Skip to main content

Week 8: Special Topics Paper


Passive Readers' Advisory: Adult Nonfiction

While traditional readers’ advisory relies on face-to-face and/or real-time staff-patron conversation, passive readers’ advisory aims to offer reading suggestions to patrons through a variety of alternative methods such as book displays, bookmarks, posters, pamphlets, etc. Passive readers’ advisory may be more effective at reaching patrons who do not feel comfortable with or do not prefer seeking readers’ advisory assistance directly from library staff.

Some unique ways for libraries to market adult nonfiction:

  • Book displays
  • Bookmarks
  • Pamphlets
  • Posters
  • Flyers/handouts

Example: Bookmarks

While the word “bookmark” refers to a particular format and function, they can be used for other purposes, such as DVD inserts. Bookmarks would be a great way to turn DVD renters into nonfiction readers. Individual bookmarks could be made to appeal to patrons who like to watch particular television series. Bookmarks could be titled, “If you like (TV series) you may like (list of books).” Novelist has a similar feature on its website, “For fans of …” For example, you can click on “For fans of Game of Thrones” and get a list of books which may appeal to fans of the show. Nonfiction DVD-book pairings may include C.S.I./true crime, Fixer Upper/Chip and Joanna Gains memoirs, or The Great British Baking Show/cookbooks. Additionally, movie fans may be interested to know that the library carries nonfiction books on which many popular movies are based: Unbroken, The Glass Castle, The Pursuit of Happyness, House of Evil (also local to Indiana), etc. Any of these bookmarks could be displayed in the individual DVD cases as well as with other bookmarks on display at the Information Desk.

In addition to book displays, bookmarks, pamphlets, posters, etc., libraries can make nonfiction more easily accessible by attempting to "demystify Dewey." What I mean is that patrons who are not familiar with how the Dewey Decimal System works can feel overwhelmed and lost at trying to find specific nonfiction books, authors, and/or topics. At my library, we have end cap signs that specify which Dewey ranges are within each aisle. We also have a few shelf labels to guide browsers such as, "Politics 320," "Medical 610," and "Gardening 635." I believe that the signs would be more effective if, in addition to the Dewey ranges, it also listed the popular sections in the area that have shelf labels. More shelf labels would be better, too. Ultimately, the goal is to successfully connect patrons with nonfiction books they will enjoy and/or find useful.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 7 Prompt: Literary Hoaxes

"Write about what you want. Write well. It doesn't matter if it's true. I'll never know the difference." In 2003, in the basement of Glendale Mall in the heart of Indianapolis, my W131 professor instructed our night class on how to approach our personal narrative essay. It was the first time that I had ever considered the idea of artistic license (however naïve that may be), and simultaneously, had been given permission to use it on a school assignment. I ended up fictionalizing an event that happened in my life years prior, and my writing was better for it, which was reflected in my grade. My first college paper opened up a whole new way of writing personal narrative for me. Fast-forward to about a year ago when my library purchased A Million Little Pieces , a 2019 movie based on the previously published book, A Million Little Pieces by James Frey, a memoir detailing the painful and depraved realities of addiction and recovery. As someone who has watched several...
2 comments
Read more