A readers’ advisory service is one in which knowledgeable, non-judgmental library staff help readers with their leisure reading needs.
Using knowledge of fiction and non-fiction material, familiarity with the library collection, and print and electronic reference tools, the readers’ adviser helps the reader answer the question ‘What do I read next?’
The service includes suggesting new or unfamiliar authors and topics or genres, interesting casual readers in more systematic reading, maintaining contacts with local educational agencies, promoting reading and encouraging use of the library service.
Readers' advisory work includes:
- promoting the pleasures, rewards and excitement of reading and thereby encouraging people to read
- suggesting books to read, and taking a pro-active role in suggesting reading materials to library patrons
- making the books in our public libraries accessible and appealing
- promoting the broad range of reading materials in public libraries.
Best practice resources
Guidelines and benchmarks
Guideline 6. Information and readers’ advisory services in NSW Public Library Guidelines provides guidance to public libraries in developing readers' advisory services.
Information sources and reference tools
Readers' advisory information sources and reference tools assist library staff to help readers find the most enjoyable reading, listening or viewing that matches their interests, needs and reading ability.
The tools and resources listed below can help you find reading suggestions for your readers and keep up-to-date with new and award-winning titles that can be added to your library collections. You can also find some suggested readers' advisory professional development titles.
- Databases
A variety of subscription and free databases are available to help you identify suggested titles for your readers.
Subscription databases
- Gale Books and Authors - read-alikes, reviews, curated lists and more (all NSW public libraries have free access to this database provided by NSW.net)
- Novelist - expert suggestions, reviews, articles, lists and more (consortia offer available)
- AustLit - Australian literature, writers and writing (consortia offer available)
- Who Else Writes Like? - read-alikes for favourite authors
Free databases
- Fantastic Fiction - search and browse the complete works of over 60,000 authors
- What's Next: Books in Series - search series fiction
- Whichbook.net - find books based on mood, character, or plot, offering unique and personalised reading suggestions
- Websites
Book and literary websites can be useful way to identify titles for your readers with reviews, recommendations, lists by genre and subject, and more.
Book websites
- Australian Independent Bookseller - recommendations from local independent booksellers and bestseller lists
- Better Reading - reviews, podcasts and book discussions for Australian readers
- Book Riot - reviews, recommendations, podcasts and more from the largest independent editorial book site in North America
- Books + Publishing - Australian publishing news (subscription based but some free content)
- The Conversation - book reviews and literary conversation
- Good Reading - reviews from Australia's leading review magazine (also available as a subscription magazine)
- Goodreads - book reviews and recommendations
- LGBTQ Reads - curated LGBTQIA+ literature for all ages
- Literature Map - discover new authors based on a readers' favourites, showing similar writers on a visual interactive map
- LitLovers - resources such as how to start a book club, book reviews and reading guides
- NPR: Books We Love - curated book collections filtered by genre/themes and arranged by year
- Reading Group Guides - guides for book clubs including synopsis, discussion questions and author information. Also has book lists, information on starting and running book clubs and more.
- Smart bitches, trashy books - romance book reviews, podcasts, trends and more
- Storygraph - find books based on mood and favourite topics and themes
- Sydney Review of Books - reviews and literary essays
- Whispering Gums - reviews, commentary and news on Australian literature
- Worlds Without End - find science fiction, fantasy and horror books and authors
Non-book websites
Readers' advisory is not always about suggesting books. These websites can help you find suggestions for film and television.
- IMDB - authoritative source for film and television including reviews
- Just Watch - browse film and television and find out where to watch in Australia
- Magazines and newspapers
Magazines and newspapers are a great way of finding reading suggestions and new titles to build your library collections.
Publishing magazines include book reviews, upcoming titles and bestseller lists, and newspapers and subject-based magazines often include book reviews for new titles. Some of the resources listed require a subscription - check if your library's collections team already subscribes.
Book reviews in magazines and newspapers
- The Bookseller - UK publishing magazine
- Publishers Weekly - US publishing magazine
- Local newspaper book reviews - The Saturday Paper, Sydney Morning Herald, Weekend Australian, The Guardian
- Good Reading - Australia leading review magazine for popular titles
- Australian Book Review
- London Review of Books
- New York Review of Books
- Times Literary Supplement
Book reviews in subject magazines
- Nature
- Science
- New Scientist
- Scientific American
- The Economist
- Awards
There are many awards for fiction and non-fiction books which can be used to identify reading suggestions. Along with the major Australian and international literary awards, there are a number of significant genre awards.
Awards generally have prizes for fiction, non-fiction, young adult and children's books and poetry. Some awards also have categories for indigenous, LGBTQ+ and culturally diverse writers, which can provide a range of titles to increase representation of authors from different backgrounds in your library collections.
