Special Topics Paper

My special topics paper focused on the importance of training library staff to understand and be able to perform a readers' advisory with library patrons. Readers' advisory is an important aspect of the library and many library patrons expect librarians and library workers to be able to help them find their next great book. The issue with readers' advisory is that many library workers are not trained and many times do not feel comfortable performing a readers' advisory because if the library patron does not enjoy the book they may not return or ask for help in the future. Some library workers believe that only librarians can perform readers' advisory, but the truth is that any library staff member can complete a successful RA if they know the proper terminology and process to completing it. 
 There is a lot of literature and discussion in the library world that stresses the issue to train library staff to conduct well informed reader’s advisory with their library patrons. One example, is NoveList. To help library workers learn about readers’ advisory, the makers of NoveList offers a free printable guide for library workers that will help teach them what type of readers’ advisory fits with their patrons and how to conduct the advisory. This guide helps library staff identify how many of their patrons have time to use the library versus how many run in and out and know what they want before they get there. The guide also has staff evaluate themselves to see who is most comfortable approaching staff and completing readers’ advisories and who may need to work on their interactions. The NoveList guide then gives a breakdown of how to help each type of reader: those who have time and prefer high interaction, have time and prefer to browse on their own, less time and higher interaction, and less time and low interaction. NoveList then gives a self-evaluation chart so each staff member can evaluate (or have a coworker evaluate) their readers’ advisory to see what they may need to improve. Finally, NoveList’s guide gives suggestions on strengthening staff’s readers’ advisories with providing different types of readers’ advisories-face to face, paper, and electronic. 

Readers’ advisory is a skill that all libraries should invest in and implement into their daily library activities, be that by creating a readers’ advisory position, investing in readers’ advisory databases and texts, or being more proactive in asking patrons if they need help or book suggestions while they are browsing. RA is a benefit to libraries, their workers, and their patrons and should be treated with importance.