best reads of 2013

some of my best reads of 2013

I've read some great books this year; some recommended to me, others were random picks off the shelf. I've nearly reached my projected target of 50 books for the year, and am grateful for the tracking widget on Goodreads. 

There's a mix of short stories, memoirs, and fiction. Two of those pictured are from our reading maps programs. I met one of the authors (Fiona McIntosh) and I saw Anh Do's show at the theatre. One of the authors grew up in a place I used to live.

Last Drinks was the fourth book I read about the Fitzgerald Inquiry years in Queensland; two fiction and two nonfiction from different perspectives (journalist, honest cop, protester, crooked cop). I read them just after I'd stayed in a hotel in inner-Brisbane in an area represented in the books. Fabulous insight into recent history!

We're launching our library's Goodreads site with Great Summer Reads - featuring staff picks of 2013.
I would like to grow the program into a biannual showcase of staff recommendations for our community, perhaps in the future complementing the online presentation with a booktalk.

The best story came to us at the QPLA conference recently. A great librarian told us that she had implemented a program she'd read about on our project blog about staff recommendation displays, and that she had 100% staff involvement. The librarian who had guest blogged her program was also at the conference so we got the two together.
We're very keen on program sharing state-wide and nationally, and to see this in action was amazing. The two librarians work in libraries nearly 2000kms apart. You can re-read Chris' post  here  .
Chris has great statistics - Using this method we have loaned over 11,000 ‘staff picks’ in the last 12 months.

Interview with Bill Liddelow

Does your library service invest time and training into developing staff knowledge about the collection, new titles, and selling points/appeal characteristics? Do your staff know what's in your collection development statement? Do they know what resources to use to build their knowledge? Do your staff just check-out books, or do they connect people with reading? After reading about Perth's Boffins Technical and Specialist Books in November's Books and Publishing, and their commitment to developing staff product knowledge for best-practice customer service, I approached owner Bill Liddelow to find out more.

Extract from the B & P article (Issue 3, 2013, page 15):
'Drivers of our business are product selection, product knowledge, high merchandising standards, a customer service and sales focus, attention to detail, and willingness to embrace new technology. Our staff meet 10 minutes before opening each weekday to share information and for training. I feel that this daily meeting is invaluable in setting priorities, in getting issues out in the open, in addressing skills and procedural deficiencies, and in binding us together as a team... We also have a 40 minute monthly meeting at which all staff present new product (usually about 30 of our most important books for the month) to each other... Each month we produce an internal newsletter featuring approximately 100 new titles that we want to get behind. We have a monthly product quiz for staff based on the titles in this newsletter...'

Alison: I am most interested in your monthly meetings where all staff present about new books to develop product knowledge and to learn the selling points. How did you develop staff ability to participate in this? 

Bill: When we recruit we look for people who have wide interests and who also like reading, and who are interested in helping people (the sales side). When we get people with this “fit”, they (pick) it up very quickly, following the example of the other staff.

Alison: Are staff given on-the-job time to develop their knowledge, or what processes do they use?

Bill: No, this is not really possible in a dynamic retail environment. They’re involved in the selection of titles they are to present, and they can take the books home.

Alison: Who compiles the monthly product quiz?

Bill: I do.

Alison: How do you believe the presentations at these meetings contribute to the quality of service you provide your customers?

Bill: They improve their knowledge by sharing the contents of the books, and they build their confidence by presenting to their peers. As a result, they can give better advice to customers, and can do so with greater confidence.

Form-based readers advisory service

Join the CODES RA Committee on 24 and 25 September for the discussion on form-based readers advisory service. Subscribe to the free, moderated discussion here. 

This CODES Conversation will cover 'all aspects of form-based RA, from practicalities such would form-based RA work well at your library, how long should forms be, and how to put together a team to respond, to more general questions focused on talking with readers and making suggestions that surprise and delight.'
Prep with the resource guide here 

Me Before You: recommended
to me this week by Jodie
after our conversation ranged
from The Lavender Keeper >
The Girl You Left Behind >
Me Before You.

Also, there's an ALA eCourse running over six weeks: Rethinking Readers Advisory - an Interactive Approach here.

What books have people recommended for you and did you enjoy them?

How does your library service recommend for people?

What training do staff have to offer this service?

How would reader services training benefit your library team?