Major Australian awards
- Prime Ministers' Literary Awards
- NSW Literary Awards
- NSW History Awards
- Queensland Literary Awards
- Victorian Premier's Literary Awards
- South Australian Literary Awards
- WA Premier's Book Awards
- Tasmania Literary Prizes
- ACT Book of the Year Award
- Northern Territory Literary Awards
- Miles Franklin Literary Award
- Stella Prize
- National Biography Award
- Russell Prize for Humour Writing
- Indie Book Awards
- Voss Literary Prize
- Readings' Prize for New Australian Fiction
- Walkley Book Award
- Australian Political Book of the Year
- The Age Book of the Year Awards
- Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Awards
Major international awards
- Dublin Literary Award (nominated by public libraries across the world)
- The Booker Prize
- The International Booker Prize (works translated to English)
- The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards
- Lambda Literary Awards (LGBTQ writers)
- Women's Prize for Fiction (UK)
- Women's Prize for Non-Fiction (UK)
- Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction (UK)
- Pulitzer Prize (US)
- National Book Awards (US)
- National Book Critics Circle Awards (US)
Major genre awards
Crime and mystery
- Ned Kelly Awards (Australia)
- The CWA Daggers (UK)
- Edgar Allen Poe Awards (US)
- Ngaio Marsh Awards (NZ)
- Davitt Awards (Australia)
Historical
- ARA Historical Novel Prize (Australia and New Zealand)
Romance
- Ruby Awards (Australia)
- Romantic Novel of the Year (UK)
Science fiction, fantasy, horror
- Aurealis Awards (Australia)
- Hugo Awards (US)
- Locus Awards (US)
- Nebula Awards (US)
- World Fantasy Awards
- British Fantasy Awards
- Bram Stoker Awards
- Shirley Jackson Awards
- Sir Julius Vogel Awards (NZ)
- Professional development reading
There is a large body of professional literature about readers' advisory work.
The main publishers of readers' advisory guides are:
A select list of titles for readers' advisory includes:
- Orr, Cynthia, Crash course in readers' advisory, (Libraries Unlimited, 2014)
- Saricks, Joyce, Readers' advisory service in the public library, 3rd ed. (American Library Association, 2005)
- Sheldrick Ross, Catherine, Nilsen, Kirsti and Radford, Marie L., Conducting the reference interview, 3rd ed. (American Library Association, 2019). Chapter 7: The readers' advisory interview
- Wyatt, Neal and Saricks, Joyce, The readers' advisory guide to genre fiction, 3rd ed. (American Library Association, 2019)
- Wyatt, Neal, The readers' advisory guide to nonfiction, (American Library Association, 2005)
The American Library Association also publishes guides to specific genres and formats including graphic novels, historical, horror, mystery, romance and science fiction.
Please note despite the publication date of some titles, the core content remains relevant. Author suggestions may no longer be relevant or representative.
indyreads professional development collection
You can find some readers' advisory titles in the indyreads library professional development collection.
- Other tools and resources
There are a range of other ways you can identify reading suggestions and develop readers' advisory skills.
- Readers' advisory working group wiki - catch up on previous annual readers' advisory seminars from the NSW readers' advisory working group
- Genre webinars - these webinars came out of the adult fiction stock quality health check project. They break down the fantasy, horror, romance and science fiction genres into subgenres, story elements, tropes, trends and key authors, particularly from a representative perspective.
- RA for all blog - training and ideas from readers' advisory expert Becky Spratford
- Online book communities - Booktok, Booktube and Bookstagram are a great way to find community book reviews and recommendations
- Podcasts - book podcasts can be a good way to build knowledge of trends, book reviews and more
- Team meetings - include a short book discussion in team meetings to learn from each other
Readers' advisory seminar
The Readers' advisory seminar is held every year in March. This full day professional development event brings together library staff, authors, reading advocates and specialists from across NSW to share insights, tools and approaches for strengthening readers’ advisory work.
The most recent seminar was held on 19 March 2026. Highlights from the seminar included:
- RA for home library services
- Selecting your kid’s next read
- NSW Literary Awards
- RA and science fiction
- Lighting talks
- Choosing books based on how you feel
- Appeal characteristics
- Basic RA skills
- Implementing RA strategies based on the Understanding Australian readers report
All previous seminars are available to watch online.
Professional development
This Rewarding Reading practical course develops participants' readers' advisory skills, equips them to share their knowledge with colleagues and assists them in the delivery of reader development programs. It combines material on how to provide guidance to readers with exercises and tips for trainers.
The Rewarding Reading course is currently being reviewed.
Networking
- See the NSW public library wiki for information about the Readers’ Advisory working group.
The Public Library Services team is available to provide advice to NSW public libraries on collections and services.
Contact us to discuss how we can assist your library.