Step Up Your Readers’ Advisory for Summer Reading

Summer reading is in full swing.  Now is a perfect time to step up your readers’ advisory.  Our library has three research databases you can utilize to help your summer reading rockstars find their next read.  No database can replace your knowledge of our collection.  Or replicate your passion for the books you love.  But these databases can help you make recommendations without personal knowledge of a author, subject, or genre.  When you are stumped, out-your-element, and don’t know where to turn.  Because, really, who has time to read everything?

Not sure how to provide readers’ advisory?  Out of practice?  Or just need a refresher?  See addional resources for ideas, examples, and best practices.

Research Databases

NoveList Plus and NoveList K-8 Plus provide three types of recommendations:

• Author to Author
• Title to Title
• Series to Series

NoveList Plus is integrated with our catalog.  While viewing an item record in our catalog, scroll down to the bottom of the page to find links to available read-alikes for Titles, Series, and Authors.  While in NoveList Plus you can also link to an item record.  Look for a “Check the Library Catalog” link to go directly to our catalog.

(Note: NoveList K-8 Plus is not integrated with our catalog)

Books & Authors has many options to help readers discover new books.  Browse by author, title or genre.  Search reading lists created by subject experts and librarians.  Easily find award-winning titles.  Or browse using the Who? What? Where? When? tool. Books & Authors is also integrated with our catalog.  You can link directly to our catalog from a Books & Authors record when you see a “Available at your library” box.

Resources

• Tutorial: How can NoveList help me find great title, author, and series recommendations?
• Tutorial: How can NoveList K-8 help me find great author, title, and series recommendations?
• Books & Authors Help : Learn to search and browse in Books & Authors.
• ALA Readers’ Advisory Wiki
• Library Success: A Best Practice Wiki
• The Readers’ Advisory Interview – OLC

Try it Out!

1. Review how to search and browse in each database
2. Locate the NoveList Plus recommendations at the bottom of an item record in our catalog
3. Find the links to our catalog from NoveList Plus and Books & Authors

Extra: Find a book for yourself or help a customer find their next read!

Don’t forget to register for the Monthly Prize.  The winner in April was Kate Becker from Loveland, who won a huge bag of Jolly Ranchers!

Your comments and feedback are always welcomed and very encouraged.  Tell us if you used a database to perform readers’ advisory.  Do your customers use these resources?  Find them helpful?