So You Want to Be a Readers Advisory Librarian

When I was still in the early months of my library career, one of my coworkers showed me a book about the basics of readers advisory, and just like that, my mind was blown. It had never occurred to me that readers advisory (RA) was a thing, or that some libraries even had dedicated RA departments or positions. I remember thinking, “Boy, if I had known that this was a career option when I was a kid, I would never have bothered with that whole marine biology phase!”

Although I’ve never worked in a dedicated readers advisory position, it’s always been a passion of mine. I love finding as many opportunities as I can to connect with patrons about books. If you’re interested in pursuing readers advisory as a career, I have a few insights to help you start your journey.

What Does a Readers Advisory Librarian Do?

At its core, readers advisory means connecting patrons with books that fit their reading interests, but the fun part is that there are so many ways to do that! You might be in charge of ordering new materials for the collection and staying up to date on new releases and your patrons’ interests. You might manage your library’s displays or online book lists. You might create content for social media. You might lead your library’s book club, design the summer reading program, or track statistics to understand better what your patrons are interested in. Or you might even do all of the above! 

Do I Need a Master’s Degree to Be a Readers Advisory Librarian?

Not necessarily. If the role calls for collection management, programming, or other strategic responsibilities, it’s more likely that you’ll need a master’s degree. But that doesn’t mean that librarians are the only ones who can practice readers advisory. As library consultant and RA guru Becky Spratford consistently reminds us on her blog, RA For All, every library employee, from the shelvers to the director, should be involved with readers advisory. It makes it easier to assist patrons with a wide range of reading preferences and brings everyone together in the spirit of patron services. Plus, it’s probably the best part of working in a library! Let’s share the fun!

Does This Mean I’ll Have to Read Hundreds of Books a Year?

Well, obviously not, but there is a common misconception amongst library employees that you have to be a super reader to be good at readers advisory. But the thing with readers advisory is that it’s not about the specific books you give to patrons. It’s about making connections with people and using resources to help them. You don’t have to be a lawyer to help patrons find books in the legal section, so why would you need to be a romance reader to help a patron find a good romance novel? You just need to know how to listen and use the tools at your disposal.

I’d be lying if I said these jobs were easy to find. A lot of libraries don’t have the budget to support dedicated readers advisory roles, and the positions that do get posted typically attract many applicants. But if you already work with patrons, there’s always an opportunity to connect with readers, and plenty of free resources to get you started.

At its heart, readers advisory is about sharing the joy of books with other people, which is probably why most of us started working in libraries in the first place. So go forth and connect with your fellow readers!