NSW Readers Advisory

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2010-04-09T05:06:00.001-07:00

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Literary monster mashups

2010-03-14T20:01:00.000-07:00

We've all heard of paranormal romance as a subgenre but what about literary monster mashups? What?! I hear you say.......
http://www.onpointradio.org/2010/03/literary-monster-mashup

Jasper Fforde has his take on classics such as Jane Eyre, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Humpty Dumpty etc, introducing us to Thursday Next in 'The Eyre Affair', but what about the increase in titles such as 'Pride and Prejudice and zombies', 'Sense and Sensibility and sea monsters', 'Mr Darcy vampyre', and the like who seem to parody classic literature by teaming it up with its antithesis - zombies, sea monsters, vampyres and their ilk (Bram Stoker's classic Dracula aside)? Indeed, a recent offering is Abraham Lincoln: vampire hunter (Buffy beware).

Will this subgenre be able to sustain itself or will it fade as fads only can? Time will tell.......

Are you ready for a reading challenge?

2010-01-15T21:38:00.000-08:00

Are you ready for a reading challenge for 2010?

The aim is that over 12 months you will have 12 different reading experiences - and share them with others.

You can write about this on the readers advisory wiki.

You can check out some reading ideas with these other reading challenges.

Science fiction special

2009-09-21T00:01:00.001-07:00

The latest issue of New Scientist has a series of articles around the theme Sci-fi special : the fiction of now. You might want to direct some of your readers to it.

The library of shadows

2009-08-09T22:13:00.000-07:00

I know this blog is not usually used for reading suggestions, but I thought I would make an exception to this practice.

Try The library of shadows by Mikkel Birkegaard. This first novel is a thriller with some parts of it reminiscent of The shadow of the wind. It will probably appeal to people who read for story and language. There are some evocative descriptions of libraries and reading. The novel shows how subversive libraries and reading can be (as well as how dangerous). Plus is is fun to discover why 'passive reading is no joke'.

Reading groups

2009-07-15T19:20:00.001-07:00

Have you thought of using a tool like Daily Lit for reading groups? Daily Lit is a (mostly) free service where you receive a chunk of reading each day by e-mail. Most titles on this service can be read for free.

The number of installments vary according to the length of the book. For example Great expectations by Charles Dickens has 229 installments, The Count of Monte Christo by Alexandre Dumas has 579 installments, Pride and prejudice by Jane Austen has 146 installments and Flipping the Funnel: Non-Profit Edition by Seth Godin has 12 installments.

You can read the whole work by daily e-mail chunks, or decide part way through you will stop and borrow the book from your library. It could be a good way to introduce people to new authors.

There are also some ways you could use this idea with programming for example with encouraging a weekly reading discussion (or a once a month discussion) about the title. Or the title read by e-mail could balance the main reading group discussion. I would be interested to hear (in the comments) if any of you have tried this method of engagement.

Summer reading program

2009-07-14T17:09:00.000-07:00

The ALIA summer reading wiki is available. There is a page set up for ideas for adult summer reading programs. Please add your ideas for adult summer reading programs about how to read on the wild side.

Reading in public

2009-07-06T17:15:00.000-07:00

Have a look at this blog about reading in public. I know we discussed this idea a while ago, but it might be time to explore it again. It would be great to have a synchronised state/national reading in public event.

23 March 2010

2009-06-16T23:45:00.000-07:00

The next readers advisory seminar (free for New South Wales public library staff) will be 23 March 2010.

Planning has already started and it promises to be another exciting and innovative seminar.

You can find information from previous seminars on the wiki.

Video instant messaging, or online games, for reading groups

2009-05-20T16:52:00.000-07:00

Has anyone tried using video instant messaging for running a reading group? If you have I would be really interested in hearing from you. I would also be like to hear from people who would like to trial this as a reading group option.

Video instant messaging is a simple technology to learn. Each person can login to their instant message program of choice and use this as an online forum for discussion. This method would allow people to talk together about what they have read without having to be mobile. It provides social interaction and intellectual stimulation without people needing to meet together in person as they can meet together online. As well as working for older people who are not mobile this may work well for parents at home looking after small children (as they could walk away from the discussion when they needed to attend to their child), and it would also work well for lots of other people as well.

