Online resources for reader development for adult clients
Online resources offer a different type of engagement with readers. The Internet holds vast amounts of information about reading materials for all levels. We have almost forgotten the time when most of the information was held in publishers' catalogues which were only sent out a few times a year or the main print source, BNB (British National Bibliography).
You can call on the electronic sources to help you locate and use online resources for reader development to enhance the reading experience for your clients. Some of these online resources will be managed by commercial interests and cover a narrower range than the reader development websites which we have already discussed. Others may offer interactive opportunities, through posting reader recommendations and discussion facilities. Online book discussions groups enable readers to exchange opinions about their reading. Some of these are independent sites: some are discussion boards within other more general sites.
A key point to remember is that your client should ideally leave the library with the reading choices which are right for them. They can then continue to engage in a range of reading activities, such as online book discussion groups, from the computers in the library or from home.
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You have a reader who is interested in reading but cannot find a book on the library shelves to interest them. Use http://www.whichbook.net to select a book using the interface on the website. (You'll need to have popups enabled on your browser to do this). Whichbook.net links to library catalogues so it is possible to request the book. Now try the gift selection tool at http://www.penguin.co.uk and see what results you come up with this time. |
Let's take a look at Some useful sites...
