Full Description
One of the key services librarians provide is helping readers find books they'll enjoy. This "crash course" will furnish you with the basic, practical information you need to excel at readers' advisory (RA) for adults and teens.
The question "can you recommend a good book?" can be one of the most daunting you face, notwithstanding the fact that recommender tools are ubiquitous. Often, uncertainty arises because, although librarians are called on to perform such services daily, readers' advisory is a skill set in which most have no formal training. This guide will remedy that. It is built around understanding books, reading, and readers and will quickly show you how to identify reading preferences and advise patrons effectively. You'll learn about multiple RA approaches, such as genre, appeal features, and reading interests and about essential tools that can help with RA. Plus, you'll discover tips to help you keep up with this ever-changing field.
There is no other professional book that covers the full spectrum of skills needed to perform the RA service that is in such great demand in libraries of all kinds. Helping readers find what they want is a sure way to serve patrons and build your library's brand. You will come away from this easy-to-understand crash course with the solid background you need to do both.
Contents
Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: Reading and Libraries
Chapter 2: Understanding Reading
Chapter 3: RA as a Science: What the Research Shows
Chapter 4: Understanding the Reader
Chapter 5: Understanding the Literature
Chapter 6: Preparing Yourself to Work with the Literature
Chapter 7: Working with Readers
Chapter 8: Tools and Techniques
Chapter 9: Building a Reader-Centered Environment
Chapter 10: Knowing the Players, and Keeping Current
Chapter 11: The Current and Future State of Readers' Advisory Services in Public Libraries
Further Reading
Index
