Thursday, March 30, 2017



Nonfiction Annotation
Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance
Synopsis
J.D. Vance shares simultaneously both a memoir of his life and a sociological and cultural study of the white working class, specifically the hillbillies, or those in, or from, the Appalachian region. He begins with his grandparents and moves through the years, giving a detailed account of the culture that he was born and raised in. Although not all of the characteristics of his family can be attributed to hillbillies in general, Vance does do a good job of sharing his observations of the culture as a whole. A culture that he says has been slowly disintegrating, so much so that poverty is the norm. It is also a culture, that is so ingrained that even when upward mobility is achieved, the struggles of the culture follow. His grandparents moved from Kentucky to Ohio but the culture followed and so did the struggle. For example, at one point in the story he says his mom and her husband make a combined six figures but the struggle and conflict are still there.
One of Vance's conclusions is that hillbillies have acquired a learned helplessness; a sense of despair.
This and the overall account is a valuable insider perspective, one that everyone should read to understand how this huge portion of our society feels, and to understand that while the culture has many negatives, it also has many positives.
This is an often funny, often sad, but always moving look at a family and the larger culture they are a part of.

Non-fiction Characteristics
Narrative: Non-fiction books have different levels of the narrative aspect. Hillbilly Elegy is highly narrative and reads almost like a novel at times. So patrons who like highly narrative non-fiction may like a suggestion of Hillbilly Elegy.
Type: This is mostly a memoir but also a commentary on a culture and social class. It is not a task-based non-fiction book.
Subject: Working Class Whites from the Appalachian Region plus J.D. Vance's family story.
Appeal: Candid, Insightful, Engaging, Thought-Provoking

Read-Alikes
All Over But the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg
Belonging: A Culture of Place by Bel Hooks
Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010 by Charles Murray
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in Boom-Time America by Barbara Ehrenreich


Personal Note: My mom's side was all from Kentucky. I was told my whole life I was a hillbilly and I did relate to a lot of Vance's book. There aren't many people in my family to have gone to college and I have seen (and personally experienced) the learned helplessness. I related to this line, "Most of us were struggling to get by, but we made do, worked hard, and hoped for a better life." I identified with the religious beliefs of Mamaw, the fierce loyalty to family while everyone else is an outsider and several other big aspects. However, while his book does make poignant and important points on this culture, I felt some of it was more personal biography and perhaps not fair to associate the "hillbilly"culture at large with some of the characteristics of his family. While there is a lot of dysfunction in the culture overall, not every family is as out of control as his seemed to be. I just couldn't help wondering what someone who does not identify with this culture at all would think? I hope they saw the positives over the violence, verbal abuse and addiction because not all "hillbilly" families are that dysfunctional - even if they are poor. For example, my grandpa, who I never knew was admittedly a drunk but my Grandma while as intensely loving as Vance's, didn't act anything like her otherwise. I never heard language like that come out of her mouth. She was like a saint - very clearly a hillbilly, but sweet as could be. So, while I really liked the book,  I didn't think it quite right that he so intertwine his personal story in with hillbilly culture in general because it may give a false and very negative impression to people who do not associate with the culture. It's OK for someone like me because I relate to the culture and can tell the difference, but what about someone who has no relation to this culture? While he does show the intense love... the instability is, at some points, just incredibly dysfunctional and not all "hillbilly" families are like that. It's a complicated subject. As Vance says, "It would be years before I learned that no single book, or expert, or field could fully explain the problems of hillbillies in modern America. Our elegy is a sociological one, yes, but it is also about psychology and community and culture and faith."









Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Prompt Week 12
The Readers' Advisory Matrix for
Tools for Teaching: Discipline, Instruction, Motivation
by Fredric H. Jones

