Thinking Like A Reader Means Checking Reader Driven Resources

If I only have 5 seconds to give library workers advice on how to provide better RA Service this is what I say:

Flip the Script and Think Like a Reader

That's it. That's the soundbite of the best advice I can give you as you help readers. In these crazy times, when we are busier than we already were and our attentions is stretched thin, we have also seen an increase in the amount of RA focused work every single employee is being asked to provide.

This pandemic has made all of us refocus our attentions from years of trying to market ourselves as being about more than just books to being forced to double down on books and reading suggestions again. [Well, my focus never wavered but then again, RA is my entire job.]

As I have been helping all of you to scramble to get some basic RA training to all library workers, so that the load of helping readers is spread out to more people, I  have been working very hard to focus my advice into small, tangible action steps. For example, I have written an article that will be available on NoveList very soon with 6 steps any library worker can take RIGHT NOW to enhance RA at their libraries.

But I have also thought a lot about what is the #1 best thing everyone can do to be better at putting leisure readers needs at the forefront of their library service and that statement above is it. Stop thinking like an expert and try to just think like a reader. It will make you better at your job, and quite honestly, bring you a little joy as you discover your own love of books and reading along the way.

You already are an expert. By reading this blog, staying up to date on book news and information, you know what you are doing. But most of us [myself included sometimes] forget that the average library user [let alone average person] is not even 1/3 as engaged in the book world as you are on your worst day. Just by working in the library, even without trying, you are surrounded by books, books lists, book displays, book news, etc....

This saturation is not normal for your patrons, even our super users. Often, we lose track of the simplest suggestions and ides because we think they are too "obvious."

One way to remind yourself to think like a reader is to use resources that are marketed to the readers directly.  My favorite resource for that is Goodreads, and specifically the marketing materials they create.

For example, right now they have a "Dive Into Summer Reading" feature pinned to the top of every page. Clicking on it takes you to a series of obvious articles like a list of the big book of summer or top books of the year so far, but there is also a list of last year's Goodreads Choice titles that are now in paperback and staff members picks.

These are all books your patrons are going to be asking about over the coming weeks, and if you spent some time on reader driven resources, you would see these lists and already have these titles on physical displays or virtual lists.

And this is just one example of the lists available on Goodreads. And Goodreads is just but one example of a reader driven resource.

Also, and I need to say this because  too many of you  act this way and it is not a good look-- you do not get bonus points for coming up with the suggestion no one else has given. It's fun when we find an outside of the box suggestion and it works, yes, but look, real talk time here, we are barely keeping  our libraries functioning, our staff are overworked, nervous, and tired. Don't reinvent the wheel. No one is giving you a medal. 

Start thinking like a reader, not a book world expert, as you help patrons. Goodreads is only 1 suggestion on where to begin.

What I suggest you do is take this question directly to your patrons: What resources do you use [besides the library] to find reading suggestions?

Post this on all of your social media and place it on a paper book mark inside the books you are delivering curbside. Give people an email to respond with an answer or leave room for them to write the answer and return it with the book.

Make a list of your patrons' favorite reading resources. Share it among all staff, or with all patrons on your website. But most importantly, start using those resources to help your readers. You may learn a thing or two bu listening to your patrons and thinking like a reader yourself.