Summary of Special Topic Paper: The Use of Podcasts for Librarians in Readers’ Advisory Services

A successful readers’ advisory transaction requires a librarian who is well-equipped with an array of tools to discover the right title for the reader.  With dozens of new books coming out each week, it is helpful for librarians who engage in readers’ advisory to actively make themselves aware of new titles, current trends or events, and other timely topics that relate to books and reading.  Additionally, librarians providing readers’ advisory services can always benefit from honing their skills as it relates to the readers’ advisory interview.  As podcasts have expanded over the past several years, a number of podcasts relating to books, reading, and even librarianship have become available.  These podcasts can be extremely useful to librarians looking to expand their knowledge and improve their readers’ advisory skills.

For librarians, podcasts are a great way to expand their readers’ advisory skills.  There are a wide variety of podcasts discussing books available, and with new podcasts starting every day, the list is ever changing.  Book-related podcasts are available discussing new books, backlist titles, interviews with authors, industry news and trends, and all the main genres (Dodge, 2019).   There are podcasts specific to readers’ advisory that allow listeners to experience a readers’ advisory transaction and see how the hosts conducts an interview and this can be extremely helpful for the librarian who is new to or not completely comfortable with readers’ advisory (Dodge, 2019).

Among podcasts currently being produced, there are three major podcasts that engage in readers’ advisory transactions or are marketed to librarians providing readers’ advisory services: BookRiot’s “Get Booked,” “What Should I Read Next,” and “Book Club for Masochists.”

In addition to podcasts specifically for readers’ advisory, there are a number of podcasts that focus on book releases, genre specific book trends and news, and other information related to the world of books and reading that is useful to librarians who provide readers’ advisory.   Some of the more popular and highly regarded podcasts for readers include the BookRiot network of podcasts, “Just the Right Book with Roxanne Coady,” “The Librarian is In,” “The New York Times Book Review,” and “Professional Book Nerds.”

With many podcasts available that focus on books and reading, librarians who are engaging in readers’ advisory services should utilize podcasts as a professional development tool because they allow librarians to learn about new book releases, explore unfamiliar genres, stay abreast of literary news and trends, and more.  Additionally, podcasts that include readers’ advisory interviews or book recommendations allow librarians to listen in on the readers’ advisory interview, expanding their interview tool kit and learning new ways to discuss appeal factors with readers. 

Full Reference List:

Bogel, A. (n.d.) What should I read next?: with Anne Bogel. Modern Mrs. Darcy. https://modernmrsdarcy.com/what-should-i-read-next/

Book Club for Masochists. (n.d.). Book Club for Masochists.  Retrieved March 5, 2020 from http://bookclub4m.libsyn.com/

BookRiot. (n.d.a). Get Booked.  https://bookriot.com/listen/shows/getbooked/

BookRiot. (n.d.b). Podcasts: Mouth-words about all things books.  https://bookriot.com/listen/

Dodge, J. (2019, Mar 10). Listening your way to better RA. Open Shelf. http://open-shelf.ca/190308-listening-your-way-to-better-ra/

Eisenman, H. (2018, Sep 12). Using podcasts for readers’ advisory. NoveList. https://www.ebscohost.com/novelist-the-latest/blog-article/using-podcasts-for-readers-advisory

Gooding-Call, A. (2020, Jan 06). 13 Must-Hear Librarian Podcasts. Book Riot. https://bookriot.com/2020/01/06/librarian-podcasts/

Henning, N. (2017, Feb/Mar). Podcast Literacy: Educational, accessible, and diverse podcasts for library users. Library Technology Reports, 53(2), 1-42.

Just the right book. (n.d.). Literary Hub. Retrieved March 5, 2020 from https://lithub.com/author/justtherightbookwithroxannecoady/

New York Public Library. (n.d.).  The Librarian is In Podcast. https://www.nypl.org/voices/blogs/blog-channels/librarian-is-in

The New York Times. (n.d.). The Book Review Podcast. https://www.nytimes.com/column/book-review-podcast

Peiser, J. (2019, Mar 08). Podcasts are snatching up listeners in U.S.: [Business/Financial desk]. New York Times. Retrieved from http://ulib.iupui.edu/cgi-bin/proxy.pl?url=http://search.proquest.com.proxy.ulib.uits.iu.edu/docview/2188846487?accountid=7398

Professional Book Nerds. (n.d.). Professional Book Nerds.  Retrieved March 5, 2020 from http://overdrive.egp.libsynpro.com/

Sternbergh, A. (2019). The great pod rush has only just begun: With 660,000 shows and 62 million listeners already, the century’s first new art form is about to enter its corporate stage. New York, 52(6), 22–88.