For Public Services Librarians ·
What you'll accomplish
You'll learn to use ChatGPT as an instant readers' advisory assistant. generating personalized book recommendations with appeal factor explanations in under 30 seconds, right at the reference desk or in a patron email.
What you'll need
Go to chat.openai.com and save it as a bookmark in your browser's bookmarks bar. Label it "Readers' Advisory." You want to open it instantly when a patron approaches the desk.
Before using AI, quickly ask the patron:
You only need 30-60 seconds for this interview.
Open a new ChatGPT chat and type:
A library patron wants book recommendations. They loved [book 1] and [book 2 if mentioned]. They liked [what they loved about it — e.g., "the strong female protagonist and rural setting"]. They want something [mood/tone — e.g., "emotional but ultimately uplifting, with a strong sense of place"]. Preferences: [any specifics — e.g., "no war books, happy to try audiobook"]. Give me 5 recommendations with a 1-sentence explanation of why each matches their taste.
What you should see: Five specific recommendations with brief appeal-factor explanations. exactly the kind of thing you'd write in a NoveList read-alike.
Scan the 5 suggestions quickly. Mentally check:
Share 3-4 of the best suggestions with the patron. You can read from the screen or jot them on a bookmark slip.
After the patron leaves (or while they wait), quickly check your catalog for availability. If the first choice isn't in, you have 4 backups ready.
Standard Patron Interview:
A patron loved [book(s)]. They liked [appeal factors]. They want something [mood/tone]. Preferences: [any specifics]. Recommend 5 books with 1-sentence explanations.
"I don't know what I want" patron:
A patron wants a good book but isn't sure what they're in the mood for. They tend to prefer [genre if known] and have enjoyed [past books]. They have [2 weeks / lots of time] to read it. Suggest 5 options spanning different moods and lengths, with 1-sentence descriptions so they can choose.
Reading list for a specific topic:
A patron wants to read more about [topic/theme]. They prefer [fiction or nonfiction]. Reading level: [general adult / literary / accessible]. Give me 6 titles — 3 fiction and 3 nonfiction — with brief descriptions.
Book for a specific situation:
A patron is going through [life event — grief, new parent, retirement, job loss]. They want a book that speaks to that experience — not self-help, but fiction or memoir that feels resonant. Recommend 5 with 1-sentence appeals.