Library of Michigan Beginning Workshop May 18, 2016 Presented by: Vanessa Walstra, MLIS—Kent District Library Heather Wood-Gramza, MLIS—Kent District Library
What, Why and How?
Reference Services Shift Ability to Connect with Patrons Increased Perception of Relevancy within Community
Story Preference Format Preference Hobbies and Interests Age Reason for Seeking
An approach to materials advisory developed by Nancy Pearl.
New York Times Best Seller List Page Turners Events Based Tend to be Popular with Guys Genres—Romance and Mystery
Memoirs True Crime Travelogues
People care what happens to characters as a story unfolds. People who gravitate toward this doorway will talk about and describe the characters in a book.
Memoir Biography History
The place is fully developed. People may treat the setting or place as a character within the story. Typically, genres like Fantasy and Historical Fiction fit within this doorway.
Travelogues History
Typically award winners The Literary Fiction genre is known for this particular doorway Includes many authors who are also poets
Poetry
These books incorporate many doorways. These stories often gain popularity through word-of-mouth. People can pull out what they like from the book, movie or music experience.
Just the facts, ma’am. Busy…pick it up and put it down. Topical Engagement with the World Experience Something Vicariously
Finding the perfect match for school aged youth and teens.
The “doorways” are a great starting point; however, they don’t always help us connect the right kid with the right book. Paying attention to HOW kids & teens ask for books is vital, because they haven’t all identified WHY they like certain books.
Age/Gender of Main Character Are they like me? Can I relate to this? Genre Specific I know I like Fantasy, so I’ll stick with that. Read Alikes I really like the Lightning Thief. I will only like a book EXACTLY like that one!
School We need to read a title from each category by this Friday (and all the books were published before 1980). Parents—Content & Reading Level My 2 nd grader reads at an 8 th grade level, but it can’t be inappropriate.
Age/Gender of Main Character Can I relate to this character? Read Alikes/Genre Specific My son really only reads fantasy, but nothing too complicated. My Friend Told Me About this Book It has something on the cover—maybe it’s orange or something.
More Open to Book Talks in the Stacks You can hand sell a title if you’re a good salesperson! School I don’t like to read, but I have to (particularly middle school ages). High School students are told what to read, but middle school students seem to have more choice.
Novelist K-8 Plus ( CORE Sheets under construction Contact Information: Vanessa Heather Wood-Gramza