Week 4: Readers Advisory Experience

Yesterday morning, I ventured out incognito.  For the Readers Advisory class I am in, we were asked to go to a library where we are not known.  While there we were to ask for help in finding a book to read.

I never expected to be nervous!  I am a natural introvert.  This combined with

• feeling false because I thought I knew how to find something to read for myself, 
• being in a "foreign land," and 
• being worried at possibly being left high and dry, 

left me feeling shaky and wary.

When I really think about it, I guess that is how some of our patrons feel about it.  They don't know us when they first meet with us.  They are feeling like they are in a foreign land. And, there are people who are not go getters. For them, reading is a solitary and sometimes intimate relationship.

I feel much better as the librarian.

I went with the expectation and hope of finding a good mystery to curl up with.

First, when I walked into the library, I searched and found the "Adult Fiction" area and decided to walk through the stacks.  This was in part to build up my nerve and in part to see if librarians in this branch were roving librarians.  When no one was there and I had acclimated myself to the situation, I approached the reference desk.

The desk was manned by two ladies.  I approached the one that didn't seem engaged in another task, and asked if she knew of any good mysteries she could recommend.  She didn't think she did, and then asked the other librarian if she had any ideas.

This librarian, I will call her Gem, said, "It depends on what you like."  I thought that was going to be it.  I must have looked worried, because I told her that it had been a long time since I had read any adult mysteries.  Which is true.  I can't remember the last time I read an adult mystery.  I usually read teen books.

She got up from her desk and guided me over to the mystery section while making me feel at ease with light banter about what I enjoy in a book. I expressed my desire to not have any of the gory details and sexual happenings.  We looked at the mystery books together.

Gem knows her stuff when it comes to mysteries.

She referred to "cozy" mysteries, which don't have the gory details or sexual content.  She referred to the murder being peripheral.  It happened, but the scene is not the focus.

She referred to "cute" mysteries, which can pretty much be judged by the cover.  These covers have animals or food on the cover.







We talked about series and stand alones. When we settled on a couple of different authors she took me back to the desk.  Our goal was to find out what was series and what wasn't.  To find out what series books were first and if they were available in the stacks.

I stood on the other side of the counter wondering what she was doing--though I had an idea since I have been there before.  So, I rounded the corner just enough to see she was on the catalog for the library.  I asked if the serials were numbered in the catalog.  She said not always.

Gem then introduced a new site to me: fantasticfiction.co.uk . . . This website allows you to put in either title or author.  From there it will let you know the numerical order of the titles or if there are stand alones by that author.  I have linked it at work now.  I see it being very useful.

I left with 6 books in tow.  I wanted to stock up for two reasons: 1) I have something to choose from in case one or more of the books are not what I am looking for - and - 2) just in case we get another bout of rough weather--which I am almost tempted to pray for so I have time to read--ALMOST, but not really.

Gem, is aptly named, if I do say so myself, and I am not bored.  Mission Accomplished and I survived.