Readers Advisory Boot Camp

Joyce Saricks "Fiction Reference -- patron-centered library service for adult liesure readers."
Betty Rosenberg "Never apologize for your reading tastes."
Says you: "Can I help you find something to read today?"

In reader's advisory we matchmake rather than judge. Suggest rather than recommend.

Best question: "What did you read last and what did you like about it?" OR "What didn't you like about it?"
Crucial follow-up: "Are you in the mood for that or something different"

Look for books with similar appeal, "feel."

Relate a book in positive terms. Not "simplistic," but "unembellished."

Prepare for obvious readalikes: Hosseini, Sartrapi, Patterson, Evanovich by speed reading as often as possible:


How to Read a Book in Ten Minutes
from Georgine N. Olson PLA 3/27/2004.

-Do this only with books that you don't really see yourself enjoying. This will ruin a book you may want to read.
-Locating appeal vs. provide summary. Provides readalikes--you will be able to recommend these books.
-This is a great way to familiarize yourself the fiction popular with patrons without having to read everything.
-Take notes on vital stats.
-Hold the book, examine the typeface, thickness, this will tell you a lot about pacing.
-The cover will describe the book and often the genre.
-Blurb and reviews may piece together enough to get you there.
-Read the first chapter.
-Skim, read throughout.
-Read the end.
-Info culled about style, pacing, format characters, setting, story-line, genre are easy to tell.
-If there is any doubt, reviews fill in the gaps nicely.
-Try to do a stack of 5 per shift. this is a good activity that will familiarize us with what patrons are reading and is great PR for patrons to see us doing this!

Hot websites:
Fresh Fiction -- Writers in media. Subscribe to Media Spotlight for daily updates.
Gnooks -- Computer provides suggestions for readalikes.
Barnes and Noble -- Like Amazon. Meet the Author section is nice! Here's Hosseini.
What's Next -- The best thing for Series.
Libraries Have Lists. Check out Waterboro's. Especially Non-fiction that reads like Fiction.