Provide outstanding service to readers, inside and outside of the library walls.
Horror for Tweens and Teens
Conquer your fears about horror for tweens and teens with these two short courses. You'll learn what horror is, why tweens and teens like it, and what titles and authors you need to know now. You’ll also get marketing tips and tricks to help your readers find horror books in your collection. Available exclusively to Learn with NoveList subscription learners. Learn more about the subscription.
Matching Children with Books
Books and libraries have the power to transform lives, especially for school-age children as they learn about the world and their place in it. This course will give you valuable insight into the critical role of working with children ages 6-12, strategies on how to talk about books with young readers and their caregivers, and pathways and resources for continued success. Available exclusively to Learn with NoveList subscription learners. Learn more about the subscription.
How to Find Terrific Books for Toddlers
Whether you’re an experienced children’s librarian, brand new to the library world, or working in another department, providing reader services to young children can be one of the best parts of the job. This course guides you on where to start when recommending books for toddlers, for the adults who care for them, and for educators in your community. Available exclusively to Learn with NoveList subscription learners. Learn more about the subscription.
From the Children's Room: Staff Stories on Recommending Books for Toddlers
In this companion course to "How to Find Terrific Books for Toddlers," you’ll hear tips and recommendations from several amazing children’s services staff who share their expertise, knowledge, and some of their favorite books for toddlers. Available exclusively to Learn with NoveList subscription learners. Learn more about the subscription.
Live with the Experts: How Do You Make Great Audiobook Recs?
Audiobook fans are devoted readers but often get left out of conversations about recommending books. There are unique audio appeals you can use to help readers find the distinct reading experiences they want. In this live event, we learned more about the appeals and tips you need to know to make great audiobook recommendations. Available exclusively to Learn with NoveList subscription learners. Learn more about the subscription.
Using Story Elements with Readers
Do you really know what your readers want? Would you like to make stronger reading recommendations? By understanding how to use story elements, you can provide exceptional customer service to every reader. Available exclusively to Learn with NoveList subscription learners. Learn more about the subscription.
Be Genre Confident: How To Recommend Books in the Eight Most Challenging Genres
Do you dread being asked to recommend books in certain genres? Maybe you don't like a particular genre or you're just not familiar with the authors and themes. Fear not! In this class, you'll learn how to confidently recommend books to readers of popular genres -- even the "scariest" ones like horror, romance, westerns, and more. Full course description and purchasing options.
Keeping Up with Books
Keeping up with the seemingly countless books published each year can feel impossible. This course will get you caught up with the bestsellers, publishing news and trends, and how to use that information to provide better service to your readers, plus give you a preview of what to expect this year. Full course description and purchasing options.
Everyone Can Recommend Books! Quick Tips for Creating Positive Reader Experiences
Do you ever feel panicked when someone asks you to make a book recommendation? By implementing a few quick tips, anyone working with readers can make meaningful reading recommendations and enhance customer service. In this course, you’ll learn strategies for helping readers find books they love and customer service principles that will keep them coming back for more. Full course description and purchasing options.
Understanding Your Reader: How to Recommend the Right Book at the Right Time
This course will prepare all staff to recommend books by giving them an understanding of reader engagement. Learn strategies for providing excellent customer service to all readers, gain an understanding of the concepts of appeal, genre, and themes, and learn to value service to readers as a critical service to the overall mission of your library. Full course description and purchasing options.
The Art and Practice of Providing Outstanding Reading Recommendations
Connecting readers with books they love is a core library service. But talking with readers about their tastes, and then trying to match those readers to books is a lot harder than it sounds. Learn how to navigate common scenarios librarians face when working with readers, how to find and use the best tools and resources available to you, including the NoveList database, and how to evaluate whether your readers’ advisory services are making an impact. Full course description and purchasing options.
Deep Dive into Building Relationships with Readers
Conversations are the heart of connecting readers to the books they want and need. These conversations can be one of the most rewarding parts of your work... or one of the most challenging! NoveList co-founder Duncan Smith shares his time-tested readers’ advisory methods, the goals to strive for in every conversation with a reader, and how to create a lasting connection between your organization and your community based on the value you provide to readers. Full course description and purchasing options.
Actively Anti-Racist Service to Readers
Providing robust readers’ advisory service that values equity, diversity, and inclusion principles is essential to anyone working with readers. In this course, you'll hear experts talk about the action steps libraries have taken to provide actively anti-racist reader services. You'll also come away with tangible skills to build enthusiasm for reading and discovering titles that make up a well-rounded, well-represented collection. Learn how others have created actionable plans to incorporate inclusive values into readers’ advisory practices. And you'll have a chance to participate in a thoughtful discussion with our expert instructors. Full course description and purchasing options.
Strategic Readers’ Services: A Complete Plan
This course is for anyone who is a practitioner of readers’ advisory. Use this self-guided toolkit to develop your own strategic plan for working with readers, which you can share with your administration. When you complete this course, you'll be empowered to advocate for reader services and guide your own work in these uncertain times. Full course description and purchasing options.