1. Where is the book on the narrative continuum?
Highly fact-based (has few or no narrative moments)

2. What is the subject of the book?
Teaching and Classroom Management

3. What type of book is it?
Highly subject-based, how-to, task-based, low narrative

4. Articulate Appeal
What is the pacing of the book?
The book is a how-to book, very subject and task-based, but I brought a great deal of knowledge about the subject to the book and had interest in the topic so that increased the pace for me. The language is down-to-earth and there are many illustrations and examples - these factors increased the pace of understanding the subject being taught and therefore the pace of reading as well.
Describe the characters of the book.
There is Dr. Jones himself as he talks about his observations, the conclusions he has drawn and the system of instruction, discipline and motivation that he is recommending based on the observations and conclusions. There are also many teacher and student examples Jones provides to illustrate his points but he does not say names or whether they are real people - he just uses them as illustrations.
How does the story feel?
The book feels authoritative, highly educational, and useful - you regard Dr. Jone's information with respect. Yet at the same time, it is written in a very down-to-earth manner so even though it feels authoritative, it also feels relaxed, friendly and approachable.
What is the intent of the author?
The author's intent is to pass on information to the reader that the reader will use. It is a how-to book. In this case, how to use the discipline, instruction and motivation techniques that he has compiled in order to have a more effective, smoothly-running classroom.
What is the focus of the story?
The focus is on highly effective instruction, discipline and motivation techniques.
Does the language matter?
Yes, the language matters. It matters because the reader needs to understand what Dr. Jones is advising to do in order to put it into practice, so the writing needs to be highly understandable and practical.
Is the setting important and well described?
The setting is a classroom. The setting is extremely important and very well-described. Dr. Jones is trying to teach the reader how to apply instruction, discipline and motivation techniques in an actual classroom. In order for the reader to understand what is meant (so that they can apply the knowledge) Dr. Jones had to describe aspects of the classroom very convincingly.
Are there details, and, if so, of what?
There is an abundance of detail about many aspects of the classroom. For example, there is a lot of detail about body language and how the teacher should use body language to express limits to the children. There is a great deal of detail about how to organize a lesson, how to arrange furniture in the classroom, how to create an incentive program, etc. The detail is extremely important since the book is a how-to book. If a teacher is going to implement the strategies in the book, then they have to know all the details for doing so.
Are there sufficient charts and other graphic materials? Are they useful and clear?
There is definitely sufficient charts and other graphic materials. They are very useful and clear. Dr. Jones provides ample examples and illustrations to enhance understanding.
Does the book stress moments of learning, understanding, or experience?
Definitely. The entire book is designed to stress learning. It is a task-based book.

5. Why would a reader enjoy this book(rank appeal)?
1. Learning/Educational/Task-Based     2. Understandable/Down-to-Earth  3. Friendly Tone



Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Week 11 Prompt
What does the change in medium mean for appeal factors?
The change to audio can affect most of the appeal factors, as they are influenced by the narrator. The following are some ways that came to mind:
Character - The way the narrator reads the character's lines will influence how the characters are perceived. Hearing the narrator read the character's lines may give the reader a different impression of the character than what they may have imagined in their own mind. For example, a character may go from funny to sarcastic.
Storyline - Although the storyline doesn't change, the impression of it may. The listener may feel the storyline is more character driven for example, if the narrator really does an impressive job of making the characters come to life.
Pace - The narrator can influence this depending on the pace they read the story at. Do they speak rapidly or have a drawl?
Tone - The narrator's delivery affects the tone. Example: funny vs. sarcastic
Writing style - It's the same story no matter who reads it but delivery may make it seem different. Examples: Funny vs. Sarcastic or Serious vs. Carefree
Besides affecting all of the above factors there is the whole consideration of audio characteristics as a new appeal factor in itself. Is the audio energetic or laid back? Loud or soft? Etc.
If you can't hold a book and feel the physical weight of it in your hands how does this affect your knowledge of the genre?
One gets a good indication of the typical density, detail, and length of genres by holding the physical books and flipping through them. This is lost with electronic or audio versions.
How about readers being able to change the font, line spacing, and color? How does that affect pacing and tone?
By changing these visual aspects of the text itself you can change the impression of the pacing and tone. While the words are still the same there could be an illusion of the book not being as dense or detailed. The pacing may not seem as slow. Tone would be affected by changing font color. The tone of a story may not seem as bleak if it's in pink font :)
How about Audiobooks and the track length, narrator choice, and music involved?
Track length affects pacing. Music has a huge influence on tone, mood, and pace. Is it tense music or relaxing? Fast or slow? Etc. The narrator affects so many appeal factors, in fact all of them really. (see above)
What appeals are unique to each medium?
ebooks - ebook factors are basically the same unless the patron changes the visual text (font, size, color, etc) as mentioned above.
audiobooks - Audiobooks have several unique appeals. The music is one and narrator style is another. Is the reader energetic or laid back? These sort of reader factors affect the impression of the other factors even though the words are the same. The reader is such an influence because there is so much choice about the way they read the story. Someone can say the same thing in many different ways and this gives the same words slightly different meanings.
The reader is definitely an appeal all to itself because I have listened to stories that I previously read and did not enjoy the story as much listening to it because I didn't care for the reader's voice. A Max Lucado book comes to mind. There were parts in the book that were very touching when I read it, but then listening I was not as touched because the reader had an annoying voice and it just sounded cheesy. Admittedly, I have not listened to many audiobooks though. I think books read by the authors would be the best because they know just how they meant their own words to sound.
I was wondering if there any books with sound effects?

