Tag Archives: Reader’s Advisory

Books, Resources

Reader’s Advisory Tools

Reading is fun.

Reading is good for us.

Reading is one of our fundamental missions.

Basically, we are a profession of people who like to read, helping others to read!

And of course, that is more complex that it might sound. Because while we like books, professionally, and we hopefully(!) are in touch with the books in our collection – more exciting new books come out every day.

How do you know what to recommend? If someone comes to you for a book suggestion in an area you know nothing about, what do you say? Reader’s Advisory (RA) is your professional strategy.

Fortunately, we have a variety of tools to help you give great answers! Have you used other resources? Tell us in the comments, so we all get better at RA work! Continue reading Reader’s Advisory Tools →

Books, CMLE, General

March Monthly Topic: Reader’s Advisory

Reading-booksWe are continuing to provide ideas, materials, and suggestions for you in our Monthly Topics! These were all taken from our annual Needs Assessment of our members – ideas identified as areas they need more information in for their work.

March’s topic is Reader’s Advisory!

This is a fun topic, because we all like to talk about books (regardless of format!), and to share our love of reading! And of course it’s tough to do sometimes, because none of us can know everything about all the books.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/253538653992984835/

This month we will share some suggestions on making your RA skills sharper and broader. You should also feel free to write in and give some of your best suggestions!

Let’s talk about books together!!

Books, Communication, School Media Specialist

Book Recommendations from the American Indians in Children’s Literature (AICL)


After talking with several of our members, I know that collecting and recommending books that adequately speak to the American Indian experience is important – and a challenge! We want to be sure we are passing on the best information to our patrons and community members; so it is good to get some expert advice.

I wanted to share this information and blog, by Debbie Reese – a member of the Nambe Owingeh tribe. Her blog is called American Indians in Children’s Literature, and has not only book recommendations but also a lot of very valuable information to help library people (and others) to understand books an information in this area.

Continue reading Book Recommendations from the American Indians in Children’s Literature (AICL) →

Books, Communication, Public, School Media Specialist

YALSA 2017 Selected Book Lists: Don’t Forget to Check Them Out!

CMLE members – pay attention to the Young Adult Library Services Association, and all their resources to help you in your work! They provide awards for more than 4,000 books, audiobooks, and movies. “This database provides access to all of YALSA‘s annual selected book and media lists, awards, and honorees. These resources are developed by library staff and educators to support the collection development and readers’ advisory work of library staff.

While these books have been selected for teens from 12 to 18 years of age, the award-winning titles and the titles on YALSA’s selected lists span a broad range of reading and maturity levels. We encourage adults to take an active role in helping individual teens choose those books that are the best fit for them and their families.”

Continue reading YALSA 2017 Selected Book Lists: Don’t Forget to Check Them Out! →

Books, Communication, Public, School Media Specialist

Finding but not keeping: Some book recommendations!

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Many libraries have issues with patrons who struggle, and fail, to rein in their impulses to keep things they find. In this case, we are focusing on our younger patrons; and suggesting some books to help to share some good behavior habits!

A librarian was looking for book suggestions to help overcome a problem in her school library. She wanted books to help kids learn a few skills:

  • that when we find— we don’t keep
  • we don’t pass on what we find to someone who does not own it
  • we don’t put it in our backpacks or pockets and take it home
  • we give it to the person who we know for sure owns it
  • or we give it to the Teacher or the Teacher Librarian​-it may belong to another student, the Teacher, The Teacher Librarian, the library, the classroom, the school, etc.

As library people do, there was a quick rush of suggestions for books that might help in this school. And they sounded so good, they just might be helpful in your library too! Continue reading Finding but not keeping: Some book recommendations! →