Readers’ Advisory

Monica KurylaDirector of Innovation Acceleration, Fayetteville Free LibraryPresented @ Vermont Public Libraries Section Spring WorkshopApril 13, 2015

5 types of queries

Title readalike (ex. My favorite book was “Gone Girl”…I am looking similar for books)

Author readalike (ex. My favorite author is “Janet Evanovich”….I am looking for similar authors)

Genre readalike (ex. I am looking for a good British Mystery..)

Book Club pick (ex. I am looking for my next book club pick..)

Custom Book Recommendation (form submitted via email)

Ways we can enhance self discovery of a new title or author:

Displays-readalikes, topical, etc.

Brochures/Bookmarks with custom book lists

Web links-Novelist, Bookbrowse, Litlovers.com, etc

I am looking for a “good book”..Do you have any suggestions?

Readers Advisory reference interview tips:› What is the last book that you read and

liked? › Do you have a favorite author?› What are you in the mood for?

Indirect recommendations

Parents of children, spouses/children of seniors› Ask what genre they might be interested in

(do they like humor?, etc.)› Don’t necessarily focus on age for children,

but rather get hints of what author or genre they read in the past.

Elements of Appeal Pacing

› At what rate does the story unfold?› Could be quick paced but slow to reveal the story› Dialogue makes it quicker paced, detail and description

slower.

Characterization› Reader identifies with the character (genre fiction) or

just observes character (literary fiction)› Type of character personality-quirky funny, smart,

gentle, etc.

Plot/Story line:› Including a book’s context, genre, theme and subjects

Elements of Appeal cont.

Language› Fast paced thrills of Patterson or lovely expression of Alice

Munro?

Setting

Detail

Tone› What are you in the mood for? Scary, suspenseful, funny,

comforting, etc.

Learning/Experiencing› Non-fiction

Talk with Readers It’s about conversation/connection with library- approach readers

in the stacks! For example:

› “Are you content to browse or would you like some suggestions?”› “What are you in the mood to read?”› “What are the last 3 books you enjoyed?”-listen for appeal terms

Make connections beyond personal reading-you aren’t expected to read everything! Awareness of what is out there is the key.

For example:› “This author is supposed to be the next Gillian Flynn..”› “I just finished this and..”› “I read a review that said..”› “I heard and interview on NPR..”› “I have heard a lot about that one..”› “Critics are saying..”

To answer-start with genres and sure bets **Invite the reader back to share!**

Keeping up, Keeping ahead, Predicting patterns

Bestsellers are often a sure bet-they are safe, pre-approved, small place to browse

Look at displays

Have a heads up on books before they come out

Offer read alikes lists for big titles (Gone Girl, etc.)

Using Social Media for Readers’ Advisory

It is more than just booklists……

Create  a social networking plan for how often to post, what content to post, etc. and implement schedule using Hootsuite.

Post links to readers’ adivisory resources and explain why you recommend them or how they can be useful in finding your next read.

Create a conversation with library users-for example “What are you reading this weekend?” or “do you have any recommendations for mystery lovers?”

RA Resources

Premium RA Tools:› Novelist › Bookbrowse

Resources for Spotting Trends:› Bookpage › Bookmarks Magazine › Book Reporter› Cindy Orr’s RA Rundown blog› Daily Beast› Indie Picks

RA Resources cont.

Books in the Media:› Books on Air› Entertainment Weekly› Movies Based on the book› NPR› USA Today

Reviews:› NY Review of Books › NY Times book review› All published reviews including Christian Science Monitor,

NY Times, etc.- http://reviewsofbooks.com› Library Journal, Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly

RA Resources cont.

Other Reader’s Advisory tools and Read Alikes:› What’s Next in series› Books based on specific locations› Award Winners› If you like…by genre› If you like…by author

Resources for Book Club Discussions› http://www.Litlovers.com› http://www.Readinggroupguides.com

Questions?

Contact info:Monica KurylaFayetteville Free Library (http://www.fflib.org)mkuryla@fflib.org315-637-6374 ext. 320