Cheryl Morgenstern
June 12, 2010
ILS 593
Genre Fiction in the Public Library
When my friends ask me what class I am taking this summer, I tell them Readers’ Advisory. No one knows what that is. Most people don’t expect RA service from librarians (Saricks, 2005). So why is genre fiction and RA so important for public librarians? Simply put; could anyone imagine a public library without a fiction collection? People read fiction. People go to libraries to find fiction to read. Public librarians have long considered it one of their jobs to assist patrons in finding fiction they will enjoy reading. As simple as that sounds, there is a lot to learn in order to conduct a good RA interview.
According to the 2007 Harris poll, reading tops the list of Americans’ favorite leisure activities (Reuters, 2007). And according to a 2002 study, 48% of people surveyed had used the library in the past year (ALA http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1529608420071116). Finally, although it is difficult to find circulation data, according to Saricks (2005), 90% of library users are there to check out books and videos, and adult fiction accounts for about 60% of total adult circulation.
There are different ways to approach RA. In the past, librarians who did RA saw their role as finding books that would benefit their patrons (Saricks, 2005). While this sounds well meaning, librarians were extremely moralistic and patronizing. Now a more nonjudgmental approach is advocated in most of the literature. Dilvevko and Magowan (2007), however, advocate a return to a pre-1980s RA philosophy, claiming that the present day RA lacks the “mantle of meaningful education.” While there is a place for educating patrons about literature they may not have known about before, librarians must be very careful not to pass judgment on a patron’s reading preferences. In other words, don’t patronize the patrons.
Clearly there is a high demand for fiction in public libraries. Yet many patrons are overwhelmed or even intimidated by the layout of the library. While librarians spend a lot of time trying to figure out the best way to organize the fiction collection, there is no way to shelve the books so that every patron will find what they want on their own. For instance, libraries may have a general fiction collection, and shelve mysteries, romance, western, and science fiction and fantasy novels separately. Depending on the population using the library, they might shelve other genres separately as well. While this is useful, it may not help the patron looking for an “adventure” or a story about the sea. Hopefully, these patrons will either seek out help, or the librarian will find them and offer assistance.
In order to provide quality customer service to patrons, public librarians must have a good working knowledge of the various genres, and the ability to use reader’s advisory databases competently in order to help their patrons. They also need to know how to establish a good rapport with patrons. As Saricks (2005) states, patrons often feel it is inappropriate to approach a librarian with a question about fiction. The librarian must therefore offer such assistance so patrons understand that RA is one of the many services provided in public libraries.
So how do librarians obtain the necessary skills? Obviously no one can read everything that comes into the library. But librarians can observe what types of fiction, authors and titles are most frequently checked out. They can keep a log of what they read, and organize the log so they can reference it when advising patrons (Saricks, 2005). They can learn to use the various RA resources.
Genre fiction is in integral part of the public library collection. Therefore, it is imperative that public librarians know their fiction collection. And they must be able to use the resources available to them in order to help patrons find what they want to read.
References
American Library Association, (2010, April). Public library use: ALA library fact sheet 6. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/professionalresources/libfactsheets/alalibraryfactsheet06.cfm
Dilevko, J., & Mogowan, C.F.C. (2007). Readers' advisory service in North American public libraries, 1870-2005. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company.
Reuters. (2007, November 16). Reading top leisure activity for Americans: poll. Reuters Life, Retrieved from http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1529608420071116
Saricks, J.G. (2005). Readers 'advisory service in the public library (3rd edition). Chicago: American Library Association.
