Bragg Final Paper

The Reader’s Advisor Is In: A Study of 5 Readers

            This assignment provided the invaluable experience of offering Reader’s Advisory services to five unique readers. With each reader I scheduled and conducted an interview, in which I attempted to gather enough information to create a complete patron profile. Following each interview I searched extensively for appropriate reading materials for each interviewee, using keywords, authors, genres, subjects and book titles. I utilized NoveList, the Reader’s Advisory Blog, Amazon, Google, Goodreads, and my own knowledge and experience to develop each list of suggestions. I shared these suggestions with each interviewee during a brief follow up interview, and then followed up again to see if they had sampled and enjoyed any of the suggestions yet, as well as to collect feedback regarding how I could have improved my process and my suggestions. Overall, these interviews and suggestions were a success and each reader was able to benefit from the interview process as well as the suggestions provided to them. However, it was also extremely educational, and through this experience I have garnered specific and general ways in which I can continue to improve upon my ability to best serve patrons.

            The most important thing that I can improve upon are my listening skills, as I feel that with more in-depth listening, and pointed follow-up questions, I could have better figured out what they liked, did not like, and were hoping to achieve through our interactions. Better listening skills would have also allowed each interviewee to feel more comfortable, understood and heard throughout the process. However, it is equally important that I focus on developing a strong list of questions, which are comprehensive but also flexible. These questions should include open questions which provide allowance for more specificity and elaboration from the interviewee. Providing examples and clarifying the language of my questions will help to achieve a stronger list and thus a stronger overall process. Furthermore, calling upon my education of each genre more, and utilizing questions specific to that genre when an interviewee expresses interest in it will further aid me. That was difficult in this process, as each interview was so open-ended, but would be very beneficial if, at the desk someone approached looking for titles within a specific genre, by a specific author, or similar to a beloved book. Subscribing to lists, newsletters and professional development tools will further assist me in constantly keeping myself updated and aware of how to work with each patron’s needs.

            After conducting interviews in person, on the phone, and online via email, it was startling how different the results from each can be. Although I won’t always be able to control these situations, I will strive for as many in-person interactions as possible. However, I have found during this assignment, that it is extremely important that I continue to learn about and develop skills to maximize the efficacy of phone and online interactions, for when they do occur.

            Although it was challenging and eye-opening, I thoroughly enjoyed this process! In addition to learning what I can do to be a better Reader’s Advisor, I also learned how fun and enlightening it is! Through these interviews I learned so much about the interviewees, and was able to experience them lighting up and opening up when given the platform to elaborate on their passions. I also got to witness how empowering these interviews can be for the reader. The most rewarding element for me though, was to witness readers learning more about themselves, and reaching a higher level of understanding regarding where they currently are in terms of interests, comfort levels, and desires simply through explaining these things to me.

            Please see “Appendix A” for Tables 1-5, which provide detailed accounts of each interview including a Patron Profile, the Sources utilized, some of the Questions presented, the Suggestions provided, and an Evaluation of each individual interview.

            Please see “Appendix B” for a full list of the questions presented to each interviewee.

          

“Appendix A”

