In case you missed it or don't subscribe (you should fix that here), I have reposted Susan Maguire's editor's letter (and the header with quick links) to the very useful newsletter that is focused on where Collection Development and Readers' Advisory meet-- The Corner Shelf. Click here or below to read the entire thing.
Have a great weekend. Some of you are off Monday for President's Day, but I will have a post.
February 2024
• Notes from the Field: LynnDee Wathen on Readers' Advisory, Merchandising, and BookTube
• Spring Audiobook Preview
• Top 10 Book-Group Books
• Reference Roundup: Winter 2023–24
• Excerpts from the Experts: Thoughts on Sensitivity in Reading Selection
• Shelf Care: The Podcast: Memoirs, Author Visits, and Books Books Books
| |
Hello Shelfers,
A readers’ advisor’s work is never done. First, you have to learn the basics—appeal elements, and how to talk to patrons about books, etc. But that’s just the beginning. A readers’ advisor must be aware of the titles on the shelves and the titles coming out soon and be able to connect their readers to those titles, and that work never ends. But, not to get too vocational-awe-y about it, it’s some of the most rewarding work a library worker can do.
We here at Booklist want to make that work as accessible as possible, and to that end, we’re throwing a party! And by “party,” I mean “series of three free workshops in one afternoon.” Readers’ Advisory: Ideas and Practice takes the basics of RA and expands on them, with a workshop on the RA conversation, an exploration of horror and romance and how the genres’ appeal intersect and diverge, and a class on writing concise, catchy book blurbs. All taught by rock star librarians, all free. Sign up, and join us on March 14th!
Speaking of readers’ advisory, in this issue of Corner Shelf, I chat with branch manager (and Booklist reviewer) Lynn Dee Wathen about her RA practice, including how she uses bookish social media. Our friends at ALA Editions share an excerpt from The Librarian’s Guide to Bibliotherapy (2023) that considers how readers’ advisors can suggest with sensitivity. For the collection developers out there, we look ahead with the Spring Audiobook Preview, and look back with the winter Reference Roundup. All that, plus a top 10 list and a podcast. Wowee!
Enjoy this Corner Shelf, and feel free to reach out if you’ve got suggestions for future issues.
Happy reading!
—Susan Maguire
Senior Editor, Collection Development and Library Outreach, Booklist
smaguire@ala.org
@Booklist_Susan
No comments:
Post a Comment