how to give a booktalk instructor: michael cart [email protected] an infopeople workshop winter...
TRANSCRIPT
This Workshop Is Brought to You by the Infopeople Project
Infopeople is a federally-funded grant project supported by the California State Library. It provides a wide variety of training to California libraries. Infopeople workshops are offered around the state and are open registration on a first-come, first-served basis.
For a complete list of workshops, and for other information about the project, go to the Infopeople website at infopeople.org.
Workshop Overview
• Defining “booktalking”
• Booktalking skills
• Practicing booktalking– Fiction– Nonfiction– Nontraditional
• Presentation tools and resources
Defining “Booktalking”• What it is:
– Structured enthusiasm for a book– A mini-mystery with a cliffhanger ending
• What it isn’t:– A review or critique– A memorized excerpt from a book
Types of Booktalks• Formal (written and memorized)
• Impromptu
• Shelftalks (doing it in the stacks)
• Read-alikes
• Fiction
• Nonfiction
Potential Audiences• Students
– in library – in classroom
• Adults• Senior Adults• Multigenerational – from nine to 90• Clubs and organizations
- book discussion groups- service clubs
Share Your Booktalk on “The Curious Incident of the
Dog in the Night-Time”with a partner
Exercise #1
Booktalking Do’s• Know your audience
• Include a variety of titles
• READ the books!
• Take notes
• Outline your talk
Planning the Talk• Start with a “grabber”
• Include a narrative arc
• End with a cliff-hanger
• Borrow shamelessly from– reviews– dust jackets– colleagues
Selecting Appropriate Titles• Are you booktalking fiction or
nonfiction?
• Who is your audience?
• Is your program thematic?
• Are there curriculum connections?
Venues and Formats• Where will you booktalk?
– The library– A classroom– In the community
• Formats– Bare bones– Bells & whistles– Interactive
Booktalk Techniques
• Pace yourself– Don’t rush– Pause for dramatic effect (& laughs!)
• Props? If you must . . .
• Use visuals
• Take advantage of technology
• Practice, practice, practice
Using Props and Visuals• Use props sparingly
– And only when appropriate
• Be sure the audience can see visuals– Transparencies– PowerPoint slides
Booktalking Issues to Consider• About the author?
• Writing word for word?
• Reading from the book?
• Audience participation?
• How many books?
• How long, o Lord?
Techniques for Reading Aloud• When to read aloud
• Be prepared
• Don’t rush
• Don’t mumble
• Enjoy yourself– But don’t ham it up!
Booktalk Don’ts
• Booktalk books you haven’t read• Include books you dislike• Read your booktalks• Give away the ending• Mumble• Let them smell your fear• Bore your audience (less is more)
Booktalking Nonfiction• High interest subjects
– Biography– Autobiography/memoirs– History– Adventure– Pop culture– The “ew-gross!” factor
Nonfiction Techniques
• Virtually same as fiction
• Make curriculum connections
• Don’t forget the visual– Use pictures as a hook
Doing a Podcast• What are podcasts?
• Booktalking vs. talking about books
• The Infopeople experience