Reader's Advisory

One of the most enjoyable aspects of a librarian's job is reader's advisory. It can also be one of the most daunting tasks of a librarian. A patron approaches the desk. You put on your most pleasant, positive face. Then the patron says "I can't find anything good to read. What have you read lately that was good?" Your mind starts to spin in several directions. Do you tell her about A Singular Woman, the story of Stanley Ann Dunham, President Obama's mother? Or maybe, The Captain, a biography of New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter. But what if the patron is a republican, Red Sox fan? You could suggest Bossypants by Tina Fey, but maybe her Sarah Palin immitation wasn't too their liking. I could go on and on with my recent reading list but I hope you catch my drift. I always struggle with that question. I am sometimes tempted to say, "I only read bad books," but wouldn't want to appear too flippant.

Their question is well placed at the library. It's just the wrong question. The skilled reader's advisory librarian will turn it around for them. Instead of the previous question, she will ask "What have you read recently that you liked?" When the patron replies with a suspense, mystery or maybe romance author, the librarian is off and running. "You like John Grisham, have you tried Steve Martini?" or "if you like Patricia Cornwell, maybe you will enjoy Kathy Reichs." If the patron just read a celebrity biography, there is always another celebrity biography to suggest.

In a large library, there might be several reader's advisory librarians with varying areas of expertise. In our smaller settings, the librarians are jacks-of-all-trades. Yet, once in a while, you will get a dream reader's advisory question. That happened to me today. A patron came to the desk with Richard Russo's Straight Man and said he is one my favorite authors, along with Ann Tyler. "Can you make any suggestions of other authors I might like?" Since she had just named two of my favorite authors, I had just received the reader's advisory dream question.

Today, reader's advisory was the most enjoyable aspect of my job!