Monday, March 20, 2017

Historical Fiction Annotation
The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks

Synopsis
The Secret Chord is historical fiction about the life of King David. The story includes all of the major events of the Biblical account, with a few new spins and much-imagined embellishment from the mind of Geraldine Brooks.
The story is narrated by Natan (Nathan), the prophet. Natan convinces the king to let him chronicle his life, and the necessary interviews to do that is one way Brooks uses to flesh out and embellish the Biblical account of David's life.
So, while all the major Biblical points are there - the slaying of the giant, harp-playing, Bathsheba bathing, etc., Brooks adds made up perspectives from the other characters' viewpoints as they talk of David. The interview with David's mother lets us start at the very beginning of his life and the story continues through to David's old age and impending death. Natan's observations and thoughts also add great dimension to the old stories.
The story is exciting and dramatic as David rises to power, builds a kingdom, experiences many downfalls and must eventually decide who will be the next king. The writing is detailed but not laboriously so; Natan's narration compels the reader to keep reading. While it is still fiction, Brooks does take readers into what was the real world of King David.



Characteristics Consistent with Historical Fiction
Historical Details in Abundance - There is a huge amount of accurate, historical detail in regards to the characters, setting and events in the book. Truly the world of King David is brought to life through the factual details. Although many facts are kept as they are historically known Brooks took great liberty with others and there are no footnotes or author's note included in the book as a way for readers to know what is true and what isn't.
Characterization - All of the characters are believable as people who lived in that time. There were no "anachronisms of language or behavior..." The characters behaved in ways that are consistent (for the most part) with known facts about them.
The main character is a real character in actual history and his life is shown in an intimate portrayal.
There is also a huge focus on the life of one character - King David - which is a characteristic of historical fiction.
Mood - Mood is a big factor for historical fiction fans and there is definitely a strong sense of mood in this story. The mood is primarily danger and triumph as David rises to power.
Pacing - It is a longer book and unfolds in an unhurried way. The story is very detailed but not boring - it still draws readers in.
Believability - History comes to life as Brooks fleshes out actual historical events.
Researched - The book is obviously very well researched.
Takes place in the past - Takes place in a time past with characters who are long gone but are brought to life again by the author's imagination.
Blends history and story together.
Provides and inside, intimate look at historical events.
Strong Narrative Voice - Natan is the narrator and he draws readers in.
Authentic Style/Language - The language used in the book provides a sense of the culture. There is even a list of names in the front of the book and an explanation that the Hebrew names are used. For example, Nathan is Natan and Saul is Shaul.
Story Line - The story closely follows the lives of historical characters - especially King David.



Appeal Terms
characters - detailed
pace - leisurely
tone - dangerous, triumphant, brutal
writing style - lyrical
storyline - intimate following of main characters



Readalikes
The Dove Keepers by Alice Hoffman
Queenmaker by India Edghill
Esther by Rebecca Kanner
Doc by Mary Doria Russell
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant



Personal Notes
I can see that there are so many types of historical fiction, that you have to use caution recommending and consider a great deal more than that the book is historical fiction. The Secret Chord was very graphic and violent at times and many readers do not like this.
While The Secret Chord really does explore the time of King David in a way that is much more entertaining than the Bible or history books it occurred to me that historical fiction could be dangerous for a reader who did not know better because the believability and accuracy might be so high on some levels that the reader may then believe it is all true or not know which parts are fiction. As Sarricks said, some people use historical fiction as "a painless method of learning history." But it has to be kept in mind that it's historical fiction. It is fiction based on history - not the actual history. The Secret Chord was so detailed and included so much that was true that the line becomes blurry and I can see that it would be easy to forget you aren't actually reading history. I felt the author should have had footnotes or an author's note because she took liberties with the history of King David in such a way that might confuse some readers. This is the only flaw with the book - the danger that someone only familiar with the basics of the story of King David's life may believe Brooks' account to be all factual because the major events are all there.













The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks


Synopsis
The Secret Chord is historical fiction about the life of King David. The story includes all of the major events of the Biblical account, with a few new spins and much-imagined embellishment from the mind of Geraldine Brooks.
The story is narrated by Natan (Nathan), the prophet. Natan convinces the king to let him chronicle his life, and the necessary interviews to do that is one way Brooks uses to flesh out and embellish the Biblical account of David's life.
So, while all the major Biblical points are there - the slaying of the giant, harp-playing, Bathsheba bathing, etc., Brooks adds made up perspectives from the other characters' viewpoints as they talk of David. The interview with David's mother lets us start at the very beginning of his life and the story continues through to David's old age and impending death. Natan's observations and thoughts also add great dimension to the old stories.
The story is exciting and dramatic as David rises to power, builds a kingdom, experiences many downfalls and must eventually decide who will be the next king. The writing is detailed but not laboriously so; Natan's narration compels the reader to keep reading. While it is still fiction, Brooks does take readers into what was the real world of King David.



