Crash Course in Readers' Advisory
Ebook
Overview
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.
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.
Serves as a practical, down-to-earth, all-in-one introduction to a subject that is essential for librarians working in the field
Summarizes the best practices of readers' advisory service and the best tools for readers' advisors
Introduces tools for identifying read-alikes and discusses new trends and approaches in readers' advisory
Includes lists of the best sources for further reading for those who wish to delve more deeply into a subject
Can serve as a text or manual for in-service training or be used as supplementary reading in LIS courses
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
Orr's professional guide is designed to support librarians in both helping their users access the library confidently and figure out what they want to read through readers' advisory techniques. While the examples and statistics tend to be geared to public adult libraries, those who work in schools and with children and teens are sure to pick up many ideas for engaging these readers. . . . This is an essential resource for every librarian working in the field today.
- Title: Crash Course in Readers' Advisory
- Author: Cynthia Orr
- Series: Crash Course
- Publisher: Libraries Unlimited
- Print Publication Date: 2015
- Logos Release Date: 2024
- Pages: 190
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Ebook
- ISBN: 9798216067252
- Resource ID: LLS:9798216067252
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2025-04-22T15:39:39Z
Cynthia Orr is the digital collection advisor for OverDrive, Inc. She often speaks and writes on the topics of readers' advisory service, technical services, and collection management.