readers advisory for all discussion

this is dr. mary k chelton's wonderful list of resources to assist in RA work. feel free to use any of them to help out in this group. i like the way things have been going, where we recommend books we have read or books we are familiar with, but RA professionals would frown on our lawless behavior. "use the tools", they would shriek!! so now you have the option of using them or not using them, and you can play around with them for your own queries. it is a long list so i had to break it into bits. some are subscription databases, but many are for regular folk. enjoy!

GENERAL SOURCES

Adult Reading Round Table http://www.arrtreads.org.
Self-help RA training group of librarians in the Chicago suburbs with lists, RA
troubleshooting tips, and genre studies.
*ALA's Guide to Best Reading. ALA, Annual.
AllReaders.com
Features detailed book reviews from all genres as well as featured authors, latest book
reviews, reader-entered book reviews and a unique one-click plot search capability by
genre.
Amazon.com Huge online bookstore with reviews and full text searching available.
AuthorYellowPages.com Online author directory of websites and newsletters.
AuthorsontheWeb.com News about authors—current, upcoming and past books,
biographies, and more.
Between the Covers: The Book Babes’ Guide to a Woman’s Reading Pleasures by
Margo Hammond and Ellen Heltzel. Perseus, 2008.
BookBrowse.com
A literary smorgasbord of the best current books recently published in the USA, with an
extensive excerpt of each for your reading pleasure. Includes a new search tool that
categorizes titles at www.bookbrowse.com/2cat/.
RA Tools 1/11, p. 2
BookForum. “A smart, vital, edgy magazine about the living art of writing.”
www.bookforum.com/
BookLetters. Provides a fast, easy, affordable e-newsletter and web page creation service
that lets patrons receive book and library news on their computers and immediately
connect into the library's web site, e-resources and catalog. www.BookLetters.com
Booklist Online. Complementing and expanding on the print journal Booklist, Booklist
Online delivers highly searchable and creatively linked reviews, columns, and features-all
designed to help users find exactly the right book. ALA. www.BooklistOnline.com
Bookmarks Magazine. www.bookmarksmagazine.com Includes a Power Browser to
search reviews database by theme and subgenre.
BookPage.com
Popular review source of new books for readers.
BookReporter.com
News about authors and their books; lots of bibliographies and
thematic features.
Books and Authors. www.gale.cengage.com
Based on Gale’s What Do I Read Next plus other content with direct information to
author information from the book pages.
Books and Beyond: The Greenwood Encyclopedia of New American Reading. By
Kenneth Womack. 4 vols. ABC-CLIO, 2998.
BookSense.com
A website of suggestions from independent bookstores.
Bookslut Blog. http://www.bookslut.com/blog
Editor Jessa Crispin offers both a website (which provides monthly reviews of fiction and
nonfiction titles, and articles and interviews) and a frequently updated blog, which
provides valuable information primarily on literary fiction and nonfiction, poetry, and
reading awards and news.
BookSpot.com
A compendium of books news, lists, and information about books and the
people behind them.
BookTour.com
A service that tells you which authors are appearing where in your vicinity.
www.booktour.com
RA Tools 1/11, p. 3
Bookwire
Bowker Company’s information on the book publishing industry.
www.bookwire.com/
Cambridge Guide to Literature in English. 3rd ed. Dominic Head, ed. Cambridge,
2006.
Chick Lit Media Group. Formed in response to the need for women to be better
represented in the art and science of communication. Includes books and other media
with many discussion forums. http://www.chicklit.com
Complete Idiot’s Guide to the Ultimate Reading List by Shelly Mosley John Charlesm
Joanne-Hamilto-Selway and Sandra Van Winkle. Alpha, 2007.
*Conducting the Reference Interview: A How-To-Do-It Manual by Catherine Ross,
Kirsti Nilsen, and Patricia Dewdney. Neal-Schuman, 2002.
Includes a chapter on the RA interview.
EarlyWord.com A blog by Nora Rawlinson, former Collection Development
Coordinator of Baltimore County Public Library, former editor of both LJ and PW, and
former Library Marketing Director of Hachette Publishing. Lots of current, topical
information on publishing, hot titles, etc. for demand buying.
Facts on File Companion to the American Novel by Abby H. P. Werlock. Facts on
File, 2006.
Few Good Books: Using Contemporary Readers’ Advisory Strategies to Connect
Readers with Books by Stephanie L.Maatta. Neal-Schuman, 2009.
Fiction Connections. Searchable database of fiction available to subscribers of Books in
Print Plus. R. R. Bowker.
FictionDB.com
Claims to be the world’s largest fiction database. Includes bibliographies, upcoming
releases, synopses, spin-offs, reviews, series, author websites, etc.
*Fiction_L Listserv for librarians who do fiction RA
work. http://www.webrary.org/rs/Flmenu.html

