Hi again
I've just read Andrew's comments and saw an immediate link with ebooks. The
handful of public libraries currently developing ebooks services have
identified a possible market for ebooks in the 'how to' range as well as
manuals (car repairs/DIY etc.)and healthcare books; also travel books, cook
books, sport, pet care etc. - these are reference texts which people want to
dip in and out of i.e task based rather read from cover to cover and ideally
suited to electronic format. However, suppliers and aggregators are offering
mostly IT/business ref texts and lots of stuff aimed at the academic sector
rather than UK public libraries, which is a big market with more take-up at
present.
The netLibrary User Group is working on content however, and I will take
Andrew's comments and the results of Madeleinse's survey to the next meeting in
December.
Regards,
Penny Garrod
Penny Garrod
Public Library Networking Focus
UKOLN
University of Bath
email:[log in to unmask]
Ariadne(the UKOLN e-magazine): http://www.ariadne.ac.uk
Quoting Andrew Lewis <[log in to unmask]>:
> Hi Madeleine,
>
> The use of non-fiction is mostly task based: I want to paint my room, I want
> to start boxing, I have earache, whatever.
>
> This underlying user behaviour is what should drive reader development for
> non-fiction. I think that trying to adapt fiction models such as reading
> groups looking at narrative type non-fiction (a big market, but only one
> market and I think it assumes the user already enjoys reading) may not work,
> unless it is part of a team exercise.
>
> The real challenge for encouraging reading is answering the suspicious
> users' question: "what's in it for me?"
>
> I suspect for those non-readers classed as outside normal education (think
> no qualifications + leave school 2 minutes after legally being able to),
> then trying to get them around a table discussing Pepys might be less than
> helpful, whereas showing them how to use the internet manuals, and so on to
> get them what they want may have the most impact for them.
>
> Reader development I suppose depends on the desires of the reader!
>
> Regards
>
> Andrew Lewis
> e-Services Officer
> Library and Information Services
> Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
> 01628 796 592
> mailto:[log in to unmask]
>
>
> Andrew Lewis
> e-Services Officer
> Library and Information Services
> Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
> 01628 796 592
> mailto:[log in to unmask]
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Madeleine Bentley [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 13 October 2003 17:34
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Non-fiction Reader Development
>
> Thank you to everyone who replied to my post about non-fiction reader
> development. Here is a summary of the replies.
>
> In general people were glad I had raised the issued on non-fiction reader
> development as there is a feeling that it is too often just applied to
> fiction.
>
> A couple of people mentioned the non-fiction promotion called the Mindseye
> and one reply was from a library (Trowbridge)had participated in it saying
> it was " hugely popular".
>
> A couple of libraries have read non-fiction titles in their "fiction
> reading groups". This has proved to be popular, especially with men!
>
> There is apparently a non-fiction reading group in Edinburgh at the Royal
> Museum.
>
> Popular non-fiction titles that have worked in reading groups are:
> Samual Pepys: the unequaled self by Claire Tomalin.
> The Six Wives of Henry VIII by Antonia Fraser.
> Don't Sweat the Small Stuff Richard Carlson.
> The Floating Brothel by Sian Rees.
>
> If anyone has any additional comments or ideas about non-fiction reader
> development they would be much appreciated.
>
> Madeleine Bentley
> Librarian
> Reading Central Library
> Reading
>
>
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