Readers' Advisory Service in the Public Library

by Joyce Saricks, Nancy Brown

Expanded and improved with practical methods for incorporating nonfiction into the discussion, this third edition also offers further reading resources and online tools, along with confidence-boosting tactics for drawing on reviews to make recommendations. Using the proven strategies in this newly updated, back-to-basics overview, librarians providing readers' advisory services in any genre will find the answers they need to help customers make appropriate choices.

Genres: Nonfiction, Library Science, Reference, Librarianship, Adult, School, Textbooks

84 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1989

Reviews

[karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

gather round chilluns - it is that time of year, where i get to review textbooks!! i will only do one today, because i do not want to overstimulate your excitement-panels, but seriously - this book is so much fun, i can hardly stand it!! it's probably not much fun if you don't love books, but for me, it is a total curl-up-on-the-body-pillow funtime read. it should be required reading for anyone who wants to talk about books on this website or amongst friends or to strangers on the subway - or wherever you do your best book-talking.

it has everything: the r/a interview, articulating appeal factors, promoting the collection, highlighting unknown titles, book talks and book lists, topics like "differentiating between hard and soft-edged suspense"; all the shit i nerdily love!

readers' advisory is by far the most fun thing in all of library school; it is like being a book detective or a book matchmaker - setting people up on blind dates with books and hoping they find a life together (well, in a library setting, i suppose i would hope they find a two-week period of happiness together and then - a painful severance). and it is the hardest class to get into because the demand is so great, and it is not offered every semester, and it ends up being like a book club, but with papers, and rarely any wine. and although i complained about a lot of the books i had to read for the class, i still feel like i learned a lot about genre fiction (which is the other textbook - stay tuned!)


but so my professor, the reigning queen of all readers' advisory says this book is flawed because it does not go into enough about indirect readers' advisory through merchandising and effective displays, but shhhh!! that is my ace in the hole, the gladiola in my back pocket - displays are the only thing in this world i am truly good at, and someday when i myself am the queen of all readers' advisory, it will be because of this advantage i have from my years of retail servitude. and the book does go into that enough, i think. shit like that is more intuitive - you either know what you are doing, or you don't. but i know how to move books. i can make really good displays to attract the peepul with colors and covers and proximity and subliminal connections (and as ariel would tell me - bears)

and i don't want joyce g. saricks giving away the secrets.
yet.
when my unauthorized biography comes out, then you will all know the secrets.
until then - this book should suffice.

come to my blog!

[Kristine Olsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although the topic is of keen interest to me, the prose was quite academic in nature. It wasn't the quickest of reads as a result. She does present some intriguing possibilities that we could explore. I'm wondering if we could look into producing some annotated book lists or read-a-likes that pertain to our collection. That may help staff with those, hey, I'm looking for a good book/looking for a writer who writes just like X. These lists would definitely be in an online format and not the book marks and printed lists she describes. The book has a 2005 copyright and so far as I know, libraries are trying to either cut down on needless clutter or go green. The genre study she outlines is both daunting and intriguing. Daunting in that it takes a lot of work to do well and intriguing in that it would be a great way to get familiar with a genre that is outside your normal box. I'd love it if we as a staff could have some dedicated time to just chat among ourselves about the books we've read. It would be an easy way to get more familiar with what's out there so folks would be better prepared to offer better RA service.

[Oskar Jonsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you don't find this book that appealing you can always speed-read it. Note that the rating is not a critical evaluation but rather reflective of the book's feel.

[Lelita P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warning: This is not a proper review--mostly just a rambling about my struggle to get this book in my hand.



First time I heard about readers' advisory service was two years ago when I attended Information Sources and Services class as a sophomore. I was so interested--never did I hear such service at library before. I was thinking back then, I would write about either readers' advisory or bibliotheraphy for my undergraduate thesis.

That dream really comes true. Now I'm working on my thesis proposal with readers' advisory as the main topic.

