1. Readers’ Advisory and Readers’ Services in the Public Library Kaite Mediatore Stover Readers’ Services Manager Kansas City Public Library

2. Rosenberg’s First Law of Reading: Never apologize for your reading tastes.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. Book Appeal  Pacing  Characterization  Story Line/Subject  Frame/Writing Style  Other

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

7. Characterization  Developed over time or stereotypes?  Single character or several who intertwine?  Is character developed over a series of books?  Are there memorable secondary characters?

8. Story Line  Emphasize people or situations  Interior/psychological or exterior/action  Author’s intent? Serious v. light; comedy v. drama?

9. Frame  Is the background detailed or minimal?  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?

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

11. 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?

12. Getting Ready for Readers & Grouping books & Talking about books & Know your shelves & Go where readers go

13. Afterword  Read  Talk  Share