Fiction_L Archives Readers Advisory Service Dates: 3/13/01,3:42 PM  through  3/14/01,3:25 PM  (8 postings) Search for: Select one or more indexes to search: 2011-current     2009-2010     2004-2008    1995-2003    (Matches from each index will be displayed separately in the results page.) Return to March 2001 thread menu   |   Fiction_L Archives Menu

FROM: Sandra Beth <[removed]@selco.lib.mn.us>
REC'D: 3/13/01, 3:42 PM

I enjoy this listserv and have gotten many great ideas for displays and
brochures. What amazes me the most is
the type of questions you all seem to be getting.
I am a librarian in a medium sized public library that is in its
original 100 year old building. Changes to our building
to make it accessible mean that customers come into the lower level
lobby and see the check out desk. Our information
desk is on the second floor at the other end of the building.. Fiction
is on the first floor. Since reconstruction, we rarely get readers
advisory questions and our reference questions are down. I assume many
of the questions are being dealt with by circulation staff--usually
college students--who are not trained in ra services..
Are any of you in a similar situation? How do you encourage readers to
make the trek to your locations? Or, is there a
readers advisory listserv that I might contact?

Sandy Beth
Winona Public Library
Winona MN

FROM: Diana Tixier Herald <[removed]@wic.net>
REC'D: 3/13/01, 4:25 PM

I found that many RA questions came about in the stacks. Wandering around
the Fiction section and asking patrons if they are finding what they want
helps establish a rapport with them. When talking to them in the stacks you
can always tell them that whenever they have questions to hunt for you, or
the readers' advisors, upstairs. Signage may help. Of course the best
solution would be to locate a RA desk near the fiction collection. The circ
staff could also be asked to direct patrons with questions to the info
desk.

--
Happy reading,
Di Herald
[removed]@wic.net see the Genrefluent page at http://www.genrefluent.com
Rosenberg's First Law of Reading "Never apologize for your reading tastes."

Sandra Beth wrote:

> I enjoy this listserv and have gotten many great ideas for displays and
> brochures. What amazes me the most is
> the type of questions you all seem to be getting.
> I am a librarian in a medium sized public library that is in its
> original 100 year old building. Changes to our building
> to make it accessible mean that customers come into the lower level
> lobby and see the check out desk. Our information
> desk is on the second floor at the other end of the building.. Fiction
> is on the first floor. Since reconstruction, we rarely get readers
> advisory questions and our reference questions are down. I assume many
> of the questions are being dealt with by circulation staff--usually
> college students--who are not trained in ra services..
> Are any of you in a similar situation? How do you encourage readers to
> make the trek to your locations? Or, is there a
> readers advisory listserv that I might contact?
>
> Sandy Beth
> Winona Public Library
> Winona MN
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

FROM: Lisa Olsen <[removed]@clsn1269.cumberland.lib.nc.us>
REC'D: 3/13/01, 6:02 PM

Since this seems to be the week for general reader's advisory questions, I
have a question of my own. How do you do reader's advisory quickly? I
find patrons have little patience for waiting while I check reference
sources (Genreflecting, etc.), ask them if the recommended books sound
interesting, check whether we actually have the books, and then finally
direct them to the shelves.

__________________________________________________

Lisa A. Olsen

Information Services

Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center
East Regional Library
4809 Clinton Road
Fayetteville, NC 28301-8401

(910)485-2955

FROM: Patricia Gibson <[removed]@fred.tnrdlib.bc.ca>
REC'D: 3/13/01, 7:17 PM

Hi!
I, too, find that patrons for the most part do not want to hang around
while I look through print and electronic sources looking for answers to
their R.A. questions. (Patrons pay for meter-parking so time is critical
for many.) So, what I do, is I'll tell them that I would gladly make a list
of the read-alikes (or whatever) for them and contact them when I have it
finished. Most people really appreciate the time it takes to track down the
info they are looking for and don't mind being notified at a later date.
And it gets the pressure off of me to find the info in 2 minutes or less.

Patricia Gibson
Readers' Advisor
TNRD Library System
100-465 Victoria Street
Kamloops, BC V2C 2A9
[removed]@tnrdlib.bc.ca
http://www.tnrdlib.bc.ca

FROM: Ricki Nordmeyer <[removed]@nslsilus.org>
REC'D: 3/13/01, 8:53 PM

Perhaps you should train your circulation staff to direct obvious reference
or reader's advisory questions to the appropriate desks. Perhaps a sign in
the lobby such as "Have a question? Our RA and Reference staff will be
happy to help." Believe me, you are on THE reader's advisory listserv.
Surely you will get lots of ideas. Ricki Nordmeyer

