E-Reads: Electronic Reader's Advisory

My sisters and three friends became my lab participants. I e-mailed them a list of questions and the advising began.

Reader Profiles

All of the participants are females and mothers. Reader #5 is non-fiction reader. Reader's #1 -#4 read often. Reader #5 is in mommy mode and is currently able to read.

Questions and Answers

What is the last book that you read?

1. Be Careful What you Pray For
2. Sleeping with the Enemy
3. Blue Collar Blues by Rosalyn McMillian
4. Act like a Lady, Think Like a Man
5. Sidney Poitier Life Beyond Measure: Letters to My Great-Granddaughter

Who are some of your favorite authors? Please list three.

1. VC Andrews, Kiki Swinson and Zane

2. Zane, Frances Ray, Carl Weber

3. a. Jacqueline Thomas
b. Rosalyn McMillian
c. Benita Little
d. Bebe Moore-Campbell

4. Mary B. Morrison, Cheryl Robinson, Katherine Langhorne, Chonda Cheeks, Denene Millner

5. None at this time

“Tell me what kind of reading experience you’re looking for”?*

1. I need to be able to gain more knowledge in regards to US history.

2. “Exciting page turner with lots of action”

3. a. Love stories with comedy and happy ending
b. Self- help, devotional and inspirational

4. Good plots about girlfriends, romance, drama

5. Biography and educational

What are your favorite genres? Please highlight your top two answers.

Romance III
Gentle Reads (generally no sex or violence)
Chick Lit I
Adventure I
Street Lit I
Horror
Mystery Suspense II
Science Fiction
Thrillers
Historical Fiction
Fantasy
Women’s Lives and Relationships III
Young Adult Fiction (ex. Twilight)

Are you willing to try a new genre? If so, please indicate genre below?

1. Yes, Historical Fiction

2. Women’s Lives and Relationships

3. Yes, mystery and chick lit

4. Mystery, fantasy

5. Chick Lit, Street Lit

Are there certain genres/types of books that you do not like to read? Please list below?

1. Horror

2. Thrillers and Adventure

3. a. Horror, street lit

4. Horrors, suspense, thriller

* Question obtained from Ross and Chelton, Reader’s Advisory: Matching Mood and Material, 2001.

Their answers helped me to select book choices. I e-mailed the titles, images, synopsis, and in some cases reviews to the reader's.

I reviewed the following resources to create the list of suggestions:

aalbc The #1 Site for African American Literature
http://aalbc.com/
Amazon.com
Bella Online African American Lit Site
http://www.bellaonline.com/subjects/6222.asp
Goodreads.com (did not find anything)
Novelist
Readalike.org
Reader's Advisory Online

Reader's responded, by e-mail, if they would read the book, had read the book, or would not read the book. The responses for Reader #5 were obtained by phone. I recommended seven books to Reader 1. She indicated that she would read three of the books. Six books were selected for each remaining reader's. Reader #2 would read three books. Reader #3 would read all six selected books. Reader #4 would read five books. Reader #5 would read four books and had read one of the suggested books.

Lessons Learned

I will not have the luxury of hours to find a good read when working with library patrons so I must move quickly.

The person helping the patron may find great books as well.