FreshFiction.com
Site with free email subscription option that highlights all books being discussed on any
nationally broadcast television or radio show. http://freshfiction.com/
*Genreflecting: A Guide to Reading Interests in Genre Fiction by Diana Tixier
Herald. 6th ed. Libraries Unlimited, 2005. http://www.genrefluent.com
RA Tools 1/11, p. 4
Gnooks. http://www.gnooks.com
This self-adapting system generates ideas in two ways. Enter three favorite authors to
receive a single author name based on the combination; more suggestions are available
depending on whether you indicate that you “like”, “don’t like”, or “don’t know” that
author. Alternatively, enter one author to receive a literature map showing writers of
similar works. The site also includes a discussion board
I Need a Book!: Readers’ Advisory for Adults. Video (VHS or DVD). Library Video
Network, 2006. www.lvn.org. A summary how-to-do-it video on RA work in which
librarians discuss the RA interview/conversation, reader appeal factors for both fiction
and nonfiction, and other techniques for interacting with users and self-training.
Integrated Advisory Service: Breaking through the Book Boundary to Better Serve
Library Users. Jessica Moyer, ed. Libraries Unlimited, 2010.
Lexacat’s Guide to Finding Good Books. Kingston, Rhode Island Librarian’s book
blog http://lexacatsguidetobooks.blogspot....
Librarian’s Book Revoogle and Librarian’s Booklist Search. Finds librarian book
reviews and lists using an adaptation of Google.
http://ricklibrarian.googlepages.com/...
*Morton Grove Public Library Webrary Reader Services. Home of Fiction_L listserv
and member-compiled lists, as well as an example of how a very good RA services
website might be organized. http://www.webrary.org/rs/rsmenu.html
NextReads. A subscription email service developed by the creators of NoveList.
www.nextreads.com
*NoveList: Your Guide to Fiction Epnet.com
An online index to fiction created to help readers advisors. Maintained and distributed by
EBSCO Publishing.
Now Read This III: A Guide to Mainstream Fiction by Nancy Pearl and Sarah Statz
Cords. Libraries Unlimited, 2010.
Covers 500 books with annotations, (+ some related nonfiction) divided by appeal
emphasis with further reading suggested.
RA Tools 1/11, p. 5
100 Great American Novels You’ve (Probably) Never Read by Karl Bridges. Libraries
Unlimited, 2007.
Opening the book. A reader development site in the UK directed by Rachel Van Riel,
who uses a reader-centered approach that covers furniture, library design, training, reader
services and reader networks. http://openingthebook.com/default.aspx
Overbooked. http://www.overbooked.org
A website for ravenous readers specializing in literary and genre fiction information.
Popular Contemporary Writers. 11 vols. Michael D. Sharp, ed. Marshall Cavendish,
205.
RANews
An electronic newsletter for readers advisors from Libraries Unlimited intended to inform
Readers' Advisors and RA educators of events, trends, issues, and products pertinent to
successfully teaching and practicing readers' advisory. Subscribe at renews@lu.com.
Reader Development in Practice: Bringing Literature to Readers. Hornby, Susan and
Bob Glass, eds. Facet: London, 2008. Examines the relationship between readers and
literature, including the relationship between the a uthor and the reader and the impact
changes in technology and policies have had on publishing and promotion.
Reader’s Advice. http://www.readersadvice.com/
Maintained by a retired librarian, this site provides readalikes for bestsellers, big name
authors and indexes books by genre.
Reader’s Advisor Online. Integrates all the Genreflecting RA tools published in print
into an interactive, searchable database. Libraries Unlimited.
www.readersadvisoronline.com
*Readers' Advisors' Companion. Kenneth D. Shearer and Robert Burgin, eds. Libraries
Unlimited, 2001.
*Readers’ Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction by Joyce G. Saricks. 2nd ed. ALA, 2009.
Readers’ Advisory Handbook. Ed. By Jessica E. Moyer and Kaite Mediatore Stover.
ALA, 2010.
Readers Advisory Link Farm. http://www.jackflannel.org/ra.html
Website links to genres, reading guides, readalike lists, bookstores, email groups,
bestseller lists, series, etc.
*Readers’ Advisory Service in the Public Library by Joyce Saricks and Nancy Brown.
3rd ed. ALA, 2005.
RA Tools 1/11, p. 6
Readers Exchange: ideas and Information for Readers. Quarterly. Readers Exchange,
3275 Oakdell Lane, Studio City, CA 91604.
ReadersRead.com
Features news about the hottest books and authors in all genres, bestseller lists and links
to the best sites for literature and books. Of special interest is the section of book
excerpts.
Reader’s Robot www.tnrdlib.bc.ca/rr.html
Database of genres with reviews giving appeal factors.
The Reading List. RUSA/ALA. Annual.
Established in 2007 by the CODES section of RUSA, The Reading List seeks to highlight
outstanding genre fiction that merit special attention by general adult readers and the
librarians who work with them.
Research-Based Reader’s Advisory by Jessica E. Moyer. ALA, 2008.
*Responsive Public Library Collection: How to Develop and Market A Winning
Collection. 2nd ed. by Sharon L. Baker. Libraries Unlimited, 2002.
Sequels: An Annotated Guide to Novels in Series by Janet G. Husband and Jonathan F.
Husband. 4th ed. ALA, 2008.
Something to Talk About: Creative Booktalking for Adults by Ann-Marie Cyr and
Kellie M. Gillespie. Scarecrow, 2006.
Storycode.com. British site that allows readers to enter books they have read and to code
them so others might find them. www.storycode.com
What Do I Read Next? A Reader’s Guide to Current Genre Fiction. 2 vols.
Thompson/Gale, 2000—2009.
What Should I Read Next? A UK site that generates read-alikes based on titles
members have entered. www.whatshouldireadnext.com/search
*What's Next? A List of Books in Series. Kent District, Kent District Library, 814 West
River Center NE, Comstock Park, Michigan 49321, 2003. www.kdl.org
Whichbook.net
A British site on which readers can choose titles by mood appeal factors as well as by
more traditional indexing access points.
Writing Reviews for Readers’ Advisory by Brad Hooper. ALA, 2010.

ADVENTURE
Extreme Classics: The 100 Greatest Adventure Books of All Time. Annotated list
compiled by editors, Adventure magazine. www.nationalgeorgraphic.com

AUDIOBOOKS
Audio Diversions. A discussion list for all interested in audiobooks.
http://list.audiodiversions.com/mailm...
Audio Publishers Association, 627 Aviation Way, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
www.audiopub.org
AudioFile: The Magazine For People Who Love Audiobooks, 37 Silver St., POB 109,
Portland, ME 04112-0209. www.audiofilemagazine.com. Also publishes Audiopolis, an
audio review source on audiobooks available from their website or from the iTunes
website.
Audible.com
Site for downloading hundreds of audiobooks, newspapers and magazines. Available
through the iTunes website.
AudioBook Reference Guide.
AudioFile Publications. www.audiofilemagazine.com
Audio Book Stand www.audiobookstand.com
Books Out Loud: Bowker’s Guide to Audiobooks. Bowker, 2009.

