Topics:
Readers' Advisory Resources (by Joyce Saricks)
Selected Readers' Advisory Internet Sites (by Joyce Saricks)
Inter-Library Loan
Collection Development and Acquisitions
Reader's Advisory Resources
FICTION
Fiction Catalog. The H. W. Wilson Company.
Standard reference source for fiction with extensive subject and geographic indexing. Critical annotations usually give plot outline.
Herald, Diana Tixier. Genreflecting: A Guide to Reading Interests in Genre Fiction. Libraries Unlimited, Inc., 2000. 5th ed.
Historical, westerns, crime, adventure, science fiction, fantasy, horror, and romance are surveyed as the author defines these various genres, analyzes their characteristics by grouping authors according to type or subject matter, discusses subject content, and provides a selective annotated bibliography of history and criticism of each genre. Author/Title, Subject, and Series Characters index.
Jacob, Merle and Hope Apple. To Be Continued: An Annotated Guide to Sequels. 2nd ed. Oryx Press, 2000.
Comprehensive coverage of sequels in 19th and 20th century mainstream and genre fiction with 1300 entries. Title, genre, subject, and time/place indexes. Excludes mysteries and series written by many authors, such as Star Trek. Information included on Ebsco's NoveList.
Mort, John. Christian Fiction: A Guide to the Genre. Libraries Unlimited, 2002.
Part of the series of Genreflecting books, this follows the same pattern as Ramsdell's (Romance) and highlights Christian Fiction.
Pearl, Nancy. Now Read This: A Guide to Mainstream Fiction, 1978-1998; Now Read This II: A Guide to Mainstream Fiction, 1990-2001. Libraries Unlimited, 1999, 2002.
Guides to mainstream fiction, with an emphasis on more literary, fiction of the past few years. Citations include summary of book and appropriateness for book discussion. Organized by primary appeal: setting, story, characters, language. Indexes.
Saricks, Joyce. Readers' Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction. ALA, 2001.
Overview of 15 popular genres with information on the genre's characteristics, working with readers, and reference resources.
What Do I Read Next? A Reader's Guide to Current Genre Fiction. Gale, annual beginning 1990.
Covers Mystery, Romance, Western, Fantasy, Horror, and Science Fiction. Each section, compiled by experts in the genre, includes entries for books published during the year. Entries give author, title, series information, story type, names of major characters, time period, locale, plot summary, review citations, additional titles by author, and "other books you might like." Also essay describing "The Year" in each genre, lists of award winners, and numerous useful indexes.
HISTORICAL FICTION
Adamson, Lynda G. American Historical Fiction: An Annotated Guide to Novels for Adults and Young Adults. Oryx, 1998.
__________. World Historical Fiction: An Annotated Guide to Novels for Adults and Young Adults. Oryx, 1998.
Each covers more than 3,000 annotated titles. Organized chronologically with indexes for subjects, geographic locations, authors, titles, and genres. Appendices indicate award winners and books suitable for young adult readers.
Burt, Daniel S. What Historical Novel Do I Read Next? Gale, 1997. 2 vols.
Covers almost 7,000 historical fiction titles, following the same format (although it omits "other books you might like") and including the same type of indexes as What Do I Read Next?. "Historical Accuracy" note with each entry increases the usefulness of this source.
HORROR
Fonseca, Anthony J. and June Michele Pulliam. Hooked on Horror. Libraries Unlimited, 1999. 2nd edition, 2002.
Part of the series of Genreflecting books, this follows the same pattern as Ramsdell's (Romance) and highlights the Horror genre.
Spratford, Becky Siegel and Tammy Hennigh Clausen. Horror Readers’ Advisory: The Librarian’s Guide to Vampires, Killer Tomatoes, and Haunted Houses. ALA Editions, 2004.
Authors and titles in 11 subgenres, as well as readers’ advisory techniques for becoming familiar with the genre and sharing it with readers.
MYSTERY/THRILLER/ADVENTURE
Charles, John et al. The Mystery Readers' Advisory: The Librarian's Clues to Murder and Mayhem. ALA, 2002.
Overview of the Mystery genre along with helpful hints for working with readers. Useful appendices include book and internet resources and Mystery Book Lists.
