By Stefanie Aucoin
The Medfield Public Library has recently been awarded an important grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library and Services Technology Act administered by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners.* This grant is for the library staff to begin a rigorous program of Readers’ Advisory training that will help us better understand how you think about the items we have, and how we can help you find what you are looking for more easily.
What is Readers’ Advisory? This is the process of finding out what you like to read, watch or listen, why you like it, and matching you with other items you will hopefully enjoy. The training our staff will be undertaking is designed to increase our staff’s confidence and knowledge levels when talking to you about your favorite books, magazines, movies, and CDs.
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In a hurry and can’t stay to chat with a librarian? No problem. Readers’ Advisory will take place in a number of ways. We will be creating new displays, relabeling books to better reflect the genres categories we carry, creating booklists, and writing reviews. This way we can highlight new items, award winners, classics, or even our staff’s personal picks. These are just some of the quick and easy ways you can access our materials with a better understanding of what you want and how to get it.
One of the things we hope to accomplish with this grant is to highlight some of our less visible collections. While most of our materials are physical books, DVDs, and CDs we also have a collection of downloadable digital books and audiobooks. These items can be accessed even when the library is closed or when you’re far away. Since e-books are a newer technology, many people who visit the library have a lot of questions about how to make this collection work for them. The Library’s Board of Trustees has approved the purchase of several iPads to help our staff be more effective assisting you.
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Ultimately, the goal of this year-long Readers’ Advisory grant is to make visiting the library an activity of discovery, not frustration. Our staff will have a better understanding of what makes different items appealing to different people and this will help us connect you to the materials you want faster and more confidently.
“The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow IMLS on Facebookand Twitter.