Characteristics Consistent with Historical Fiction
Historical Details in Abundance - There is a huge amount of accurate, historical detail in regards to the characters, setting and events in the book. Truly the world of King David is brought to life through the factual details. Although many facts are kept as they are historically known Brooks took great liberty with others and there are no footnotes or author's note included in the book as a way for readers to know what is true and what isn't.
Characterization - All of the characters are believable as people who lived in that time. There were no "anachronisms of language or behavior..." The characters behaved in ways that are consistent (for the most part) with known facts about them.
The main character is a real character in actual history and his life is shown in an intimate portrayal.
There is also a huge focus on the life of one character - King David - which is a characteristic of historical fiction.
Mood - Mood is a big factor for historical fiction fans and there is definitely a strong sense of mood in this story. The mood is primarily danger and triumph as David rises to power.
Pacing - It is a longer book and unfolds in an unhurried way. The story is very detailed but not boring - it still draws readers in.
Believability - History comes to life as Brooks fleshes out actual historical events.
Researched - The book is obviously very well researched.
Takes place in the past - Takes place in a time past with characters who are long gone but are brought to life again by the author's imagination.
Blends history and story together.
Provides and inside, intimate look at historical events.
Strong Narrative Voice - Natan is the narrator and he draws readers in.
Authentic Style/Language - The language used in the book provides a sense of the culture. There is even a list of names in the front of the book and an explanation that the Hebrew names are used. For example, Nathan is Natan and Saul is Shaul.
Story Line - The story closely follows the lives of historical characters - especially King David.



Appeal Terms
characters - detailed
pace - leisurely
tone - dangerous, triumphant, brutal
writing style - lyrical
storyline - intimate following of main characters



Readalikes
The Dove Keepers by Alice Hoffman
Queenmaker by India Edghill
Esther by Rebecca Kanner
Doc by Mary Doria Russell
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant



Personal Notes
I can see that there are so many types of historical fiction, that you have to use caution recommending and consider a great deal more than that the book is historical fiction. The Secret Chord was very graphic and violent at times and many readers do not like this.
While The Secret Chord really does explore the time of King David in a way that is much more entertaining than the Bible or history books it occurred to me that historical fiction could be dangerous for a reader who did not know better because the believability and accuracy might be so high on some levels that the reader may then believe it is all true or not know which parts are fiction. As Sarricks said, some people use historical fiction as "a painless method of learning history." But it has to be kept in mind that it's historical fiction. It is fiction based on history - not the actual history. The Secret Chord was so detailed and included so much that was true that the line becomes blurry and I can see that it would be easy to forget you aren't actually reading history. I felt the author should have had footnotes or an author's note because she took liberties with the history of King David in such a way that might confuse some readers. This is the only flaw with the book - the danger that someone only familiar with the basics of the story of King David's life may believe Brooks' account to be all factual because the major events are all there.













Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Book Club Assignment
I attended a book discussion in the library system I work for. I had to just observe because I hadn't had time to read the book. I told the librarian this. The book discussion book was The Coincidence of Coconut Cake. Since I did not participate, I will just address the assignment questions here.
Who is asking the questions, is there a leader or do people take turns? The librarian was obviously the leader but the atmosphere was not formal. The atmosphere was casual because even though the librarian had notes and prepared questions, it was clear that anyone could ask additional questions. They didn't have to stick strictly to what the librarian had planned. So, they did not officially take turns, but anyone was free to speak up and ask a question of their own whenever they wanted to.
I spoke with the librarian beforehand and she told me she read the book, and feels like she's good at talking about books. However, she has only been doing the book club for a couple months so she likes the feeling of being prepared by having a list of questions. This, she said, is in case conversation slacks off or it gets awkward. She said she makes notes for possible questions as she reads and also looks at questions that have already been prepared in the library's book club to go kits.
If there is a leader, does the leader answer the questions as well or let the attendees respond first? She said that she does think out her answers to the questions too, in case she gets a quiet crowd and needs to deliberately spark them to talk. She said this has only happened for a few questions in the past. Usually people are there because they like to talk about books. She said she prefers to let them answer and not answer herself. At this book discussion she didn't have to answer any questions herself.
What type of questions are asked? Any involving just yes or no answers? During my observation the librarian asked a beginning question, which led to a lengthy discussion and a question asked by one of the patrons. During the rest of the time the librarian asked three other questions - so there were a total of four questions posed by her, about three by patrons and the rest of the time was discussion of those questions.
Her first question (after a brief intro where they just shared whether they liked the book or not) was, "It's clear from the beginning that Devlin and Lou have different plans for their lives. Why do you think they were together? What are your thoughts on Devlin?" This led to a funny conversation because the women didn't think very highly of Devlin.
Some other questions included:
"Delight is born in the heart. It sometimes also depends on its surroundings. Which do you think is more true?" So the group talked about whether they thought happiness was more inside you or because of surroundings.
"What did they think about Al's decision to keep his identity from Lou?"
"What do they think about the importance of second chances?" They didn't all agree about giving Al a second chance.
They also talked about Milwaukee (the setting of the story) and some of the recipes in the story.
All of the questions asked were thoughtful. None of them involved just yes or no answers. In fact, I was surprised at how thoughtful some of the responses were. The patrons related personal examples about finding happiness in their own lives and about experiences they had with giving people second chances.
Do all attendees actively participate? All of the attendees, nine total, were women. I haven't read this book but it sounded like a book that mainly women would like. It was mostly older women, in their fifties and sixties. They all participated at some point but to varying degrees. A couple ladies were kind of quiet and a few were very outspoken.
Do any attendees swoop in and steal all the spotlight? One woman did tend to, "swoop in and steal the spotlight." She was the first to answer several times and her answers were too lengthy. I could tell the librarian was trying to steer it away from her and she did manage a couple times to change the subject and get the discussion going in a new direction. One time, the librarian even interrupted and said, "What does everyone else think of that question?" The woman wasn't intending to be rude. You could tell she was just a "talker."
What is the atmosphere of the discussion, where is it taking place at? The atmosphere was relaxed and casual, everyone seemed friendly with each other. The librarian told me later that it was the same group she had for the last book, so they knew each other. The discussion took place in the library's large meeting room.
Are snacks or drinks provided?
Tea, coffee and water were served, as well as coconut cake. The librarian said they always have coffee, tea and water but they don't always have cake - the title just called for it this time.
What types of books does this book club normally discuss? I mentioned earlier that this librarian is new to the book discussion, so she is still working out what types of books to use in the future. She said she'd like to try a variety but is going to take into consideration what this group wants by asking them for their input. They read A Redbird Christmas in January and at the end of this month they are discussing Hanging Mary so there is already some variety in titles there. She expressed doubt over having a huge variety recommended from the group because they all seem to like books like The Coincidence of Coconut Cake, but she said she is going to try her best to mix it up.
I thought the librarian did a great job. She was well-prepared, created a welcoming atmosphere, and was very judicious in leading and guiding the discussion.


