Reference and Readers' Advisory
I have reference experience with all ages, in both public and academic settings, in-person and virtual, in English and Spanish. I am lucky to have had the opportunity to develop a depth as well as breadth of experience. As a subject specialist in Business and Technology, then in Humanities, I was able to develop expertise in in-depth reference interactions with entrepreneurs, genealogists, local authors and historians, inventors, and many other adult patrons. As a children and teen librarian, both at a large downtown library and a bustling family branch, I’ve also had a chance to work extensively with youth of all ages. Of course, at a busy neighborhood branch I get to work with everybody! I continue to seek out new opportunities to serve a wider diversity of patrons, including underserved populations, patrons with disabilities, and patrons who do not speak English.
Readers' advisory is one of the most fun, joyful aspects of librarianship for me! I love the process of helping somebody open up, examine their preferences, and settle on the item (or items!) that really makes their eyes light up. To me, good readers’ advisory is about helping people discover the joy in reading, either for the first time or all over again. Also, the process of really listening to what somebody wants and enjoys is deeply connective and powerful. Especially when a patron’s tastes differ from my own, it gives me the opportunity to get outside of my own box and appreciate new things. Plus, it’s just plain old fun to tell people about the great books out there!
Readers' advisory is one of the most fun, joyful aspects of librarianship for me! I love the process of helping somebody open up, examine their preferences, and settle on the item (or items!) that really makes their eyes light up. To me, good readers’ advisory is about helping people discover the joy in reading, either for the first time or all over again. Also, the process of really listening to what somebody wants and enjoys is deeply connective and powerful. Especially when a patron’s tastes differ from my own, it gives me the opportunity to get outside of my own box and appreciate new things. Plus, it’s just plain old fun to tell people about the great books out there!
