Readers Advisory Working Group Tuesday 14 August, 2007 Auburn Library 9:30am for a 10am start.
Agenda Items
The NSW Readers Advisory wiki (created by Charina Kofod, Ellen Forsyth and Merilyn Hills) was presented to the group. Different sections of the wiki were explored, including resources for book discussion groups, ideas for promoting reading, and genre/read-a-like lists.
The focus of this wiki is on creating and storing content that is relevant and useful for library staff undertaking Readers Advisory related work, or conducting Readers Advisory enquiries. This wiki is a professional tool – for use by NSW library staff.
Two types of contributors – users, who have the ability to comment on existing pages and content (possible with a wetpaint sign on) and writers, who have the ability to change content on existing pages and create new pages. All NSW library staff can contribute to this wiki - anyone can comment but if someone wants to become a writer they need to apply and be approved by the administrators (this can be done through wetpaint once you have created a sign on for yourself).
When registering with wetpaint, please use something close to your own name as a user name or identify yourself from a particular library when you apply for writer status. This way the administrators can keep an eye on who is creating content.
Using lists created by contributors to Fiction-L on the wiki? – Writers will need to use deep links back to Fiction-L posts within the wiki, in order to recognise the original creators of these lists and to credit the work to contributors on Fiction-L.
Ellen suggested that the group write and add a disclaimer recognising intellectual property etc. to the wiki. There is no problem with sharing lists from the wiki on your library blog etc.
There are 273 subscribers to ALIAread, but not many of them post. How do you get discussion going on the e-list? The aliaCYSS (Children’s and Youth Services) list recently had an anti-lurker day. A similar thing could happen on the aliaREAD list - Advertise that the list will be trying to lure out all the lurkers on an upcoming day and encourage all lurkers to post. A particular question or topic may be required to get the conversation going.
Possible subjects to lure out lurkers - What are you reading? Who would you suggest? How would you suggest to a customer that they might like this author?
Please also post to AliaRead after seminars etc to generate topical discussion.
Cathy presented the Readers Advisory Online blog- http://www.readersadvisoronline.com/blog/ - you do not need to be a subscriber to view the blog, but you do need to subscribe to access additional content. Subscription for public libraries should be under $2, 000 and can be purchased through James Bennett
Cathy also presented her most useful sections of the Novelist database: For Readers and Readers Advisor. Ellen reminded the group that Novelist will be available to all NSW public libraries via NSW.net from 1st of September. For those NSW libraries who have existing ebsco subscriptions, check because you may already have access to the database.
A day for celebrating Reading and Readers. Events on this day will require some planning ahead of time, and the day has planned for the end of the month so that all libraries have received Read @ your library promotional materials.
Ideas:
Simultaneous Book Discussion Group
The Big Book Group – Simultaneous Book Group Meetings across the state. People all over the state will be doing one thing – talking about books!
New Date:
10.30 -12.30 on November 20th in Public Libraries all over NSW.
What to do if you already have established book groups:
Change the time, advertise to your existing groups, present a simple opportunity for people to come along and take part in a simultaneous book discussion – talk about your favourite book and share with others.
Groups will need to be facilitated by a Library staff member or volunteer.
Libraries will need to make a decision on what type of discussion will work best for their library and their customers for a one-off event. For those libraries that do not currently have book groups, keep in mind that by advertising and running a one-off event as part of the simultaneous book group, you may be able to gauge the level of interest in book discussion groups in your area.
Planning:
Share ideas on aliaRead – brainstorm with each other, ask questions, raise awareness of this simultaneous event beyond NSW.
The group will need to draft a media release for use by libraries etc, explaining and promoting Read @ your library, Readers Day and the Big Book Group.
Can we work with @ your library as we have done in the past?
Jenn to email Jan/Victoria and ask about Read @ your library posters, if they have extra money, if they need help, if the group can provide a press release for the @ your library website etc.
Jenn will also ask about an @ your library poster template - for libraries to use to promote our own events.
Ellen is calling for a working group to help plan the next RA seminar – Having a working group worked really well for the seminar earlier this year and she received great feedback from attendees. Email Ellen Forsyth if you are interested in being part of a RA Seminar working group - eforsyth@sl.nsw.gov.au. It would involve a couple of 2 hour planning meetings and possibly some work preparing presentations.
http://www.auslib.com.au/pdfs/Callforpapers2008.pdf It would be really nice to have some NSW representation at this conference. Your council would have to pay your way. You don’t actually have to submit a proposal for a paper for the conference if you don’t want to, you can suggest who you would like to be a speaker.
Submissions by 7th of September
Other Business
Suggestion from 31st July Reference Meeting to share a venue for next meeting - Singleton Library (18th October).
Is another meeting needed before Readers Day? There is a low overlap between RA and Reference meeting attendees. How much time will be needed to discuss Readers Day - 15 minutes, or 2 hour planning meeting?
Proposed that there is no need for another meeting before Readers Day, and that there should be another Metropolitan meeting in late November (Friday 30th at Hornsby Library, 28-44 George Street, Hornsby at 10 for a 10.30 start - contact person Merilyn Hills 9847 6812 mhills@hornsby.nsw.gov.au) in which we evaluate Readers Day. All planning discussion for Readers Day can take place on the Wiki or on aliaRead.
Work in progress, Vietnamese list is up on the Wiki. Jenn will send a thank you to Oriana and the Multicultural Services Group on behalf of the RA working group. Readers Advisory Locations in the Library General discussion on where to conduct Readers Advisory Conversations/Enquiries in your library – what are the options, who has a special desk, Ref Desk vs Circ Desk? Bay End OPACS for staff to use for reference when helping customers – based on the Roaming Reference model.
Ellen to attend RUSA RA training - comparing to Rewarding Reading and RA Online.
What we're reading at the moment? What door did we use to get there? Story, Language, Character, Setting.
Has anyone read Nancy Thayers? – a potential read a like for Jodi Picoult?