AWARDS, PRIZES AND NOTABLE LISTS
Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards. Honors books that contribute to understanding of racism
and helps appreciation of the rich diversity of human culture. http://www.anisfieldwolf.
org
Anthony Awards. Mysteries. Given annually at the Bouicheron conference.
http://www.readersread.com/awards/ant...
Barry Awards. Mysteries. Deadly Pleasures Magazine deadlypleasures.com/Barry.htm
Booker Prize. Literary fiction. http://www.bookerprize.co.uk
Bram Stoker Awards. Horror http://www.horror.org/stokers.htm - winners
RA Tools 1/11, p. 8
Christy Awards. Christian fiction. http://www.christyawards.com/
Diamond Daggar Award. Given yearly by the Crime Writers’ Association, is presented
to writers whose careers are marked by sustained excellence, and who have made a
significant contribution to crime fiction published in the English language, whether
originally or in translation. http://www.thecwa.co.uk/daggers/index...
Edgar Awards. Mysteries. http://www.mysterywriters.org
Eisner Awards. Comic industry awards. http://www.comiccon.
org/cci/cci_eisners_07win.shtml
Gaylactic Spectrum Award. Honors outstanding works of science fiction, fantasy and
horror which include significant positive explorations of gay, lesbian, bisexual or
transgendered characters, themes, or issues. www.spectrumawards.org/whatis.htm
Gold Medallion Book Award. Inspirational. http://www.ecpa.org/
Gumshoe Awards. Crime fiction. http://www.mysteryinkonline.com/award...
Indie Book Awards. Independent book authors and publishers.
http://www.IndieBookAwards.com
International Horror Guild Awards. Horror. http://www.ihgonline.org./index.html
Jordan Christian Book of the Year Award. Inspirational. http://www.ecpa.org/
Lambda Literary Awards. Gay and Lesbian. http://www.lambdaliterary.org/awards/
Literary Award Database/Wiki Began in 2004 as cross-reference for SF awards, now
extended to other genres as well as film and music.
http://www.awardannals.com/wiki/Main_...
National Best Books Awards. USABookNews.com.
National Book Awards http://www.literature-awards.com
National Jewish Book Awards. Jewish literature.
http://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/exte...
_PR.pdf
Nebula Awards Science fiction and fantasy. http://www.sfwa.org/awards/
Notable Books ALA/RUSA
http://www.ala.org/Content/Navigation...
_for _Adults/Notable_Books_for_Adults.htm
RA Tools 1/11, p. 9
Pulitzer Prize http://www.bookspring.com/pulitzer.htm
Reading List. Established in 2007 by the CODES section of RUSA, The Reading List
Council seeks to highlight outstanding genre fiction that merits special attention by
general adult readers and the librarians who work with them.
RITA Awards. Romances http://www.rwanational.org/awards.stm
Shamus Awards. Private eye fiction. http://www.thrillingdetective.com/
Sophie Brody Award. Given to encourage, recognize and commend outstanding
achievement in Jewish literature for adults published in the United States in the
preceding year. RUSA/ALA.
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rus...
Spur Awards. Given annually by the Western Writers of America for distinguished
writing about the American West, are among the oldest and most prestigious in American
literature. Spurs are offered for the best western novel (short novel), best novel of the
west (long novel), best original paperback novel, best short story, best short nonfiction.
Also, best contemporary nonfiction, best biography, best history, best juvenile fiction and
nonfiction, best TV or motion picture drama, best TV or motion picture documentary,
and best first novel (called The Medicine Pipe Bearer's Award).
http://www.westernwriters.org/awards.htm
Stonewal Book Awards. “Originally a grassroots acknowledgment honoring hallmark
works in GLBT publishing, the Gay Book Award (as it was originally known) became an
official American Library Association award in 1986. The next year, its name was
changed to the Gay and Lesbian Book Award. Beginning in 1990, the Book Award
expanded into two categories: nonfiction and literature. In 1994, the name changed once
more to the Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Book Award. In 1999, when the Gay, Lesbian,
and Bisexual Task Force became the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Round
Table, the name changed yet again to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered
Book Award. In 2002, the name changed to the Stonewall Book Award-Barbara Gittings
Literature Award and the Stonewall Book Award-Israel Fishman Non-Fiction Award.”
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/rts/glbt...
“
Tiptree Award. Science fiction or fantasy that expands or explores our understanding of
gender. http://www.tiptree.org/
World Fantasy Convention Awards. Fantasy http://www.worldfantasy.org/awards/
Wrangler Award. National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. Established to
honor and recognize individuals whose contributions in film, television, music, or
literature has encouraged and honored the legacy of the American West.
http://www.nationalcowboymuseum.org
RA Tools 1/11, p. 10

BOOK CLUBS/ DISCUSSION/READING GROUPS
Association of Book Groups and Leaders, PO Box 885, Highland Park, IL 60035.
Book by Book: The Complete Guide to Creating Mother-Daughter Book Clubs by
Cindy Hudson. Seal Press, 2009.
Book Clique Cafe. http://www.readinggroupsonline.com/Home to many online reading
groups.
Book Clubs Resource. http://www.book-clubs-resource.com/ “…a complete guide to
book clubs and reading groups with an outstanding collection of links and information for
readers, including information about saving with discount book clubs.”
*Book Discussions for Adults: A Leader's Guide by Ted Balcom. ALA, 1992.
Book Group List. An online list of books to read and discuss. books.rpmdp.com/
Book Movement. www.bookmovement.com An online resource for book groups with
free email newsletters and galley previews of new books available.
Book Muse. www.bookmuse.com An online subscription resource for book groups with
“muse notes” for specific titles.
BookBundlz. Offers online shared book discussion, book clubs their own private online
page, a place to research the books to be discussed, a place to discuss issues book clubs
have, a store to buy books, and a place for authors to promote their own books, and an
electronic newsletter. http://www.bookbundlz.com/default.aspx
Books at Random. Random House reading group guides.
http://www.randomhouse.com/reader_res...
*Circles of Sisterhood: A Book Discussion Group Guide for Women of Color by Pat
Neblett. Writers & Readers, 1996.
Fellowship in a Ring: The Guide for Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Groups by
Neil Hollands. ABC-Clio/Libraries Unlimited, 2009.
Good Books Lately: The One-Stop Resource for Book Groups and HarperCollins.
Reading group guides and services.
www.harpercollins.com/Readers/reading...
LitLovers. http://www.litlovers.com/index.html

“We're dedicated to books and book clubs—because both enrich our lives. We've got
great resources to enhance your book club experience. Whether you're selecting books, or
thinking & talking about them, LitLovers is the place to come.”
*Mother-Daughter Book Club: How Ten Busy Mothers and Daughters Came
Together to Talk, Laugh and Learn Through Their Love of Reading by
Shireen Dodson. Harper/Collins, 1997.
*New York Public Library Guide to Reading Groups by Rollene Saal. Crown, 1995.
National Reading Group Month. Sponsored by the Women’s National Book
Association to “celebrat the joy of shared reading.”
http://www.nationalreadinggroupmonth....
Oprah’s Book Club. www2.oprah.com/index.jhtml
Read ‘Em Their Writes: A Handbook for Mystery and Crime Fiction Book
Discussions by Gary Niebuhr. Libraries Unlimited, 2006.
*Readers' Choice: 200 Book Club Favorites by Victoria Golden McMains.
Quill/Harper Collins, 2000.
Reader’s Circle. www.thereaderscircle.com Random House publisher site with reading
group guides, more than 100 authors available for phone chats and a monthly enewsletter
with tips for reading groups.
Reader’s Club www.readersclub.org Guide to enjoyable books; includes online book
club list and YA titles and authors, as well as Librarians’ Choice award winners.
*Reading Group Book by David Laskin and Holly Huges. Plume/Penguin, 1995.
Reading Group Choices: Selections for Lively Book Discussions. Paz and Associates,
Annually since 1996. Phone: 1 800 260-8605. http://www.ReadingGroupChoices.com
ReadingGroupGuides.com An online community for reading groups with advice,
contests, guides, etc. http://www.readinggroupguides.com
Running Book Discussion Groups: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians by
Lauren John. Neal-Schuman, 2006.
What to Read: The Essential Guide for Reading Group Members and Other Book
Lovers by Mickey Pearlman. Revised and updated. Harper/Collins, 1999.
RA Tools 1/11, p. 12

BOOKS ON FILM
Based on the Book. Midcontinent Public Library.
http://www.mcpl.lib.mo.us/readers/mov...
Literature into Film: Theory and Practical Approaches by Linda Costanzo Cahir.
McFarland, 2006
Literary Filmography: 6,200 Adaptations of Books, short Stories and Other
Nondramatic Works by Leonard Mustazza. McFarland, 2006.

