Below I am proud to feature this year's winner, the Popular Materials Department at Ela Area Public Library District.
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One of the listed reasons Ela won this award [below] is because of their podcast, Three Books. But that is not the only reason. What is so inspiring about this team [and they truly are a team because I have been there and seen it myself] is that they knew their RA Service was being overshadowed when their department started also doing passports, and yet, people wanted RA Service too. Instead of throwing up their hands, they went out and did something about it....without sacrificing service to any patrons or overtaxing staff in the process.
Press Release » [and below]
Illinois Library Association 33 W. Grand Ave., Suite 401 Chicago, IL 60654-6799
Press Release
Phone: 312.644.1896 Fax: 312.644.1899
Email: ila@ila.org
The Popular Materials Department at the Ela Area Public Library is the recipient of the Illinois Library Association Readers’ Advisory Service Award. The award,presented by the Adult Reading Round Table, recognizes excellence in the planning,development and delivery of readers’ advisory service to adults and teens. The award is sponsored by the Adult Reading Round Table.
Ela’s Popular Materials Department was selected as this year’s winner in recognition of their innovative efforts to promote Readers’ Advisory in ways that are inclusive and impactful. With initiatives such as the Three Books Podcast, Ask Me What I’m Reading, Ela Book Buzz, Teen Margin Project, and Great Read Out, the Popular MaterialsDepartment has made readers’ advisory a central focus and more than doubled theirreach over the past two years.
These efforts are even more remarkable when you consider the challenge the Popular Materials department faced in the recent past. Due to a large volume of passports being processed at the Popular Materials Desk, staff were spending up to 50% of their time on passports. This was preventing other users from accessing the desk, and it was difficultfor staff to focus on or promote readers’ advisory. As the library worked on makingpassport processing more manageable, staff began brainstorm ideas to ensure thatpatrons’ readers’ advisory needs were met.
Highlights of the resulting readers’ advisory initiatives include:
Three Books Podcast
Ela’s Popular Materials Department was selected as this year’s winner in recognition of their innovative efforts to promote Readers’ Advisory in ways that are inclusive and impactful. With initiatives such as the Three Books Podcast, Ask Me What I’m Reading, Ela Book Buzz, Teen Margin Project, and Great Read Out, the Popular MaterialsDepartment has made readers’ advisory a central focus and more than doubled theirreach over the past two years.
These efforts are even more remarkable when you consider the challenge the Popular Materials department faced in the recent past. Due to a large volume of passports being processed at the Popular Materials Desk, staff were spending up to 50% of their time on passports. This was preventing other users from accessing the desk, and it was difficultfor staff to focus on or promote readers’ advisory. As the library worked on makingpassport processing more manageable, staff began brainstorm ideas to ensure thatpatrons’ readers’ advisory needs were met.
Highlights of the resulting readers’ advisory initiatives include:
Three Books Podcast
This monthly podcast is hosted by staff members Christen Wiser and Becca Boland and features staff recommendations as well as guests including genre experts, authors, andlocal readers. One review of the podcast on iTunes states, “Three Books has become one of my most-anticipated podcasts. I love hearing the conversations about books almostas much as I love reading!”
Ela Book Buzz
This event featured book promotions and giveaways led by staff from across the library. Alexis Neumann, an attendee of event, states, “Book Buzz was an incredible one nightprogram in which various staff members of the library spoke on their favorite booksthey read within the past year. Hearing each person’s review and what they lovedabout the books made me incredibly eager to read each and every one.”
“Ask Me What I’m Reading”
Initiatives such as Book Clip Signage, Reading Stands, and Pins/Buttons highlight that staff are available and eager to provide reading suggestions, with a goal of encouragingmore casual readers’ advisory interactions.
Teen Margin Project
This program encouraged teens to write their thoughts, feelings, and reflections in the margins of the book before returning it to the library. Other readers could then reflect and add their thoughts, which created a discussion between readers.
Great Read Out
Library patrons were welcomed to the library after hours on the first day of summer to enjoy some ice cream and read together as a community.
Executive Director Matt Womack applauds the work of the Popular Materials staff as both inspiring to staff and a big hit with patrons. Assistant Director Erica Christiansonadds, “From engaging patrons through direct and indirect methods, to empoweringand involving staff in RA activities, the Popular Materials Department has usedinnovative methods to make our Library a more welcoming place for all readers.”
Ela Book Buzz
This event featured book promotions and giveaways led by staff from across the library. Alexis Neumann, an attendee of event, states, “Book Buzz was an incredible one nightprogram in which various staff members of the library spoke on their favorite booksthey read within the past year. Hearing each person’s review and what they lovedabout the books made me incredibly eager to read each and every one.”
“Ask Me What I’m Reading”
Initiatives such as Book Clip Signage, Reading Stands, and Pins/Buttons highlight that staff are available and eager to provide reading suggestions, with a goal of encouragingmore casual readers’ advisory interactions.
Teen Margin Project
This program encouraged teens to write their thoughts, feelings, and reflections in the margins of the book before returning it to the library. Other readers could then reflect and add their thoughts, which created a discussion between readers.
Great Read Out
Library patrons were welcomed to the library after hours on the first day of summer to enjoy some ice cream and read together as a community.
Executive Director Matt Womack applauds the work of the Popular Materials staff as both inspiring to staff and a big hit with patrons. Assistant Director Erica Christiansonadds, “From engaging patrons through direct and indirect methods, to empoweringand involving staff in RA activities, the Popular Materials Department has usedinnovative methods to make our Library a more welcoming place for all readers.”
The Readers’ Advisory Service Award will be presented at the Awards Luncheon to beheld on Tuesday, October 22, during the 2019 Illinois Library Association Annual Conference in Tinley Park.
For further information, contact the Illinois Library Association.
For further information, contact the Illinois Library Association.
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