Special Topics Paper

 “Fiction” and “Escapism” as Dirty Words: The History and Present of Readers Advisory in Public Libraries

   Readers Advisory has become one of the most important elements of Public Libraries. Today’s library patrons know that they can come to their library and ask for help finding a book that they will enjoy, based upon their reading preferences. Readers Advisory is currently most associated with Fiction reads; however, patrons also expect to able to seek guidance regarding non-fiction leisure reads. Furthermore, Readers Advisory has grown such that it now includes integrated advisory, in which library professionals are able to suggest graphic novels, movies, and more to their patrons. However, Readers Advisory has not always been an established element of the Public Library, and has not always encouraged the leisure reading of fiction materials. This paper will discuss the history of Readers Advisory, focusing on the role of self-education, and the negative connotations which were once associated with fiction. Additionally, the current role of Readers Advisory in libraries will be discussed, including its evolution and present concerns regarding escapism and whether or not meeting popular demands of patrons has gone too far.

   Readers Advisory as an official function in public libraries can be broken into two recognized phases, the first of which began during the 1920’s. During World War I the American Library Association provided servicemen with educational reading materials both for leisure and enrichment, and in doing so, these professionals found a taste for guiding the reading selections of their patrons (Kimball, n.d.). Post World War I saw an increase in adult education in the United States, as well as increased time for personal leisure pursuits, and for many this meant an increased interest in reading (Kimball, n.d.). During this phase, Librarians conducted extensive, private interviews in which they determined the educational needs of their patrons and developed a resulting guided plan for the reader to follow. During these interviews, judgments were made assessing the education, intelligence, and class of the reader. These interviews and the resulting prescriptive lists of suggested reading sought to assist the readers with self-improvement through serious, “good” reading materials, with a consistent focus on self-education (Kimball, n.d.). A ladder approach was used during this period in that, “Librarians subscribed to the belief that it as possible to lead readers from a ‘lower level’ of reading (fiction) to a higher class of literature (nonfiction),” (Kimball, n.d.). Additionally, within the Readers Advisory interview, the list of high-quality, educational books were presented as a ladder, with the intent of starting readers at a level they could follow and gradually moving them up the ladder to the weightiest of educational materials.

    During the first phase of Readers Advisory, fiction was a dirty word! Fiction reads were considered by library professional to be the basest of reading materials, trashy, pulpy and completely lacking in sustenance. Librarians dubbed this the “fiction problem” and believed it to be their professional responsibility to provide readers with wholesome, enriching reads, and furthermore, considered it their duty to determine which reads these were (Kimball, n.d.). Librarians of this era struggled with whether they should give patrons what they wanted or whether they should give them what they needed; this was not simply a matter of taste, but rather an accepted, profession wide belief that sensational fiction reads could prove to be dangerous to the character and morals of the patrons that they served (Kimball, n.d.). Accordingly, professional articles of the time discussed the mission of library professionals to “correct” the reading habits of their patrons, even considering the act to be an intervention of sorts (Kimball, n.d.). 

   The onset of World War II drastically reduced the amount of leisure time devoted to reading, and for several decades, Readers Advisory ceased to be a major focus of Public Libraries. However, the 1980’s would see the Renaissance of Readers Advisory, or the second phase. Professional opinions began to shift, and Librarians began to consider the likes and interests of their patrons, and began to make suggestions of reads that they might find entertaining. During the second phase, Betty Rosenberg, author of Genreflecting, famously told readers “never apologize for your reading tastes,” and in doing so not only suggested to readers that they should read un-apologetically, but also played a vital role in the development of Readers Advisory tools, and resultantly, the later inclusion of Readers Advisory in Library Science education (Kimball, n.d.). This has empowered readers to read for pleasure and Librarians to learn how to assist them with this, as Tarulli writes, “…pleasure readers read fiction or nonfiction books and we seek to connect each reader with a great read,” (2014, p.297). For Librarians to adequately suggest fiction reading materials based on the likes, particularly, previously read and enjoyed titles that patrons presented them with, it became necessary for Librarians to learn popular authors, types of fiction, read-a-likes, and to delve into appeal factors. The result has been a multitude of studies and research, which have sought to explain how best to classify fiction reads, so that they can be compared and suggested, as well as to determine best practices for Readers Advisory interviews.

