tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124163029230555324.post5575241771035678101..comments2023-07-21T05:34:52.730-05:00Comments on The Show Me Librarian: Thoughts on Reader's AdvisoryAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02822088574795909869noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124163029230555324.post-10215159353846684882014-06-26T11:22:15.319-05:002014-06-26T11:22:15.319-05:00Energizing talk from an expert! Thank you, Amy!Energizing talk from an expert! Thank you, Amy!Franciscahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06551676775895848356noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124163029230555324.post-88828603155883745662014-06-13T21:03:56.770-05:002014-06-13T21:03:56.770-05:00So true, Kary! I see LOTS of kids at the library w...So true, Kary! I see LOTS of kids at the library whose parents instruct them to only say "yes, Ma'am" to me because I'm an adult authority figure, when really they need to know it's okay to say, "I don't think that book sounds good." To help kids feel more comfortable rejecting my suggestions, I'll usually give them a stack of books I've book talked and say, "Why don't you go look at these at one of our tables? If a book sounds good to you, great! If it doesn't sound good, just leave it on the table. You won't hurt my feelings if you don't want to read it."Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02822088574795909869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124163029230555324.post-77663902626974255582014-06-13T12:04:42.282-05:002014-06-13T12:04:42.282-05:00I love this post and (jokingly) immediately sugges...I love this post and (jokingly) immediately suggested a "field trip" to Mr. B's Reading Emporium to my manager. This is a great conversation about Reader's Advisory, and I've appreciated all of the comments. One thing I always try to incorporate in to any RA interaction is the line, "I'm good with 'No.'" I think children are typically hesitant to reject a suggestion, and I want them to know that it's perfectly okay with me if they don't like what I put in their hands. It will encourage me to either a) keep going or b) suggest, for example, talking with Miss Nina -- who is our Teen Librarian and knows that collection better than I do. I also try to always encourage them to let me know what their thoughts were AFTER they've read the book....which leads to that repeat customer/cultivated relationship approach. Kary Henrynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124163029230555324.post-77257417938017170862014-06-10T18:55:19.500-05:002014-06-10T18:55:19.500-05:00Great advice, Becky. I often ask what tv shows and...Great advice, Becky. I often ask what tv shows and movies they like as a starting gauge.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02822088574795909869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124163029230555324.post-90548641891428434332014-06-10T18:39:56.617-05:002014-06-10T18:39:56.617-05:00Advice I got from a YA librarian was to ask kids o...Advice I got from a YA librarian was to ask kids or teens what their interests are, not what they like to read, if you suspect that they're not readers. They might be a bit bemused by this line of inquiry, but I think it's a great place to start the conversation.Beckyhttps://www.goodreads.com/user/show/218323-beckynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124163029230555324.post-55992626943289372772014-06-09T17:49:00.945-05:002014-06-09T17:49:00.945-05:00Dana, thanks for pointing out that many libraries ...Dana, thanks for pointing out that many libraries DO have a designated RA space, with professional readers' advisors. Every community should be so lucky to have such a resource.<br /><br />I think you've got a great point about the RA that happens in other library environments, especially programs. I have in-depth book discussions all the time when I'm with my teen volunteers, but my programming format for school-age hasn't been quite as conducive to the deep RA conversations. I'm going to ponder how to change that fact.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02822088574795909869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124163029230555324.post-63389670721974900642014-06-09T14:32:43.835-05:002014-06-09T14:32:43.835-05:00Amy- this is such an amazing post! Thanks for shar...Amy- this is such an amazing post! Thanks for sharing and I agree that it often takes a fresh new experience to examine ourselves and our "everyday" in a new way. <br /><br />A couple thoughts: Seattle Public Library has a dedicated RA desk (albeit for adults) with signage and everything. David Wright (@guybrarian) is an awesome person to ask for more information on this. It is also my understanding that desk staff at Prince George Public Library (BC, Canada) are called Readers' Advisors, which even in name changes our and the public's understanding of what we do. Neato!<br /><br />One last thought is that I think a lot of RA goes on in other environments. While you're right about the reference desk not being the ideal place to enter into what could be an in-depth conversation, I find programs a perfect time to engage. Maybe we could more intentionally structure RA opportunities into our programs or outreach?<br /><br />Thanks again for an awesome read!Dana Horrockshttp://www.twitter.com/danachorrocksnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124163029230555324.post-24927813904954738872014-06-09T13:18:08.698-05:002014-06-09T13:18:08.698-05:00I think you raise some really great points here; m...I think you raise some really great points here; most of the time, the reader's advisory interactions that we have wouldn't be conducive to a deeper RA experience--whether that's because a child doesn't know how to or want to have the discussion about reading, the parent is hurrying the child, or the information desk feels like too frantic an environment.