Unfortunately, there are no readers' advisory services at any library in my country, Indonesia. Readers' advisory is something new here--even strange. I bet there's just a few people ever heard about this service. This makes me cannot get any reference book about readers' advisory in my native language.

I searched on Goodreads for readers' advisory reference book and I found this book by Mrs. Saricks. I was very excited to read this book, but I didn't know how to get it. Local bookstores here do not sell this kind of book, of course. I visited online bookshop and found this book there, but the price was so high. I had no chance to buy it at the moment--but I needed it right now!

So I searched again on Google Books. Thanks God they have it. I downloaded it, but--as usual, I stopped reading after several pages. Reading e-books on gadget is not something I can befriend with.

I was so desperate. Time to collect my proposal was getting closer and closer. Then I remembered I hadn't tried to look for it at my majoring department's library. They do have good books (even some import books), although the shelving is really a chaos.

And I was like .... "Oh God WHY DIDN'T I COME HERE FIRST?!" when I found this book there!


***


The book is wonderful. I like it very very much. Mrs. Saricks wrote it in a light language so that it's easy to understand for a non-native English-speaker like me. All I need for my thesis is on its pages .... I'd like to "eat" them all!

This book explains almost everything a librarian need to know about readers' advisory service: the definition, history, required things for preparing this service, designing a reading plan, fiction elements that a librarian should understand, way to do readers' advisory interview, the training to be a great readers' advisor, etc. To describe it by one word: COMPLETE. Even she gave four useful appendixes, especially the popular fiction and nonfiction list. Those all really help me since my thesis is a feasibility study to provide this service at a public library.


There's only one thing I need that I couldn't find in this book: about the types of readers' advisory. I read it on Wikipedia; there's two types: direct and indirect. Seems that I didn't find it here--as a written text, not just implied. I needed that as a written text because I have to cite every definitions properly in my thesis (that's why I can't just simply use Wikipedia as a source for my research).


Apart from that, I do want to thank Mrs. Saricks for thousand times over! Thanks for writing this great book; thanks for doing such a great effort to socialize readers' advisory service and try to make it better. Hope I can be a librarian like you, who become a very fantastic bridge for readers and books. :)

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know - super nerdy, right? To give this 5*****. And I'm not saying it is deathless, heart-stopping prose or anything - BUT this book is the Bible of the reader's advisory field with good reason. I can't tell you how many times I've been thinking about various specific aspects of what we do that I've picked up (or failed to pick up) in my work, only to find them discussed in detail in the pages of this guide. As such, it is pretty densely packed, and needs some unpacking, but for that reason is a good one to mark up and highlight and refer to. Saricks sets a high standard without being a jerk about it, and so she encourages the reader and practitioner to examine and re-examine what they do and how they do it. Excellent.

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is current, easy to read, and offers a variety of excellent examples and tips for RA service. Whether one takes Readers' Advisory in library school or not, I think this should be required reading in intro or reference classes. It's an excellent resource for librarians and library students alike.

[CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dated and a bit repetitive, but undeniably a key resource in the field of reader's advisory. Some of the techniques and advice are surprisingly still relevant. The idea of isolating appeal elements--pacing, characterization, frame (setting), mood and tone, language and style, and storyline, is a fascinating and useful tool which I am going to try out with the next few books I read.

[Maya Mathew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently had the opportunity to read 'Readers' Advisory in a Public Library' by Joyce Saricks, and I must say it's a valuable resource for any librarian or library assistant looking to improve their readers' advisory services. Saricks, a renowned expert in the field, provides a comprehensive guide that covers the fundamentals of readers' advisory, from understanding readers' preferences to creating effective book lists.

One of the strengths of this book is its practical approach. Saricks offers numerous examples, anecdotes, and examples of successful readers' advisory programs that can be easily adapted to various library settings. The author also explores the importance of creating a welcoming and inclusive environment, which is essential for building trust with readers and promoting literacy.