   The evolution of Readers Advisory, including the acceptance and embracement of fiction reads, and giving patrons what they want, is evident both in the Readers Advisory interview, as well as in the library itself. Modern libraries often resemble bookstores more so than traditional libraries, including open faced shelving, classification based on genre rather than the Dewey Decimal system, multiple copies purchased of popular titles, the inclusion of paperbacks, particularly romance and mystery novels, and the existence of library run book clubs, which often focus on popular titles. However, library professionals and library users alike have questioned if this has been taken too far. Have libraries come full circle? The article “Should Libraries' Target Audience Be Cheapskates With Mass-Market Tastes?” discusses an extreme example of a library who chose to weed classics such as Bronte and Hemingway to make way for the Patterson’s and Evanoviche’s. This article suggests that as libraries have acquiesced to the demands and desires of their patrons, they have re-framed themselves as glorified bookstores, which use tax money to buy tawdry recreation titles, and have ceased to provide free enrichment and education to the public.  This article calls into question what a library is, what a library should offer, and what a library should be. These same questions are those that plagued Librarians in the first phase, and that although quieted, still simmer in the second phase of Readers Advisory.

    Much like “fiction” was considered a dirty word in the first phase, the second phase has seen the concept of “escapism” debated and attacked. Titles that can be considered escapist transport the reader from their daily life in some way, and have been accused of being light reading at best and at worst trashy and even detrimental to the reader. Begum discusses this dilemma in “Readers’ advisory and underestimated roles of escapist reading,” particularly that escapism is a high appeal factor for many readers, but a concern for Librarians who struggle with whether they should collect and suggest such materials (2011, pp. 738-739). This issue proves that although it is phrased differently, Librarians still struggle with what is good, what is enriching, and their role in not only suggesting materials to readers, but additionally, determining the merits of these works. However, Begum’s article argues that escapism is capable of actually being a positive factor in many ways, and worthy of understanding and considering, in order to provide a better Readers Advisory interview. Begum names the following elements of escapism, vital to reader enrichment and enjoyment: escapism helps to combat boredom and in some, to help with stress coping, escapism may encourage creativity, escapism can both help people survive the current trials of their lives, while also helping people to face the reality of their lives, and finally, that escapism can even prove to be transformative to the reader (2011, pp. 740-744).

   Despite current concerns, Readers Advisory has evolved exponentially since the first phase began in the 1920s. Evolution will continue, as libraries continue to reflect the time in which they reside; however, the result of these changes has certainly increased satisfaction of patrons, who can feel confident that their library will take the time to listen, without judgment to what they are interested in, and make a concentrated effort to help them find the next book, or other integrated material, that will provide them with an enjoyable or needed diversion, whether that is a paperback full of excitement and distraction, or a hard to digest work of literary fiction, because nobody should have to apologize for their reading tastes in this accepting and open second phase. Furthermore, although the merits of materials offered will continue to be debated within the library profession, as Begum discusses, leisure reading of any kind is and should be considered beneficial in numerous ways, including the effect on literacy building, social connectedness and the dissemination of knowledge (2011, p. 738), suggesting that reading is good, period.

References

Anwyll, R., Chawner, B., & Tarulli, L. (2013). Social Media and Readers' Advisory.

            Reference & User Services Quarterly, 53(2), 113-118.

Begum, S. (2011). Readers' advisory and underestimated roles of escapist

reading. Library Review, 60(9), 738-747. doi:10.1108/00242531111176763

Kimball, M. A. (n.d.). A Brief History of Readers' Advisory. Retrieved from

http%3A%2F%2Fwww.readersadvisoronline.com%2Flu%2FRAmaterials%3Ftopic%3DT71587%26book%3DT51295

Miller, J. J. (2007, January 3). Should Libraries' Target Audience Be Cheapskates

With Mass-Market Tastes? Retrieved from http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB116778551807865463

Tarulli, L. (2014). Pleasure Reading. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 53(4),

296-299.