Readers' Advisory Service In Public Library - Softcover

American Library Association

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0838907113 ISBN 13: 9780838907115

Publisher: ALA Editions, 2010

Synopsis

This easy-to-use, expanded resource provides the fundamental tools for successfully creating, implementing, and improving readers' advisory services.

About this title

About the Author

Joyce G. Saricks retired in 2004 from the Downers Grove, Illinois, Public Library where she started in 1977. As Literature and Audio Services Coordinator in 1983, Saricks, along with colleague Nancy Brown, created a readers' advisory service there and went on to present more than 100 workshops on the subject for public libraries and systems, and at library conferences. The award-winning librarian received the Public Library Association's Allie Beth Martin Award in 1989, was named Librarian of the Year by the Romance Writers in 2000, and authored Readers' Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction (ALA Editions, 2001).

From Booklist

Saricks' name is familiar to many public librarians, thanks to her extensive experience conducting workshops on readers' advisory service, her columns in Booklist, the previous two editions of this book, and her other book, Readers' Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction (ALA, 2001). This new edition is a complete revision and can be useful both as a textbook for library-school students and a training manual for library staff. The definition of readers' advisory service has been expanded to include nonfiction as well as fiction. Online tools for identifying and evaluating titles to suggest to today's new adult leisure readers are described, in addition to the tried-and-true print sources. The value of personal reading suggestions from staff and patrons is addressed. Topics for discussion and techniques for marketing good reading material are offered.

The readers' advisory interview chapter, which likens it to a reference interview and stresses the important distinction between recommending and suggesting, should probably be required reading for all library staff. Chapter 7, "Training," provides a checklist for novice librarians and ongoing training activities for experienced readers' advisors. Appendixes include a popular fiction list, a popular nonfiction list, "Sure Bets," and "A NoveList Author Readalike." The bibliography lists print sources and Web sites. A priority for all libraries involved in readers' advisory. Sally Jane
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: ALA Editions
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0838907113
• ISBN 13: 9780838907115
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 160