Reading group discussions could also take place in multi user dimensional games, such as World of Warcraft. Participants could agree on the location and time, and use the existing chat function to have the discussion, or they could use voice discussion. People would just need to watch out for wandering hunters and rogues. Imagine having to interrupt a World of Warcraft based reading group to actually fight off imaginary wildlife trying to kill your character. Note World of Warcraft is a subscription game, but libraries could choose to engage with existing World of Warcraft subscribers without those subscribers paying extra. World of Warcraft has more than 11.5 million subscribers each month and they are spread over a range of ages around the world. Some of them may already be amongst your readers

Manly’s ‘roving’ reader’s advisory is ‘roaming’ along!

2009-05-10T20:41:00.000-07:00

Staff has not found the ‘little’ net book quite so useful as we had hoped, mainly due to the weight of carrying it around and then only having one hand free to search [physically] when required. Also it times out occasionally at the least opportune moment!
However, we are not dissuaded, and in fact are currently looking at a small reader’s advisory meeting with interested staff to have a refresh course and to see how we can improve our service. We currently have 8 very interested, interesting and enthusiastic floor walkers.

Wendy

Library and Information Week 2009

2009-05-04T16:50:00.000-07:00

The theme for this year’s LIW (25-31 May) is designed to highlight the self-directed discovery element of public libraries.

Is anyone using this theme to promote self-help tools that they have available in their Libraries for Readers. Does anyone have any great ideas for how we could promote the self-help aspect of our Readers Advisory services?

We spend a lot of time talking about the Readers Advisor/Reader relationship, but what about those readers who like to help themselves? How do we cater for these very important (but often invisible) customers?

Roving Reader’s Advisory at Manly (part 1)

2009-04-22T16:58:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-21T22:46:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-19T15:30:00.001-07:00

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?

Seen reading

2009-03-19T20:35:00.000-07:00

Have a look at this blog post about Canadian blogger Julie Wilson,and read about her project to record what people are 'seen reading'. It would be a great promotion to run in your community, and put the images on Flickr, or on posters in the library (Singleton Library some great posters in their library on this theme).

It would also make a great state wide project possibly linking up what different locals are reading (how many people were 'seen reading' Matthew Reilly books for example).

Reading lists on the wiki

2009-02-19T19:44:00.000-08:00

There are a growing number of reading lists being developed on the readers advisory wiki. Have a look at them and see if you have any titles you might like to add.

There are 95 members of the wiki which is really exciting. If you are a member you might want to add an image or update your profile to help other wiki contributors interact with you.

Think about this wiki as an ecosystem and then think about how you might be able to help this ecosystem along.

Information Online 2009

2009-01-20T15:51:00.001-08:00

Sherman Young made an interesting comment yesterday that in order not to 'die out' books need to be part of the online community. When you consider how easy it is to make books available online (compared to music and video) why is it that so many struggle with the concept of broadening publishing to the online community - yes, we have e-books and e-audio, but do we have enough? Can we have more? Why don't we have more?

It's a thought.

9 books in 9 different categories, all read in 2009

2008-12-07T21:05:00.000-08:00

LibraryThing is suggesting that people read 9 books in 9 different categories, all in 2009. Thanks to Robyn for this information.

There is a new page on the readers advisory wiki for any reading lists which this reading inspires.

Has anyone worked out their 9 books in 9 categories yet?

Neal Stephenson and reading

2008-10-23T11:59:00.000-07:00

There is an interesting interview with Neal Stephenson about his new novel Anathem, but also including some ideas about how choosing to read requires a "certain discipline". Read the extract about the choice of reading and comments about this idea.

How does this influence your delivery of library services, including how you market readers advisory work outside the library?

Images of Book Covers from LibraryThing

2008-08-14T21:53:00.000-07:00

Yet one more reason why LibraryThing is fabulous!

Libraries constantly come up against copyright issues regarding the use of book covers in their promotional materials.
Could LibraryThing have the answer?

They are offering free use of their covers to anyone with a LibraryThing Developer Key - and any member of LibraryThing can get one.

