Readers’ advisory 2.0Suggestions de lecture 2.0

Alexandra YarrowCoordinator, Carlingwood Branch

Ottawa Public Library

LANCR AGM Tuesday, June 19, 2012

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http://ottawapubliclibrarian.blogspot.ca/

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Plan for this evening• Background:

– What is web 2.0 ?– RA language and schools of thought (a quick refresher)

• Tools:– Favourite blogs and book resources for readers– Read-alikes and reading maps– Book trailers

• Integrating tools in readers’ advisory: – Social catalogues– Online book clubs

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Tim O’Reilly and web 2.0• “The Web as platform”• “Harnessing collective intelligence”• “Rich user experiences”• “Leveraging the long tail through customer self-

service.”

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Source: http://www.oreillynet.com/lpt/a/6228

The flip sideThe Annoyed Librarian:

“All the twopointoh stuff makes it so easy for users to generate idiocy. Just think, back in the old days, one had to find a publisher willing to put up with your idiocy, but the twopointoh publishers depend upon it. Without a lot of user-generated idiocy, Blogger, Wordpress, Livejournal, and the like would be barren wastelands. But now, there's an endless supply of idiocy to read!“

From the post “User-generated idiocy.”

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Readers’ advisory 2.0“RA 2.0 is the art of using digital tools not only to share

information with and advise readers on finding the right book for the right mood, but to collaborate with both colleagues and patrons/readers to create, enhance, and use old and new readers' resources and forums; RA 2.0 helps us create community and address the social aspects of reading by going to where the readers are, as well as inviting them into our organizing, reviewing, and publicizing processes.”

Source: Laura Calderone, Diana Herald, and Sarah Cords on the RA in a Day 2008 wiki

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RA languageWhy appeal?• Discussing appeal focuses on reader response rather

than book subject, eg. “I could not put it down” or “I love those vampires!” (is it the vampires or the sexy talk?)

• Feeling rather than plot• Provides readers’ advisors with a vocabulary

independent of plot or genre limitations or preferences

• Allows readers to explore books they might not otherwise pick up

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RA languageAppeal factors: “Schools of thought:” • Nancy Pearl’s doorways

– Story, character, setting and language

• Joyce Saricks– Pacing, characterisation, storyline and frame

• Novelist– Storyline, pace, tone and writing style

• Rachel van Riel– A continuum of opposites: happy/sad, safe/disturbing, optimistic/bleak,

etc.

• Neal Wyatt– Nonfiction appeal: Narrative, detail, tone, learning/experiencing,

subject, type.

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For more information, consult the OPLA RA Committee’sCore Competencies and Toolkit

1. Collection Knowledge: Understanding of, and familiarity with, the depth and breadth of materials and resources in the branch and/or system, including material in all formats and media, both fiction and non-fiction.

2. Reader Service Skills: Developing and maintaining a system for exchanging information in a non-judgmental environment for the purpose of suggesting reading materials that support the reading interests of our customers.

3. Readers` Advisory Conversation: Interacting with readers to match their needs and interests to library materials.

4. Reader Development: Developing customers` awareness of their own reading interests, the ability to articulate why certain books appeal, and the ability to make connections to similar books.

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Top 5 blogs• Quillblog and @quillandquire• 49th shelf and @49thShelf• National Post: Afterword and

@npbooks• The Reader’s Advisor Online Blog• Guardian Books and @GuardianBooks

BONUS: Book riotWant more?

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Top 5 French blogs

• Babelio• Le Devoir: livres• Pause Lecture• Evene.fr• Romans@lire

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Favourite resources for read-alikes

RA_ read-

alike on Delicious

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Favourite resources for

reading maps(a.k.a. reading paths)

• PLA Reading Map presentation

• Wordsworthy Reading Paths

• Neal Wyatt Reading Maps

Background reading: tagged RA_background_reading on Del.icio.us:“Reading Maps Remake RA.” Library Journal 11/1/2006

RA_ reading_map on Delicious

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Book trailers• Can be a book “preview” or “teaser” with

actors, or stock photography and voiceovers• Can also be a short film related to the book• Can be made by publishers, authors, fans, or

libraries (staff or patrons)• Can go viral• Should be for the right audience• Have their own awards: Moby Awards

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RA_video on Delicious

Video book reviews

Ron Charles from the Washington Post

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http://www.barnesandnoble.com/obsessed/

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RA_book_social_networking on Delicious

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Online book clubs: TPL Book Buzz (see background reading article discussing process of creation of site)

Pros of online book discussion group:• More time for in-depth analysis and discussion• Less pressure to participate

(subscribe/unsubscribe freely)• Less time investment (no travel)• Participants are anonymous• No meetings• 24/7

Cons of online book discussion group:• Membership unpredictable• Less immediacy• Less social, emotional connection

Results of TPL survey

What they want to discuss:• 78% fiction• High interest in non-fiction, mystery, biography• Moderate interest in sci-fi/fantasy, graphic

books

Who they are:• 76% female• 40% age 18-35• 34% age 35-50• 18% age 50-65• 8% age 65+

Social catalogues + RA• Link to blog posts and read-alike

lists• Work with Cataloguing and IT staff• Post book trailers and videos• Why is this important?

– One-stop shopping– “

Most of your most passionate users will never meet you face to face.”

– We’re not the only game in town27

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Social media + RA

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Social media + RA

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Thank you!

• Questions?• Contact me anytime

Alexandra.Yarrow@BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca

http://ottawapubliclibrarian.blogspot.com/