The Readers' Advisory Handbook (ALA Readers' Advisory)

Must have for professional collections for librarians. This book is set up to be read thoroughly (which I highly recommend) or to flip through for chapters that relate to your area. I was fortunate enough to take three RA related workshops taught by one of the authors, Kaite Stover , a couple years ago. I kept every handout she gave. They are all in a binder that I keep at work with me. This book is now beside that binder. Section 2 of the book on reviewing and evaluating materials will come in handy if you ever find yourself asked to review something out of your normal reading tastes like an audio book or graphic novel. While some libraries are fortunate enough to have a designed desk for readers advisory services other doesn't so chapter 10 is really helpful on making bookmarks, booklists and displays. This is also a helpful service when you don't have the time for one on one contact with each patron. I will sometimes place bookmarks or booklists in books that patrons have on hold that I think will benefit from the bookmark or booklist. My favorite part of the programming section is David Wright's chapter on doing story time for adults. It sounds like his adult story time is a must-attend event. Sadly I don't think I'd be anywhere near as entertaining. I'd clear a room instead of packing a room. I work at a library that has a considerably older population so I appreciated Alicia Ahlvers advice on readers advisory for older adults. It is sometimes hard to find books to suggest to older patrons. I like her author suggestions. I have previously suggested some of them but she suggests some that I never would have thought of. I especially like the final two chapters of the book that deal with YA reading adult books and vice versa. Both of those are something I deal with almost daily. Glad I'm not the only one that's noticed that trend. This book contains almost more helpful RA hints than a librarian can use in a lifetime. It makes me excited to go to work and try out some of the suggestions.

The usual upfront disclaimers: I'm friends with both editors, went to graduate school with Jessica, in fact, contributed to two of Jessica's other book projects and had been asked to contribute to this one (but had to decline), and I received my copy as a free review copy.When they called this a Handbook, they were right in every sense of the term. This is truly a practical tool for anyone involved in readers' advisory work. Moyer and Stover have laid the book out logically with each section flowing into the next. The first section on "Getting to Know Your Materials" is the one everyone can use and learn something from. Succeeding sections take you a level deeper into readers' advisory services with each one. I've already taken ideas from a number of sections and have incorporated them into classes I teach to librarians in Iowa.A must read for all public librarians and anyone providing readers' advisory services.