Readers Advisory
on the RunCarolyn Petersen, Washington State Library
Association for Rural and Small Libraries ConferenceSeptember 2013
Who am I?
The library job interview
Why do I want to work in a library?
It’s such a peaceful place. I’m sure you
have plenty of time to read all those lovely
books.
So many books… so little time
Websites
Good Reads
Amazon
New York Times
Publishers Weekly
Genre Awards
Literary January
◦ National Book Critics Circle Award - bookcritics.org/awards
April◦ Pulitzer Prize - www.pulitzer.org
October◦ Man Booker Prize – www.themanbookerprize.com
November◦ National Book Award - nationalbook.org
Mystery May
◦ Agatha Award - malicedomestic.org/agathaawards.html
◦ Edgar Award - theedgars.com September
◦ Macavity Award - mysteryreaders.org/macavity.html ◦ Shamus Award -
thrillingdetective.com/trivia/triv72.html November
◦ Anthony Award - bouchercon.info/nominees.html
Popular Vote December
◦ Goodreads Choice Award - goodreads.com/choiceawards
Speculative May
◦ Nebula Award - sfwa.org/nebula-awards September
◦ Hugo Award - thehugoawards.org November
◦ World Fantasy Award - worldfantasy.org/awards
Young Adult June
◦ Locus Award - locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/LocusWinsByYear.html
Read YourLibrary’s Webpage
(or someone else’s)
Shelf Talk
What We’re Reading
How to Judge a Book by its Cover
Cover◦ Front—what is depicted and how?◦ Back—any author recommendations on the back?
Blurb—what more does it tell you? Heft Genre
How to read a book in 5 minutes
Borrowed and modified from Jane K. Hirsh off of the Fiction_L reading listserv
Read some from the first chapter, read something in the middle, read the end. Is there continuity?
What do you think of the◦ Style◦ Pace◦ Clarity
How to read a book in 5 minutes
Borrowed and modified from Jane K. Hirsh off of the Fiction_L reading listserv
How is the story told?◦ Flashbacks◦ Narrative◦ Alternating narrators◦ Letters◦ First Person◦ Omniscient Author
Does it remind you of other books?
How to read a book in 5 minutes
Borrowed and modified from Jane K. Hirsh off of the Fiction_L reading listserv
Summing Up
Follow a best seller list religiously Notice new authors and add them to your
mental categories Read the jacket flaps to get a sense of the
book Make use of cover art to get a sense of the
book
Readers’ advisory on the run
Read your own library readers’ advisory section and others.
Check out the back page of Library Journal to see what is moving
Assign yourself a task that will pop up on the days and remind you to check out the awards when they come out.
Readers’ advisory on the run
Contact Information Carolyn Petersen, Asst Program Manager
Brought to you by the Washington State Library, a division of the Secretary of State and partnering with the Institute of Museum and Library Services to ensure strong libraries for future generations