Booktalking

Today, I did my first booktalk. The assistant manager for my branch asked me to talk about Fantasy and Science Fiction books in our staff meeting about this years Summer Reading Club. Thus, I was performing for a friendly audience. Nevertheless I feel I can honestly say that its an experience I wouldn't mind repeating in the least.

For those of you who are completly confused, Booktalking is when you stand infront of a group of people and talk about books (there's a head scratcher for ya)! You quickly have to sum up why a book is great and who should read it. For today's, I was to just talk about books in these areas (I threw in History Nonfiction as a bonus) so staff would know what was out there when they inevitably got questions about what good books are out there. Since we're aways so swamped during Summer Reading Club, its important that everyone be able to fill this role.

For the one today, I picked books I like and feel others will like. Some will tell you that you don't have to have read the books, but I feel that its much easier to talk about books you have read and liked or at least have an appriciation for its virtues. Booktalking books unfamiliar to you involves enough additional preparation to sound knowledgeable that you might as well read the book as far as I'm concerned. You can also speak with more passion about books you genuinely like.

For example, at the meeting today our teen librarian talked about teen books. All were books she liked and weren't necessarily on any best seller lists. You could tell by the way she talked exactly why this woman is a teen librarian, for her passion and enthusiasm for these books and teens and general was plain for all to see. Her personalized approach made her comments seem genuine and meaningful. All of us have spoken to people who've just read the dust jacket on something and then try to act like they read it. I comes off as really phony and does nothing to inspire.

For my own part, I have gotten some good reviews on my efforts. I had a couple coworkers tell me they liked what I had to say and wanted to know more about some of the books I discussed. I'm not a great public speaker, but I have to tell you, I found this to be rewarding experience and highly reccomend it.