Readers’ Advisory Seminar March 2023 Minutes
Chair morning session: Yasmin
Acknowledgement of Country
Hsu-Ming Teo:
The study of the romance genre – there is a huge output in this genre and it changes so rapidly Romance renaissance Generates $1.5 billion in revenue each year BookTok is bringing in new readers – authors like Colleen Hoover, Emily Henry and TJ Klune have created massive fan bases Romance is the original genre of popular fiction It draws from Epic fiction – long-form format drawing on poetry The Quest – adventure, love, truth, transcendence Plot – marvellous, mysterious, unrealistic ‘Superior hero’/protagonist – courage, endurance Nostalgia Other genres can be romanticized The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell – the hero’s journey (departure, initiation, return) The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler – the inner journey should match the outer journey (there must be a change in the protagonist, or the reader won’t care) Quest for love, adventure of courtship A Natural History of the Romance Novel by Pamela Regis – definition of society (corrupt), meeting, attraction, barrier, point of ritual death, recognition/revelation, declaration, betrothal (these elements can be moved around) Heroine’s journey and how it connects to the above) – ordinary world (defined society), call to adventure (meeting), ordeal (barrier), threshold (attraction), reward (declaration), ordeal (ritual death), road back (recognition), return (betrothal) Happily Ever After vs Happy For Now More literary for couples not to end up together! Definitions: central love story, emotionally satisfying/optimistic ending, any tone or style, any place or time, varying levels of sensuality Romance as a genre, but then ‘romantic’ fiction is a better term – it can be part of another genre or story Subgenres – contemporary romance, fantasy romance, supernatural romance, etc. Tropes – enemies to loves, friends to loves, reformed playboy, forbidden love, etc. Gender bias within the romance genre is being challenged Genre competence/market – writers, publishers, sellers, reviewers, readers, organisations, fans Problems – cliches, stale characters, originality, representation Diversity and social issues are becoming more prevalent within the field – using the form of romance to comment on other things The social and historical impact of romance Australian history and culture represented in rural romance
https://sl-nsw-gov-au.zoom.us/j/81918255479?pwd=a1dPS21MMk9ZTDI3NjZMZllGand6QT09
Ian McCallum:
Sherrie Quinn contributed to the Libraries Alive paper, which also discusses the Readers’ Advisory conversation RA and membership Rewarding Reading workshops – training the trainer Library membership has slowly dropped – Readers’ Advisory training doesn’t affect this, but may have slowed the decline? Covid may be to blame, and online resources may have also affected membership How do we measure effectiveness – loans, visits, satisfaction, outcomes, membership? We can measure in either a qualitative or quantitative way Behavioural insights project – polling regarding library visits The quality of the relationship with the customer is key to rescuing membership, and Readers’ Advisory is the way to do this Over 30 years, state and national membership are down, and loans are down Money, facilities, collection, training may help recover membership Focus on customer experience Passionate staff involved with the community Investment in staff training and support Building relevance for new residents What is our single most important membership message for retaining existing members and creating new members? Explore your library, community hub, serving community needs, accessibility, trained/helpful staff, optimal customer experience, family/home, something for everyone, discovery, connection, comfort, safety, inclusivity, etc.
Five-minute talks
Sarah Garland (Blacktown):
Book Match service List of engaging questions – format, themes, age, etc. Patron’s responses can be unhelpful
Suzanne Micallef (Ryde):
Summer Showcase RA display revamped Posters – colourful, punchy, professional, consistent, inviting Poorer circulated items can be targeted Themes – explore another lifetime, know your world, step into character, etc. More general than targeting particular days and celebrations Book Match service – Including link to online form in catalogue) Summer Reading Challenge – mystery packs
Sharon Muscat (Castle Hill):
Select Reads Zone Staff picks plus changing displays Australian, positive living – most popular Cross promotion – social media, curated online lists Grab & Go bags
Patt Annetts (Newcastle):
Library Lounge Online offering of RA services – reviews, lists, discussions, new titles, book clubs Author events, trivia nights, etc. all run under the Library Lounge banner
Skye Jones (Newcastle):
Summer Stories Author talks, podcasts and recommended reading
Chair afternoon session – Ita
Oriana Acevedo (State Lib):
Inclusion diversity equity Visibility is so important for LOTE Raising awareness of things we’ve had since 1970s Multicultural bulk loans – books in 42 languages that can be sent for specific library members on request, or for library staff to use for display Quick dispatch Work with your community to see what would be helpful to them Have empathy, compassion, and intention to help Harmony day displays – having a mix of things is important. One community, many languages Even including one item in a language other than English in a display shows inclusivity Feeling of being included – can give people a connection to their language and their family
Joanna Kondaxis and Ngarie Macqueen (Inner West):
Adult Fiction Stock Quality Health Check project Nine genres within the project – selected based on survey and staff knowledge Contemporary fiction – stories loosely set in present time, depicting real life, don’t fit into other categories Romantic fiction – tone, style, pacing all vary considerably across the subgenres Inclusivity across romantic fiction – enables a diverse audience to maker emotional connection
Ellen Forsyth (State Lib):
Adult Fiction Stock Quality Health Check – deliberate inclusion Reflecting the diversity of population and community Sustainable development goals stretch targets for Australian libraries Diversity is core business Information has been sent to every library service – please read the instructions first on how to complete the spreadsheet, and send the spreadsheet back to Ellen once completed This can give you broad indication of how your collection has developed and also how purchasing may need to change going forward
Online discussion (ideas to use):
Adding LOTE books to displays Romance diversity Mystery bags for children’s summer reading Promotions in high-traffic areas using themed posters Community inclusion Making marc records more inclusive
Kelly Makepeace (Tamworth):
CNRL Speech Language Pathology Collection Resource for parents, educators and staff – supports early language speech development Collection of picture books and information books based on developmental speech and language milestones Gentle approach – sharing in a natural space Speech sounds, phonological awareness, expand vocabulary, language concepts and grammar forms Tips sheets with the books – typical milestones, extension ideas, exposing children to appropriate targets Engaging the community – display signage, QR codes, trained staff, clear website information, video, book list, keyword signing, resources Connecting with local speech pathologists (SPA Speechies in Libraries)
Amy Rake (Tamworth):
Disability inclusion We saw a need in the libraries to offer targeted programs Partnering with local disability organisations Sensory resources in the library, which can then be used in programs too Programs with clients and carers working together Use resources you already have to deliver the programs
Sarah Ayoub:
Human beings are made for community The things that happen when we’re young can be emotionally devastating The library was a safe place Books have power – I was able to relate to books with girls of migrant heritage as the protagonist Writing was liberating – coming to voice, carving out a space in the world Sense of pride in identity Helps others have empathy and understanding Culture is more deeply understood in something other and foreign – we need to step outside ourselves and connect with something different Hate is such a strong word, The yearbook committee, The love that grew, The cult of romance, Nice and slow – books by Sarah Ayoub The books we read in teen years are especially important – the adolescent brain is forming identity Narrative intimacy – relationship between reader and narrator. This helps builds allies for the marginalized Fiction gives us an external and internal view of another life The power of the written word to humanize and challenge people’s thinking The ethnic Other (including indigenous Australians) was absent from Australian literature for a significant part of the 20th Century Think about what you’re reading, think about what you’re recommending, diversify your offerings, challenge your patrons Everybody is welcome in the library, and librarians have power because of that Books open space for conversation Sharing my story changed a small part of this world