Monday, June 29, 2015
Walls come up fast
So just a note about my slow progress. I've been really busy lately, but what really hampered my progress was my inability to have the Be More Bookish Blog from home. I fixed that by saving a web archive of it and emailing it to myself. Has it helped? Not yet, but I'm planning on getting more done this week. Who knows. I may even catch up. 3 assignments down, 8 (including this week's) to go.
Week, the first: assignment, the third!
Okay, by now I'm sure you're asking if I plan on doing all my titles that way. Answer is "no." Only the first week's will be like that. I'll try to mix things up. As we librarians all know, there are few things worse than a boring title.
Golden rules of the readers' advisory. I had a rather negative reaction to this right off the bat. This is because I feel like there are too many! 12 rules is a lot to remember. Goodness, there are many self-professed Christians who have trouble naming all 10 commandments! If even 10 simple strictures are that hard to remember, how does anyone expect a person to remember 12 rules with explanations after them?!? Fewer rules, maybe 3, would have been better.
But doing that is an issue as well. There is a lot of content in those 12 rules and trying to condense them would prove to be a challenge without losing some information. This is a common problem encountered by people like NASA who try to send gigantic amounts of data over long distances. Let us look at these golden rules and see if it can't be trimmed a little.
1. Read read read: fairly straight forward. Of course, the only way to recommend a book that someone might like if they like another books is to have read at least one of them. And reading everything is good because if someone asks you about a genre you may not enjoy, you still want to give them a good suggestion so they leave happy.
2. Write write write: an interesting idea. Keeping a reading log or even a -gasp- blog! It is a great way to keep track of what you've read, what you liked, what you didn't and maybe even get feedback from some of your fellows. They may even be able to suggest a book in the genre that you do like.
3. Prepare prepare prepare: if you're not comfortable with public interaction, then you may want to reconsider being on a public desk. That is my first thought. But it is important to be comfortable not only suggesting book titles, but being willing to take people to them. I think, this rule could be cut out entirely.
4. Attitude and atmosphere are everything: people come the librarians because they need help. They should feel welcome to approach you. You don't want to behave coldly toward them. Again, I feel like this is a fair basic quality for a librarian to have. I think we can cut it out too.
5. Don't pigeonhole the readers: while a reader may come looking for a specific book similar to one they've already read, a librarian shouldn't be afraid to try and branch out. Suggest to them something you liked and made you think of the genre they're looking at. That will be a very nice transition to a new genre. This one, we keep.
6. Don't pigeonhole the book: this is obviously closely related to the previous rule. I think they could very easily be combined to say something like "Don't pigeonhole." It may be a bit broad, but it does remind us that, as the saying goes, don't judge a book by it's cover.
7. It's not about you: basic customer service, again. As a librarian, it is not about what you've read and liked. The customer may hate every thing you love. But they are the ones you are trying to serve. You want to cater to them. I would probably get rid of this rule.
8. There is no perfect answer: this is a very true statement. Even if someone is a die hard fan of hard science fiction, they may still not like the latest Kevin J. Anderson book. No one book is perfect. I think this goes along very well with #6, so maybe we should try to modify it to be an add-on.
9. Invite the reader back: Ms. Orr is correct here in saying that reader's advisory is an on-going conversation. Goodness knows I've had more than one experience of a customer coming back directly to me because they loved I book I recommended and was hoping I could recommend another. Part of it is your attitude and atmosphere as well as being prepared and not pigeonholing books or customers. I like this rule, but I think it could probably be modified somewhat.
10. Keep current: this is vital. You have stay on top of the latest things coming out. We at BCPL have an advantage of have the wonderful collection blog that collection development puts out, but there are plenty of other resources too, such the New York Times best sellers or Amazon.com's best sellers. This rule is a keeper.
11. Enjoy yourself: if you don't like a book you read, it will like show in reader's advisory. But! You might be able to use that to your advantage. A customer asks for a specific book that you have read but didn't like. However, you've read more books in that genre. You could tell them: "Well I read it, but didn't much enjoy it. I liked this book better and it's similar because of such and such but better because of so and so. You might like it too." If they are instant on the first book, tell them that they could always check out both. This is a good rule.
12. Pass it on: also a great rule. As librarians, we should be able to pass on the skills we know, especially when it comes to core principles like reader's advisory. Helping a new staff member to get good at it requires time and patience, but is worth it in the end when they're great at recommending books to others. This is a good rule.
