Readers Advisory
Current Awareness Tools and Resources
Page Modified: June 25, 2009
How do you stay current?
You can't.
But, here are some suggestions for those who want to make a valiant attempt. Focus is on materials for adults.
Why try?
According to Shay Baker, the RA characteristics that affect a patron's choice of a title are:- Depth and breadth of collection knowledge
- Willingness to read widely or gain an overview of works
- Awareness of works currently popular or gaining media attention
- Ability to scan works
- Motivation to read/listen extensively
Stuff to Know
- New publication information
- RA resources
- Professional resources
- Bookseller resources
- Popular Culture/Trends & fads
- Authors
- Bestsellers
- Publishers
- Series/Sequels
- Best Works
- Awards
- Read Alikes
- Web Sites
- Library leaders in RA services
- Vendor resources
- Library collection data statistics
- Newsletters
- Organizations
- Media Sources
- Blogs/RSS feeds
- Review Sources
- Listservs
Professional Overviews
RA Current Awareness
William C. Robinson's class outline
Mark Page, Finder of Lost Books, in: The Mystery that Wasn’t There
David Wright on RA current awareness - RUSA Quarterly
Overbooked RA Current Awareness Resources
Popular Culture
Contact...
Ann Chambers Theis (AKA Ann/ACT)
Comments, suggestions, corrections: Ann Chambers Theis (AKA Ann/ACT): overbooked1@verizon.net or ann@overbooked.com
Ann Chambers Theis: Collection Management Administrator, Chesterfield County (VA) Public Library. 9501 Lori Rd. or P.O. Box 297, Chesterfield, VA, 23832. Phone: 804.748.1760.
I really appreciate all the e-mail I receive from avid readers and writers and regret that I am not able to respond to all correspondents.
Who...
Ann Chambers Theis (AKA Ann/ACT)
Comments, suggestions, corrections: Ann Chambers Theis (AKA Ann/ACT): overbooked1@verizon.net or ann@overbooked.com
Ann Chambers Theis: Collection Management Administrator, Chesterfield County (VA) Public Library. 9501 Lori Rd. or P.O. Box 297, Chesterfield, VA, 23832. Phone: 804.748.1760. 
I really appreciate all the e-mail I receive from avid readers and writers and regret that I am not able to respond to all correspondents.
Overbooked is a volunteer project undertaken by Ann Chambers Theis:
Collection Management Administrator, Chesterfield County (VA) Public Library. 9501 Lori Rd. or P.O. Box 297, Chesterfield, VA, 23832. Phone: 804.748.1760.
Overbooked is not an official Chesterfield County Public Library service. Overbooked does not endorse any commercial providers (or their products and services) linked to from this web site.
Overbooked was the winner of the 2008 Louis Shores - Greenwood Publishing Award: to recognize excellence in book reviewing and other media for libraries. The award recipient is selected for significant achievement related to a reviewing process that helps librarians make selection decisions.
Where...
Overbooked resides in Libraryland. Physically, Overbooked is based in the metro Richmond, Virginia area.
Why...
- Because I cannot live without books.
- It is fun.
- I'm fortunate to have a job I love and access to lots of information about books. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to share this information with other book lovers.
- It is a way to channel my obsessive tendencies to organize stuff.
PANG - Play, Affiliation, Nurtance, Gratitude (in memory of my father -psychologist, musician)
Overbooked/Ann is available for panging on Facebook, My Space, and Twitter.
Facebook | Myspace: Overbooked | twittering slightly
Overbooked on: LibraryThing | GoodReads | Shelfari
Please join the conversation(s) at Overbookers - a rather quiet social space for the chronically overbooked.
Join the Overbooked List - A list for readers to share recent reads, keep up to date with details about new books, discuss favorite authors/titles, etc.
