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Match Book: Readers’ Advisory in the Public Library. March 29, 2012 Smithville Branch/MCPL Kaite Mediatore Stover Director of Readers’ Services Kansas City Public Library. Rosenberg’s First Law of Reading:. Never apologize for your reading tastes. Kaite’s mother’s corollary: - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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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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