Just ask; "Readers' Advisory Service in the Public Library"

News November 16, 2007 (mp3 file: 4.25 MB,4:32 min.)
Just ask; "Readers' Advisory Service in the Public Library"

It’s been one of those weeks again when several things come together to start me thinking. I’d been pondering, on a back burner, a study I heard about in a webinar, and then an article appeared in Library Journal, “Know Your Students.” It describes Rochester’s two-year ethnographic study of what students do on campus and how the library fits in. They discovered some interesting things. It’s an academic library but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have ideas and implications for those in public libraries.

Then a couple of days ago I was doing a video walk-through at one of our libraries and as we talked after the “filming” we thought about what they might do in the teen area to make it more ‘their” place. And I thought of this study. It’s a bit different for high school students but he underlying idea is the same—take a good look at that they do, when, and how. We think we know, but do we? Maybe yes, but….maybe no.

Then I got an IM from a librarian in a very small community: 15 teens had just come in after school Two things here: 15 of any group, much less enthusiastic, energetic teens, is a LOT in this small space and, 2) the librarian was excited that they were there. They were mostly waiting for computer time and I suggested that she take advantage of their presence—“Just ask.” What books are they reading? What would they like to read? What would they like for their space in the new building? Yes, they want computer time, but what else? And what do they want to do on computers? What about a computer game club? What kind of seating and furniture would they like for their space? Ask them to draw their ideal library space (Ask *adults* to draw their ideal space.)

Physicists and mathematicians like elegant solutions. Me, I like simple solutions. And sometimes we just run right over the simplest solutions. Sometimes we should just ask. --Karen

Book reviewed by Marcia:

Readers' advisory service in the public library, 2nd ed., by Joyce G. Saricks and Nancy Brown. ALA, 1997