The book is well-organized, and Saricks' writing style is clear and engaging. The chapters are divided into manageable sections, making it easy to navigate and find specific information. The book is also filled with useful resources, including bibliographies, book lists, and web resources.

My only criticism is that some sections feel a bit dated, as the book was published in 2005. While the core principles of readers' advisory remain the same, some of the references to technology and online resources could be updated. I also feel adding book recommendations for pre-teens,young adults, graphic novels, NPR and/or Wall Street Journal would have been beneficial too.

Overall, I would highly recommend 'Readers' Advisory in a Public Library' to librarians, library students, and anyone interested in connecting readers with books. With its practical approach, valuable resources, and expertise from a leading authority in the field, this book is a must-read for anyone looking to improve their readers' advisory skills.

[Josh Ashing · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is no perfect book. We aren't looking for the same books as our readers, nor should we be offering critical appraisals. We must remember there are books enjoyed for the moment & others for the ages, but all requests are legitimate & should be treated equally. Do not limit what you can offer to the patron.

Readers' advisory work is about creating discussion & connections based in book appeal.
Appeal better accurately describes the "feel" of a book.
Funnily enough, Milwaukee Public Library is 1 of 7 public libraries to first offer a structured readers' advisor program in the 1920s. Librarians would offer personalized patron interviews & reading plans.

Suggesting vs. Recommending
Sure Bets Books & Readalike Authors

"Tell me about a book you really enjoyed"
"Is there an author you consistently read?"

Rosenberg's First Law of Reading:
"Never apologize for your reading taste."

"Helping the Reader Toward Self-Education" by John Chancellor:
Tarot Card/Horoscope/Book Personalities Idea

*Adult Literature Spring 24 course

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

3rd Edition of this book; It was better than almost any other RA print book I've come across, even though it was still outdated (hey at least this edition regularly discussed using NOVELIST as an outlet); my other issue is, having been through multiple trainings for reader's advisory, Intellectual freedom and working on RA certification, I don't mean to be rude and I know I'm nowhere near the skill level of our Information/Reader's Services team, but I could've written this book (it wouldn't be as well edited, but still)…. It's seriously a pity that the print resources become outdated so quickly, though to be fair, this was published in 2005.

[Shallowreader VaVeros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rereading this old classic. This edition is now 23 years old yet it still has relevant discussion points. It now acts as a historical text that helped inform readers' advisory practices for librarians. Much of the information still underpins the work that is being done today despite the extraordinary impact that technology and social media have had upon librarians since its publication.

[Thea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for anyone who works in Readers' Advisory. I started my RA journey by reading this book and it has helped me tremendously with my job! I plan on using many ideas from this book to make the RA experience at our library even better.

[Alondra · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of great procedural recommendations in this text, and many of the authors mentioned are still big names in 2022. I would not purchase a copy, and the majority of the content is outdated, but if you can borrow a copy, does not hurt to check out!

[Mary Kinietz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent reference book for librarians focused on helping readers find their next boo.pk.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must for LIS professionals!

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for my "Readers Advisory Services" course in library school. I remember it being a great resource.

[Emilia P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blah blah blah blah library geekitude. There were some really useful things in this book like talking about how to describe a book by appeal words e.g. "depth of plot" vs "fast-paced" rather than by plot summaries and criticism. Recommending v. suggesting. Using displays as a way to measure what people are into slyly. Ways of making reading plans for library departments to sort of divvy up. The overwhelming number of genres (thrillers, suspense, mystery,caper, horror are all so vastly different!) was interesting too, if not totally hit upon. There's a jerky English major in me that balks at kinds of books that you have to keep in your head for Reader's Advisory to adults, but I think the literary populist is winning out. My biggest complaint, other than of course the procedural nature that is endemic to this kind of book, was that it was geared towards the entrenched librarian. What's a not-currently RA-ing gypsy librarian type to do to prepare for this without the direction of a departmental emphasis? Yeah. A little bit more creativity and joy and a voice with character would have made this a better read. As is, I'm sure it's just fine for coursework.

