Putting Readers First with Rachel Van Riel

Program and Services Audio Conference Wednesday, January 13, 2010 2:00 pm ET One Hour Price: $85.00 Rachel Van Riel will talk about a new approach to promoting books which has blown a gust of fresh air into stale literary and marketing debates.  Reader development starts from the reader instead of the writer or the book and has released a tremendous wave of energy in the UK, influencing libraries, publishers, booksellers, educators, the media and the government.  Whether you are planning a one-shelf promotion in a tiny library or a major new building, the principles of reader development will bring an exciting new perspective to your thinking. Who Should Participate: Library staff providing Readers’ Advisory services Library Staff providing adult programming services Library Management and Training Staff wanting to explore new RA options The Key Benefits For Participants: Explore the principles and practice of reader development – promoting books from the reader’s point of view Gain an understanding of how consumer psychology can help create successful library promotions Hear a range of low-cost and easy-to-implement ideas which can be instantly put into practice to offer added value to library readers Key Topics to be Explored Reader Development Differentiating audiences Ideas for promotion About The Presenter: Rachel Van Riel is Director of Opening the Book, the library design and training company she founded in 1991 after discovering libraries offered the best possible context for the work she wished to do.  Sometimes challenging as a ‘critical friend’ to libraries, Rachel is a passionate advocate for public libraries in the wider cultural and educational sector. Rachel introduced the concept of reader development which has changed the way public libraries in the UK engage with their customers.  Starting from the reader has led Opening the Book into developing training, promotions, collections policy, Web sites, library furniture and new library designs.  The Reader-friendly Library Service, a new book which documents this approach, published by the UK Society of Chief Librarians, is available from Opening the Book. Rachel has taken reader-centred ideas to European countries from Norway to Hungary and also to Australia and New Zealand.