Thursday, March 2, 2017

Special Topics Paper - Readers Advisory and Social Media
Why Use Social Media for RA
Saricks emphasizes that conversation (communication) is an extremely important part of RA. “The readers’ advisory interview is a conversation about books.” (Saricks, 2009, p.5) Social media can be defined, “…as a group of Internet based applications that allow the exchange of user generated content.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.18) Why should these be combined?
To begin with, it is a fact that a large percentage of our society participates in social media. According to their webinar, Mickelsen and Stover have the statistics at the following numbers:
71% of internet-using adults are using Facebook
42% are using multiple platforms
18% are using Twitter
17% are using Instagram
(Mickelsen & Stover, 2014)
These statistics clearly show that users communicate through social media. “In this digital information age, it is increasingly important for public libraries to adopt new technologies to deliver services such as RA to reach users who have become accustomed to interacting with other people through digital channels.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.18) In other words, social media, for better or worse, has become a comfortable way for people to communicate and good RA involves communication as Saricks said. A communication expert had this to say about the relevancy of social media, "...social media likely will continue to become increasingly integrated into the normal human experience like most of the communication technologies that preceded it." (Keller, 2013, p.10) So, if the reality is that social media is here to stay as a form of communication, then we, as librarians, need to communicate with our patrons this way. The writer of an article called Are You Reaching Library Customers Where They Are? Wrote about one particular library director’s opinion: "Citing some major paradigm shifts in the digital landscape, including library users’ mobile phone behaviors, she encouraged libraries to fight the urge to stick to the status quo. She described this process as “changing the game” With 51% of users accessing information on a digital device and 80% of Internet users owning a smartphone, libraries are missing out if they’re not harnessing mobile apps and technology to reach users." (Maxey, 2016)
The traditional aims of RA are, “to increase reading choice and the enjoyment of reading.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.18) Will using social media increase reading choice and the enjoyment of reading? In a conducted study a librarian stated that social media should be used to contact patrons and made it clear that contact would increase with this type of communication. Contact would increase with patrons, “particularly those who are not everyday library users.” One librarian in the study stated that, “it was important to be seen to be reaching out to a different customer type, that will not come to the library or who is using the online catalog/resources.” “It allows us to provide the opportunity to undertake RA services outside library walls. As the number of people who have mobile devices increases, extending library services to non-traditional virtual spaces is increasingly important.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.114)
While most libraries have a great deal of RA information online, on their websites, blogs, etc. this does not offer communication – two-way communication between librarian and patron. A librarian in the conducted RA and social media study said, “The ability to have two-way communication with library patrons through Twitter and Facebook was one of the key reasons these social media services were used.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.114) “This type of engagement is a significant aspect of RA, so capturing those comments or tweets and replying to them with relevant information shows how RA and social media can be combined effectively.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.114)
Positives of Using Social Media with RA
As mentioned, most libraries are already used to offering RA services in the online world even if they have not stepped over to social media. Most library website are, “a hub for a wider range of RA features such as read-alikes, annotated lists, staff written reviews and discussion forums.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.19)
It is also true that “Book-oriented social networking sites are often recommended as good resources for RA.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.19) Book-oriented social networking sources are sites like Library Thing and GoodReads. One expert concluded that, “this type of service provided opportunities for readers to be more involved in discussions about books and reading.” “This aspect appears to be an important difference between RA services that use digital services and the traditional face-to-face approach.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.19) If this quote is referring to specific book oriented sites like GoodReads, how much more involved would the discussion be on social media that is not just book oriented? This would expose patrons who are on the social media for other reasons to literature and book discussions. Invariably if the discussions are on non-book sites those who do not ordinarily or maybe never participate in book discussions will have the chance to do so. They will at least have exposure to what it looks like. Another aspect of being more involved is also found in the personal nature of the format. People often feel less inhibited to speak their mind on social media. Many participates can join in the discussion as well.
Speaking of the interaction aspect, one librarian in the study commented, “What works most is the interaction on Twitter …” “If librarians responded within a short timeframe the conversation often continued. The interactive question and answer type approach was not limited to Twitter, but also took place through Facebook wall posts…” “The ability to have two-way communication with library patrons through Twitter and Facebook was one of the key reasons these social media services were used.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.114-115)
The researchers discovered that, "…interviewees acknowledged the positive effects of offering RA in the online environment.” One interviewee (librarian) commented, "Of all the uses of social media in the library, using it for the purposes of reader advisory would be one of the best ways of getting information out." (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.117)
Another positive for the librarian is response time. Responding on social media relieves some of the pressure that is present in face-to-face RA. "Providing readers’ advisory virtually allows your library to enrich the services for your patrons. The virtual interaction allows librarians more time to review a request. They are less pressured to provide a quick answer on the spot. Patrons receive quality recommendations in the comfort of their home or when they're on the go." (Pundsack, 2014)
Maybe social media RA is new and different in some regards but, “While the tools for successful Readers Advisory continue to diversify and evolve, the foundation of personal connection remains the same." (Morris, 2013)
A final positive is, " Posting conversations on Facebook about books allows the library to “crowd-source" suggestions and create lists for others to use." (Pundsack, 2014) So, combining social media and RA expands knowledge by combining the knowledge of many and sharing it more broadly.
