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.