Secret Shopper

Secret Shopper Assignment

This week I visited a mid-sized library in Indiana for my secret shopper assignment. I chose a library located in a different county and one in which I did not know any staff.  I decided to visit in the afternoon, soon after school was released, in an effort to gauge the full impact a busier environment would have on my reader’s advisory experience.

I first spent some time familiarizing myself with the layout of the library prior to approaching a librarian with my request.  The circulation desk, located by library entrance, was manned by three staff members, all of whom were occupied with patrons when I first arrived.  The information desk was conveniently located just in front of the adult fiction stacks.The library was moderately busy that afternoon, but there was little activity in the area of the information desk and there was ample staff to assist the number of patrons in the library that afternoon. The librarian manning the information desk was engaged in a conversation when I first approached. However, both staff members immediately interrupted their conversation to inquire if I needed assistance. 

            I explained that I was looking for something new to read. The librarian seated at the desk asked what I had just finished reading. I told her I had finished Ordinary Life by Elizabeth Berg. Both librarians then looked at each other and one replied that maybe I might enjoy Jodi Picoult. She then mentioned a few titles and descriptions. She then considered another book, The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.   Following this suggestion it felt slightly awkward in that she didn’t appear ready to suggest another title.  More importantly, she did not ask me any other questions that might lead her to gather additional information about what I was in the mood to read. I thanked her for her help and told her that I would consider her suggestions.

At no point during the short exchange did either staff member inquire as to what I might be in the mood to read.  An important question that could have been asked would have concerned my reasons for liking the book.  This might have led to more open ended questions about my reading interests and more information that would have shed light on my reading tastes in general and what I was in the mood for on that particular day.

No other resources were used in the reader’s advisory ‘interview’.   Online resources such as Amazon or Goodreads were not used or mentioned as a possibility for me to pursue on my own. The OPAC was not used, although admittedly, had the interview been longer, other tools might have been used to explore other avenues.  Print resources such as Genreflection or Booklist were also not referred to in our short exchange.  Because this library does not have Novelist, this was not an option either for the librarian to use during the interview.  

Both librarians were very approachable and did not cause me to feel uncomfortable or that I was taking up their time.  They appeared nonjudgmental when I mentioned a couple of the authors I had recently read. However, I suspect neither had adequate RA training by the manner in which the conversation was conducted and the limited questions asked and resources used. Although I appreciated their genuine efforts, it would have been beneficial to have also received some advice on the best ways that I, as a patron, could conduct a search for a book through either print or online resources. I am not sure if I would return to have another book recommendation.