Each week we are here to talk with you with a few details about a library topic. We want to help everyone to stay up to date with the information you need to make your library or archive successful in serving your community.
We like books.
I’m guessing you like books too.
Probably some of your community members like books.
Pretty much, our brand is books. It’s what people think of when they think about us. And you may be tired of telling people you work in a library, and having them chortle and say “Oh, I wish I had a job where I could sit around and read all day!”
*gritting teeth*
But we do talk about books – and of course for most of us that’s one of the fun parts of this job!
There are lots of materials online on building your skills, and we will collect a few here for you.
Naturally, we need to give a plug to our book group podcast: Reading With Libraries!
We started this as a way to talk about books, but it is also set up to be a resource for you to use in sharing books.
Each week we cover a different genre, and we provide information about that genre, along with links to all kinds of places to find more books on these books. (We also have genre-related beverages in each episode! That’s for you!) Then we chat with our guests about books we have read and enjoyed, and those book are listed on the show notes page for easy access.
Subscribe today!! Or, just click right here and you can browse all our episodes, and can listen to them right on that page.
What else is out there?
This is a handy PDF from Novelist that you can use to ponder different types of readers, and different skills library staff will bring to the library: Readers Advisory Guide from Novelist. You can find it all on their site, along with other info.
Minitex provides a bunch of good information on building Reference skills in general, and they have a section of information on Reader’s Advisory.
Here is just a quick look at some of their information:
What is readers’ advisory?
- Find the right book for the right person at the right time
- Helping readers find the best, most enjoyable reading that matches their needs, interests, and reading level
- Connecting readers with authors / writers
What skills does it involve?
- Willingness to read widely to become familiar both fiction and non-fiction
- Knowledge of patrons
- Understanding the appeal of books
- Mastery of the readers’ advisory interview