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RA TOOLBOX: CONVERSING WITH THE READER: THE
RA INTERVIEW
Agenda
Review RA Interview Explain exercise. Collaboration: Explore a RA scenario Share results/reactions Wrap-up/Q & A
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Readers’ Advisory
A good RA librarian reacts to the reader’s desire by being a resource that provides possibilities.
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Readers’ Advisory Interview
Reference—Search for the right or specific answer.
Readers’ Advisory—Identify possibilities
Parallel steps to Reference & Readers’ Advisory Interview…
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Readers’ Advisory Interview
1.) Set the Tone.
2.) Get the facts.
3.) Give information.
4.) Follow-up
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Set the Tone.
Establish an opening and welcoming climate. When talking with readers, try to reinforce the idea that suggesting a book is a service we routinely provide.
Balance helpful and interested while avoiding intrusion.
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Get the Facts.
Make the transaction READER-CENTERED.
Elicit information from the reader
about their reading interests.
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Get the Facts.
#1 RA Question:
Tell me about a book you’ve read and enjoyed.
WHY? Question is open-ended.
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Get the Facts.
“What do you like to read?”
Rarely effective because it is hard for a reader to give you a spur of the moment answer, potentially making them feel foolish.
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Get the Facts.
Reader tells the story…
Sharing the story—his/her reaction,not the analysis.
We LISTEN for clues about what engaged them in his/her story.
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Get the Facts.
Listen for what is important to the reader.
Answers can give more information than the reader even knows.
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Get the Facts.
ALTERNATE QUESTIONS:
“Is there an author you consistently read?” “Have you read anything lately that you have disliked?”
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Get the Facts.
EXAMPLE: “That last book I read was too slow; nothing ever happened.”
RA REACTION: Rephrase to help reader identify what they do like--“What about a book with a lot of action--maybe a Thriller or an Adventure Story?”
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Get the Facts.
EXAMPLE: “I did not like the characters.” RA REACTION: “What did you dislike about them?” “What recent character did you like?” This is also a tactful way to find out whether the patron is uncomfortable with graphic violence, vulgar language or explicit sex.
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Get the Facts.
Offering the reader a choice allows the RA to narrow the range of possibilities.
RA QUESTION: “Have you read any Mysteries or Thrillers?”
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Get the Facts.
Or describe the feature of a popular crime storyteller like Stuart Woods.
Observe what they do not like. For instance, note preferences as to time period and setting.
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Give Information.
Learn to describe a book briefly. Emphasize succinct and engaging.
Use less plot and more of the appeal of the book like character, tone, pace and setting.
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Give Information.
Avoid terms like “well-written” or “good.” These phrases mean almost nothing to the patron who hears them.
Instead, talk about the way an author uses language or an unusual or distinctive style. Or use “award-winner” or “critically acclaimed.”
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Give Information.
Offer a range.
RA RESPONSE: If the reader likes Romances, suggest a Contemporary Romance like Kristin Higgins’s Catch of the Day, one of the more Romantic Gentle reads like Beverly Lewis’s The Fiddler, and a Sensual Historical Romance like Stephanie Laurens’ Devils Bride, the first in the Cynster series.
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Give Information.
Describing several possible titles reinforces the concept that Readers’ Advisors suggest rather than recommend, allowing the reader to make the final selection.
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Give Information.
Give an overview of each title, describing each one generally in terms of appeal.
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Give Information.
Be open about personal familiarity and experience with authors, genres, titles.
Communicate in a non-judgmental manner--accepting the reader’s standard encourages the reader to give you more information
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Give Information.
Rosenberg’s First Law of Reading: Never apologize for your reading tastes.
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Give Information.
Determine whether the reader wants book titles or authors, or perhaps an introduction to print and electronic RA resources.
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Give Information.
Verify the type of book and then the level of quality the reader has in mind.
Communicate directly that you heard the reader—paraphrase using the reader’s language.
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Give Information
Use conditional, might, could; not should.
Let the resource help “us” find possibilities, not tell us the answer.
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Give Information.
Know when you should suggest that the patron go to
someone else better equipped to respond to her/his reading needs in more
depth
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Give Information.
Remember this is a service we provide
Not an impostion
Not an attempt to “get rid” of the reader
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
Follow-up.
Request feedback.
Stop by the desk & let you know Email Telephone
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
EMBRACE THE FEAR
Before each encounter… Take a deep breath
Remember it is not about being right or wrong
Trying is the only way to knowing
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
REMEMBER
TO
LISTEN
The Readers' Advisory Potential; Leane M. Ellis, 2015
