Readers' advisory seminar 2025

Please note there is no morning tea break.

9.30 Welcome to the State Library, and Acknowledgement of Country.

Cameron Morley; Head of Public Library Services, SLNSW

Morning Chair; Lauren Watkins (Kiama Library)

Part 1 Readers’ advisory interview

9.40 Back to basics: The Reader’s advisory interview, including examples.

9.50 In conversation – discussing different interviews with readers' advisory staff (home library, etc.)

10.15 Readers' advisory interviews for children and young people

Bec Shelberg (Stanton Library, North Sydney)

10.45 Activity - What ideas you will be taking back to your work.

5-min break - stand/stretch – Note there is no morning tea break

Part 2 Diversity

11.15 ALIA Disability group: Social bibliotherapy.

Amy Rake (Tamworth Library)

11.45 ALIA Disability group: Diversity in readers’ advisory from a mental health perspective.

Sonya Moon (Libraries Tasmania);

11.50 2 x 5-minute talks

12:00-1:00 Lunch - provided for onsite participants

• Optional activity at lunch time – talk to a someone you have not met. Ask them what they’ve read lately.
• If you are asked – a challenge is to reply with three appeal terms instead of a book synopsis/summary (this is to focus on appeal and not plot)

Afternoon Chair - Ita Hanssens (Tamworth Library)

Part 3 Taking action

1.00 Collection diversity to support readers' advisoy

Yasmin Greenhalgh (Stanton Library, North Sydney)

1.30 The smaller library experience; diversity in displays

Lauran Mills (Gerringong Library)

Part 4 Training and resources

1.40 5 minute talks:

• Readers' advisory staff training. - Jodie Dolden & Lani Kilpatrick-Coles (Hornsby)
• Literary Mocktails as readers’ advisory tools - Gabrielle Cundy (Blacktown)
• Multicultural loan increases - Jolana Voeks (Clarence Regional Library)
• Professional reading group - Rachel Franks (State Library)
• First Nations Collections – Shaye Malsem (Albury)
• Young Adult Book Club - Danielle Hillard (Newcastle Libraries)
• Readers' advisory training for staff - Joanna Kondaxis and Emma Boyd (Inner West Libraries)

2.40 Afternoon tea 30 minutes

Closing Chair – Aaron Wilkes (Richmond Upper Clarence Regional Library)

Part 5 An overview of readers' advisory resources

3.10 Resources show and tell

3.20 Cataloguing to support readers' advisory

Ngarie Macqueen (Richmond-Upper Clarence Regional Library)

3.30 Training plans for 2026, and State Library resources

Ellen Forsyth (SLNSW)

3.45 Seminar evaluation, and invitation to a follow-up readers' advisory meeting.

4pm - Close

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Travel assistance is available for NSW public library travelling more than 100 kilometres to participate in the onsite part of the seminar. The form and information about is