Reader’s Advisory and the Web An Infopeople Workshop Francisca Goldsmith Spring 2004

Agenda Introductions The librarian as reader’s advisor Commercial assistance Librarians’ advice Professional help Forecasting and localizing

Why Do Reader’s Advisory? Reading isn’t a passing fad—in either society or the individual’s life. Reader’s advisory provides information literacy training to patrons. Advisory skills need to be used if they aren’t going to get stale or lost.

Why the Reader’s Advisory Question Gets Asked What’s wanted is a book, not the book. Feelings, as well as facts, are important. Personal guidance is valued by the reader.

Reader’s Advisory Questions Demand Skilled Responses Reference interview Multicultural literacy Multimedia literacy

Find Out What “Just Like” Means Plot nuances? Stylistic features? Characterizations? Vocabulary? Viewpoint? Other?

Reference Interview Essentials Discover what the reader already knows –desire for a genre? –a mood? –a read-alike? Clarify what’s important to this reader –stay with the known? –meet the unknown?

Reference Interview, continued… Tune your suggestions to the patron rather than to your personal biases –mutual understanding of what’s wanted? Give direction to next place to go –shelf? –lists? –Web sites? –book groups? –alternate library?

Multicultural Literacy Old books, new books Authors of many backgrounds Format functionality Defining “a good read” –Literary merit is subjective. –Who’s giving which prizes? –Everyone I should know likes it.

Become a Valued Medium Read about books so you can converse with those who value your advice.

Multimedia Literacy Best seller lists Movies Surfers’ hangouts Book groups Celebrity selections Prizes and obituaries

Commercial Tools Free vs. fee Scope and depth Timeliness and timelessness Ease of use Adequate vs. exemplary

Seek Professional Advice for Yourself as an Advisor Electronic discussion groups –online archives Other libraries’ websites Online book reviews Online book group assistance

Librarian Built Tools Still Require Evaluation Knowledge base? Breadth of subject choices? Imagined users? Timeliness and availability of sources? Annotations? Upkeep?

Forecast Interests What’s happening around you? –current events as interest drivers Are you tracking local stimulants? –who’s coming to town? Seen any good movies lately? –look ahead at production news Who won? Who died? –fame and mortality as popularity generators

It Can Be a Rat Race, but… Reader’s advisory questions are as valid as other reference inquiries. When you’re rushed, your reader still needs to get useful guidance. –incorporate easy tools online –shelve sub-collections prominently –keep lists handy—and up to date

Use Slower Times to Educate Yourself –explore resources –perform deeper interviews Other staff –share knowledge of reader’s advisory tools Patrons –demonstrate use of resources matched to their reading interests

The Skilled Reader’s Advisor Works to understand what this particular reader wants Draws on knowledge of many tools Offers alternatives Suggests the next step

Keep the Advisory Tools Sharp Make your own –local advice for local readers Put yours online –if you want to know, so do others Invite participation –recognize your readers as advisors Keep in touch –another job that’s never finished

Reader’s Advisor Action Plan 1.Attend to the world around you: it inspires reader’s advisory questions. 2.Listen to this request for reading help; keep interviewing until the parameters are clear. 3.Offer alternatives but never promise the “perfect” book. 4.Let the patron know you won’t be offended if your suggestions are found wanting. 5.Invite or initiate a check-in, just as you should with any reference question.