Readers’ Advisory: The State of Readers Advisory

Abstract

Readers’ Advisory (RA) is a library industry and educational term that is not known to most folks
outside of the library world. Even within our profession, the mention of readers’ advisory conjures
both micro and macro level interpretations. Creating booklists and displays = RA services,
conducting patron interviews and matching books with people = RA, participating in continuing
education programs, understanding appeal factors and maximizing the use of curated databases
such as NoveList = RA. In 2005, Joyce Sarick’s noted in her work Readers’ Advisory Service in the
Public Library, 3rd edition, 2005 that “librarians today find themselves in the midst of a readers’
advisory renaissance” (p. 7). Thirty years ago, RUSA/Codes established a readers’ advisory
committee, and since then, “the committee has presented programs on readers’ advisory at each
annual conference and published two bibliographies of readers’ advisory resources as well as
a study of readers’ advisory education” (p. 7). I was curious as to the state of RA today and the
possibilities for the future, so I sent out an email questionnaire to some librarians across the country
to gather their opinions on the matter. Special thank you to Rebecca Vnuk, Executive Director of
LibraryReads for connecting me with some of her colleagues.