Readers’ AdvisoryKim Kanofsky

LIS 773November 5, 2013

Your Mission, should you choose to accept it, is to assist 30 children and 1 teacher find appropriate materials in 15 minutes.

You will have to have your wits about you because you will also have 23 kids returning materials, 5 kids renewing materials, and 2 more who forgot their materials.

On top of that, the teacher will want to talk to you about an upcoming project.

No one said being a School Library Media Specialist was an easy job. Often, it is a Mission Impossible.

Mission Impossible:

What is READERS’ ADVISORY?

“Advis(ing) patrons on all kinds of materials, from fiction and nonfiction to audiobooks, graphic novels, and even reference.” – The Readers’ Advisory Handbook

“…the act of putting people together with the books they love." - Diana Tixier Herald, author of Genreflecting

AASL Mission Statement: “The Mission of the school library program is to ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information. The school librarian empowers students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information…” Empowering Learners; Guidelines for School Library Programs

Why is Readers’ Advisory Important?

Reading reduces stress stimulates the mind increases knowledge expands vocabulary improves memory strengthens analytical thinking skills improves focus and concentration improves writing skills

Why is Readers’ Advisory Important?

Assist students to make appropriate selections

Allowing students to choose own books helps instill a life-long love of reading

Being read to and reading to others provides opportunities for social interaction

Sharing a mutual love of books brings people together

Why is Readers’ Advisory Important?

Know your collection ◦ Review the shelves often◦ Read, Read, Read◦ USE your collection◦ Create pathfinders including LibGuides,

handouts, and Google Sites◦ Displays◦ Run reports ◦ Inventory

How do you become an expert?

Build your collection ◦ Reviews◦ Circulation Statistics◦ Best sellers◦ Suggestions◦ Complete Series◦ Multiple copies of most popular books/resources

How do you become an expert?

Know your patrons (students and staff)

◦ Questionnaires asking students and staff about favorite (and least favorite) genres

◦ Questionnaires asking teachers which topics they will be covering

◦ Reference Interview, informal questions, and polling a group

◦ Circulation statistics

How do you become an expert?

HOW NOT to perform a reference interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Niac-sIGd8g

Performing a Proper Reference Interview -You must have TIME to perform the following: Paraphrase Ask open-ended questions Clarify Verify Follow up End the interview

Reference Interview

Websites-see handout Suggestions Displays Pathfinders-LibGuides, Bookmarks Databases-see handout

Other ways to reach out and advise readers