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 1922-1926 Structured RA service in urban

libraries.

1927-1935 Recognized by ALA w/Adult Education Roundtable and Reading with a Purpose courses

1936-1940 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 Appealo Pacing

o Characterization

o Story Line

o Frame

Grouping bookso 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 bookNow 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

Want further information?Go here:

http://kaitestover.pbworks.com

Afterword

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