Habits

As you know from previous posts, I love getting into the minds of readers to find out what they like and why they enjoy what they do. I don’t pass judgment, but I do itch to know more. This compulsion doesn’t end with mere authors and titles, either. Do they keep track of what they read? Do they use libraries or go to bookstores? Do they hoard books or tote them to a second-hand shop as soon as they’re done? Do they (choke!) dog- ear pages or use bookmarks?

I keep a running list of the reading preferences of my friends and family, and my employees, to an extent. Now I’ve started a whole new set for the city officials with whom I work. (“Likes sports, American politics, Harry Potter… Check”). When new books come in for any of the above, I always keep them in mind and pass them forward. Connecting books to readers is what I do, and I don’t really care who the reader is.

In our library at the moment, we are developing reader ‘road maps’, which are essentially personalized bibliographies. You fill in a detailed form and we give you back a list of what to read next according to your indicated tastes. It is startling how lost people can be in a sea of stacks. They see thousands of books and can’t find a single one to suit their mood. That’s what we’ll be there to do.

Since this is a whole blog about my reading habits, I hope it fulfils this ‘need to know’ that others may have (or not!).

Comments

[Lotus]

I'm sorry this is a little off topic, but I so did want to let you know that I am happy to have discovered your blog. I landed here while doing a search for Yasmina Khadra's new book "The Attack". I will visit often, thanks.