NSW Readers Advisory Working Group
Monday 5 June 2006, Customs House Library, Circular Quay.
Thank you to Marie Crilley from City of Sydney for hosting our meeting.
Therese Scott (Ashfield), Vassiliki Veros Elliot (City of Sydney), Jenn Martin (Auburn), Fran Inkster (Manly), Victoria Anderson (State Library), Gunhild Wichern (Leichhardt), Virginia Ghezzi (Camden), Kerry-Ann Prideaux (Woollahra), Bob Diracca (Randwick), Temutisa Fainuu (Canterbury), Will Coombe (Waverley), Susan Hoy (Burwood), Jane Greville (Ryde), Charina Kofod (Holroyd), Merilyn Hills (Hornsby), Marie Crilley (City of Sydney), Fay Gilliver (Bankstown), Christina McGufficke (Cessnock), Jo Smith(Lake Macquarie),Patou Clerc (Canterbury)
Ellen Forsyth (State Library), Thuy Nguyen (Bankstown), Dianne Thai and Glorianna (Fairfield)
Attention was drawn to the email sent by Ellen Forsyth from State Library of NSW regarding the one day seminar with Rachel van Riel on Thursday 27 July at the State Library (Dixson Room). Please refer to her email for booking details. Rachel’s seminar is titled ‘Putting Readers first’ and she will be at the CPLA Conference in Coonabarabran.
The group organising the Readers Advisory Working Group seminar scheduled for the same day (Therese Scott, Ellen Forsyth, Temutisa Fainuu, Charina Kofod) had organised an interesting line up of speakers from the publishing and book trade as well as Readers Advisory staff. However, it was felt that this was too good an opportunity to pass up having the chance to listen and learn from a ground breaking Reader Services practitioner. Therese thanked the group for their work and enthusiasm in getting the proposed seminar organised. It has been postponed to the first quarter of 2007.
The @ your library team have advised that they would like the NSW Readers Advisory Working Group to work on some bookmarks for the theme of August which is read @ your library. The following was not mentioned at the meeting, but the group expresses their thanks to Jan Richards and all at @ your library for this opportunity. Victoria Anderson explained that the bookmarks will have a similar design to the @ your library ones, but will be wider as per the ALIA bookmarks for Library Week. There will be a print run of 10,000 for each one of the 10 subjects the group will choose. A new poster will also be designed for this campaign. Victoria asked that if we think of any tips for @ your library (go to website), including quotes about reading, to let Jan or herself know.
The group decided on the 10 topics, with many being split between libraries. The aim is to have a list of 20-25 completed before June 20.
Therese will advise when the final lists need to be sent to Victoria. Those working with another library should liaise on the list and also send to aliaread so we can add some and make comments. We need to check that our lists are popular and are available in large and small regional and metropolitan libraries.
Following are the topics for read@ your library bookmarks:
The group mentioned the possibility of compiling bookmarks/booklists in the future, particularly ‘Harry Potter in other languages’.
Jenn talked about a novelist database which Canterbury Public Library (NZ) have and that Woollahra have subscribed to. It has book discussion guides, read like guides, professional section. Fay mentioned the Libraries Unlimited new online database.
The Reader's Advisor Online :
Want something to read? - 12 genre buttons [Science Fiction, Fantasy, Legal Thrillers, Adventure, Biography, Historical Fiction, Romance, Mystery & Detective Stories, Christian Fiction, Horror, Travel Literature, True Crime].
The site is all about bringing books and readers together and it is based on the Genreflecting series. Contact your Libraries Unlimited Sales Representative for pricing, a free trial and other information : 800 225-5800 x 3426 (USA) or visit the web site :- www.lu.com/RAOnline
Therese said she is about to do a fiction survey at Ashfield to see what customers think of the current collection and if they can suggest improvements/changes to what is being selected. The survey form will have the current buying plan at the back of form for patrons to view. This plan is also available on our website. Ashfield may also start a ‘suggestion cards’ system for customers.
Jenn noted that customers at Auburn and Canterbury have taken part in selecting certain books for the library. Marie mentioned that 2 new book groups will start at Glebe, with one being in the day and the other in the evening, with probably 8-9 participants.
Therese mentioned that Jennifer Byrnes is hosting a new show on ABC TV called ‘First Tuesday of the month book club’. No date yet for airing.
Will told us that the original paperback of Dan Brown’s ‘The Da Vinci Code’ is selling in the US for US$12,000. The illustrated 1st ed is selling for $25,000.
Jo told us that Lake Macquarie have 2 new evening book clubs which are run by the ten participants.
Virginia mentioned that Camden Library’s author programme based at Narellan Library is going well, with Susan Duncan coming in July with her book ‘Salvation Creek’. Kate Grenville drew large crowds and they hold talks in the evening or day, depending on the type of book.
Fran talked about the ‘books and bikkies’ seniors morning tea which was an informal selection meeting for large print books. It was an opportunity to promote library activities and the collections to seniors and meals on wheels members. There were crowds waiting at the door and it was a real social exchange and a good profile for the library and Council.
Will mentioned that the Westfield Library Literary Award has been extended indefinitely by the Board. Last year’s winner was Helen Garner with ‘The First stone’.The Board were very impressed with the project. Jenn said that the Children’s Book Council conference in Sydney in May was very interesting and that Auburn are organizing children’s readers advisors work.
Fran reminded us of the Books Alive campaign for 2006. She is checking the circulation figures for books on the list
A few of us went to the recent Sydney writers’ festival which was another outstanding success. Charina was impressed with Elizabeth Kostova ‘The Historian’ and Vassiliki with Andrew Daddo’s comment to the children to go to their public libraries to borrow his books. Ashfield’s Mayor Rae Jones wrote about Ashfield’s crime evening in the Inner West Courier newspaper of 6/6/2006. Therese enjoyed Tim Harford and Maya Angelou.
At the conclusion of the meeting we went around the table and told each other what we are reading or can recommend. This was something that was done at the Rewarding Reading Training and is now what our group does at each meeting. Some people were reading titles which had been recommended at the February meeting. Some are just titles, but being library people I feel certain we can track them down if need be!
A year in the world by Frances Mayes Secret life of bees Line of beauty by Alan Hollinghurst Proust Three Cups of tea by Greg Mortensen The bookseller of Kabul Working with monsters The Dragon’s journey by James Knight Beloved by Toni Morrison The Undercover economist by Tim Harford The kitehawk by Nicholas Rothwell Dimestore magic by Kelly Armstrong Who moved my blackberry Mao’s last dancer Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon The Bell jar by Sylvia Plath Killing yourself to live by Chuck Klosterman Various vampire titles Boudiaeca by Manda Scott Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell The Kite runner The island by Heather Graham various Cold War titles One member is editing a history book.
Carol Edmunds from Newcastle has agreed for the group to meet in September at the new Wallsend Branch Library. It will be a Monday in September, date and time to be advised through aliaread, nswpln, nswplnreference.
Meeting closed 11.45am with a tour of Customs House Library.