“Can you recommend a book for me?”; “Have you read any good books lately?” These are questions I often get while working at Neill Public Library’s information service desk. Not that it’s always a book. Sometimes the patron is going on a long car trip and wants to know about any interesting audiobooks the library has. Sometimes a patron wants to know if I can find a romantic comedy DVD they might like. In all cases, it all boils down to connecting people to library materials that they will enjoy. In the library world, this service is called Readers’ Advisory.
Every staff member who works at the information desk is an avid reader, viewer, and listener. But we all have our own interests, so when it comes to recommending materials with which we may not have as much experience in, readers’ advisory tools are there to help us help you, the patron. Readers’ advisory is a term used in libraries to describe the act of library staff recommending materials to patrons based on their interests and what is available in the library. And I am happy to say, thanks to a $10,000 Readers’ Advisory grant we received from the Paul G. Allen Foundation, that the ways in which we deliver readers’ advisory to patrons at Neill will grow by leaps and bounds.
First, we will introduce two new tools to the public: Novelist Complete and NextReads. For some time now, the library has had a Novelist database—an online resource that helps patrons find books they might enjoy—available on our website. However, we have not been able to integrate it into the catalog until now. Starting soon, when a patron searches our online catalog for an item, the catalog will show other similar materials that are also available for checkout at the library. We know that with our well-used collections, often times the book the patron came for is checked out, and we do not want the patron to leave empty-handed. Novelist Complete will help us by allowing us to virtually recommend books you might enjoy!
Another Novelist product, NextReads, will allow patrons to sign up for library newsletters that list new, forthcoming, and classic titles on a monthly basis—sent directly to your e-mail inbox. It is yet another way for us to recommend great titles to our patrons.
These programs are designed to use technology to deliver recommendations in new ways. But what about good old-fashioned readers’ advisory—the kind where a patron comes to ask an information librarian for advice? We love helping patrons find interesting things to borrow, so part of the grant monies received will fund additional readers’ advisory training to hone our skills as staff. And last but not least, on April 11th, noted author, NPR commentator, and Library Journal’s 2011 “Librarian of the Year” Nancy Pearl will be offering our staff a workshop on readers’ advisory. She also will be offering a program to the public that evening, and will be sharing some of her “recommended reads” with our community.
All of these wonderful enhancements to readers’ advisory services are made possible by a grant from the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. For more information, go to www.pgafamilyfoundation.org or contact David Postman, Vulcan Inc., (206) 342-2370, davidp@vulcan.com.
Adult Services Librarian
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