<br /><br />I'd respond firstly by saying that it's helped me to think of reader's advisory are taking two different formats: 1) "I need a book" vs. 2) "I'm looking for something to read." The first is more like a reference interaction--that is, it's presupposing a quick response. Honestly, most of the kids I see at the information desk for reader's advisory fall into this category; they need a book, for whatever reason, and they need it immediately. These are instances when having go-to recommendations is helpful.<br /><br />The second scenario falls into the deeper reader's advisory category. The customer wants a book to enjoy, and so (in theory) would be willing to put a bit more time and/or effort into a conversation to find books they'll enjoy. These interactions happen with kids who enjoy reading, and so tend to have a bit more capacity for talking about what they like and don't like in books. These conversations don't happen as frequently.<br /><br />I wonder if part of the reason why most of our RA interactions are quick and needs-based is because the information desk doesn't seem like the place for longer conversations. My thought is that, in order to support deeper reader's advisory for our customers, we'll need to advertise and offer it differently than we do our regular reference services. Whether that's a sign that says "Looking for a personal booklist? Let a librarian know!" or something else, I don't know. But I do think that if we make this offer of a deeper type of RA available, the customers who would benefit from it would use it.Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02822088574795909869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124163029230555324.post-88235709662935640742014-06-09T13:00:13.793-05:002014-06-09T13:00:13.793-05:00I think you're absolutely right, Abby--really ...I think you're absolutely right, Abby--really high quality reader's advisory is going to necessitate cultivating relationships with our customers. I wonder how we can best set the stage for these types of initial and repeat interactions--to denote that we are happy to spend the time on them, etc. Also, the very beginning concern of: how do we let folks know that this is a service we even offer?Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02822088574795909869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124163029230555324.post-21059498590418949092014-06-09T12:58:14.711-05:002014-06-09T12:58:14.711-05:00I was such a great way to spend an afternoon, Anne...I was such a great way to spend an afternoon, Anne!Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02822088574795909869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124163029230555324.post-49038585213322795212014-06-09T12:22:10.423-05:002014-06-09T12:22:10.423-05:00I love the sound of your Reader's Spa. How de...I love the sound of your Reader's Spa. How delightful to be able to discuss with someone else the books that you love to read! As I was reading, I did have some thoughts. I work in the children's section and often have parents shove their children at me saying "Go ahead, ask." I do what I can to draw out the child, asking "What was the last book you enjoyed?" but am stymied by the shrug and vacant stare. And often, if kids HAVE actually read a book they enjoy, they are often clueless about what the title was, and NEVER know the author. I don't know how to do reader's advisory for this child. I ask about genres (Space? Adventures? Dogs? Fairies?) but often have kids just shrug and look at their parent. So, I go to books that kids their age usually like. I occasionally strike gold, but am just as likely to strike out. So I guess I think that your idea of having a drawn out conversation about what the child likes is nice, but rarely possible. Secondly, there's the time issue. Only about 20% of the time is anyone willing to stand and let me probe them to find out what they like. Usually, they just ran in to get a book and want me to instantly cough up the next great read. Your ideas sound wonderful, and I would love to do them, but how would it work in real life? For the hurried, I do offer the "read alike" function of our catalog, and the wonders of Novelist, but feel I'm letting down the team by not having a broader knowledge of everything we have to offer.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Thoughtful Book Loverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12067923294330258093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124163029230555324.post-3365605313509156752014-06-09T11:41:51.416-05:002014-06-09T11:41:51.416-05:00Holy cats, that looks AMAZING. I agree with your t...Holy cats, that looks AMAZING. I agree with your thoughts on Readers' Advisory and I think I'll have a conversation with my staff at our next Reading Wildly meeting about what their genre/formats are. I think you're right, we all try to be generalists, but I already know that if a kid comes in looking for a scary book they're going to get better/more suggestions from Miss Amanda than from me because that's a genre she LOVES. <br /><br />One idea I always try to leave in the heads of our patrons is that if they like OR don't like the things we suggest, to come back and let us know. I don't know that we get a lot of repeat readers' advisory customers and I'm trying to figure out how to cultivate those relationships. (We have a few I can think of, but I'd like more!)Abbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09618668989233112126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3124163029230555324.post-32583684567534241672014-06-09T11:24:47.269-05:002014-06-09T11:24:47.269-05:00This sounds like an amazing experience! I would lo...This sounds like an amazing experience! I would love to do this someday. Annehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06851816764938946226noreply@blogger.com