Types of Social Media
Twitter - Many libraries already have blogs. Twitter can be considered real time, microblogging. So, for those already familiar with blogging, Twitter would be just a small new step to take. “Microblogging involves posting short status updates…” “One of the most popular microblogging sites is Twitter, which provides “real time” updates from people anywhere in the world.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.18) For example, a librarian could Tweet, “Tweet us 3 book titles you liked and we will tweet you three similar ones right back.” This real-time aspect would be the new step for many librarians. The following comments describe how important a speedy real-time response is to Twitter users, so response time would have to be scheduled.
Thanks to Twitter, businesses are closer to consumers than ever before. Tweets have become a popular way for consumers to vocalize their questions, praise, or complaints -- all in plain view of anyone who can find the conversation online. But customers don't just expect you to read their tweets about you -- they also expect you to reply. According to charts published on Search Engine Watch, 70% of surveyed Twitter users expect a response from brands they reach out to on Twitter. Of those users, 53% want that response in under an hour. It's important to have a solid strategy for responding to tweets so you can keep your customers happy and drive engagement on Twitter. (Kolowich, 2015)
As this information shows, social media requires a fast response – a communication – unlike a website or blog. This is a positive because it becomes more of the conversation that Saricks describes. But, it is going to require time. Will social media take too much time? One researcher, “…identified four main advantages of using Twitter: “it is free, easy to use, it takes little staff time and information travels fast.” Here we see an opinion that it takes little staff time, so perhaps it is worth the effort.
Facebook- Researchers in a study, “…described a six hour experiment carried out by Multnomah County Library which asked readers to tell them (on Facebook) the last five titles they’d read, so that RA staff could offer suggestions for their next book. Roughly one hundred readers participated and feedback was very positive.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.18)
Facebook facilitates immediate interactive moments, and it also provides weekly user statistics that are emailed directly to the librarians.” “This made it easy for the librarians who used Facebook to access the impact of their posting and links.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.114)
YouTube- While YouTube is not social media exactly, it is worth mentioning that it does allow librarians to use more imaginative ways to do RA. For example, “…creating video “book trailers” and using a multimedia approach to RA.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.18) Posting YouTube RA videos would expose books to a wider audience. This is a huge plus and just may create new interest and new readers.
Tumblr - Tumblr is another option. Tumblr is, "…a microblogging platform and social media site that supports multimedia content." (Wetta, 2014) According to Wetta, Tumblr is popular with a younger audience and, "…users spend longer per visit on the site compared to other social media." Wetta says that Tumblr can be used to ,"…start a conversation with your community." (2014)
Some advantages of Tumblr include: it is a "flexible platform" and "…has a unique feature that separates it from other social media platforms...users can ask questions anonymously, which isn't an option on Facebook or Twitter." (Wetta, 2014) Because the asker’s name is not included, librarian responses can be shared with anyone. The same response can be shared with many people who are looking for the same sort of book.
Instagram – Instagram is an online mobile photo-sharing app. It is like visual tweeting. "Instagram users are the youngest of all social media users and this platform is growing the quickest." Instagram would be excellent for sharing book covers.
These are several of the major social media choices. Although there are so many choices, "It's best not to put all your efforts into one platform. At the same time though, don't do so much you can't maintain them all - or just simply duplicate content across all your social media channels.” (Wetta, 2014)
Good Practices
Links- One piece of advice concerning good practice was to always include a link to the library. This is an excellent idea. “…public libraries Twitter accounts could link to events, blog posts, and particular titles in their collection. …if a tweet is about something the library owns, it will include a link to the item in our catalogue. This allows a library patron who reads a tweet that interests them to go directly into the library’s catalog and reserve the item.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.19) Specific ideas for posts that could have links included, “…recommending a book, a product, or service that the library’s followers might be interested in.” “Interviewees thought their users responded best when there were links in social media posts. Most users love links, they prefer the immediacy they provide.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.114) Providing links, “…may stimulate interest and interaction.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.117)
Content of Social Media Posting - “A few of the interviewees explained that they deliberately choose resources that are quirky or really different to attract attention from their audience.” New books, reviews, new resources, recommended reading for teens, are among typical posts, however, “one interviewee acknowledged that RA involves more than listing and promoting new books – the librarian must also mention RA by author, reviews, recommendations, and spotlights on genres.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.116)
One interviewee explained her process… “If I find a book that looks interesting, I’ll just type in the title, give the link to the catalogue, write a bit about it and give it a hash tag to say it is coming soon…” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.116)
Using promotional language is also a good practice that is recommended, “Use promotional language, use a hook, encourage readers to click on a link, show book covers…” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.117)
They explained that their choice of language was deliberate, and intended to have an effect.” “Examples of this include, “Check this out!” or using quotes from reviewers’ words, using book covers and images, having a hook… something that makes them want to click on it. (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.117)
Turn the tables - ask patrons to be the Readers' Advisor with questions like, “What books would you recommend to someone who has never read fantasy but wants to give it a try?” (Brown, 2012) "...successful readers advisory via social media is largely dependent upon libraries creating an opportunity for patrons to provide their own input and perspective, and drive the conversation based on what matters to them. Social media may allow the conversation to move beyond books as well, and can be used to crowd source community input on collections or programs. Generating these public conversations may present new opportunities for partnership for libraries, in addition to new avenues for patron engagement." (Morris, 2013)
