Subject Guide: Readers’ Advisory

Charles, John, Joanna Morrison, and Candace Clark. The Mystery Readers’ Advisory : The Librarian’s Clues to Murder and Mayhem. Chicago: American Library    Association, 2002.   

Z711.5 .C48 2002

 

The first half of this guide includes an introduction to the genre as well as tips for readers’ advisory, marketing, collection development, and programming.  The second half is comprised of two booklists divided by themes and subgenres respectively.  Also included are reference information, review literature, specialty publishers, and websites.

 

 

 

Cords, Sarah Statz, and Robert Burgin. The Real Story : A Guide to Nonfiction Reading Interests.   Westport,Conn: Libraries Unlimited, 2006.

Z711.55 C67 2006

 

This guide to nonfiction defines the genre and helps librarians recommend nonfiction titles based on preferred genre, subject, or writing style.  Over 500 titles are described, with the focus on titles written between 1990 and 2005.  Included are fiction and nonfiction read-alikes, appendixes for top political and spiritual writers, and information about awards and nonfiction publishers.

 

 

 

Herald, Diana Tixier, and Bonnie Kunzel. Strictly Science Fiction : A Guide to Reading Interests. Greenwood Village, Colo: Libraries Unlimited, 2002.
Z688.S32 H47 2002

 

Over 900 titles are described in this guide to science fiction.  Chapters are organized by subgenres such as action/adventure, high tech, and short stories.  Selections range from classics, such as Frankenstein, to more recent titles.  A chapter of resources for librarians and teachers is included, as well as author/title, subject, and character indexes.

 

 

 

Hooper, Brad. Read on–Historical Fiction : Reading Lists for Every Taste. Westport, Conn: Libraries Unlimited, 2006.

Z711.5 .H65 2006

 

Over 400 new and classic historical fiction titles are categorized by topics and themes such as women with true grit, greatest war stories, royalty rules, and history’s forgotten heroes.  Each title has bibliographic information as well as a plot summary.

 

 

 

Saricks, Joyce. Readers’ Advisory Service in the Public Library. 3rd ed. Chicago: American Library Association, 2005.  

Z711.55 .S27 2005

 

The new edition of this overview of readers’ advisory services has been expanded to cover nonfiction as well as fiction and includes more online tools and resources.  Easy ways to create read-alike lists are addressed, as are guidelines for conducting advisory interviews and recommending books.  Also discussed are techniques for marketing good reading material, and tactics for drawing on reviews to make recommendations.