Guiding Readers to Nonfiction ~ A Training Session by Neal Wyatt

Now is the time to integrate nonfiction recommendations into your Readers’ Advisory service, to use the whole collection, bridge the Dewey Divide and help readers find both fiction and nonfiction that they will enjoy reading. Rather than thinking about our collection in separate segments (e.g. fiction, nonfiction, CD, DVD), think about the appeal that various topics and stories have for our users. The same reader can enjoy David McCullough’s John Adams or 1776, Jeff Shaara’s novel Rise to Rebellion, and the HBO special series on John Adams. Any of the books or the special can draw a user into new areas of our collections. On April 15, Neal Wyatt, author of The Readers’ Advisory Guide to Nonfiction (ALA, 2007), ‘the readers shelf’ column in Library Journal (LJ), and the online LJ suggestions in Wyatt’s World, conducted a workshop to help participants learn how to analyze users and collections for use in a nonfiction RA transaction. Through presentation, small group discussion and treats, Neal widened our horizons and taught us new skills. We are pleased to announce that Neal will return July 22 for a second workshop. It’s a whole new world. ~ Jan Resnick, Assistant Regional Administrator, WMRLS