At 03:37 PM 03/13/2001 -0600, you wrote:
>I enjoy this listserv and have gotten many great ideas for displays and
>brochures. What amazes me the most is
>the type of questions you all seem to be getting.
>I am a librarian in a medium sized public library that is in its
>original 100 year old building. Changes to our building
>to make it accessible mean that customers come into the lower level
>lobby and see the check out desk. Our information
>desk is on the second floor at the other end of the building.. Fiction
>is on the first floor. Since reconstruction, we rarely get readers
>advisory questions and our reference questions are down. I assume many
>of the questions are being dealt with by circulation staff--usually
>college students--who are not trained in ra services..
>Are any of you in a similar situation? How do you encourage readers to
>make the trek to your locations? Or, is there a
>readers advisory listserv that I might contact?
>
>Sandy Beth
>Winona Public Library
>Winona MN
>
>
>......................................................................
>Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
>Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>
>
Ricki Nordmeyer Reader's Advisory Specialist
Skokie Public Library
(847) 673-7774 x 2177
[removed]@skokie.lib.il.us
http://www.skokie.lib.il.us

Opinions expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of
the Board of the Skokie Public Library.

FROM: Kelly Marszycki <[removed]@rcn.com>
REC'D: 3/14/01, 9:50 AM

In a smaller library with no professional assistance, I've resorted to a varied
display of large bookmark-type handouts in bright colors covering genres
(romance, cozy mysteries, legal, travel literature, sci-fi, nature readings,
thrillers/action, etc.) and read-alikes (if you like...may we suggest?) for
some of the more popular writers. I keep them on the Circ. Desk or near the
New Book displays in acrylic stands. If I'm really feeling "crafty." I add
graphics that visually may "cue" the reader/patron to the genre or writer
(cats/dogs for Lilian J.Braun, teacups for cozy mysteries, etc.) -- Actually,
it's one part of this job I look forward to tinkering with when I get a
chance! Hope this is helpful -- Oh, one more thing -- I did up a hand-out (one
page/one side) of websites for reader advisory (a real mix of library sites
[Morton Grove, of course!], publisher sites, and more -- easy to hand to that
anxious patron who stumbles around with that glazed look on their face,
mumbling "what do I read next.....?!"

Kelly Marszycki, Director
Rathbun Memorial Library
East Haddam, CT

FROM: "Joy Tofteland" <[removed]@ankeny.k12.ia.us>
REC'D: 3/14/01, 12:30 PM

I agree and in the mean time...I try to find something from the new book
shelf in their favorite genre and ask them to let me know what they think
about it. Their comments are very valuable for future RA, especially if it
is something you will never have time to read. The patrons feel like they
returning the favor for you creating a reading list just for them. Win/win

Joy Tofteland
Kirkendall Public Library
Ankeny, IA

----- Original Message -----
From: Patricia Gibson <[removed]@fred.tnrdlib.bc.ca>
To: Fiction_L <[removed]@maillist.webrary.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2001 6:55 PM
Subject: Readers' Advisory - Express!


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>
> Hi!
> I, too, find that patrons for the most part do not want to hang around
> while I look through print and electronic sources looking for answers to
> their R.A. questions. (Patrons pay for meter-parking so time is critical
> for many.) So, what I do, is I'll tell them that I would gladly make a
list
> of the read-alikes (or whatever) for them and contact them when I have it
> finished. Most people really appreciate the time it takes to track down
the
> info they are looking for and don't mind being notified at a later date.
> And it gets the pressure off of me to find the info in 2 minutes or less.
>
> Patricia Gibson
> Readers' Advisor
> TNRD Library System
> 100-465 Victoria Street
> Kamloops, BC V2C 2A9
> [removed]@tnrdlib.bc.ca
> http://www.tnrdlib.bc.ca
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html
>

FROM: "Carol Kubala" <[removed]@columbiapl.libct.org>
REC'D: 3/14/01, 3:25 PM

Lisa & all,

Not to be funny, I do the ugh, ugh, ugh, and then try to do a quick interview and think of
something I might have read before or read about here or in a review. i try to keep some
books in mind each day for this type of question. You are right when you say people are in
a hurry. They want it right away. I tell them that I'll try to give them something now but
would they like me to get back to them with other suggestions. I can always look after
they are gone and keep some titles in mind for the next time they visit.. Your question is
a good one. I'll be interested in other responses.

--
Carol Kubala
Adult Services Librarian
Saxton B. Little Free Library/Columbia, CT
860 228-0350 - voice
860 228-1569 - fax

Lisa Olsen wrote:

> Since this seems to be the week for general reader's advisory questions, I
> have a question of my own. How do you do reader's advisory quickly? I
> find patrons have little patience for waiting while I check reference
> sources (Genreflecting, etc.), ask them if the recommended books sound
> interesting, check whether we actually have the books, and then finally
> direct them to the shelves.
>
> __________________________________________________
>
> Lisa A. Olsen
>
> Information Services
>
> Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center
> East Regional Library
> 4809 Clinton Road
> Fayetteville, NC 28301-8401
>
> (910)485-2955
>
> ......................................................................
> Need to subscribe, unsubscribe, search the archives?
> Everything Fiction_L: http://www.webrary.org/rs/flmenu.html

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