Roving Reader’s Advisory at Manly (part 1)

Manly library service has just taken delivery of a new Dell netbook (9 inch model). We intend to investigate its suitability for roving customer service. Initially it will be deployed on the ground floor which houses our fiction collection. The aim is to liberate one of our customer service staff from behind the desk; so that they can venture out and assist clients browsing our collection. The netbook will be connected to our wireless network allowing access to our catalogue and other online readers advisory resources such as novelist.

Initial impressions of our Dell Netbook:

* the netbook is nice and light and easy to hold in one hand

* the processing speed appears to be adequate for general Internet browsing

* the screen resolution is average however adequate for intended use

* the battery life provides 2 hours charge, adequate for trial

Over the proceeding months Wendy Ford (Community Liaison Librarian) will provide a running commentary on this project.

Wendy's first dispatch;

Reader’s advisory has come to be considered the practice of recommending fiction books to readers unsure of what book to choose, and although my first attempts were honest and hopeful, I was most surprised by the roving assistance results. Manned with our new small net book and equipped with what I considered to be enough general knowledge to assist our clients, I walked the fiction floor trying to look unobtrusive yet helpful. Rather than asking ‘do you want fries with that’, or wearing an ‘ask me’ badge, I thought I was well known enough that our clients would approach me. Not so –

On my second attempt I was more outgoing and so approached people who were ‘searching’. Of the 12 people I approached, all responded with a yes you can help me – but of course, rather than wanting my valuable and interesting knowledge, they were more interested in finding what they themselves were seeking. So, although I was ‘roving’, I was in fact doing what we should have been doing all along; just being visible and approachable.

Tweet your readers

Twitter, a micro blogging service has many possibilties for readers advisory work. Denver Library tweets a mix of suggestions for readers, and promotion for library events. Vancouver Public Library is more promotion based. City of Casa Grande Public Library links their title tweets to their library catalogue. Washington-Centreville Public Library mixes readers advisory ideas in with other information about their library services. Mosman Council includes some information about reading in their council wide tweets.

I think there are lots of possibilties for using Twitter for readers advisory work, and encouraging engagement with your reader through following their tweets as well.

There is a special twibe (yes - tribes for twitter) for librarians.

Bonnet books

A genre which has been receiving a growing amount of attention is bonnet books. These books focus on the Amish. They sounds like a mix of family sagas and romance. What new genres have you discovered?