Description:
Your patrons come to you for reading suggestions, but keeping up with the world of books can be a daunting task. How do you identify trends? Can you know about a breakout hit before it hits? What kind of readalikes do you need to pick up the slack for the holds queue?
Join us as we discuss the tips and tools you need to stay sharp for your readers.

Panelists:
Rohini Bokka, Technical Services Manager, Naperville Public Library
Emily Borsa, Adult Services Librarian, Hinsdale Public Library
Katie McLain, Adult Reference Assistant, Waukegan Public Library, and Contributing Editor for BookRiot.com
The event will be moderated by Susan Maguire, Booklist Senior Editor, Collection Management and Library Outreach

Date: Monday, July 30, 2–3:30 PM

Location:
Woodson Regional Library (they have a parking lot!)
9525 S. Halsted Street
Chicago

—PREVIOUS EVENTS —
 

Listeners’ Advisory: Empowering Staff to Take on the Audiobook Collection

Description:
Unsure where to turn when a patron asks for audio suggestions? Or wants something the family can listen to on a long car trip? Audiobooks are increasingly popular, but that doesn’t mean we’re all comfortable sharing suggestions with listeners. A panel of RA librarians and audio fans will build on what we already know about working with readers and offer ways to expand our knowledge of the world of audio. We’ll outline strategies, highlight resources, share great narrators, and offer tips to make interactions with listeners more satisfying for both librarian and listener. 

Panelists: 
Joyce Saricks, Booklist Audio editor and reviewer
Magan Szwarek, audio reviewer and Reference Services Director, Schaumburg Public Library  
Becca Boland, audio reviewer and Assistant Head of Popular Materials/Teen Librarian, ELA Public Library
Renee Young, NoveList Audiobook Team Lead

Date: Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 2:00 – 3:30 PM 

Location: 
Skokie Public Library
512 Oakton Street, Skokie, IL 60077
Business Center

Sponsored by: NoveList
 

Everybody Say Love: Helping All Patrons Find HEA Book-Group

Description:
Romance novels are receiving more publicity than ever, and from surprising sources. The conversations around feminism, intersectionality, consent, and diversity have all, at some point, touched on romance publishing and where the happily ever after fits in today’s world. We’ll talk with romance writers, publishers, and librarians about what has and hasn’t changed in Romancelandia, and what you can do to help your patrons embrace the many winding roads to HEA. *** This event will be recorded. Even if you can't attend, leave your e-mail when RSVP'ing "no" and we'll automatically send you the archive when it's ready. 

Date: Tuesday, April 10 at 2:00 – 3:30 PM

Location: 
Chapel Hill Public Library 
Meeting Room B 
100 Library Drive 
Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Sponsored by: NoveList
 

Rogue Book-Group Choices: Tips for Revitalizing Your Group and Attracting New Members

Description:
You’re proud of the long-running book group at your library. It takes patience and smarts to develop a core of devoted readers. But do you ever feel like your monthly meetings are like a song stuck on repeat? It’s time for you to go rogue! Join a panel of librarian experts who have kept their book groups fresh by looking outside the box for reading choices. You’ll learn tips, tools, and titles that will revitalize your groups and even attract new members. This is a Booklist Live Event sponsored by NoveList. 

Panelists: 
Kathy Sexton from the Skokie Library (and a Booklist reviewer) 
Liz Kirchhoff from the Barrington Library (and a Booklist Reader blogger) 
Katharine Solheim from Unabridged Books in Chicago

Date: Thursday, February 22, 2018 at 2:00 – 3:30 PM Central

Location: 
Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center
400 S State St, Chicago, IL 60605 
Multipurpose Rooms A & B 

Sponsored by: NoveList

Watch the recording!
 

How to Stay in Top Genre Shape

Description:    
Nothing is scarier than being asked to help someone find books in a genre that you don’t enjoy yourself. You want to help that romance reader find the perfect book, for example, but you don’t know where to begin because—eek!—you don’t read romance. Will you be exposed as a fraud? How can you possibly help this reader? Well, you can. You can help any reader at any time as long as you know the right resources to consult, and you make a commitment to staying in genre shape. You can do that by forming a genre study group. Join Booklist RA specialist Becky Spratford as she leads a panel of experts who will walk you through the process of crafting a genre study model that will ensure success for you, your staff, and, most importantly, your readers. 
RSVP at http://bit.ly/GenreStudy

Panelists: Becky Spratford, Marlise Schiltz and Karen Toonen 

Date: Tuesday, August 22, 2017 from 2:00 – 3:30 pm

Location:
Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center
400 S State St, Chicago, IL 60605
Multipurpose Rooms A & B 

Sponsored by: NoveList

Watch the recording!
 

RA Conversation: YA Crossovers 

Description: 
Geared towards adult librarians who have little experience or training in working with titles for young adults, this 90-minute program will offer RA tips and tricks for working with both teen patrons and teen books. Attendees will come away with more confidence in their ability to suggest teen titles to adult readers and adult titles to teen readers.

Panelists: Booklist's Collection Management and Library Outreach Editor, Rebecca Vnuk 

Date: Thursday, October 27, 1:30 – 3:00 PM

Location: 
RAILS Burr Ridge
125 Tower Dr
Burr Ridge, IL 60527

Sponsored by: NoveList

Watch the recording!
 

Readers' Advisory Prescription 

Description:
Is your Readers' Advisory service a bit lethargic? Could your library use advice on how to reach readers? The book doctors are in and will speak to common RA issues and side effects. Smith will present recent research regarding public library patrons and their reading habits, then the three experts will prescribe cures for general RA woes. 

Panelists: Duncan Smith (NoveList), Becky Spratford (RA for All), and Rebecca Vnuk (Booklist)

Date: Thursday, August 27

Sponsored by: NoveList 

Watch the recording!
 

Book Blogging 101

Description:
In this practical discussion, seasoned book bloggers Vnuk and Keefe will cover the benefits of starting a personal or library-related book blog, including various platforms to choose from, how to get started, what to talk about, how to stay motivated, how to publicize your blog, and more. 

Panelists:
Rebecca Vnuk, Booklist Collection Management editor
Karen Keefe, Shelf Renewal blogger and director of the Hinsdale Public Library

Date: Thursday, December 3, 2 PM CST

Location:
RAILS Burr Ridge
125 Tower Dr
Burr Ridge, IL 60527

Sponsored by: NoveList

Watch the recording!
 

Book Review Basics: Using Reviews and Annotations for RA

Description:
How can you suggest titles you haven’t read or authors you aren’t familiar with? This session will explore how to use review sources to get up to speed, and will show you how your library can use reviews and annotations for both in-person and passive readers’ advisory. 

Panelists: Rebecca Vnuk, Booklist's Collection Management and Library Outreach editor

Date: Thursday, January 28 at 2 p.m. CST

Location: 
RAILS Burr Ridge
125 Tower Dr
Burr Ridge, IL 60527

Sponsored by: NoveList

Watch the recording!
 

Five Things to Know in Top Genres

Description: 
Based on the popular “Top Five” programs at recent PLA conferences, this program offers a quick rundown of the top things to know in some of the most popular genres, including each genre’s top five authors, trends, and benchmark books. 

Date: Tuesday, April 26 at 2 p.m. CST

Location: 
RAILS Burr Ridge
125 Tower Dr
Burr Ridge, IL 60527

Sponsored by: NoveList