Gannon, Michael. Blood, Bedlam, Bullets, and Bad Guys: A Reader’s Guide to Adventure/Suspense Fiction. Libraries Unlimited, 2004.
Part of the Genreflecting series, this title covers the Adventure and Suspense genres.
Heising, Willetta L. Detecting Men: A Reader's Guide and Checklist for Mystery Series Written by Men. Purple Moon Press, 1998.
Covers series, written by men, featuring male and female sleuths. Indexes by mystery types (P.I., Police) and background (Art and Antiques, Animals), Series Character (alphabetical by first name!), Settings, Chronology, Title, Pseudonyms, Awards.
__________. Detecting Women 3: A Reader's Guide and Checklist for Series Written by Women. Purple Moon Press, 1999.
Covers almost 700 series, written by women, featuring male and female sleuths. Interesting indexes provide additional access.
Niebuhr, Gary Warren. Make Mine a Mystery: A Reader’s Guide to Mystery and Detective Fiction. Libraries Unlimited, 2003.
Part of the Genreflecting series, this title highlights classic Mysteries in series.
Swanson, Jean and Dean James. By a Woman's Hand: A Guide to Mystery Fiction Written by Women. 2nd ed. Berkley Books, 1996.
More than 260 entries, arranged alphabetically by author, characterize the authors and discuss style, series characters, and other important or interesting facts, including an author's appeal to readers. Suggestions of other authors to try if you enjoy an author's books. Indexes to series characters, geographical location, type of detective.
__________. Killer Books: A Reader's Guide to Exploring the Popular World of Mystery and Suspense. Berkley Books, 1998.
Arranged by subject: Police; Suspense/Psychological; Historical; PI; Legal Thrillers; Romantic Suspense; Capers and Criminals; Reporters, Writers and Film makers; Amateur Sleuths; SF/Horror/Fantasy Mysteries. Description of each author highlights appeal. Indexes by character, geography, awards. Unindexed lists within text (e.g, Sports, Gardening)
ROMANCE
Bouricious, Ann. The Romance Readers' Advisory: The Librarian's Guide to Love in the Stacks. ALA, 2000.
Invaluable resource for becoming familiar with the romance genre, its readers, and its appeal. Useful appendices with award-winners and other lists.
Ramsdell, Kristin. Romance Fiction: A Guide to the Genre. Libraries Unlimited, 1999.
Authors are grouped by subgenre or subject matter, each subgenre includes definition, appeal, advising readers, brief history, and a selective annotated list of authors and titles. Core lists. Author/title and Subject indexes.
SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY
Buker, Derek M. Science Fiction and Fantasy Readers' Advisory: The Librarian's Guide to Cyborgs, Aliens, and Sorcerers. ALA, 2002.
More annotations than others in the series, the covers the genres and some aspects of working with readers.
Herald, Diana Tixier. Fluent in Fantasy: A Guide to Reading Interests. Libraries Unlimited, 1999.
Part of the series of Genreflecting books, this follows the same pattern as Ramsdell's (Romance) and highlights the Fantasy genre.
__________ and Bonnie Kunzel. Strictly Science Fiction: A Guide to Reading Interests. Libraries Unlimited, 2002.
Part of the series of Genreflecting books, this follows the same pattern as Ramsdell's (Romance) and highlights the Science Fiction genre.
WESTERNS
Snodgrass, Mary Ellen. Encyclopedia of Frontier Literature. Oxford, 2000.
Surveys frontier literature of North America from Columbus through the twentieth century. Entries include literary analysis and historical background.
ELECTRONIC AND WEB-BASED READERS' ADVISORY TOOLS
Ebsco's NoveList
Fiction Catalog
What Do I Read Next? Gale Research
See also RUSQ, Summer, 2004, pp. 294-305 for an extensive bibliography of readers'
advisory resources, prepared by RUSA's Readers' Advisory Committee.
Selected Readers' Advisory Internet Sites
Fiction_l (subscribe through Morton Grove webrary below)
Premiere readers' advisory maillist.
Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com
Bibliographic information, as well as published review and customer comments on a wide range of titles. Genres lists, including best sellers by genre, and book discussion questions as well.
