1. Using the Library Catalogue for Readers’ Advisory Services Working together to enhance Readers’ Services through strategic searches, social software and next generation catalogues Laurel Tarulli, Collection Access Librarian Halifax Public Libraries
3. Library Catalogues: Facing Facts Traditional Mindset – The catalogue is hard to use Lack of expertise for the different search functions which leads to frustration Use and knowledge of subject headings and genres Limitations of catalogue and its content Traditionally considered inventory list, not a discovery tool
4. Why work together? Overlapping expertise Genre experts Subject experts Knowledge of collection Knowledge of reading trends – what’s hot vs. what’s not
5. The Catalogue as an RA Tool Why? Because the catalogue is controlled “in-house” it allows for numerous collaborative possibilities Enriched content/description Reading lists Uniform headings/access points Personalized annotations Local/specialized access points RA/Cataloguer collaboration
6. The Catalogue reflects our Collection Allows an RA to suggest titles that we have in our collection Readers go away happy with a positive experience! Novelist and other resources are very good in finding similar reads, but they don’t reflect what we have in our collection SFP (Suggestion for purchase) but the readers want a book now – not in a month or so. We run the risk of losing them to a bookstore or having them walk away disappointed. You don’t want readers to feel as if we don’t have what they want
7. The Catalogue: Searching vs. Using Using the catalogue as an RA tool Understanding how to create keyword searches to pull out appeals Knowledge of how access points are applied as well as additional, searchable content found in records Knowledge of genre headings Successful searches that combine genre headings and subject headings
8. Adult Fiction Genres Become familiar with the genres used in your library catalogue Successful searches combine genre headings with subjects How do I know what to search? Look at the records to see what is being used Adult fiction records usually include: Setting/Place Occupation of protagonist Genre
9. Getting to know a bib record Who? People/Professions What?/Topic Where?/Place Genre
10. Author Example Author I really like books by James Patterson. Can you recommend other books like his? Elements Mystery/Suspense Serial Murders Investigations Murders Genres – Mystery ; Suspense Subjects – Murder investigations, Serial Murders Subject keyword search: Suspense Serial Murders Murder investigation (26 results)
11. Genre Example Genre I don’t read fiction. I prefer something I can learn from, but interesting and enjoyable. Not a boring textbook. You know, something readable. Elements: Non-fiction, readable, not a textbook If we can probe further (the RA interveiw)... Used to read biographies Likes interesting or unusual facts Does this give us enough information to bring to the catalogue?
12. YES! The reader wants something Interesting, Readable and Non-Fiction Narrative Non-fiction Reader Genres: Memoirs, Microhistory *You can narrow this down further by subjects such as professions, time periods or location. Search Options: Subject search using these genres Refer to HPL reading lists (For example, Quirky Memoirs)
13. You try it! Author If you like Marian Keyes Elements Funny Single Women Romance What genres or subject headings would you use in your search? Let’s look at a bib record for clues…
15. Marian Keyes read alike: Search elements: Genres: Humorous, Chick lit, Romance Subject headings: Single women, England Subject keyword search: chick lit humorous single women Catalogue Results (56): Helen Fielding, Lucinda Rosenfield, Meg Cabot, Sarah Mlynowski, Elise Juska, Sue Margolis, Carole Matthews If you add “England”, 9 results are retrieved
16. What’s coming? Ooh, I bet it’ll be great! I like things the way they are. ???
17. Endless possibilities… Vendor Products NoveList Select Social Catalogues Folksonomies User/Staff-generated information Additional Enriched Content Chat widgets – Chat isn’t just for the Reference Desk!
18. Vendors are recognizing the catalogue is a valuable RA tool “More and more people are using the library from home to find books they have heard about. If the book is checked out or there's a long hold queue, they go on to another site. NoveList Select helps your users discover new books that meet their needs and on your shelves by showing them similar titles right in the catalog.” - NoveList Select web page
19. NoveList Select – Reading Suggestions Right in the Catalogue Partial Record: Team of Rivals by Doris Goodwin Salt Lake County Library
20. Social Catalogues User-generated content Folksonomies/Tagging Contributing reading suggestions and recommendations Creating booklists Ratings Writing Reviews
23. Enriched Content Content from Vendors Cover art Search inside features Additional tags, reviews and recommendations Syndetic Solutions Google Books Amazon LibraryThing for Libraries
24. Why is this important? HPL is implementing the discovery tool AquaBrowser. This “social catalogue” will be launched in beta for staff in December. This will be a great tool for Readers’ Advisors!
25. Working together: RAs and Cataloguers Enhances collaboration between Collection Access and Readers’ Services Our collections are based on our readers’ wants and interests Encourages an online community of readers RA moves out of the physical library and into the readers’ homes and community Encourages users to share reading ideas and interest with the library and each other – it becomes “their” library