BOOKTALKING
Something to Talk About: Creative Booktalking for Adults by Ann-Marie Cyr and
Kellie M. Gillespie. Scarecrow Press, 2006.
CLASSICS

GAY AND LESBIAN
Bella Books. Online bookstore specializing in lesbian romances.
Books to Watch Out For! http://www.btwof.comMonthly e-letters about gay and
lesbian books.
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Literature: A Genre Guide by Ellen
Bosman, John P. Bradford and Robert B. Ridinger. Libraries Unlimited/Greenwood,
2008.
Gay and Lesbian Review Worldwide: The Bimonthly Journal of GSBT Arts,
Culture, and Politics Glreview.com Intended to provide a forum for enlightened
discussion of issues and ideas of importance to lesbians and gay men; to advance gay and
lesbian culture by providing a quality vehicle for its best writers and thinkers; and to
educate a broader public on gay and lesbian topics.
GLBT Fantasy Fiction Resources. http://www.glbtfantasy.com/ Provides an
opportunity for fantasy and science-fiction fans to express their thoughts
regarding fantasy and sci-fi with gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered
protagonists through book reviews, essays, and reading lists in a noncommercial
environment. In addition, we provide up-to-date news, interviews
with authors, and links to relevant websites.
Lambda Literary Foundation http://www.lambdalit.orgPublishes Lambda Book Report
and sponsors annual Lambda Literary Awards.
RA Tools 1/11, p. 13
Lambda Sci-Fi Recommended Reading List.
http://www.lambdasf.org/lsf/books/rec...
ecommend.html
Lesbian Detective Fiction: Woman as Author, Subject and Reader by Phyllis M.
Betz. McFarland, 2006.
Out in the Library: Materials, Displays and Services for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual,
and Transgender Community provides resources to help explain the importance of
having inclusive collections and programs, and to provide assistance if complaints arise,
and includes bibliographies.
http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/iftoolkits...
Science Fiction for Lesbians. http://lesbiansciencefiction.com/ This is a list of science
fiction books with lesbian characters or by lesbian authors.

GRAPHIC NOVELS AND COMICS
Comics Worth Reading Comic book reviews and recommendations by Johanna Draper
Carlson, a comics reviewer and columnist http://www.comicsworthreading.com/.
500 Essential Graphic Novels: The Ultimate Guide by Gene Kannenberg. Collins
Design, 2008.
Short history of GNs with ten topical chapters ranging from “Adventure” to “War.” Each
entry includes a duplication of the cover, a short review, and a readalike suggestion.
GNLIB-L. A listserv for librarians to exchange information about graphic novels.
http://www.angelfire.com/comics/gnlib/
Graphic Novels Beyond the Basics: Insights and Issues for Libraries. Martha
Cornog and Timothy Perper, eds. ABC-CLIO, 2009.
Graphic Novels Database. H.W. Wilson, 2007. By subscription.
Graphic Novels for Adults by David S. Serchay. Neal-Schuman, 2009.
Graphic Novelists: Profiles of Cutting Edge Authors and Illustrators. 3 vols. Gale,
2006.
Graphic Novels: A Genre Guide to Comic Books, Manga, and More by Michael
Pawuk. Libraries Unlimited, 2006.
Lair: A Website Reviewing Graphic Novels. http://www.noflyingnotights.com/lair/
“a companion site to its inspiration no flying no tights, is here to help distinguish between
those graphic novels and comics that walk the line between teen appeal and more adult
RA Tools 1/11, p. 14
content. So, here you will find an array of titles, all of which will certainly appeal to teen
readers but are in fact aimed more at an adult audience. Thus, a bit more explicitness, a
bit more language, and so on.”
Librarian’s Guide ot Graphic Novels for Adults by David S. Serchay. Neal-Schuman,
2010.
Manga: The Complete Guide by Jason Thompson. Random House, 2007.
Readers’ Advisory Guide to Graphic Novels by Francisca Goldsmith. ALA, 2010
Understanding Manga and Anime by Robin Brenner. Libraries Unlimited, 2007.

HISTORICAL FICTION
*American Historical Fiction: An Annotated Guide to Novels for Adults and Young
Adults by Lynda G. Adamson. Oryx, 1998.
Ancient Greece in Fiction. Labor of love website by a British classics professor.
http://www.sun.rhbnc.ac.uk/Classics/N...
Historical Fiction II: A Guide to the Genre by Sarah L. Johnson. Libraries Unlimited,
2009.
Historical Novel Society. http://www.historicalnovelsociety.org... authors and readers
of historical fiction; includes members’ website links, a definition of historical fiction,
and publishes a review magazine on historical fiction.
Read On…Historical Fiction: Reading Lists for Every Taste by Brad Hooper.
Libraries Unlimited, 2006.
Soon's Historical Fiction Site www.histfiction.net/ Website maintained by Soon-Young
Choi that includes an author database, a list of and links to historical fiction forums on
Internet, HF sites on the web, and places to search for historical fiction books.

HORROR
Fang-tastic Fiction: Twenty-First Century Paranormal Reads by Patricia O’Brien
Mathews. ALA, 2011. Contains more than 209 annotated entries, indexed by type,
character, series and author; offers numerous readalikes.
Hellnotes Newsletter: Your Insider’s Guide to the Horror Field. Winner of a 2004
Bram Stoker Award, Hellnotes, in its 9th year of publication, is a weekly electronic
newsletter offering the latest information on the people, places, events, markets, books,
RA Tools 1/11, p. 15
and happenings in Horror! www.hellnotes.com/
*Hooked on Horror III: A Guide to Reading Interests in Horror Fiction by Anthony
J. Fonesca and June Michele Pulliam. 3rd ed. Libraries Unlimited, 2009.
Horror Writers of America/Horror Writers Association, PO Box 50577, Palo Alto,
CA 94303. Bram Stoker Awards, June. Publishes Dark Whispers, an email newsletter on
the field and has a special section for librarians. http://www.horror.org
Monster Librarian. For readers of horror fiction to find another book to read and a
source for librarians to develop their collections and provide readers advisory.
http://www.monsterlibrarian.com/
Read on…Horror Fiction by June Michelle Pulliam and Anthony J. Fonesca. Libraries
Unlimited, 2006.