Barnesandnoble.com http://www.barnesandnoble.com
Information similar to Amazon’s, plus “Bookbrowser” lists and “Meet the Authors”
Genrefluent http://www.genrefluent.com
Homepage of Diana Herald, author of Genreflecting. Hundreds of annotated titles, accessible by author and genre. Heavy emphasis on teen readers. Breakdown by Adventure, Crime, Fantasy, General Fiction, Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Horror, Romance, Science Fiction, Young Adult.
Library Journal Best Sellers http://www.libraryjournal.com/index.asp?layout=bestsellersMain
Most popular books in libraries, based on contributions from reporting US libraries.
Overbooked http://www.overbooked.org
Self-proclaimed website for "ravenous" readers. Reviews, links, and lists galore.
Read This Now. http://www.readthisnow.net
Online Readers’ Advisory chat from the Cleveland Public Library.
What's Next? http://www.kdl.org/libcat/whatsnext.asp
Best guide to series order. Not annotated but access by author, title, or series title.
Libraries:
Morton Grove, IL http://www.webrary.org/rs/rsmenu.html
Johnson County, KS http://www.jocolibrary.org
Des Plaines, IL http://www.desplaines.lib.il.us/readers/index.html
Waterboro, ME http://www.waterborolibrary.org/
Reader’s Club at the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (NC) http://www.readersclub.org/default.asp
Bookweb at Williamsburg Regional Library (VA) http://www.wrl.org/bookweb/
Adult Reading Round Table http://www.arrtreads.org
Genre study notes, annotated booklists, and more.
The Readers' Advisory Resource and Internet Sites Lists were
developed by Joyce Saricks.
ILL
Boucher, Virginia. Interlibrary Loan Practices Handbook. Chicago: American Library Association, 1997. (This is also an eBook available on NetLibrary.)
Butler, Rebecca P. Copyright for Teachers and Librarians. NewYork: Neal-Schuman, 2004.
Crews, Kenneth D. Copyright Essentials for Librarians and Educators. Chicago: American Library Association, 2001.
Davis, Dennis. “Reciprocal Borrowing Arrangements Widespread.” American Libraries. 31(1): 26, January 2005.
Jackson, Mary E., Assessing ILL/DD Services: New Cost-Effective Alternatives. Chicago: Association of Research Libraries, 2004.
Journal of Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery & Information Supply. The Haworth Press, Inc. (Recommended: Volume 13, Numbers 1/2, 2002. “Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery in the Larger Academic Library: A Guide for University, Research, and Larger Public Libraries.”)
Russell, Carrie, ed. Complete Copyright: an Everyday Guide for Librarians. Chicago: American Library Association, 2004.
Straw, Joseph E. “When the Walls Came Tumbling Down: The Development of Cooperative Service and Resource Sharing in Libraries: 1876-2002.” The Reference Librarian. 83/84: 263-276, 2003.
Collection Development and Acquisitions
Alabaster, Carol. Developing an Outstanding Core Collection: A Guide for Libraries. Chicago: American Library Association, 2002.
Boon, Belinda. The CREW Method: Expanded Guidelines for Collection Evaluation and Weeding for Small and Medium-Sized Public Libraries. Texas State Library, 1995.
Burgett, James. Collaborative Collection Development: A Practical Guide for your Library. Chicago: American Library Association, 2004.
Fales, Susan L., ed. Guide for Training Collection Development Librarians: Collection Management and Development Guides, No. 8. Chicago: American Library Association, 1996.
Hughes-Hassell, Sandra. Collection Management for Youth: Responding to the Needs of Learners. Chicago: American Library Association, 2005.
Johnson, Peggy. Fundamentals of Collection Development and Management. Chicago: American Library Association, 2004.
Jones, Dolores Blythe. Building a Special Collection of Children’s Literature in your Library. Chicago: American Library Association, 1998.
Kovacs, Diane K. The Kovacs Guide to Electronic Library Collection Development. New York: Neal-Schuman, 2004.
Wilkinson, Frances C., The Complete Guide to Acquisitions Management. Westport:
Libraries Unlimited, 2003.
Bibliography Developed by Rebecca Patton, Arrowhead Library System, May, 2005
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