What Should I Read Next?

Reference librarians hear this question asked nearly every day.  Readers advisory is helping readers find the next book, through the reference interview process, .  The reference interview doesn't have to be in person though.  Social media can change how libraries interact with patrons.  Tools on book ratings sites like Goodreads have created a forum that gives reviews on many books that aren't reviewed normally in traditional publications that library staff has used to provide reviews for newly released materials.

One of the exciting changes to reference services is the use of social media in providing readers advisory.  Applications on social media networks allow for instant messaging readers advisory services.  Reader’s advisory services have also been internalized through tools and applications.  Some public libraries have applications for instant messaging within their websites an example is the North Kingstown Free Library which has its own reader’s page at http://www.nklibrary.org/online-readers-advisory.  Facebook has also become a leader in social media readers’ advisory methodology. In an article published in Library Journal last year reference library staff used Facebook for the first time and they discussed the aspects of social media use for readers advisory.  (http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/communitylibraryculture/890008-271/facebook_ra.html.csp)  Readers advisory at arranged times on social media sites can reach a larger audience with less staff than traditional in person reference interviews.

            Traditional readers advisory methods transfer fairly well into the social media setting.  As more libraries develop social media reference advisory programs the literature and studies about RA through social media will begin to define what the best practices will be in the future for developing social media programs with readers advisory activities.  Social media is still a developing tool; Facebook was only developed in 2004.  Though it is the most widely used social media program currently this area of library services is rapidly changing but it is also leading other library programs into new uses of technology use.