2. Readers’ Advisory
“Conversation”
RA Conversation is more about mood
and reader expectations.
Goal is to find out what reading
experience your patron wants from
his/her next book.
3. Listening & Responding
Listening:
◦ Be approachable and open to
conversation
◦ Listen for clues to reader likes/dislikes
◦ Ask open-ended probing questions to
gather information
Responding:
◦ Use a range of tools and suggest a variety
of books;
◦ Invite the reader to come back and tell
you how s/he enjoyed the books.
4. RA Strategies
Read a lot – outside of your personal
preferences;
Take notes on your reading
◦ Appeal factors
◦ Themes and Subjects
◦ Genres
◦ Read-alikes
5. RA Resources
Reading Itineraries
RA Databases
◦ Web-based, Commercial (NoveList)
◦ Web-based, Free (Overbooked)
Books and Journals
◦ Genreflecting
◦ Kirkus, Publishers’ Weekly