Okay. So we've gone through all the rules. Let's do a quick recap of if we're keeping them or not.
1: Yes
2: Maybe
3: No
4: No
5: Yes
6: Maybe
7: No
8: Maybe
9: Maybe
10: Yes
11: Maybe
12: Maybe
3 keeps, 3 cuts, 6 modifies. Overall, these are good rules, there are just too many.
Here's what we're keeping:
1: Read, read, read
5: Don't pigeonhole readers
10: Keep current
These all sound fantastic and are very easy to remember. Now to see about working in some of the maybes.
1. Read a lot, enjoy yourself, write it all down, and have actual conversations about books. (1, 2, 9, 11)
2. Don't pigeonhole readers or books as there is not perfect book for each reader. (5, 6, 8)
3. Keep current with the new stuff and be sure to share your skills and thoughts with those around you. (10, 12)
There. 3 rules that are easier to remember while still expressing much of the content of the original 12.
Golden rules of the readers' advisory. I had a rather negative reaction to this right off the bat. This is because I feel like there are too many! 12 rules is a lot to remember. Goodness, there are many self-professed Christians who have trouble naming all 10 commandments! If even 10 simple strictures are that hard to remember, how does anyone expect a person to remember 12 rules with explanations after them?!? Fewer rules, maybe 3, would have been better.
But doing that is an issue as well. There is a lot of content in those 12 rules and trying to condense them would prove to be a challenge without losing some information. This is a common problem encountered by people like NASA who try to send gigantic amounts of data over long distances. Let us look at these golden rules and see if it can't be trimmed a little.
1. Read read read: fairly straight forward. Of course, the only way to recommend a book that someone might like if they like another books is to have read at least one of them. And reading everything is good because if someone asks you about a genre you may not enjoy, you still want to give them a good suggestion so they leave happy.
2. Write write write: an interesting idea. Keeping a reading log or even a -gasp- blog! It is a great way to keep track of what you've read, what you liked, what you didn't and maybe even get feedback from some of your fellows. They may even be able to suggest a book in the genre that you do like.
3. Prepare prepare prepare: if you're not comfortable with public interaction, then you may want to reconsider being on a public desk. That is my first thought. But it is important to be comfortable not only suggesting book titles, but being willing to take people to them. I think, this rule could be cut out entirely.
4. Attitude and atmosphere are everything: people come the librarians because they need help. They should feel welcome to approach you. You don't want to behave coldly toward them. Again, I feel like this is a fair basic quality for a librarian to have. I think we can cut it out too.
5. Don't pigeonhole the readers: while a reader may come looking for a specific book similar to one they've already read, a librarian shouldn't be afraid to try and branch out. Suggest to them something you liked and made you think of the genre they're looking at. That will be a very nice transition to a new genre. This one, we keep.
6. Don't pigeonhole the book: this is obviously closely related to the previous rule. I think they could very easily be combined to say something like "Don't pigeonhole." It may be a bit broad, but it does remind us that, as the saying goes, don't judge a book by it's cover.
7. It's not about you: basic customer service, again. As a librarian, it is not about what you've read and liked. The customer may hate every thing you love. But they are the ones you are trying to serve. You want to cater to them. I would probably get rid of this rule.
8. There is no perfect answer: this is a very true statement. Even if someone is a die hard fan of hard science fiction, they may still not like the latest Kevin J. Anderson book. No one book is perfect. I think this goes along very well with #6, so maybe we should try to modify it to be an add-on.
9. Invite the reader back: Ms. Orr is correct here in saying that reader's advisory is an on-going conversation. Goodness knows I've had more than one experience of a customer coming back directly to me because they loved I book I recommended and was hoping I could recommend another. Part of it is your attitude and atmosphere as well as being prepared and not pigeonholing books or customers. I like this rule, but I think it could probably be modified somewhat.
10. Keep current: this is vital. You have stay on top of the latest things coming out. We at BCPL have an advantage of have the wonderful collection blog that collection development puts out, but there are plenty of other resources too, such the New York Times best sellers or Amazon.com's best sellers. This rule is a keeper.
11. Enjoy yourself: if you don't like a book you read, it will like show in reader's advisory. But! You might be able to use that to your advantage. A customer asks for a specific book that you have read but didn't like. However, you've read more books in that genre. You could tell them: "Well I read it, but didn't much enjoy it. I liked this book better and it's similar because of such and such but better because of so and so. You might like it too." If they are instant on the first book, tell them that they could always check out both. This is a good rule.