Participation and quick responses - So there is a lot more to postings than just asking questions, Susan Brown says participation is key."...don't just ask the question, remember to participate as well. On social media, participation is the goal and asking questions is one of the easiest ways to achieve this." “Social media users expect quick response. We try to keep response time under 30 minutes"(Brown, 2012)
Divide and assign workload- “…if possible divide each social media into teams - have a leader for each to send out reminders of who's posting what and when.” (Brown, 2012)
Involving more library staff – “Involve more library staff, so they know how to use these platforms.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.118)
Have guidelines and style guides - "organizations create guidelines to ensure everyone is consistent in what they post and follows a similar structure.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.115)
Have in-house guidelines- such as, "recommendations for how frequently posts should be written and updated..." so that too much info isn't being released because that would overwhelm people. (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.116)
Some Possible Negatives
Restrictions- One researcher noted that, “…local government often imposed security related barriers to the implementation of social media within libraries. Because of these barriers, libraries tended to give up at the first hurdle and focus on more traditional methods of interacting with their users.” Others found that, “only members of the library’s web services team could contribute content to or update sections…as there were restrictions on access to the edit tools.” Another possible negative concern is relying on a free external service, “…an externally hosted service may change its terms of use, or modify its site without warning.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.18) Only authorized staff being allowed to post and the library’s firewall were oft-mentioned restrictions.
The library board may have restrictions as well. "Our council has very specific stipulations on what we can and cannot post." (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.115) The board may have to be convinced. In this case staff will have to, "…successfully demonstrate that social media is not merely for "recreation and socializing" but is a key communication toll." (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.116)
Security - When librarians were interviewed, “They considered the security and privacy issues surrounding Facebook to have been a barrier to earlier adoption.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.18)
Staff limitations -Lack of staff knowledge and experience was an often-mentioned negative. Having sufficient staff time and insufficient staff input were other staff concerns. (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.117)
Size of library- Small libraries may have fewer resources and staff. (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.117)
How the Effects of RA with Social Media can be Evaluated
How can the effects of RA with social media be evaluated? There does not appear to be widespread information on the effects of using social media for RA. “However, several people have noted that recommending a book on a social media site raises its profile with potential readers. …A librarian at Ann Arbor District Library who tracked reader involvement through following the holds activity of the books she had written (blog) posts about, noted that one item went from one to fifteen requests. Many similar effects were noted, “…finding that some librarians saw their book recommendations followed by a reserve when posted in a “tweet.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.18)
Official research can be done to evaluate, including interviews. Much of the information here came from research that was conducted in New Zealand. Staff in twenty-one libraries were asked for an interview. Fifteen librarians agreed to be interviewed. Since the sample was so small it is just a snapshot for comparison, but it provides useful information like, “The most common social media tool used by interviewees was Facebook…” “Other social media tools used by interviewees included Twitter…” “Other social media tools used by more than one library were Flickr, YouTube…” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.18)
In some cases, the implementation process for using social media with RA began with a small-scale trial. This allowed library management to see how the tools were being used and for what purpose before making a formal commitment to adopt them.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.116)
At any rate, both formal and informal means of evaluation can be used. Some excellent informal evaluation was done by merely noting “likes.” "Seven of the interviewees identified the number of followers they were gaining on twitter and their blogs and how many patrons liked their Facebook page as a key measure of success." “Any engagement via these channels is seen as a success." So, noting the amount of interaction between patrons and staff and patrons with each other as well as feedback is excellent evaluation that can make a difference. "We have had customer feedback via twitter and we've been able to act on it and show we listened." Using a service to track is also a possibility: “1/3 of the interviewees used bit.ly for links in their posts - bit.ly provides tracking statistics that identify how many links were followed . (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.116)
Example Libraries to Check Out
Lawrence Public Library - Every Sunday they ask “What are you reading?” on Facebook and they comment back to patrons.
The Lawrence Public Library recommends asking lots of bookish questions, “What books are on your bedside table right now?” and “If you had to read one book ten times, what book would you read?” They suggest books by saying, “Tell us a book you read recently and enjoyed and we'll suggest another one or two from our collections.” (Brown,2012)
Seattle Public Library - "As more and more people access library services remotely, library staff can employ an array of tools to maintain that meaningful connection with their patrons and provide personalized readers services, both inside and outside of the library." (Morris, 2013)
"... the Seattle Public Library has successfully coordinated social media campaigns to enhance reader services. Posting conversations on Facebook about books allows the library to "crowd source" suggestions and create lists for others to use. They have hosted weekly chats to generate discussion and highlight areas of the collection.” (Morris, 2013)
Plano Public Library -The Plano Public Library hosts “Tuesday Titles” each week. Tuesday Titles is a live Facebook discussion between staff and patrons about reading recommendations. (Morris, 2013)
Darien Library in Connecticut has “Darien Read”s on Tumblr.
Cuyahoga Public has “Night Owls” on Facebook every Thursday night as a special time to talk books.
Conclusion
“…social media services provide a wealth of opportunities for RA librarians to reach out to their communities. Using social media for RA seems to be a win-win combination, since it allows RA librarians to interact directly with interested readers.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.18) With the help of social media, “…the next good read is only one click away.” (Anwyll & Chawner, 2013, p.118)



