READERS ADVISORY
What is Readers Advisory? Well, it's about matching a book to a reader by providing guidance and helping the reader narrow down choices in order to match their interests and tastes. It's a conversation that engages the reader and lets them know that you care about their reading enjoyment. You do not, however, have to read every book you recommend but you do have to create an environment that encourages readers to talk about books and authors. For instance, ask them, "Can you tell me about a book you've recently read that you really enjoyed?" or "What in particular did you like about the book?"
I believe novice librarians should receive some basic training using the reference interview during a RA encounter. Take a look at the State Library of Iowa's presentation: CREATING A READERS' ADVISORY SERVICE: Connecting Books and Readers http://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/ld/continuing-ed/ra/class1/rappt/view
The Readers' Advisory Tool Kit: RA 2.0 and Beyond
http://tinyurl.com/3k4uyea
THE RA INTERVIEWER SHOULD:
Be nonjudgmental
Be knowledgeable
Find that common thread
Be a good listener
Listen to the person in order to get a feel of a desired experience
THE RA INTERVIEWER SHOULD:
Make suggestions
Know something about reading and the different genres
Make sure the book is appropriate for the reader's age
Help narrow down choices that match the reader's interest and tastes
Read, Read, Read books as well as book reviews
Remember, it's fun to discuss books
Match a good book to a reader
Remember that the meaning of "good book" is relative, it means a "good
book for me"
Keep in mind that you are trying to understand and get a clear picture of
what the reader considers to be a good book
SOME QUESTIONS YOU MAY WANT TO ASK:
What do you usually like to read?
What kinds of characters were featured in the book?
Can you tell me about a book or author you've read?
Follow up on a recommendation; ask the reader to get back to you about
what they liked (or not) about your suggestions.
Would you like to read something different?
You do not have to read every book you recommend. You can read professional journals, read book reviews, use your library's databases, and go to book review sites.
RESOURCES:
Library Journal Monthly
New York Times Book Review
New York Review of Books
Book Page: America's Book Review, etc.
Publishers Weekly
The New Yorker
YOUR LIBRARY'S ONLINE DATABASES:
Novelist - (EBSCO) NoveList is a fiction database that provides subject heading access, reviews, annotations, and much more for over 135,000 fiction titles.
Literature Resource Center (GALE) is your most current, comprehensive, and reliable online resource for research on literary topics, authors, and their works. Its coverage includes all genres and disciplines, all time periods, and all regions of the world.
Literary Reference Center - Published by EBSCO. Literary Reference Center is a full-text database that combines information from major respected reference works, books, and literary journals. Literary Reference Center contains full text for more than 31,000 plot summaries, synopses and work overviews, nearly 100,000 articles/essays of literary criticism, more than 159,000 author biographies (including more than 22,000 in-depth bios), 450 literary journals, more than 632,000 book reviews, more than 69,000 classic and contemporary poems, more than 18,000 classic and contemporary short stories, more than 5,600 author interviews, more than 8,200 classic texts and much more.
Book Review Digest - (H.W. WILSON) This database cites and provides excerpts of reviews of current English-language fiction and nonfiction books for children and adults.
Book Collection Non-Fiction (EBSCO) - is a rich research database for public libraries. A cross-curricular database, it provides content representing a wide spectrum of works, including popular series from top book publichers.
Book Review Sites
Fantastic Fiction
http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/
Book Page
http://www.bookpage.com/
Book Browse
http://www.bookbrowse.com/
Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/
Booklist Center
http://home.comcast.net/~dwtaylor1/
An extensive collection of book lists in dozens of categories.
Based on the Book
A compilation of books, novels, short stories, and plays that have been made into movies released as feature-length films in the United States. From Mid-Continent Public Library.
LibraryThing
An online service to help people catalog their books. LibraryThing also connects people with the same books, offers reading suggestions, and more. (LibraryThing is a cataloging and social networking site for book lovers)
http://www.librarything.com/
Indie Bestseller Lists
http://www.indiebound.org/indie-bestsellers
BookBrowse
Book Recommendations and Information - Online Magazines - Booklovers' Community
http://www.bookbrowse.com/
BookSpot
http://www.bookspot.com/
gnooks
http://www.gnooks.com/
Gnooks is a self-adapting community system based on the gnod engine. Discover new writers you will like, travel the map of literature and discuss your favorite books and authors.
Kirkus Reviews
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/kirkusreviews/magazine/special_editions.jsp
AllReaders.com
http://allreaders.com/
Features detailed book reviews from many different genres of books!
Barnes & Noble
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/
Overbooked: a Resource for Readers
Overbooked originals include annotated lists of nonfiction, fiction and mystery books which received starred reviews, themed booklists, featured titles lists and hot lists of US fiction releases and notable books.
http://overbooked.org/
Hennepin County Library
http://www.hclib.org/pub/bookspace/
Oprah's Bookclub
http://www.oprah.com/book_club.html
Smart Bitches Trashy Books
http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.com/