RA for All Roadshow Visits Lincoln [NE] City Libraries

Today I am in Nebraska for the inservice day of Lincoln City Libraries. The entire library staff-- approximately 120 people-- are gathering together for a full day of learning, team work, and reconnecting with themselves as readers.

Below is the full schedule for today, and it is one of my most interactive days. Included is my brand new EDI program and a complete overhaul of what used to be my merchandising talk and is now revamped and retitled-- Painless Promotion. I have the brand new, not even published in LJ yet, book talk and we are going to have 30 minutes exclusively for the group to practice book talking.

Props to Lincoln for allowing all staff, not just front line people, to participate in a full day of RA focused training. They clearly understand that books are their brand and anyone can provide RA Service. I am proud to be here to help them improve, especially because I know they have the correct focus already.

Let's do this, together.

9-10:50 am: RA for All: Readers Advisory belongs in every library, no matter its budget. The implementation of this vital service is the responsibility of every staff member-- from pages to directors, from those behind the scenes to the ones on the front lines. This program will remove the mystery behind providing great RA service. Using her “Ten Rules of Basic RA Service” as a guide, Becky Spratford will use your own love of your favorite books to show you how to help any patron find their next great read. It's not as hard as you think. But more importantly, you will learn why a staff that can harness the power of sharing a great read will become a stronger team and improve service to all patrons.

• Follow's Becky 10 Rules of RA Service

10 Min Break

11am- 12 pm: Booktalking Your Way to the Friendliest Library in Town: Booktalking is at the heart of what we do with patrons each and every day at the public library. Whether we are sharing books informally at the services desk, presenting a prepared list of books, or posting information online, talking about books is something we do each and every day. It is a core service, but it is also hard to teach. Booktalking is more of an art than a skill, but with the right guidance and some practice, it can go a long way toward engaging your patrons and re-energizing your staff. Join experienced Readers’ Advisory Becky Spratford as she shares the secret behind delivering great book talks, giving you tips and tricks you can begin using right away to hone your own skills. Rediscover the power and joy that comes from sharing books with patrons.

• Slide access here

LUNCH 12-1:30

1:30-2pm: Facilitated Booktalking Practice

2-3pm: #OwnVoices for All Readers: Incorporating EDI Values into Readers’ Advisory Service: Providing robust readers’ advisory service that values equity, diversity and inclusion principles is essential to all library service. Join Readers’ Advisory specialist Becky Spratford as she provides the information you need to diversify your suggestions, identify resources, and include more staff input in order to confidently promote and place more #OwnVoices titles into adult patrons’ hands. You’ll come away with an understanding for how easy it to incorporate EDI values into your normal RA practices. All you need is a little nudge in the right direction.

• Slide access here

15 Min Break

3:15-4:15pm: Painless Promotion: Encouraging All Staff To Hype The Whole Library: Grow beyond the traditional marketing model and embrace a whole library philosophy where promotion is everyone's job. Informing the public of programs, services, and materials that will interest or help them solve a problem is at the core of what we already provide. But why do most library staff think marketing isn’t part of their job? Becky Spratford isn’t a traditional marketer, but she will share her proven and practical tips to engage staff, inform the community, increase return on investment, and create a more positive experience for all.

• Slide access here

4:15-4:30pm: Ask Becky Anything: Now is your chance to ask RA expert Becky Spratford anything about how to work with leisure readers. What are your fears, frustrations, and obstacles.