Individual Tables for Interviews 1-5

Table 1

Reader	L.B.
Profile	L.B. loves reading, but she doesn’t have much time for it, because of a demanding job and two small children. She has tried to create compromises for herself so that she can still find time, including reading e-books on her phone and listening to audio books during her commute. She rarely, if ever, reads print books anymore, because although she checks them out and gets excited, she never has time to pick them up. This makes her feel discouraged about reading. The exception are graphic novels, which she loves and makes an effort to make time for. She tends to read serious books, which are more focused on the plot than the characters. She likes dark books in particular, such as those by her favorite author, Gillian Flynn. L.B. also mentioned My Friend Dahmer, One Foot in the Grave and Velocity as personal favorites. She is open to both non-fiction and fiction titles. L.B. is not particular about the genre; what she tends to look for in a book is one which describes drama and hardship of some kind, although she is not necessarily looking for an inspirational read, so the resolution of these hardships doesn’t have to be tidy or satisfactory.  She cites memoirs or books based on real lives to be a safe bet. L.B. enjoys reading fast-paced books, which hook her attention from the beginning and are about 300-400 pages long. She is open to any level of violence or sex in the storyline. Recently, L.B. has been reading a lot of romance novels, which she prefers to be steamy rather than mushy; however, she is uncomfortable with the stigma attached to reading these novels so she only reads them as e-books on her phone. She is also particularly interested an illustrated, comprehensive history book which will refresh her on world and U.S. history, while also entertaining her. Finally, although L.B. likes books, which are serious, she does want them to transport her in some way, she wants to read things, which are, “so different from my life.”
Questions	-What is the last book that you read? -Do you have a favorite book? What made it favorite? -Are there any types of books or particular subjects that you are uncomfortable reading or do not enjoy? This interview progressed very well! L.B. is a long-time reader who enjoys discussing the types of books and specific titles that she has enjoyed or strongly disliked. This interview flowed more like a conversation in which she gave clear, detailed answers. Additionally, I came with a list of questions, and although she answered all of them, she was so thorough that her answers encompassed details that I might have to question more thoroughly to get from less vocal readers. Although L.B. usually finds reading suggestions by browsing at her library or through Goodreads, she was very excited about our interview and to receive my suggestions.
Sources	For L.B. I used NoveList and Amazon, as both provided a wealth of titles, which were related to those that she mentioned as being personal favorites and/or starting points. I also used my personal knowledge of books related to Gillian Flynn, from previous searches, and performed a basic Google Search regarding entertaining and illustrated world history books.
Suggestions	-My Sunshine Away by M.O. Walsh -Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos -Punk Rock and Trailer Parks by Jon Backderf -Trinity: A Graphic History of the First Atomic Bomb- Jonathan Fetter-Vorm -Trashed (v.1) by Derf -Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes -Dead Until Dark by Charlain Harris -Blue Diablo by Ann Aquirre -Blood Bound  by Rachel Vincent -Down to the Wire by David Rosenfelt -Kingfisher Illustrated History of the World: 40,000 B.C. to Present Day by Magnus -501 Things You Should Have Learned About History by Alex Woolf
Evaluation	This interview was very useful for both L.B. and myself! I learned from the process, and L.B. has been looking for some relevant reading suggestions. She was very pleased with the list that I gave her, although, I actually gave her too many titles to choose from. L.B.’s lack of leisure time can make reading a stressful experience because she can’t read all of the titles that interest in her, or even finish all of the titles that she begins, which resulted in my lengthy list being a bit overwhelming. However, she was extremely excited to see the graphic novels on the list and has already checked out 501 Things you Should Have Learned About History and Broken Monsters.

Table 2

Reader	J.C.
Profile	J.C. checks out books from the library voraciously but does not often finish them, either because she doesn’t find them engrossing enough or simply runs out of time before they are due again. As such, she has a running a list of titles, which she would like to pick back up again; however, this list doesn’t stress her out, or keep her from looking for new material to read. J.C. reads fiction on occasion but much prefers non-fiction titles, or at least fiction, which is based on a true and realistic story; she enjoys memoirs, true crime and books about serial killers. Favorites of J.C. include The Glass Castle and A Pearl in the Storm. J.C. looks for books that will completely grab her attention from the start and move quickly, while telling a story about people who have overcome difficult circumstances in their lives. An important element for J.C. in reading is to feel inspired and to feel a relation to the characters in some way, even if the experiences described are completely foreign to her. J.C. looks for longer books usually, and struggles to get into shorter reads. J.C. reads print books exclusively and is completely uninterested in reading e-books or listening to audio books; however she is open to alternative types of print materials, such as graphic novels. The only genre, which J.C. is not interested in, is Science Fiction. Violence can be difficult for her to read about, but that won’t deter her, she simply puts the book down and comes back to it later. Sex is a non-issue in the storyline.
Questions	-Is there anything in particular that you are in the mood for now? -What reading format do you prefer? I.e. book, e-book or audio book? -What is a book or author that you hated? Why? -Where or how do you usually find books to read? This interview was short and to the point but very informative! J.C. works in a library and has conducted Reader’s Advisory interviews before herself, so she was able to concisely answer the questions effectively. Although she didn’t have a large amount of books or authors that she mentioned specifically, J.C. enjoyed the opportunity to talk about reading in general, and actually appeared to enjoy dishing about her most hated book ever, The White Castle, just as much as she enjoyed speaking about her favorites. Although I think that J.C. benefitted from the interview, particularly that the questions sparked her own thinking about what she likes and dislikes, and even reminded her of some of the books that she has been meaning to check back out, I think that she would not likely seek this service out frequently, as she mentioned a big part of the joy of reading includes wandering the shelves at her library or at the local Barnes and Noble aimlessly and allowing herself to be drawn in by titles and authors.
Sources	J.C.’s interest in non-fiction made using some of the more fiction focused Reader’s Advisory sources less useful. However, Amazon and Goodreads were both extremely useful in providing read-a-likes for non-fiction titles.
Suggestions	-The Silver Star: A Novel by Jeannette Walls -Still Alice by Lisa Genova -The Liars’ Club: A Memoir by Mary Karr -All The Light We Cannot See: A Novel by Anthony Doerr -Rowing the Atlantic: Lessons Learned on the Open Ocean by Roz Savage -The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt -Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters by Peter Vronsky -Female Serial Killers: How Why Women Become Monsters by Peter Vronsky -Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
Evaluation	J.C. appreciated the large list of options, as she likes to take several books out at a time to see which ones appeal to her within the first few chapters, and have more options if she isn’t captured. Although she emphasized her preference for non-fiction, she did mention that she is open to some fiction, and was pleased with the fiction titles that I included. She has started reading The Goldfinch and is enjoying the fact that it is a long, absorbing book. However, J.C. has already read the Krakauer book, and has perused both of the serial killer titles that I suggested. In our follow up, J.C. and I discussed how difficult it appears to be to find reputable, analytical works about serial killers.

