[Plus unique coverage of technology-mediated RA and how to serve a diverse, multicultural community of readers]

Where can librarians turn to learn how to answer the question: Can you recommend a good book? A Few Good Books: Using Contemporary Readers’ Advisory Strategies to Connect Readers with Books, to be published by Neal-Schuman on December 20, 2009, is a unique blend of theoretical and practical knowledge designed to help librarians and LIS students stay abreast of the needs of contemporary readers as content sources and new communication tools proliferate. Catherine Sheldrick Ross declares in her Foreword that “Even experienced readers’ advisors will find something new here…” and summarizes the text as “a road map to concepts and sources in key areas that the readers’ advisor needs to know about: reading research and theory; types of books … communication with readers/library users; and new technological meditations.”

Author Stephanie Maatta divides the book into four discrete parts that can be read in succession as well as individually referenced. Part I provides an introduction to the role of the reader and the act of reading, as well as the new and emerging ways in which readers engage with books beyond the practice of reading. Part II explores the dynamic world of readers’ advisory services and addresses the readers’ advisor conversation, major readers’ advisor tools, and provides descriptions and suggested titles for general and genre fiction including popular fiction, literary fiction, adventure, suspense, science fiction, horror, topical fiction, and more. She also covers reading electronically through sight and sound, including a discussion of current and emerging trends, like tags, clouds, e-books, and audio books. Part III focuses on the art and science of readers’ advisory, with techniques for providing skilled readers’ advisory for the contemporary reader. Maatta offers practical advice, resources, and strategies for connecting readers with books through multiple formats and genres, and emphasizes RA services that are mediated technologically and appropriate for a diverse, multicultural community of readers. Part IV discusses important ancillary aspects of reading. Maatta examines bestseller and literary lists, award-winning books, book clubs, reading events, and concludes with insight into the future of readers’ advisory.

Throughout the book, there are helpful illustrations, real-life examples of successful RA transactions, and sample scripts to use in practice. The extensive appendices list print and electronic resources that provide access to current materials and further reading.
A Few Good Books: Using Contemporary Readers’ Advisory Strategies to Connect Readers with Books is an essential resource to help empower librarians and students to help contemporary readers find their own definition of a “good read.”

A Few Good Books: Using Contemporary Readers’ Advisory Strategies to Connect Readers with Books
ISBN: 978-1-55570-669-2.
2009. 6 x 9. 400pp. $69.95.

About the Author
Stephanie L. Maatta earned her bachelor’s degree in English and American literature from Michigan State University, and her master’s and doctorate in Library and Information Studies from the Florida State.  She is on faculty at the School of and Science at the University of South Florida. Dr. Maatta is active in ALA and RUSA, and the Popular Culture Association.

About Neal-Schuman Publishers
Neal-Schuman Publishers is a leading publisher of professional books for librarians, archivists and knowledge managers. Founded in 1976, Neal-Schuman Publishers is based in New York City, with offices in London, UK.

For More Information and/or Cover Art
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www.neal-schuman.com