Once you have your key, you can insert a bookcover into your blog post or webpage with a simple little bit of html:

___________

The basics. The process, patterned after the Amazon.com cover service, is simplicity itself:

Take an ISBN, like 0545010225

Put your Developer Key and the ISBN into a URL, like so:
http://covers.librarything.com/devkey/KEY
/medium/isbn/0545010225

Put that in an image tag, like so:
< img src="http://covers.librarything.com/devkey/KEY/medium/isbn/0545010225" >

And your website, library catalog or bookstore has a cover.

___________

So, what do you think about this? Are there any issues? Is this too good to be true? Can libraries legally utilise this to promote books and reading and readers advisory services guilt-free? Is anyone already using this?

The Hugos

2008-08-07T17:58:00.000-07:00

The Hugos will be announced tomorrow. The Guardian provides a UK perspective on this.

Have you read or seen any of the nominated titles?

The Man Booker long list is also available.

Military reading

2008-07-23T18:19:00.001-07:00

There are various reading lists which have been created for the US military - one example is from the Marines. This list is divided by rank of suggested readers.

There are ideas here you could use for specific reading suggestions for clients or you could look at creating a list with an Australian slant as military writing (fiction and non-fiction) seems to sustain popularity as it crosses over history, action, thriller, and several other genres.

Where is Matthew Reilly's writing?

Shelfari, LibraryThing, Booktagger......

2008-07-03T15:10:00.001-07:00

Among the rising number of Web 2.0 tools available for booklovers, there are a few worth a quick mention.

Shelfari - "Read. Share. Explore. Shelfari is the premier social network for people who love books." Not only this but Shelfari has recently revamped itself and continues to grow and adapt as the Web 2.0 world expands and grows. There's a nice little post that goes into Shelfari's recent relaunch that's worth a read. Shelfari also has a selection of virtual bookcases to display your online collection with choices of covers to be sure you get the right match.

LibraryThing - "LibraryThing is an online service to help people catalog their books easily. You can access your catalog from anywhere—even on your mobile phone. Because everyone catalogs together, LibraryThing also connects people with the same books, comes up with suggestions for what to read next, and so forth. " This last bit is what I like best about LibraryThing - the whole RA concept taken beyond the library's walls. Mind you there are possible charges linked to LibraryThing that whilst not prohibitive tend to detract from the overall concept - you can catalog up to 200 books with your free account but if you want to go beyond that you'll need to part with either $10 (US) a year or $25 (US) for a lifetime account. And let's be honest here - how many of us booklovers have well over 200 books? (I'm sure I'd reached that mark by the time I was 10!) Of interest though is that LibraryThing can possibly be integrated into Library catalogues (and already links to the Library of Congress and around 690 other world libraries) which is where I believe its greatest growth will come from.

Booktagger - "Tired of cruising book stores trying to judge a book by its cover? Now you can ask those who've read it before. Booktagger is an online bookshelf application to list the books you've read and to share them with others." Okay, I admit to only just reading about Booktagger (though I get the feeling someone may have mentioned it before) but I like the aspect that it's actually an Australian product and impressed with its hit-rate of 10,000 unique visitors within its first 3 weeks of operation.

These are just a few, I'm sure there must be more out there - any suggestions?

RA Online video

2008-06-26T15:50:00.001-07:00

The team at Libraries Unlimited who are behind the online databse - RA Online - have also put together a series of 'training' videos with Sarah Statz Cords. You can view them online at http://rainfo.lu.com/videos.aspx.

Even though my library doesn't currently have a subscription to this database, I have used it before and I certainly enjoy the blog, plus I really like the product. What I like about this video series is the ideas it gives me, the ones where I think, "mmm ....... maybe we could do something like this?" - not necessarily for using a particular RA tool but for RA generally, an extension of the training we've all done (in-house or with the Rewarding Reading program). An opportunity to take what we've got, what we've learned, the steps so many of us have taken since beginning the State Library's Learning 2.0 program, and move it all up a level - extend ourselves and lead the way for RA and RA training.

It could be exciting! It'd certainly be fun.