Readers' Advisory 101: Connecting Readers with the Right Book

1. Readers’ Advisory 101:How Does It Work? Part One Massachusetts Library Association 2019

2. Presenters Anna Mickelsen, Springfield Library @helgagrace Alene Moroni, Forbes Library @surlyspice Kaite Stover, Kansas City Public Library @MarianLiberryan

3. Learning Objectives In this session you will learn… • Comfort with RA can be as valuable as expertise • How to evaluate a book you haven’t read • How to have an RA conversation • How to organize your book knowledge • Resources for the RA process

4. What is Readers’ Advisory? Connecting someone with the right book at the right time. The “right book” is one that matches their interests, needs, and abilities.

5. Readers’ Advisory: Before and After

6. Keep in Mind “You don’t have to know everything about everything.” - Leane Ellis

7. Leane’s Rules • Listen. • Something is better than nothing. • It is not about me.

8. Who is S.R. Ranganathan? Creator of “The 5 Laws of Library Science” Books are for use. Every reader, a book. Every book, a reader. Save the time of the reader. The library is a living organism.

9. 5 Laws of Readers’ Advisory • It’s not about you. • It’s a discussion, not a monologue. • You don’t have to read every book in the library. • Don’t make judgments. • Suggestions are better than recommendations. Nancy Henkel, KCLS

10. A Comfortable Readers’ Advisor Will... • Smile and breathe. • Ask open-ended questions. • Stop talking and listen to patron. • Get up and walk patron to shelves. • Know library collections and locations. • Discuss books outside their own reading taste. • Monitor modern culture. • Show RA resources to patrons.

11. REF vs. RA Reference: Readers’ Advisory: Starts with an interview. Starts with a conversation. Demands source verification. May need source verification. Probably has a “right” answer. May have multiple “right” answers. Goal is to fulfill patron need. Goal is to fulfill patron want.

12. Diversify Your Readers’ Advisory ...and your displays, collections, reading, watching, and listening! Resource list: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KDCVuc3Wh4fpIQElJXEiOzIp3Zls4Dg0lVkdK8en6Q0/edit?usp=sharing

13. Ways to Determine if Someone Might Like a Book • Read the title. • Examine the cover art. • Check for a genre label. • Read the blurb. • Open the book and scan it. • Read the first few lines.

14. Nancy Pearl’s Doorways STORY CHARACTER SETTING LANGUAGE

15. Reasons People Might Like a Book STORY SETTING Genre Genre Authenticity Time Frame Violence (lots or none) Authenticity Format Geography Length LANGUAGECHARACTER Pacing Relationships Mood Sexuality (hot or not) Ideas Profanity (#$%@ or not) Length Familiarity Writing Style

16. Genres Mystery Romance Western Science Fiction Fantasy Adrenaline

17. How to Become Ridiculously Well-Read in One Shift Peruse the new books and displays Create Book Hooks for well-known authors Create a book list for your favorite topic Browse the shelves Libraries; Bookstores; Costco, Target, supermarkets, etc. Read some book reviews LibraryReads, O Magazine, Booklist, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, People, Entertainment Weekly

18. Rule the Book World in a (Lunch) Hour Staying Current • Book News--publishers, online lists • Podcasts • Longreads • Pop Culture • Twitter feeds

19. Passive-Aggressive Readers’ Advisory

20. “Passive” Readers’ Advisory Booklists –On location –Online Library Displays –In stacks –Point-of-Checkout –Tabletop New Books Catalog/NoveList content LibraryReads

21. “Aggressive” Readers’ Advisory • Having an RA conversation • Taking a patron to the shelves • Demonstrating catalog, databases, and websites • NoveList • GoodReads; LibraryThing; Stop, You’re Killing Me • Googling readalikes

22. RA Conversation Points Ask open-ended questions to determine... ...why they want the book. ...what they’ve read before and liked. ...if they want a similar type of book. ...where they heard about the book. For students also ask... ...if there’s a deadline or page requirement. ...if they like to read.

24. Readers’ Advisory 101:Practice Session Part Two: Electric Boogaloo Massachusetts Library Association 2019

25. Hooks for Books Hooks are places to hang your book knowledge. Hooks fall under the 4 Doorways. Hooks can be title or author based. Hooks should include items you are comfortable suggesting.

26. Hooks for Books Examples SETTING CHARACTER Regency London Smart Aleck P.I.s C. S. Harris Elvis Cole (Robert Crais) Courtney Milan Stephanie Plum (Janet Evanovich) Cat Sebastian Isaiah Quintabe (Joe Ide)Sherry Thomas Nils Shapiro (Matt Goldman)

27. Hooks for Books Activity For each of the 4 Doorways, assign one hook of your choice. For each hook, assign 4 titles or authors. You will have 16 entries. Share one of your hooks with us.

28. Post-Training Activities Try an RA conversation with someone. Research the list of RA websites. Make a book list for yourself or a friend. Practice, practice, practice! Subscribe to publisher newsletters. Follow authors/publishers/librarians: Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr.

29. Questions?

30. Acknowledgements King County (WA) Library System Readers’ Advisory Committee Timberland (WA) Regional Library Nancy Henkel, Michele Drovdahl Nancy Pearl Joyce Saricks Leane M. Ellis Duncan Smith

31. Presenters Anna Mickelsen, Springfield Library @helgagrace Alene Moroni, Forbes Library @surlyspice Kaite Stover, Kansas City Public Library @MarianLiberryan