[September Michaud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic textbook by Joyce Saricks about administering readers' advisory for patrons. Like most textbooks, the writing was often dull, but the content was useful. A good resource for teaching library staff and students to describe books based on appeal rather than personal opinion. It shows how to "suggest" books as opposed to recommending them, and how to explain them based on pace, characterization, storyline, and frame--introducing patrons/potential readers to the "feel" of the book (rather than the core plot) so that he/she can make an informed decision.

Moreover, this book offers a new way of thinking about books. One that if employed regularly, will become second nature. The more time you spend reading, thinking, and talking about books, the more easily you'll be able to make connections between the themes and patterns found in various authors and genres, and the more successful you will be as a readers' adviser. For this reason, Saricks includes several lists of questions to ask yourself about the books you're reading or looking up and how these books might relate to other books. Good start for anyone who needs a working knowledge of books/genres.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used this book as the textbook for an online class on Reader's Advisory taught by the author herself. I found the book very helpful especially in how to articulate why you like a book- ie. appeal terms. I had never known about those and they've expanded my abilities to do reader's advisory work. The chapters on annotations and marketing were helpful as well. The biggest downside to this book- it needs to be updated. A lot has happened in the online world of RA since 2005. Luckily, we've discussed everything that's missing from the book in class. But for someone reading this on their own, discussions on online tools and printed materials need to be revamped. Goodreads and Library Thing should be mentioned as well as the explosion of Amazon reviews, blogs, and modern RA online sources.

[James F · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm taking Joyce's class on RA service now. This is a totally different way of looking at books for me, not judging whether a book is good or whether I personally like it, but trying to analyze the appeal factors to know whether to suggest it to someone who likes a particular kind of book or a similar author. The key is, we do not recommend books, we suggest them. There is a lot of good information in this book about where to find reviews and information about books and series in various genres, and how to train your staff to do this sort of work. I've seldom read a textbook that I could so immediately put into practice.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, I admit I did not pick this up on my own; I read it for my readers' advisory class. That being said it had a lot of interesting things to say about the subject.
One of the biggest things I took away from this book was how to talk about books in terms of appeal. Appeal looks at pacing, characterization, story line, and frame to give readers a better sense of the book and whether or not they would enjoy it.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really short book! Goodreads says 211 pages but mine is less than 80. It also has no edition number noted anywhere, which makes me assume it's the first and also that a lot was added since then. So I probably need to buy a more recent edition.

But I still learned a lot! I'm really tired so I can't form a coherent review right now, but clearly this is essential for anyone interested in reader's advisory. Thanks to karen for the recommendation.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG what a dork am I, but I actually LOVED this book. Ok, so I'll put on my nerd voice just to say, "I read it for a paper I was working on for library school, and now I truly believe that it's, like, the quintessential RA text." Now I'm done. Anyone interested in RA--especially public library peeps--should totally check out this book.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was helpful and informative. I'm taking a readers' advisory class next semester and it's a career path I'm interested in. The book gave me great instruction on how to keep accruing reader's advisory knowledge without feeling overwhelmed.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely helpful to inform or remind current and future public librarians about the role of readers advisory. In a day and age when librarians need to show why they are so, so much better than a search engine, being able to recommend titles quickly and effectively is a must.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little handbook published by ALA in 2005. While a bit dated it gives great advice on reader's advisory interviews, creating reading lists, read alike lists, annotations, personal reading plans and so forth. Great for new librarians or experienced ones.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice overview of Readers' Advisory and how to implement it at a library. I like the various figures that provide practical information and guides to use for training, as examples, and/or for reference.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading for class.

[Kaite Stover · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best tools for an introduction to the service and instruction in how to provide it.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MUST read for anyone doing readers' advisory, especially novices, but it's also worth reading again for experienced library staff who works in RA.