When I worked in the public library I was frustrated by many things. Mainly, I'll admit, by the rudeness* of the general public, which remains the number-one reason I am still relieved not to be working a public-service desk job right now (although I'm sure I'll have to go back to one sometime, and will just be damn glad if I'm able to get one). But a slightly more esoteric annoyance I had with the system was how librarians are often told (in library school, or in training) that to be good "readers' advisors"--people who help readers find things they might enjoy reading--they must focus solely on what the reader wants. "It's not about you," we librarians are told, "Readers' Advisory is not about pushing your opinions on readers."
Well, okay. I get it. When you're helping a reader find something to read it is of course vital that you focus on their interests. Likewise, if someone is, say, a Jodi Picoult or Nicholas Sparks reader, it is probably nicest if the librarian doesn't say (although they might be dying to): "So, you like hack authors, huh?"
But at the same time, I think that attitude does everyone a vast misservice. It hurts librarians, who are made to feel they can't speak about any books too enthustiastically--that they cannot "recommend," they must only ever "suggest," and strive never to allow their own opinions a part in the conversation. And I think eventually it hurts readers--who might be looking for, not only some assistance, but also a good book conversation with someone who also loves reading--not someone who is desperately trying not to have any opinions on any books whatsoever during the encounter.
Now, all of that is a very long-winded way to say I loved, absolutely loved, a little book I checked out at the end of last year titled Read This!: Handpicked Favorites from America's Indie Bookstores.** God love independent booksellers. They don't dick around with any "don't bring your own opinions or loves" edicts. This book consists of twenty-five indie bestsellers' lists of their favorite 50 books--each chapter provides some information on the bookstore where the contributor works, the list, some paragraphs about a few of the titles listed more specifically, and a short q-and-a about bookstores and readers with the contributor. And they don't list their 50 best-selling titles, or 50 "sure bets" (a term which always annoys the shit out of me, since I figure my sure bet is bound to be someone else's can't stand)--they list their 50 FAVORITES. It's awesome. Straightforward and very, very pleasing. I read it a chapter at a time last month, always at bedtime, and it was a very satisfying and settling read.
The short interviews with the booksellers were almost my favorite part; and the following is my favorite response to the question "Who is your most trusted source for book recommendations?" (by bookseller Emma Straub): "There are reviewers I trust, and friends I trust, and booksellers I trust. Really, my problem is that I have too many smart people recommending books to me all the time. My backlog is so enormous that often by the time I actually read a book, I've forgotten who told me they loved it or which newspaper gave it a rave. Then it's just up to me and the book to see if we can get along." (p. 16.)
Look at those words: Trust. Recommending. Smart. Love. Now THOSE are the words you should always bring to talking with other readers. So join me in the revolution, librarians: get rid of that wishy-washy word "suggest" once and for all.
*Not to mention general scariness and sometimes flat-out violence.
**If you buy it new
I would like to beg to differ on librarians being afraid to recommend favorite titles. I've been lucky to work with three great readers' advisors, and while they all had those stock authors in mind, they were not afraid to point out lesser-known authors and titles, and they loved discussing what they were currently reading and what they liked and didn't like. RA was never a strong talent of mine (I definitely relied on sources like NoveList and those ready-made bookmarks, the "If You Liked So-and-So" types), so it was a great learning experience working with these masters.
Yes, the general public can be rude and condescending (one lady practically told me I should be on bed rest instead of being at work while eight months pregnant), but they can also be thoughtful and polite. Those patrons always made my day. If only people would realize that approaching a public servant with some respect nets them a whole lot more than coming at us with attitude.
Posted by: Marcie | 18 January 2013 at 10:14 AM
Marcie,
I am so glad to hear you have had a different experience than me. How great to work with people and in a place where REAL book conversations went on. And don't feel any shame in relying on sources for RA help--you just have to look at those sources as another source of book "conversation."
You also have a better attitude than I do about the general public, and I salute you. As I said, I could pretty much deal with rudeness. It was sometimes the swearing, the threats, and the unpredictable nature of people with greater problems than I could solve that got to me (and I worked in the safest library in the city).
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 18 January 2013 at 01:21 PM
Why can't you suggest enthusiastically? I think the two of you are begging the question here. The whole point is to bring to readers' attention titles which they may not know about. There is ALWAYS going to be some subjectivity involved, even with the "great ones" doing the suggesting. If you can bring them around to your favorites by your suggesting, so much the better - but it is ultimately their decision.
Recommend smacks of imposing your own viewpoint on others, and THAT'S what it is NOT about.
As for rudeness - that is endemic.
Posted by: Sarah | 28 January 2013 at 01:59 PM
Okay, Sarah, I'll split the difference with you on "suggesting enthusiastically" (rather than recommending), but then you have to agree with me that we should stop saying we don't bring anything of our own reading tastes (which translate to knowledge, after all) to these conversations.
Posted by: Citizen Reader | 29 January 2013 at 08:41 PM