INSPIRATIONAL
Christy Awards. Recognizing excellence in Christian fiction written by contemporary
authors and highlighting the breadth and diversity of Christian fiction.
www.christyawards.com/
Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, 1969 East Broadway Road, Suite 2,
Tempe, AZ 85282. Besides the Christian Marketplace Best-Seller Lists, includes
nominees and final winners of the ECPA Charles “Kip” Jordon Book of the Year Award
and the ECPA Gold Medallion Book Award. http://www.ecpa.org/
LDS Writers Blogck. Details the struggles of a group of new LDS writers trying to
become published in the LDS market. http://ldswritersblogck.blogspot.com/
Left Behind Series www.leftbehind.com
Tracy's Book Nook. Site run by a pastor’s wife to encourage reading of Christian fiction
and the love of God. Specializes in historical Christian fiction and includes books for
kids. www.tracysbooknook.com
Worth Reading http://librarybooklists.org/wordpress/ The RA blog from
Librarybooklists.org

MULTICULTURAL
Black Issues Book Review. www.bibookreview.com/
Purports to be the only large circulation forum solely devoted to covering both fiction and
nonfiction books written by black authors; includes celebrity author spotlights to

analyzing trends in publishing, reviews that cover the spectrum of books: commercial and
literary fiction; critical analysis; self-help and biographical nonfiction; poetry and
children's literature; lengthy stories covering trends in publishing, the Internet and
publishing, art and coffee-table books from world-renowned artists, inspirational,
motivational and spirituality-based books from all regions.
Encyclopedia of African-American Literature by Wilfred D. Samuels. Facts on File,1
2007.
Jewish Book Council. Mission is to promote the reading, writing and publishing of
qualityJewish content books; serve as the continental center for information about the
North American Jewish literary scene; and tp serve as the coordinating body of Jewish
literary activity in North America. 520 8th Avenue, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10018.
www.jewishbookcouncil.org
Jewish-American Literature: A Guide to Reading Interests by Rosalind Reisner.
Libraries Unlimited, 2004.
Latino Literature: A Guide to Reading Interests by Sara Martinez. Libraries
Unlimited, 2009.
100 Most Popular African Amercian authors: Biographical Sketches and
Bibliographies by Bernard Drew. Libraries Unlimited, 2006.
RAWSISTAZ. A literary site devoted to African-American books, writers, readers, an
online book club, book chats, and reviews. http://www.rawsistaz.com/
Strebor Books International. http://www.streborbooks.com/mainpage....
Street Fiction: Urban Fiction Interviews, News and Reviews.
http://www.streetfiction.org
Daniel Marcou, creator of the site, dedicates it to reviewing urban fiction, also called
“street fiction” and “gangsta fiction.”
Triple Crown Publications. http://www.triplecrownpublications.co...
Urban Fiction/Street Lit/Hip Hop Fiction Resources for Librarians.
http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?t...
esources_for_Librarians
Urban Grit: A Guide to Street Lit by Megan Honig. Libraries Unlimited, 2010.
Urban Soul Books. http://www.urbanbooks.net/SOULhome.html

MYSTERIES, CRIME, SUSPENSE, SPIES, THRILLERS
RA Tools 1/11, p. 17
Blood and Ink: An International Guide to Fact-Based Crime Literature by Albert
Borowitz. Kent State University Press, 2010.
Caught Up in Crime: A Reader’s Guide to Crime Fiction and Nonfiction by Gary
Warren Niebuhr. ABC-CLIO, 2009.
ClueLass Home Page: A Mystery Lover's Notebook http:www.cluelass.com/
Cozy Mystery List. http://www.cozy-mystery.com
Guide to cozy mystery books and DVDs with author interviews, a definition of “cozy,”
and cozies organized by themes.
CrimeCulture.com An academic site for anyone teaching or studying crime fiction, film
and graphic art. www.crimeculture.com
Crimespree Magazine. “We are mystery fans from all over the planet. We share a love
of the mystery crime genre and it has drawn us together.” www.crimespreemag.com
Crime Writers: A Research Guide by Elizabeth Haynes. ABC-CLIO, 2011.
Critical Survey of Mystery & Detective Fiction. Rev. ed. 5 vols. Salem Press, 2008
Deadly Pleasures. America's premier fan-oriented mystery magazine. Gives Barry
Awards annually. George Easter, 1718 S. Ridge Point Drive, Bountiful, UT 84010.
http://www.deadlypleasures.com/
Detecting Men: A Readers Guide and Checklist of Mystery Series Written by Men
by Wilmetta L. Heising. Purple Moon Press, 3319 Greenfield Road, Suite 317, Dearborn,
MI 48120-1212, 1998.
Detecting Women: A Readers Guide and Checklist of Mystery Series Written by
Women by Wilmetta L. Heising. 3rd ed. Purple Moon Press, 1999. bookmarks folder
“MOST USED”
DorothyL A discussion and idea list for the lovers of the mystery genre created by
librarians. www.dorothyl.com/
Euro Crime. Website that focuses purely on British and other European crime writers
that have been published in English. www.eurocrime.co.uk
Gumshoes: A Dictionary of Fictional Detectives by Mitzi M. Brunsdale. Greenwood,
2006.
International Thriller Writers Inc. “International Thriller Writers Inc represents
professional authors from around the world. Here you can learn more about them, their
RA Tools 1/11, p. 18
work, and the sources from which they draw their inspiration.” Gives a Thriller Master
and Sllver Bullet award annuallly, among others such as best novel, original paperback,
short story, etc. http://www.thrillerwriters.org/
Librarians’ Index to the Internet: Mysteries. lii.org/search/file/mysteries
Managing the Mystery Collection: From Creation to Consumption. Judith Overmier
& Rhonda Harris Taylor, eds. Haworth Press, 2006. (Published simultaneously as
Collection Management, 29 (3-4).
Mostly Murder: Your Guide to Reading Mysteries. Mostly Book Reviews, PO Box
191207, Dallas, TX 75219.
Mystery Buff at Home. Mystery Buff, 304 Lover's Lane, Townsend, TN 37882.
Mystery Guide. Every book-review page is “automagically” linked to five other titles
found to be most similar. http://www.mysteryguide.com
Mystery Ink OnLine: The Booklover’s Guide to Mysteries and Thrillers. Lots of
links to crime fiction author websites. Gives annual Gumshoe Awards for best
achievement in crime fiction. http://www.mysteryinkonline.com
Mystery Reader. Mostly reviews organized by subgenre.
http://www.themysteryreader.com/
Mystery Readers Journal. Mystery Readers International, PO Box 8116, Berkeley, CA
94707. http://www.mysteryreaders.org/
Mystery Scene. Articles, reviews on “every aspect of crime fiction.”
http://www.MysterySceneMagazine.com.
Mystery Short Fiction Miscellany: An Index. Locus Press, PO Box 13305, Oakland,
CA 94661. http://www.locusmag.com
Mystery Writers of America, 17 E. 47th St., 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017. Edgar
Awards, April. http://www.mysterywriters.org
100 Most Popular Contemporary Mystery Authors: Biographical Sketches and
Bibliographies by Bernard A. Drew. ABC-CLIO, 2011.
100 Most Popular Thriller and Suspense Authors: Biographical Sketches and
Bibliographies by Bernard A. Drew. ABC-CLIO, 2009.
Palm Beach County Public Library Mystery Section. One of the best organized public
library websites for mystery RA. http://www.pbclibrary.com/read-myster...
RA Tools 1/11, p. 19
Private Eye Writers of America. Devoted to private-eye detective fiction, and are
probably best known for their annual Shamus Awards.
hometown.aol.com/rrandisi/myhomepage/...
Read ‘Em Their Writes: A Handbook for Mystery and Crime Fiction Book
Discussions by Gary Niebuhr. Libraries Unlimited, 2006.
Read On…Crime Fiction: Reading Lists for Every Taste by Barry Trott. Libraries
Unlimited, 2007.
Readers Room. Reviews of books for mystery readers. http://www.readersroom.com
Reviewing the Evidence. Set up in 2001 to fill the growing void of mystery review
websites, it now boasts thousands of reviews of mysteries and thrillers of all categories,
and has more than 30 reviewers from the US, the UK, and Australia.
http://www.reviewingtheevidence.com/d...
Sisters in Crime, PO Box 44224, Lawrence, KS 66044-8933. Authors, readers,
publishers, agents, booksellers and librarians bound by affection for the mystery genre
and support of women who write mysteries; founded by Sara Paretsky and a group of
women at the 1986 Bouchercon in Baltimore. http://www.sistersincrime.org
Stop, You're Killing Me! A Site to Die for ... If you Love Mystery Books
http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/
Strange Cases: A Selective Guide to Speculative Mystery Fiction by Jill and
PaulVassilakos-Long. ABC-CLIO, 2009.
SuspenseDB: Authors, Titles & Author Series Edition. FictionDB, 2007. Available at
http://www.cafepress.com/fictiondb
Thrillers: 100 Must Reads—Today’s Best Thriller Writers on One Hundred
Classics of the Genre. David Morrell & Hank Wagner, eds. Longboat Key, FL:
Oceanviw Publishing.
Thrilling Detective. Devoted to private eye fiction. http://www.thrillingdetective.com/