Table 3

Reader	E.S.
Profile	E.S. likes books that captivate her and make her feel like she is living a life different than her own. She is not specific about genre, although she tends to read fantasies, thrillers and mysteries. E.S. mentioned that she has been having a very hard time finding books that can hold her interest lately, and as such has opened herself up to alternative genres than what she would normally choose, such as non-fiction and young adult. E.S. considers Gillian Flynn, JK Rowling and Alice Hoffman to be some of her favorite authors, but found it too difficult to cite particular titles. E.S. tends to choose titles that are set in the past, and cares more about a good plot than character building, although she mentioned the Harry Potter series as an exception in which she fell in love with the characters. E.S. tends to gravitate toward darker stories, although they can be either serious or fantastic; however, she mentioned that she sometimes finds herself in the mood for an uplifting, feel-good, easy read. Despite enjoying darker stories, E.S. does have limitations with sexuality and violence in the storyline, and avoids books that include rape, sexual abuse, or the glorification of violence. E.S. also tends to gravitate toward cerebral titles that are critically acclaimed, but admitted that she doesn’t always enjoy them, such as Cloud Atlas which she hated. E.S. is very busy and says she has a short attention span so she prefers fast-paced, short to medium length books, and considers it a plus if the title is available via e-book.
Questions	-Is there a time setting that you prefer to read in? I.e. the past, present or future? -Do you prefer books that are darker or more uplifting? -Do you prefer books that are more realistic or more fantastical? -Do you like to read about an everyday setting, or would you rather feel transported by the story? In retrospect, the questions did not dig deep enough with E.S. to fully flesh out her current preferences, and why some authors/books are her favorites versus others. However, the interview progressed relatively well. E.S. struggled to vocalize her preferences at times, and truthfully, seemed surprised by some of her own answers. As we were talking, E.S. seemed to be realizing that she does have more specific preferences than she realized, rather than being totally open to anything. She also expressed being shocked that when asked about violence and sexuality in the storyline she really did have more limits than she might have realized had she not specifically considered it. Although the overall results were not totally fit to what E.S. was looking for, I believe that she will utilize this service again because she seemed to really enjoy the process, and knowing that someone else could help her drudge through the seemingly infinite reading options. Additionally, I believe that E.S. enjoyed learning more about herself as a reader throughout the process.
Sources	To find books for E.S., starting with the author, I turned to The Reader’s Advisor Online Blog and NoveList, and found NoveList to be the most useful tool, as putting in the author’s name returned results of their works and read-a-likes.
Suggestions	-The Cat Did Not Die by Inger Frimansson -Confessions by Kanae Minato -In the Blood by Lisa Unger -We Were Liars by E. Lockhart -The Museum of Extraordinary Things by Alice Hoffman -The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker -Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor -The Boy in the Suitcase by Lene Kaaberol
Evaluation	E.S. was very pleased with the fantasy books on the list, and mentioned that lately she has really felt a pull to read books that remind her of reading fairy tales, but written for an older audience. However, she also mentioned that she didn’t really realize that until she read about The Golem and The Jinni and Akata Witch from the list. She also mentioned that although she thought that some of the darker options sounded good, she thinks maybe it is Gillan Flynn’s stories and writing that she likes, but not necessarily books of that type, because some of the suggestions sounded overly violent. She hasn’t yet read any of the listed books, but is looking forward to more fantasy suggestions! This was an example of an interview that would have been more successful I think had I dug in a little deeper with follow up questions in particular, and gotten to her preferences more clearly before providing her with a list.

