1. Readers’ Advisory in the Engineering Library Scott Curtis Linda Hall Library

2. The Power of Reading! http://www.flickr.com/photos/73584165@N00/185401450/ Nikola Tesla enjoys a book in the lab

3. What is Readers’ Advisory (RA)? http://www.flickr.com/photos/helenyoyo/3519317220/ “…an organized program promoting both fiction and non-fiction discretionary reading for the dual purposes of satisfying reader needs and advancing a culture’s goal of a literate population.” -Bill Crowley, in “A History of Readers’ Advisory Service in the Public Library”

4. Why recreational reading now? Recreational reading – Improves writing Hones critical thinking skills Enhances the ability to structure and remember data Provides a cultural context into which other knowledge may be integrated Builds habits conducive to life-long learning http://www.flickr.com/photos/seattledailyphoto/523972654/

5. Leisure readers say reading provides… Heightened understanding of people and relationships New knowledge of other countries, cultures, and historical periods Spark for imagination and creativity, a “livelier mind” Insight into different perspectives http://www.flickr.com/photos/spneale/2924344430/

6. Barriers to Adopting RA http://www.flickr.com/photos/chandos/403727926/

7. How do we do RA? Understand genres Learn to articulate appeal factors to recommend books across genres Encourage the reading of “narrative nonfiction” about engineering and technology http://www.flickr.com/photos/bibliona/196694634/ You don’t have to be Nancy Pearl!

8. How to promote RA and recreational reading Library displays Newsletters (summer 2009.pdf )summer 2009.pdf Social networking tools ( Goodreads, FB, etc.) Community-wide reading events http://www.flickr.com/photos/31763016@N00/5265784/

9. Questions/Comments? Scott Curtis Head of Reference Services Linda Hall Library of Science, Engineering, and Technology 5109 Cherry Street Kansas City, Missouri 64110-2498 (816) 926-8739 curtiss@lindahall.org