NONFICTION
Book-TV. A site devoted to C-Span2’s programs on nonfiction books that includes an
annotation of the book, a biography of the a uthor, a list of Pulizter Prize winning
biographies since 1917, a list of book fairs and festivals, two months of program
archives, downloadable programs to watch online, plus a notification service and
schedule. http://www.booktv.org/
RA Tools 1/11, p. 20
Inside Scoop: A Guide to Nonfiction Investigative Writing and Exposes by Sarah
Statz Cords. Libraries Unlimited, 2009.
Readers’ Advisory Guide to Nonfiction by Neal Wyatt. ALA, 2007.
Real Story: A Guide to Nonfiction Reading by Sara Statz Cords and Robert Burgin.
Libraries Unlimited, 2006.
Thematic Guide to Popular Nonfiction by Lynda G. Adamson. Greenwood, 2006.

PROGRAMS
Author Event Primer: How to Plan, Execute, and Enjoy Author Events by Chapple
Langemack. Libraries Unlimited, 2007.
*Cultural Programming for Libraries: Linking Libraries, Communities, and
Culture by Deborah A. Robertson with the Public Program Office of the American
Library Association. ALA, 2005.
Hosting a Library Mystery: A Programming Guide by Elizabeth M. Karle. ALA,
2009.
Programming Librarian. A website/blog of programming ideas and experiences
maintained by ALA’s Public Programs Office. http://www.programinglibrarian.org.
Something to Talk About: Creative Booktalking for Adults by Ann-Marie Cyr &
Kellie M. Gillespie. Scarecrow, 2006.

ROMANCE
Affaire de Coeur. Romance review magazine. Website has links to author sites.
http://www.affairedecoeur.com
All About Romance. Calling itself, “The Back Fence for Loves of Romance Novels,”
this site intends “to provide a back-fence atmosphere, a sense of community for lovers of
romance novels, to provide honest, thoughtful and entertaining material in order to
promote intelligent and diverse discussion about romance novels, and to help readers
determine how best to spend their romance novel dollar.
http://www.likesbooks.com/home.html
Beau Monde Chapter of RWA devoted to Regency romances. Website includes links to
member authors and resources for readers and writers plus a subscription option to an
email newsletter. http://www.thebeaumonde.com/
Harlequin. The major publisher of romance has a nifty online site that identifies many

paperback series and miniseries, allows signups for email notifications, and ordering, if
desired. http://www.eharlequin.com/ Harlequin also has a blog that “provides Harlequin
readers and fans (almost) daily posts on our authors, books, events and more in every
series, imprint and beyond.” http://harlequinblog.com/
Essence of Romance. User-friendly, comprehensive romance book database and booklist
creation service with detailed information on romance novels released in the past century.
http://www.centralbooksource.com/
Romance Authors: A Research Guide by Sarah E. Sheehan. ABC-CLIO, 2010.
Romance Reader. Claims to be the only Internet site offering over 5,000 candid reviews
of current romantic fiction. http://www.theromancereader.com/
Romance Readers Community. a list for romance readers to talk about what else, but
romance books, the ones they like, the ones they don't, places to find good buys, good
reviews, and lots more. http://www.charlottedillon.com/Reader...
Romance Today: An A-to-Z Guide to Comtemporary American Romance Writers.
by Shelley Mosley and John Charles. Greenwood, 2007.
Romance Writers of America, 113700 Veteran' s Memorial, Suite 315, Houston, TX
77004. http://www.rwanational.comRITA Awards, summer.
RomanceDB: Authors, Titles & Authors Series. FictionDB, 2007. Available at
http://www.cafepress.com/fictiondb
RomanceDB: Pseudonyms, Publisher Series and Anthologies. FictionDB, 2007.
Available at http://www.cafepress.com/fictiondb.
Romantic Times Book Club. 55 Bergen St., Brooklyn, NY 11201. The major review/fan
magazine of the genre. www.romantictimes.com/
Smart Bitches, Trashy Books. A website that reviews romances novels from a “couple
of smart bitches” who will always give it to you straight.
http://www.smartbitchestrashybooks.co...
Time Travel Romance Writers. http://timetravelromancewriters.com/

SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY
(see also some resources under GAY and LESBIAN and BOOK CLUBS)
100 Most Popular Science Fiction Authors by Maura Heaphy. Libraries Unlimited,
2009.
RA Tools 1/11, p. 22
Fantastic Fiction. Maintained by a small family-run company of the same name, this
website goes way beyond fantasy to include awards, series, most popular authors, new
books, etc. http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk
Fantasy Authors: A Research Guide by Jen Stevens and Dorothea Salo. Libraries
Unlimited, 2008.
Fellowship of the Ring: The Guide for Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Groups by
Neil Hollands. ABC-Clio/Libraries Unlimited, 2009.
Grasping for the Wind. Blog of John Ottinger III that reviews SF and fantasy.
http://www.graspingforthewind.com/
Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Includes a mixture of book reviews, opinion
pieces, author interviews, fiction excerpts, author and publisher reading lists and a variety
of other features, as well as a comprehensive list of links to author and fan tribute sites,
SF conventions, SF TV and movies, magazines and e- zines, writer resources, publishers
and small press sites and many other SF resources. http://www.sfsite.com/home.htm.
Linköping Science Fiction & Fantasy Archive. Archive of Usenet postings containing
reviews of science fiction and fantasy books, movies, clipart, art gallery images, links all
around the Web. sf.www.lysator.liu.se/sf_archive
Locus: The Newspaper of the Science Fiction Field. Locus Publications, P O Box
13305, Oakland, CA 94661 http://www.locusmag.com
Locus Index to Science Fiction 1984-2003 by Charles N. Brown and William G.
Contento. Locus Press, PO Box 13305, Oakland, CA 94661. CD-ROM, 2005.
http://www.locusmag.com
100 Most Popular Science Fiction authors: Biographical Sketches and
Bibliographies by Maura Heaphy. ABC-CLIO, 2009.
Read On. . . Fantasy Fiction: Reading Lists for Every Taste by Neil Hollands.
Libraries Unlimited, 2007.
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, 532 LaGuardia Place, #632, New
York, NY 10012-1428. http://www.sfwa.org Nebula Awards, May.
Science Fiction Fan. “We're all about helping readers discover new science fiction and
fantasy books and authors. We update our database almost daily, with the ambition to
make it a comprehensive and accurate resource for bibliographies and biographies in our
favorite genres.” http://www.scifan.com/
Science Fiction Authors: A Research Guide by Maura Heaphy. Libraries Unlimited,
RA Tools 1/11, p. 23
2008.
SFF Net. “home to the most interesting authors, publishers, media pros, and consumers
of genre fiction today.” http://www.sff.net
SF Site. “The Home Page for Science Fiction and Fantasy….Twice a month since July
1997, we have posted a mixture of book reviews, opinion pieces, author interviews,
fiction excerpts, author and publisher reading lists and a variety of other features. At the
same time, we've maintained a comprehensive list of links to author and fan tribute sites,
SF conventions, SF TV and movies, magazines and e-zines, writer resources, publishers
and small press sites and many other SF resources” http://www.sfsite.com
Science Fiction Weekly. http://www.scifi.com/sfw/
Uchronia’s Alternate History List. http://www.uchronia.net/intro.html
Ultimate Science Fiction Web Guide. Over 6000 links to SF resources.
http://www.magicdragon.com/UltimateSF...

SHORT STORIES
*Short Story Readers’ Advisory: A Guide to the Best by Brad Hooper. ALA, 2000.

SOCIAL NETWORKING READER-READER SHARING/BOOK SITES
aNobii www.anobii.com List Books, Share Thoughts, Meet People. The name? From
Anobium Punctatum, which is the proper name for bookworms.
BiblioTravel http://www.bibliotravel.com/ A free online resource for identifying stories
that are set in distinct locales started by two librarians.
Book Blogs http://bookblogs.ning.com/ “Our members read books, blog books, write
books, and publicize books.”
Book Crossing http://www.bookcrossing.com Where books take on a life of their own.
BookCrossing is earth-friendly, and gives you a way to share your books, clear your
shelves, and conserve precious resources at the same time. A book registered on
BookCrossing is ready for adventure.
Book Glutton http://www.bookglutton.com Our intent: build an experience that is
simultaneously a book group, a computer, and a book. Chat chapter by chapter, comment
on each paragraph.
Book Jetty http://www.bookjetty.com BookJetty is a social utility that connects you with
your friends' bookshelves and checks books' availability in the libraries.
Book Movement. http://www.bookmovement.com/ “BookMovement.com was founded
RA Tools 1/11, p. 24
in 2001 to give book clubs a way to recommend books to each other on a national level.”
Books I Read http://apps.facebook.com/ireadit/ A Facebook application. Must register to
use.
Books Well Read http://www.bookswellread.com The goal of BooksWellRead is to be
the online destination of choice for people who want to 'digest' what they read by
capturing their thoughts in writing. BooksWellRead has been designed to be simple, fast,
and easy to use.
Crime Space http://crimespace.ning.com/ A place for readers and writers of crime fiction
to meet.
eBooklists http://www.eBooklists.pbwiki.com RAwiki being constructed by librarians
who were in graduate school together at Indiana University.
The Good, The Bad and the Unread: Reading, Ranting and Reviewing by Readers
http://goodbadandunread.com/?
Goodreads www.goodreads.com Keeps track of what you’ve read and what your friends
are reading. Also on Facebook.
I Read Wiki iread.pbwiki.com/ A collaborative website by Iowa librarians of reading
suggestions.
Library Thing www.librarything.com Helps you create a library-quality catalog of your
books and connects you with people who read the same things.
Reader2Reader. A UK network that allows readers to discover and suggest books to
each other, chat and share reader experiences or do author/title searchers.
http://www.reader2reader.net/
Read Me. http://mssv.net/wiki/index.php/ReadMe User editable wiki of book
suggestions and queries.
Revish http://www.revish.com Revish is a place where people share their reading
experiences. You can use Revish to keep and share a list of books you're reading, write
reviews of books, find recommendations from other readers, and a whole lot more.
Shelfari www.shelfari.com Allows you to share what is on your bookshelf with others
and discover new books. Also on Facebook.
weRead http://weread.com/ “weRead is a community for book lovers. Whether you love
classics or popular fiction; whether you love Dickens or Dan Brown; is a place where you
can find others who share your reading tastes and through them discover new books that
you will love.”
RA Tools 1/11, p. 25
What Should I Read Next? http://www.whatshouldireadnext.com/se... Searchable
database of real readers’ favourite books (over 47,000 and growing) to suggest what you
could read next.
What’s On My Bookshelf http://whatsonmybookshelf.com/ “WhatsOnMyBookshelf, a
book trading community, allows members to exchange their books using a simple point
system. Users maintain their own profile page with friends, book inventory, and wishlists.
Our goal is to facilitate the trading of books in addition to connecting people with similar
reading interests. Sharing a book is the creation of a common place for dialogue,
friendships, and ideas.”

WESTERNS
Chasing the Sun: A Readers Guide to Novels Set in the American West by Edward
Joseph Beverly. Sunstone Press, 2008.
Read the High Country by John Mort. Libraries Unlimited, 2006.
Roundup Magazine. WWA Roundup Magazine, James Crutchfield, Dept. BB, 1012
Fair St., Franklin, TN 37064-2718.
Saddlebums. A blog that focuses on traditional Western literature, authors and related
developments in video and film. http://saddlebums.blogspot.com/
Western Authors. http://www.westernauthors.com
“We offer a listing of western authors of novels set in the American West. Included are
books about American history, the Old West, and the western frontier, as well as
contemporary western fiction novels. We list print books and those in digitized form.
Here you will find links to the best of western literature, including stories about cowboys,
rodeo stars, ranchers, and horsemen.”
Western Fiction Review. Daily postings with a mix of extensive interviews with autors
and signed reviews. http://westernfictionreview.blogspot....
*Western Series and Sequels by Bernard A. Drew. 2nd ed. Garland, 1993.
Western Writers of America, 1012 Fair St., Franklin, TN 37064. Spur Awards, June.
http://www.westernwriters.org
What Western Do I Read Next? Gale, 1999. Annual supplements.