Table 4

Reader	J.W.
Profile	J.W. considers herself to be an extremely voracious reader as well as bibliophile! She is also extremely open to reading experiences, including subject matter and alternative types of books, including graphic novels. J.W. mentioned that she can not imagine a single subject that she would not enjoy reading about, and thus learning more about, with the exception of erotica which does not interest her at all. J.W. describes her reading style as compulsive and mentioned that she chooses books primarily in two ways: 1) by browsing the stacks until a book title or author pops out to her, and then checking out and reading every single work by that author, or 2) by selecting a subject that has been interesting her as of late, such as the two examples she gave, the Holocaust, or prolific criminals, and then literally devoting herself to reading nothing but every single book at her library written about that subject. She also mentioned a deep love for mysteries, science fiction and fantasy titles. J.W. appreciates highly developed characters, particularly those that are based on real people, intricate crime explanations, and religious undertones. She also enjoys books that describe the parallels of extreme tragedy and extreme joy, which ring true to real life for her. Although open to any length, she tends to choose longer books that she can lose herself in, and loves books that are a part of a series. J.W. is okay with violence but prefers that it not be gory, and is also okay with sex in the story line but prefers that it not be gratuitous or violent. J.W. cited The Burnt House, Ride The Wind, The Clan of the Cave Bear series, The Gunslinger Series, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, and old Stephen King works, in general, as personal favorites.
Questions	-Where or how do you usually find books to read? -What is a book or author that you hated?          -Why did you hate it/them? -Do you prefer books, which are more focused on the plot or the characters? -Is there a time setting that you prefer to read in? I.e. the past, present or future? J.W. is somewhat hesitant in her own preferences, as if she lacks confidence to read as she pleases. When asked about the types of subjects that she likes and dislikes or how she normally finds books, she was apologetic and suggested her choices might be weird. I think that this experience was liberating for her, to learn that she can read whatever she likes, find it in many different ways, and that many other people share her likes and dislikes. However, this was not an easy interview to conduct because J.W. is so extremely open and did not give many specific avenues to begin from. However, the questions did flow smoothly and J.W. easily knew her answers to each question quickly. Although I really enjoyed meeting with J.W. and helping her feel justified and empowered in her reading choices, I worry that at the end of our questioning she didn’t necessarily feel heard or understood because I was somewhat overwhelmed. However, I think that she will consult Reader’s Advisory services again because I could tell that she really enjoyed talking about reading, and hearing any suggestions that I had during our interview and after. Furthermore, this was the only interview conducted over the phone, and although I am glad to have experienced this, it certainly added an extra element of difficulty in being able to effectively communicate with one another.
Sources	For J.W. I utilized Goodreads, the Reader’s Advisor Online Blog, Amazon, Google searches, and my own memory. I had a unique advantage in this situation of being very close with J.W., and remembering some of her favorites that she did not mention, and was able to also search based off of them.
Suggestions	-The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde -The Ascent of Rum Doodle by W.E. Bowman -The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin -The Yiddish Policeman’s Union by Michael Chabon -Flight of the Sparrow by Amy Brown -Silverhair by Stephen Baxter -Rav Hisda’s Daughter by Maggie Anton -Plain Truth by Jodi Picoult -Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult -The Dark Legacy of Shannara Novels by Terry Brooks -The Dead Path by Stephen Irwin -You Come When I Call You by Douglas Clegg -Incubus by Ann Arensberg -Charisma by Stephen Barnes -The Outlander Novels by Diana Gabaldon -Catherine LaVendeur Novels by Sharan Newman
Evaluation	This was both the most difficult and easiest interview to conduct and suggestions to create. J.W. has such an open attitude toward reading, and such a wide variety of interests and preferences that it was impossible to fail her, and yet also very difficult to hone in for her. She was extremely pleased with the large list (intentionally bloated because she mentioned being a very fast reader) and intends to check out many of the titles on her next trip to the library. The only selection that she seemed hesitant about was the The Outlander Novels series, as she has heard about the sex-heavy Showtime show. However, she hadn’t yet started reading any of these titles because she was already reading some of my favorites, Broken Monsters, The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes and Night Film by Marisha Pessl, that we discussed during the interview.

