Transforming Readers Advisory: Read Beyond

Readers’ Advisory (RA) is a skill that must be continuously developed. When asked for book recommendations, library staff default to either tried and true authors or the most recent books they themselves have read. Too often, those books and authors are white, able-bodied, cisgender, heterosexual people writing about characters similar to them in some way. However, there is a vast landscape of diverse titles with which library staff can engage and recommend for the stumped reader. In this session, a panel of RA experts will share their views, tips, and tricks for recommending diverse materials. From the trademarks of genre fiction to author readalikes, these experts will engage in a dynamic conversation about book moods and appeals that will spark interest from any potential reader. Hear what our panelists have to say about their approach to RA, how they recommend books they’ve never read, how easy it is to include diverse recommendations, and what to do when a reader says they don’t want something in their suggestions.

While the focus will be on adult titles, we will also have commentary on RA for teens and how to leverage adult books for young adults. To wrap up the presentation, panelists will be asked to share their top five best books of the year so far. Q&A to follow.