adjectives  Perceptions  Plot vs. Appeals

How to read a book in 15 minutes With the book in front of you, look at: 1. Cover 2. Jacket blurb 3. Typeface 4. Heft 5. Read a sampling 6. Evaluate--genre/type; pace; clarity 7. What is the format? 8. Connect this book to other books. 9. Who will enjoy this book?

Identifying a Book’s Appeal Now you do it! Using the book you brought with you, examine the cover, read the flyleaf and flip through the first couple of pages of each book. Quickly jot down some key thoughts about the book that would help you to suggest it to a reader.

Libraries Are Still About Reading: The Readers’ Advisory Interview Conversation Suggest v. Recommend Encourage returns

Book Appeal o Pacing o Characterization o Story Line o Frame

Grouping books o Keep a list of what you read o Consult Amazon or NoveList o Ask Fiction-L

Talk about books  With coworkers, friends, family, etc.  Practice using the elements of book appeal  Take notes on what others are reading

Self-prep  Check the new book shelf regularly  Check Fiction displays if available  Check current Best Seller lists  Check Amazon’s front page

The Reader Arrives  Readers’ Advisory is NOT like Reference  Authors you don’t know or like  Genres you don’t know or like  Drawing a blank

You’re ready, where’s the reader?  Most are afraid to ask for help  Travel the Fiction stacks when you have time or watch it from the reference desk if possible.  Don’t be afraid to offer suggestions.  Don’t ask “What do you like to read?”

Questions that will help  Tell me about a book you enjoyed.  Do you have an author you never miss?  Have you read anything you disliked lately?  Do you like a book with a fast plot or strong characters?  What kind of book are you in the mood for?

The Interview  Be approachable  Get reader preferences and paraphrase  Remember the goal is frequency and quality

Help the Reader find a book Now that you understand the appeal of a book, recommend one to the patron looking for something “good to read.” Take 10 minutes to “get to know” the patron in the envelope on each desk, suggest two to three titles and be prepared to share why you chose those books. Yes, candy. Again. 

On the cheap: Homegrown RA tools and displays Bestseller lists Newspaper/magazine reviews Award winners Staff/patron favorites Reading logs Reader’s Shelf/Readalike columns in LJ & BL Borrow and credit

Keeping Current Twitter Feeds Blogs: Readers’ Advisor Online, Shelfrenewal Other websites: Shelf Awareness, Books on the Nightstand, Citizen Reader, Indiebound

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Afterword  Read  Talk  Share