Table 5

Reader	S.L.
Profile	S.L. is a grad-student who also works part-time and travels extensively; as such, she thinks about travel friendly formats and stories when she is searching for something to read. S.L. likes light-hearted fiction reads that help her to feel uplifted. S.L. also enjoys educational non-fiction, particularly about self-improvement topics. S.L. also reads extensively for school and although the topics can be difficult, often about poverty, violence and the struggles faced by inner-city occupants, she values the ability to gain understanding. S.L. prefers medium length, fast-paced books which are set in or near the present time and focus on strong character development. S.L. enjoys feeling transported to a different experience, such as a new career or an exotic location. S.L. dislikes biographies and stories written about utopian societies. S.L. lists the Harry Potter series as a favorite, as well as books written by Emily Giffin. S.L. also frequently reads comic books and would be open to additional alternative reading experiences such as graphic novels. Currently, she has been reading everything that she can find on Buddhism, mindfulness and meditation.
Questions	-What is the last book that you read?      -What did you like about it?      -What did you dislike about it? -Is there anything in particular that you are in the mood for now? -Are there any types of books or particular subjects that you are uncomfortable reading or do not enjoy? This was an eye-opening interview, which was the only one conducted digitally. S.L. and I communicated entirely via email and it was very interesting to see how differently the questions, and thus the answers that I received translated via email versus in person. There was certainly context lost, and I couldn’t easily clarify for her my questions when there was confusion, nor could she easily clarify her answers. I think that it was important to try it this way, because Reader’s Advisory questions are common through help chat lines and text help, but I do not think that it was as effective. However, we did eventually understand one another, and S.L. was very helpful in being able to clearly explain her dislikes in particular, which helped me know what not to suggest to her.
Sources	For S.L. I utilized NoveList for the fiction titles that would appeal to her, and Google and Amazon to search non-fiction titles about Buddhism, Mindfulness and Meditation.
Suggestions	-Buddha Series by Osama Tezuka -Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig -Sit Like a Buddha: A Pocket Guide to Meditation by Lodro Rinzler -How To Train A Wild Elephant: And Other Adventures in Mindfulness by Jan Chozen Bays -Rebel Buddha: A Guide to a Revolution of Mind by Dzogchen Ponlop -The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery -The One and Only by Emily Giffin -The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews -The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Evaluation	This was a difficult interview. As mentioned, the element of communicating via email muddied our ability to understand one another, and certainly made timely feed back and follow up questions nearly impossible. Furthermore, S.L.’s greatest current interests are Buddhism, mindfulness and mediation, for which I felt a reference interview might actually be more appropriate. I did attempt to find fiction books about these topics and found that with the exception of mysteries centered on Buddhist monks or practitioners, this subject matter is sorely lacking. Additionally, S.L. likes to read “chick-lit” but she is very specific regarding what storylines interest her; as such, it was very difficult to provide her with suggestions as really, she needs to browse and read the covers/jackets to fully enjoy the process and find reads which appeal to her. Although she appreciated the suggestions, and did read and enjoy The Night Circus, I couldn’t help but question if I fully served her needs. I also offered to do a Reference Interview regarding Buddhism to see if we can work together to dig into that subject matter more thoroughly.

“Appendix B”

Full List of Interview Questions

1.     What is the last book that you read?

a.     What did you like about it?

b.     What did you dislike about it?

2.     Where or how do you usually find books to read?

3.     Do you have a favorite book/ type of book/ author?

a.     What made … your favorite?

4.     Is there anything in particular that you are in the mood for now?

5.     What reading format do you prefer? I.e. book, e-book or audio book?

6.     Are you open to alternative reading experiences such as graphic novels?

7.     Do you like shorter, medium, longer length books?

8.     Do you prefer books that build more slowly or are more fast paced?

9.     Are there any types of books or particular subjects that you are uncomfortable reading or do not enjoy?

10.  How comfortable are you with sex in a storyline?

11.  How comfortable are you with violence in a storyline?

12.  What is a book or author that you hated?

a.     Why did you hate it/them?

13.  Do you prefer books, which are more focused on the plot or the characters?

14.  Is there a time setting that you prefer to read in? I.e. the past, present or future?

15.  Do you prefer books that are darker or more uplifting?

16.  Do you prefer books that are more realistic or more fantastical?

17.  Do you like to read about an everyday setting, or would you rather feel transported by the story?