References
Anwyll, R., & Chawner, B. (2013). Social media and readers’ advisory: a win-win combination?. Reference and User
Services Quarterly, v.53 (1), pp.18-22.
Anwyll, R., & Chawner, B. (2013). Social media and readers' advisory new zealand experiences. Reference and User
Services Quarterly, v.53 (2), pp.113-118.
Brown, S. (2012). Creating a social space for readers. Retrieved from https://www.ebscohost.com/novelist/novelist- special/ra-4-fb-creating-a-social-space-for-readers

Keller, M. (2013). Social media and interpersonal communication. Social Work Today, v.13(3), p.10.
Retrieved from http://www.socialworktoday.com/archive/051313p10.shtml

Saricks, J. (2009). The readers’ advisory guide to genre fiction. Chicago: American Library Association.

Mickelsen, A., & Stover, K. (2014). Readers advisory for a new age-social media and tech tools [Webinar].


Maxey, R. (2016). Are you reaching library customers where they are? Retrieved from http://ideas.demco.com/blog/are- you-reaching-library-customers-where-they-are/

Pundsack, K. (2014). Moving readers' advisory online. Retrieved from http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2014/09/moving- readers-advisory-online/

Morris, L. (2013). Readers advisory: fresh approach, same core service. Retrieved from http://www.webjunction.org/news/webjunction/readers-advisory-fresh-approach-same-core-service.html

Kolowich, L. (2015). How to respond to people on twitter: a simple guide for businesses. Retrieved from
https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/twitter-customer-service#sm.00000uv78cddp5fflqrgindm2gdvu

Wetta, M. (2014). Using tumblr for readers' advisory. Retrieved from https://www.slideshare.net/wmolly/using-tumblr-for-readers-advisory