a few thoughts on The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction: Third edition by Neal Wyatt and Joyce G Saricks

The Readers' Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction: Third Edition by Neal Wyatt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an excellent guide to readers' advisory work and is a pacy and engaging read. I would suggest reading it in chunks as it is helpful to think about how this information can be applied in your library. Each genre has a section which provides a definition, the characteristics and appeal including frame, setting, story line, tone, characterisation, language, style and pacing. Subgenres are explored. Key authors are suggested with an interesting mix of new and older authors. Information about fans of each genre is included (as to how much assistance they are likely to be interested in), as are 'sure bets'. One of the most interesting sections in each chapter is the reading among genres (so other genres you can suggest to particular readers), and 'reading the whole collection' which brings in non-fiction including poetry, graphic novels (although they are included in other places as well), audio books, film, television and video games. I really like the approach of making the whole collection work for readers' advisory work as there are some implications for how other enquiries are dealt with as well. Each chapter ends with a section called 'hack this book' where you can write in local information.

I read this as an ebook, however, for maximum use in a public library it may be necessary to buy a print edition (even with the rather tough exchange rates at present). This books could be very helpful for staff training, including detailed genre discussions.

While I do not agree with all the descriptions of each genre, they are very helpful.

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Who do you make space for in your library? #GLAMBlogClub

It is important to consider who you are making welcome inside your library space. Inside the library space may be inside the library building or mobile, or it could be the library website/app as a space, the library catalogue as space, and of course it is the collections and services.  Skilled staff are also key, but I am not going to call them a space. There are helpful resources for planning how big to make public libraries, and considerations for that space (both of these are thanks to various people at my work place).   The library space needs to be big enough for the community into the future, and that still means planning for a plenty of space in the actual building (and you can read more about that here).  Please don't skimp on space.

It is important to consider who you are making welcome inside the library space and who you aren't.  When you look at your local population data, who aren't you seeing in the library space? Find out why they don't feel welcome in the library space (in the library/online). Maybe you need to go out to talk with them first, so they know about the library, go to the space where they are comfortable.  There are some very interesting targeted programs taking place, this is just one example.

Author Sonali Dev calls for taking action on library collections, saying 'don't be complicit in our silencing' (go and listen to her talk - see below).  

 It is crucial that authors such as Sonali Dev and Uzma Jalaluddin are given space in public library collections.  This silencing can happen with local authors too, and it is important to make sure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait authors are given space in the collection. Make sure you have given enough space in the catalogue record so that people can find find what they are looking for. Subject headings can really make a big difference for readers' advisory work, both for staff and the public. Becky Spratford has also written about this (and this also provides a specific instance).  We need diverse books and American Indians in Children's Literature provide examples of sources for children's authors too, and these are needed as the infographic below shows.

Have you seen this infographic? It uses data generated by the Cooperative Children's Book Center at Univ of Wisconsin-Madison, and the idea that bks with good representations can be mirrors. pic.twitter.com/TB7PHzcv1Y

— Elliott Young @youngell7 (@IndigenousXca) July 5, 2019

This complicity in silencing has a lot of potential in local studies collections too.  The recent article about how a Bengali book in Broken Hill sheds new light on Australian history highlights the importance of making sure that we are not writing people out of history, silencing them for the future. If you are only collecting one narrative, there are many stories and many people which are being silenced, and not given space in your library.  Recent collecting is important for giving space to more viewpoints and different histories.

How equitable is the help your library provides?

This has more questions than answers. I am writing it after thinking about GLAM Blog Club July 2019 with the theme of help, and yes, it still needs more thinking about by me, but I decided to go with this as a start.

Do you say your library welcomes all people, or do you demonstrate that your library welcomes all people?  They can be quite different.

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Very few books have been written in the languages of Treaty 7 nations, and even less have been written specifically for children. We want to change that, but we need you to help us do it 📚 · Are you from a Treaty 7 community and have a story to tell? Now's your chance to work with acclaimed Canadian author @richardvancamp to create a children's book in your traditional language. Call 403-774-2545 or email henri.giroux@calgarylibrary.ca to register 🖋 · #calgarylibrary #yyc #yycreads #yycbooks #librariesofig #amwriting #yycarts #localauthor #calgaryauthor #calgarywriter #yycity #yycindigenous #treaty7

A post shared by Calgary Public Library (@calgarylibrary) on Jul 12, 2019 at 3:24pm PDT

Is your library designed in a way that only people from a particular social or cultural background can understand it? How do you help those unfamiliar with these quirks and foibles of design? What changes do you make? Can your library be easily used by someone in a wheelchair, or who is pushing a pram or a walker?  How have you tested this?  There can be a difference between compliance and usability.

How easy is it for someone using your library to ask for help?  How do they know they can ask a question, or get help with using the library including the relevant technology (and this includes apps to access library material)?

Is it easier to help someone when they are in the library or do you provide equally good help for people accessing your library resources and tools online (and what about help early in the morning or late at night, or a different times at the weekend)?

What languages are your collections in? Whose stories are told in your library? Whose stories are collected? Are you really working with the community? How can people who are fluent in languages other than English access your resources, do they have to be able to read or speak English to be able to access help?

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One of these things is not like the other — they're still learning their traditional language! Baby Îyâ-toh loves Stoney Nakoda Family Storytime at the Central Library. Which of the five available languages will your family learn? Register for storytime programs at the link in our bio 👶 · · · #calgarylibrary #yyc #yycfun #booksbooksbooks #yycarts #newcentrallibrary #yyclove #yycfamily #yyckids #yycmoms #yycindigenous #treaty7 #yycdads #raiseareader

A post shared by Calgary Public Library (@calgarylibrary) on Jul 24, 2019 at 4:18pm PDT

How do you help people who are not library members find out about the collections, services and programs?  Do you go out to them, or do you expect them to come to you?

How do you help staff improve their skills?  Do they have to know the right way to ask for help, or are you proactive? The same goes for readers/patrons/clients. Do they have to know the right way to ask for help, or are you proactive? When people are in the library do you provide a roving service for help?

Getting an apology right in public service

I was recently on a train after major signal failure at Ashfield.  The announcement on the train clearly stated :

We apologise for this disruption.

This was an an apology.  It would not have been an apology if the guard said we apologise if there has been a disruption (or inconvenience or other similar term) - which can occur.  Of course there was a disruption, the train was late, all the trains were late, so the apology was great because it acknowledged that.

Keep this in mind when making apologies at work, otherwise, it can sound like blaming the victim.

If you say we apologise if there has been a disruption (or inconvenience or other similar term) it can sound like there is an obliviousness to the delay, or whatever else is being apologised for.  If you are apologising, then make an apology, don't hedge your bets.