OTHER MISCELLANEOUS, SPECIALTY, INTERNATIONAL OR ETHNIC
RA Tools 1/11, p. 26
Genrefied Classics: A Guide to Reading Interests in Classic Literature by Tina
Frolund. Libraries Unlimited, 2006.
Magill’s Survey of American Literature. 6 vols. Steven G. Kellman, ed. Salem, 2006.
Washington, D. C. of Fiction: A Research Guide by James A. Kaser. Scarecrow, 2006.
Women’s Fiction Authors: A Research Guide by Rebecca Vnuk. ABC-CLIO, 2009.
World Hum. Website and blog devoted to literary travel books.
http://www.worldhum.com/
Writers Write Books. Part of writerswrite.com which purports to be a one-stop site for
information about books, writing and publishing. http://www.writerswrite.com/books



sorry some of it got broken up a little. but i hope this list is useful! how could it not be, really.

It looks very useful! If only it didn't also have such a daunting resemblance to the Internal Revenue Code.

oh my! I wish I had actually read this before my Reference Interview test.

there are some great resources out there - believe it or not, there are even more than this, and more spring up every day. there is like a secret society of RA types out there, working diligently every day...

It's awesome. Am I allowed to print this out? -I really need some brownie points - my tutor is so hardline & strict and I took her class off on Wednesday. I need something to butter her up. ;)

probably, just make sure that dr chelton gets credit because she's the one who compiled all of these because she is amaaaazing

karen wrote: "probably, just make sure that dr chelton gets credit because she's the one who compiled all of these because she is amaaaazing"

oh yes I won't forget! thanks

carriedaway wrote: "It looks very useful! If only it didn't also have such a daunting resemblance to the Internal Revenue Code."

I've read parts of the IRC. This resembles its table of contents. *shudders at the memory*

but it is more fun because it takes you to places where there are books! books!!!

pretty good list. thanks!

Ok, for an old-school newbie, is there an affordable introductory text to the field? I looked at the shelf, and found A Few Good Books: Using Contemporary Readers' Advisory Strategies to Connect Readers with Books which might be what I'm thinking of, but it seems to cost at least $50 and my library won't let me request it. In fact, when I run the keyword search 'readers advisory' lots of unrequestable titles show up at my library.

I guess part of what I'm wondering is, Is there a skill beyond knowing how to find all the lists? Well, of course there is, cuz you want to decode what the client (? - requestor?) really wants, based on clues they give you. So how does that work? I want a RA 101 textbook, I think....

(Oh, and if there's a better thread for this, or if I should have started a new one, please correct me, no offense taken.)

oh, god - i loved that book. i asked for it for christmas last year. nerd.

i mean - there are definitely strategies and interviewing tactics and all sorts of skills that can be learned way beyond just accessing the lists, but the lists are definitely important. i don't know how much these cost, or what their availability is in your library, but these are other RA textbooks i have read, and they are all very reader-friendly and give tips for the RA novice.

Readers' Advisory Service in the Public Library
The Readers' Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction
Serving Teens Through Readers' Advisory

Thank you - I'll definitely investigate this 'cream of the crop' you've offered! :)

let me know if you run into any problems, i will try to find alternatives.

karen wrote: "oh, god - i loved that book. i asked for it for christmas last year. nerd.

i mean - there are definitely strategies and interviewing tactics and all sorts of skills that can be learned way beyond ..."

DORK!

i know! but it is an excellent book! and it was like 70 bux - i can't justify spending that much on a book!

I just finished a steampunk novel with rasputin, nietzsche, sir frances burton, and algernon swineburne as main characters it's not like I have any room to talk.

I found a listing for the first book and have ordered it! I can get many of the genre- or demographic-specific ones online cheaply enough, I think. It should be fun to look at them and wish I was young enough to start a career using RA skills.

nancy pearl has some RA books out that are fairly inexpensive but useful. though not exactly "how-to-do" RA, they are very accessible for both what to read next, and how-to Book Lust To Go: Recommended Reading for Travelers, Vagabonds, and Dreamers
Book Crush: For Kids and Teens-Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment and Interest

she has a number of these book crush and book lust titles out

yeah, if that's all you need, these are good for location-reading:

Bloomsbury Good Reading Guide to World Fiction

Reading on Location: A Guide to Great Books Set in the World's Top Destinations

one other thought on expensive Reference books at public libraries: many (well, some) PL's will let you check out ref books for a day or so, if you promise promise promise to bring them back, lots of librarians are so thrilled that someone actually wants to read a cool ass ref book that they loan them out even though they cost big $$. that may be an option, suck up to the librarian, couldn't hurt.

oh I have book lust to go, I like it.

Tx Tuck, you've got a good point.

Re Book Lust To Go: Recommended Reading for Travelers, Vagabonds, and Dreamers--What a great resource for the Around the World in 52 Books Challenge! I happen to be involved in that one. I put Book Lust To Go on hold. Thanks, Tuck!

not technically a RA resource list, but susie sent me this, and i thought i should share:

http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Bibliom...

"Common symptoms include... delusions of authorship..."

Huh. Fun stuff at the link, but I think maybe I want to quibble over that bit...

Oh my heavens. I am thrilled to find this list of resources. Online sources have completely changed the way I go about choosing a book to read, for the better.

Thank you so much for this group and this list of resources, including the wonderful gutenberg one.

Wow, I am beyond impressed with the amount of amazing information you listed in this one thread. I can't wait till I have just a little more time to explore the rest of the threads~

Amazing, amazing, amazing resources. This will keep me eternally entertained. You're awesome!

FEEDBACK: So for my first test, I picked a resource at random: Gnooks' Gnod's Suggestions: Type in 3 authors you like and it'll spit out a new one to try. I picked reasonably disparate authors (at least in my mind), and it came out with something I think I'll really like. Here's my experiment:
One of my favorite writers is...JG Ballard
One of my favorite writers is... China Mieville
One of my favorite writers is... Tony Burgess
The suggestion was: M. John Harrison (who I have heard nothing about). His GR athor profile makes me think I'll like him.
I clicked "I don't know them" and it came back with Gene Wolfe (who everyone thinks I should read, but I haven't gotten to yet)
Then Iain Banks (I heartily approve)

Experiment Successful!

woo-hoo!! RA power!

A tumblr RA site: Goodbookyourself

this is great - thank you!