Readers' advisory seminar 2026

This is for NSW public library staff and will include inspiring ideas & expert voices

This seminar is free for NSW public library staff.

This program is draft and subject to change

Online participants please use the zoom link to register.

Please note there is no morning tea break.

9.30 Welcome to the State Library, and Acknowledgement of Country.

Cameron Morley; Head of Public Library Services, SLNSW

Morning session - Chair tbc

9.35-10.10 Home library readers' advisory - Mallory Salter (Campbelltown Library), Cathie Tracey (Randwick Library), Lindsay Carapella (Wollongong Library), Catherine Manfredotti (Lithgow Library), Isabella De Horta (Fairfield Library).

10:10-10:45 Allison Tait Selecting Your Kid’s Next Read

Discoverability is one of the greatest challenges facing young readers. Author Allison Tait, co-founder of Your Kid’s Next Read, explores why it takes a village to raise a reader, shares the YKNR approach and introduces a new series that’s designed to help.

10:45-10:55 Marisa Bottaro (Sutherland Shire Libraries). Outlining five services/resources they use, how they link to the Australia Reads report, and how they address barriers.

5-min break - stand/stretch – Note there is no morning tea break

11.00 - 11.40 Damian Almeida, Academic Engagement Manager on Gale Books and Authors database.

11.40 - 11.50 NSW Literary Awards - how you can promote them at your library Abby Dawson, State Library of NSW

11.50 - 12.00 20th anniversary of readers' advisory working group Ellen Forsyth State Library of NSW

12:00-1:00 Lunch - provided for onsite participants

• Optional activity at lunch time – talk to a someone you have not met. Ask them what they’ve read lately.
• If you are asked – a challenge is to reply with three appeal terms instead of a book synopsis/summary (this is to focus on appeal and not plot)

Afternoon session - Chair tbc

1:00-1:25 Live Long and Check Out: Gabby Cundy and Greg Coustas are here to help you guide readers to places they've never been before. Breaking down the different sub-genres of the Sci-Fi world and providing helpful tips and tricks to get the best title in the galaxy for your customer.

1.25 - 2.00pm 5 minute talks

Kylie Lancaster (Port Macquarie Library) - diverse collections initiatives

Kia Wood (Port Macquarie Library) - staff Literacy Society discussing RA skills etc.

Erica Enriquez-Clemente (Willoughby City Library), Programming and readers advisory

Beth Harrison (Wagga Wagga City Library) Genre help sheets

Amy Boyd (Richmond-Upper Clarence Regional Library) changing junior non-fiction collections from Dewey to other categories.

Jennifer Blume (Maitland libraries), Lunchtime Bibliotherapy Drop in.

2:00-2.30pm - Sophie Green How does this make you feel?

When those of us who work with books – whether publishers, booksellers, librarians, even authors – think about what readers look for, we tend to focus on a book’s contents: what is the book about and how will that interest the reader. But more and more it’s become clear that readers choose a book – including non-fiction – based on how it’s going to make them feel, so it is important to talk about that to them as well.

Afternoon tea 2.30 - 2.55

3.00- 3.10 Victoria Murray , (Bathurst Library) Appeal characteristics and talking books

3:10-3:20 Lauren Watkins (Kiama Library) Back to basics

3:20-4.00 Australia reads

Presented by BehaviourWorks Australia and Australia Reads who were behind the Understanding Australian Readers report, this presentation will explore key insights from the report, and how they relate to public libraries today. They will also cover possible strategies to engage Lapsed readers and encourage more Australians to reconnect with their local library.

4.00 - 4.05 Seminar evaluation, and invitation to a follow-up readers' advisory meeting.

4.05pm - Close

Online participants please use the zoom link to register.

The State Library of NSW respects your privacy. View the Library's privacy statement for more information.

Travel assistance is available for NSW public library travelling more than 100 kilometres to participate in the onsite part of the seminar. The form and information about is are here