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Tuesday, October 23, 2018

RA for All Roadshow Visits the Wisconsin Library Association Pre-Conference

This morning I got up at the crack of dawn to make my way to the banks of the Mississippi in Lacrosse, Wisconsin so that I could be a part of the Wisconsin Library Association Conference today and tomorrow.
Today, I am providing one of the half day preconferences. Here is the schedule of events from the website, including the specific links for my programs. Conference attendees, please note that all links and handouts are also available on the conference website.
1:00 P.M. - 2:15 P.M. 
RA for All 
Readers Advisory belongs in every library, no matter its budget or type. 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.

15-Minute Break
2:30 P.M. - 3:30 P.M. 
Booktalking: Harnessing the Power of Sharing Books with Patrons
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 service 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 Specialist Becky Spratford as she shares the secrets 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.
  • Here are the slides. Also, this program has had a name change. It is now-- Booktalking Your Way to the Friendliest Library in Town

3:30 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Facilitated Booktalking Practice
10-Minute Break
4:10 P.M. - 5:00 P.M.  
RA Rethink: Merchandising and Upselling Edition 
If someone told you there’s a practical and easy way to increase circulation, patron visits, program attendance and the job satisfaction of your staff, would you do it? Of course you would. Becky has developed a method you can use to accomplish all of this and it plays off of the skills, talents, and interests you already possess. She’ll explain how to deepen staff involvement in readers advisory in a way that gets everyone from staff to patrons excited. You are spending a lot of effort and money on cultivating good collections, but are you giving those collections a fair chance to shine? Are you linking your programming and other services to items you are finding for your patrons? Do your patrons even know the full breadth of what you offer them? And how are you measuring results? With just a few simple tweaks to how you already market your collections, services, programs and even staff, Becky will help you leave a trail of happier and more engaged patrons in your wake.

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