"Get the Most for Your Money" Presentation NYLA 2013
Readers Advisory
1.
2. Title readalike (ex. My favorite book was “Gone Girl”…I am
looking similar for books)
Author readalike (ex. My favorite author is “Janet
Evanovich”….I am looking for similar authors)
Genre readalike (ex. I am looking for a good British
Mystery..)
Book Club pick (ex. I am looking for my next book club
pick..)
Custom Book Recommendation (form submitted via email)
3. Displays-readalikes, topical, etc.
Brochures/Bookmarks with custom book
lists
Web links-Novelist, Bookbrowse,
Litlovers.com, etc
4. Readers Advisory reference interview
tips:
› What is the last book that you read and
liked?
› Do you have a favorite author?
› What are you in the mood for?
5. Parents of children, spouses/children of
seniors
› Ask what genre they might be interested in
(do they like humor?, etc.)
› Don’t necessarily focus on age for children,
but rather get hints of what author or genre
they read in the past.
6. Pacing
› At what rate does the story unfold?
› Could be quick paced but slow to reveal the story
› Dialogue makes it quicker paced, detail and
description slower.
Characterization
› Reader identifies with the character (genre fiction) or
just observes character (literary fiction)
› Type of character personality-quirky funny, smart,
gentle, etc.
Plot/Story line:
› Including a book’s context, genre, theme and
subjects
7. Language
› Fast paced thrills of Patterson or lovely expression of Alice
Munro?
Setting
Detail
Tone
› What are you in the mood for? Scary, suspenseful, funny,
comforting, etc.
Learning/Experiencing
› Non-fiction
8. It’s about conversation/connection with library- approach
readers in the stacks!
For example:
› “Are you content to browse or would you like some suggestions?”
› “What are you in the mood to read?”
› “What are the last 3 books you enjoyed?”-listen for appeal terms
Make connections beyond personal reading-you aren’t
expected to read everything! Awareness of what is out there is
the key.
For example:
› “This author is supposed to be the next Gillian Flynn..”
› “I just finished this and..”
› “I read a review that said..”
› “I heard and interview on NPR..”
› “I have heard a lot about that one..”
› “Critics are saying..”
To answer-start with genres and sure bets
**Invite the reader back to share!**
9. Bestsellers are often a sure bet-they are
safe, pre-approved, small place to browse
Look at displays
Have a heads up on books before they
come out
Offer read alikes lists for big titles (Gone Girl,
etc.)
10. It is more than just booklists……
Create a social networking plan for how often to
post, what content to post, etc. and implement
schedule using Hootsuite.
Post links to readers’ adivisory resources and explain
why you recommend them or how they can be
useful in finding your next read.
Create a conversation with library users-for example
“What are you reading this weekend?” or “do you
have any recommendations for mystery lovers?”
11. Premium RA Tools:
› Novelist
› Bookbrowse
Resources for Spotting Trends:
› Bookpage
› Bookmarks Magazine
› Book Reporter
› Cindy Orr’s RA Rundown blog
› Daily Beast
› Indie Picks
12. Books in the Media:
› Books on Air
› Entertainment Weekly
› Movies Based on the book
› NPR
› USA Today
Reviews:
› NY Review of Books
› NY Times book review
› All published reviews including Christian Science
Monitor, NY Times, etc.- http://reviewsofbooks.com
› Library Journal, Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly
13. Other Reader’s Advisory tools and Read
Alikes:
› What’s Next in series
› Books based on specific locations
› Award Winners
› If you like…by genre
› If you like…by author
Resources for Book Club Discussions
› http://www.Litlovers.com
› http://www.Readinggroupguides.com