12. Pass it on: also a great rule. As librarians, we should be able to pass on the skills we know, especially when it comes to core principles like reader's advisory. Helping a new staff member to get good at it requires time and patience, but is worth it in the end when they're great at recommending books to others. This is a good rule.
Okay. So we've gone through all the rules. Let's do a quick recap of if we're keeping them or not.
1: Yes
2: Maybe
3: No
4: No
5: Yes
6: Maybe
7: No
8: Maybe
9: Maybe
10: Yes
11: Maybe
12: Maybe
3 keeps, 3 cuts, 6 modifies. Overall, these are good rules, there are just too many.
Here's what we're keeping:
1: Read, read, read
5: Don't pigeonhole readers
10: Keep current
These all sound fantastic and are very easy to remember. Now to see about working in some of the maybes.
1. Read a lot, enjoy yourself, write it all down, and have actual conversations about books. (1, 2, 9, 11)
2. Don't pigeonhole readers or books as there is not perfect book for each reader. (5, 6, 8)
3. Keep current with the new stuff and be sure to share your skills and thoughts with those around you. (10, 12)
There. 3 rules that are easier to remember while still expressing much of the content of the original 12.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Week, the first: assignment, the second!
Ha! Two in one day! Who am I kidding, I'll probably do all of week 1's today. When you see the pond if full of frogs, you just hop to it! Am I right? Right...? Guys...? Bueller...?
Any way, judging a book by its cover. We're told not to do that. But to be honest, when I look at one of Beverly Lewis's books and see an Amish woman on it, I can safely say I probably wouldn't find it as good as something by the late great Terry Pratchett. But it is always a possibility. So! Judging a book:
1. Correct! Woo! Small town certainly seems to fit the look. It has a feel of the Anne of Green Gables and Little House on the Prairie, both of which I would think of as pioneer or small town stories.
2. I'm saying Spy/Espionage. It has a look of a Tom Clancy book. Hunt for Red October or Patriot Games, that sort of thing. But I was wrong. Techno. I guess books like Hunt for Red October are part of the Thriller genre that bridge multiple subgenres.
3. My first thought with this one was Cold Mountain. Do any of the subgenres listed fit that? Of course not. So what do I think it is? The soft colors makes me think female and I would put it as either beach reads or chick lit. I'm going with...chick lit. Wrong! Literary. This one was toughie.
4. This is a cozy mystery. I have no doubts. It has the look. Cats. Small. Lots of books in the background. Am I right? Yes! Okay. 2/4 so far. I would like to do better.
5. Dragons. A cornerstone of fantasy! I would probably have put this hard fantasy, but the look of the cover says Epic or High Fantasy. Am I right? I am! Yay!
6. Oooh. Sci-fi. One of my favorite genres. There's a person in some sort of advanced suit here, so I'm ruling out alternate history, cyberpunk, space western, and steampunk right off the bat. Wow. That really narrows the field quickly. The alien environment and detail on the cover suggest it is more in depth than soft sci-fi. Hard sci-fi. That's my final answer. And I was correct! 4/6. I'm doing better!
7. There's a giant scale on the cover. Why would I think it is anything but legal? And I'm right.
8. Werewolves have been very popular recently. Also, given the fact that the woman in the picture is covered in tattoos and is wearing modern clothing, I'm guessing contemporary fantasy here. But I'm wrong! Well that's a surprise. I can see it being urban, but I still think contemporary applies as a description here. Again, something that seems to bridge subgenres. 5/8
9. Uh oh. Flags. That could put it in so many subgenres. Again, like The Hunt for Red October or Patriot games or any number of Clancy books, it is hard to tell on this one. I'm leaning toward military here. It is definitely not medical. Military. Am I right? I am! Woo! 6/9
10. The old house in this cover screams historical. The refined clothing reinforces it, but also suggest beach read or chick lit. Still, the overwhelming evidence says historical and so do I. And I'm right. This is totally Downton Abbey in book form.
11. Pink. Lots of pink. And other vibrant colors. Lots of empty space. Clashing colors. This cover is weird. Offbeat it is! Ohhh! But I'm wrong! Chick lit. I mean, I guess so. But it seems like off beat works so much better. Who knows, it could be offbeat chick lit!
