We all know about Passive Reader’s Advisory: booklists, displays, posters. Book suggestions that our patrons can browse on their own time. These are extremely valuable tools to librarians – we can’t be everywhere at once after all! I, and most librarians, believe that a reference interview is usually the best way to match a reader… Read More Personality Tests in the Library
I recently wrote an article for the Teen section of the Cambridge Idea Exchange’s website entitled Why Poetry Is Way More Punk Than You Thought. It includes a short argument in favor of poetry as entertainment, highlighting some common misconceptions. It also includes a list of 4 ways to discover poems that will appeal to… Read More Poetry Reader’s Advisory: How To Find A Poem
Since my first Flow Chart Display at the Clemens Mill branch of the Idea Exchange has been hanging on the wall for a couple months now, I thought it was about time to design a new one. Patrons stand in front of the wall, and answer a series of bright (and sometimes sassy!) questions about… Read More Interactive Readers’ Advisory: Try a New Type of Book Flow Chart
How Does My Brain Work?! You don’t have to peruse personality quiz websites very long to know that people are fascinated by themselves. Everyone, at some point, asks vital questions about who they are, why they are that way, and how their brain works. Good thing there are so many fascinating books on the topic of psychology… Read More Psychology Book Display: How Does My Brain Work?!
This display highlights one of the most appealing aspects in Teen Fiction: unusual high schools. The brilliance in these books is that they take an ordinary experience that almost every teen can relate to, and twists it up. Sprinkles magic on it. Adds some vampires. Throws in some spies and mini skirts. These books are… Read More YA Display: Not Your Average Highschool
Once upon a time I woke up with an idea for a display. A huge flow chart that took up an entire wall, and asked readers questions about their reading preferences. As they worked their way down the chart, they would have to decide for themselves what kind of book they wanted to read, and… Read More Interactive Reader’s Advisory: Flow Chart Display
Still looking for a Valentines Day display? It’s not too late to put together a Blind Date With a Book display! I’ve seen variations of this display, and absolutely love the effect. A patron looking at a wall full of appeal factors has a more interesting decision to make than a patron looking at a… Read More Blind Date With a Book – Tips and Tricks
For the past year I’ve been surrounded by library school students. Not only were these people who adored libraries, but they were people who were planning to dedicate their lives to making sure libraries continue to thrive, evolve, and meet the needs of their communities. Together we learned the charming philosophy and sociology of libraries,… Read More The Role of a Contemporary Public Librarian Might Not Be As Simple As You Think
Don’t worry: This post contains no explicit spoilers. Out of the 7 books I took with me on vacation to New Brunswick, The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker gripped me deepest. Forget beaches: I’ve read this book on foggy interstate highways, in a hotel room beside Mount Washington, on a dock overlooking the harbor,… Read More Implicit Spoilers and Readers’ Advisory
harrypottercharacterreadalikes.wordpress.com I created a coping mechanism for muggles in denial: a Harry Potter Reading Map. I wanted to create a reading map that was as universally appealing as possible, so I decided to choose the most widely read contemporary series I could think of: Harry Potter. This story/character driven series appeals to readers of all… Read More My Latest Readers’ Advisory Tool: Harry Potter Secondary Characters Reading Map
Ontarian Librarian 