How do I help library customers find a good novel to read?

Readers’ advisory is a term used to describe introducing readers to books they’ll enjoy. You’re making reading suggestions based on information received from readers about their reading tastes and moods, and matching the reader with the right books at the right time. All of those skills that make for a good reference librarian, skills like verifying, clarifying, paraphrasing, and asking open ended questions, are also vital to what’s known as the readers’ advisory interview.

A sure-fire opening question in a readers’ advisory interview is to say to the customer “Tell me about a book that you’ve read recently that you’ve enjoyed.” This encourages the customers to describe his or her reading interests so that you can provide the customer with novels that match those interests. Listen to what the customer tells you about what appeals to him or her about a particular book. Also probe for dislikes. Offer the customer several books as possibilities so that the customer can pick and choose among the titles that you’ve suggested.

To provide successful readers’ advisory service you should have a broad knowledge of the many genres of popular fiction. Use reviews, book jackets, customer and co-workers’ comments, Web sites, databases, and reference titles to help you gain familiarity with the universe of recreational fiction. Sample a variety of fictional genres and sub-genres in your own personal reading to increase your knowledge of the fiction collection that you’re working with. Keep a journal of what you read.