12. Look at the puppy! So cute. Oh, right, and the couple on the tire swing. I feel like she's probably already pregnant with his child. Any way, my vote is for Regency here, though I'm not entire sure what that means, even in context. It just seems to fit better than anything else save contemporary/modern. Agh! And I was wrong. It was contemporary/modern. 7/12. Eeek! A least that's more than half!
Any way, judging a book by its cover. We're told not to do that. But to be honest, when I look at one of Beverly Lewis's books and see an Amish woman on it, I can safely say I probably wouldn't find it as good as something by the late great Terry Pratchett. But it is always a possibility. So! Judging a book:
1. Correct! Woo! Small town certainly seems to fit the look. It has a feel of the Anne of Green Gables and Little House on the Prairie, both of which I would think of as pioneer or small town stories.
2. I'm saying Spy/Espionage. It has a look of a Tom Clancy book. Hunt for Red October or Patriot Games, that sort of thing. But I was wrong. Techno. I guess books like Hunt for Red October are part of the Thriller genre that bridge multiple subgenres.
3. My first thought with this one was Cold Mountain. Do any of the subgenres listed fit that? Of course not. So what do I think it is? The soft colors makes me think female and I would put it as either beach reads or chick lit. I'm going with...chick lit. Wrong! Literary. This one was toughie.
4. This is a cozy mystery. I have no doubts. It has the look. Cats. Small. Lots of books in the background. Am I right? Yes! Okay. 2/4 so far. I would like to do better.
5. Dragons. A cornerstone of fantasy! I would probably have put this hard fantasy, but the look of the cover says Epic or High Fantasy. Am I right? I am! Yay!
6. Oooh. Sci-fi. One of my favorite genres. There's a person in some sort of advanced suit here, so I'm ruling out alternate history, cyberpunk, space western, and steampunk right off the bat. Wow. That really narrows the field quickly. The alien environment and detail on the cover suggest it is more in depth than soft sci-fi. Hard sci-fi. That's my final answer. And I was correct! 4/6. I'm doing better!
7. There's a giant scale on the cover. Why would I think it is anything but legal? And I'm right.
8. Werewolves have been very popular recently. Also, given the fact that the woman in the picture is covered in tattoos and is wearing modern clothing, I'm guessing contemporary fantasy here. But I'm wrong! Well that's a surprise. I can see it being urban, but I still think contemporary applies as a description here. Again, something that seems to bridge subgenres. 5/8
9. Uh oh. Flags. That could put it in so many subgenres. Again, like The Hunt for Red October or Patriot games or any number of Clancy books, it is hard to tell on this one. I'm leaning toward military here. It is definitely not medical. Military. Am I right? I am! Woo! 6/9
10. The old house in this cover screams historical. The refined clothing reinforces it, but also suggest beach read or chick lit. Still, the overwhelming evidence says historical and so do I. And I'm right. This is totally Downton Abbey in book form.
11. Pink. Lots of pink. And other vibrant colors. Lots of empty space. Clashing colors. This cover is weird. Offbeat it is! Ohhh! But I'm wrong! Chick lit. I mean, I guess so. But it seems like off beat works so much better. Who knows, it could be offbeat chick lit!
12. Look at the puppy! So cute. Oh, right, and the couple on the tire swing. I feel like she's probably already pregnant with his child. Any way, my vote is for Regency here, though I'm not entire sure what that means, even in context. It just seems to fit better than anything else save contemporary/modern. Agh! And I was wrong. It was contemporary/modern. 7/12. Eeek! A least that's more than half!
Week, the first: Assignment, the first!
And here it begins. There shall be no frogs harmed in this blog, despite the title and address. Frogs are our friends.
In any case, the first assignment for the Be More Bookish training is to do those sporacle quizzes. Let us see how I did....
10 minutes later....
Okay, so I got 18/24 on the adult books (in 2:42) and 15/20 on the kids (in 2:22). But I call a bit of foul on the kids one! I knew Stuart Little! I just couldn't spell Stuart correctly.... And guessed Chicka Chicka Boom Boom but called is Chika Chika Bang Bang instead. Oooops!
In any case, the first assignment for the Be More Bookish training is to do those sporacle quizzes. Let us see how I did....
10 minutes later....
Okay, so I got 18/24 on the adult books (in 2:42) and 15/20 on the kids (in 2:22). But I call a bit of foul on the kids one! I knew Stuart Little! I just couldn't spell Stuart correctly.... And guessed Chicka Chicka Boom Boom but called is Chika Chika Bang Bang instead. Oooops!
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