I chose to get a recommendation for my adventure annotation. Since I've never asked anyone, much less a library professional, for reading recommendations, I was very nervous and a bit scatterbrained on how to go about doing it.
I went to my local library. When I was waiting for the head librarian to be finished with her current patron, another worker asked if I needed any help. I told her what I was looking for, the 'adult' specification, and she began to help me find something to read. When the head librarian finished, she started to help me too.
The first librarian went to her computer to start looking up authors while the other hit the racks. I stayed with the first, but was confused about whether or not I should follow the second. I gained a list of authors from the initial librarian, and the head librarian came back with a few books she thought might fit what I wanted. I ended up going with the first author on the list I was given, because the first librarian had mentioned him quite a few times during the process.
Both librarians were very kind and very professional. Despite how unhelpful I knew I had to have been, they never made me feel like I was annoying or difficult. I think they could have asked more questions to get a feel for who I am as a reader, but overall I was very pleased with the experience. Now that I know what it's like, I'd be more prepared and go back to them for more recommendations.
Hi Brittany,
ReplyDeleteI think what I like most about your experience is that even though the head librarian was waiting on someone else, you still received assistance. So many libraries are so short-staffed that I think some patrons get tired of waiting for help and they leave without what they were looking for. Even better is that when the head librarian was free, she assisted you in addition to the first staff person. That's great customer service - even if the readers' advisory experience might have fallen just slightly short since they didn't really delve into your reading preferences. At least you got a book! I hope whichever adventure you got will be a good one!
Hi, Brittany,
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way you did about asking my question! I had never really asked a question like that of a librarian, and I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to properly describe what I needed. I had two staff members help me, too! They were able to put two books into my hand despite my feeling that I did not give a great description. It sounds like you received great customer service!
Great summary. I'm glad this has empowered you to approach them again and see how daunting it might be for the average library patron to ask for help. Good job!
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