Week 5 - Novelist

Novelist is likely to be my favorite of all the MARVEL databases, and in this I'm sure I'm not alone. It just comes in handy in so many ways!

     When playing around with the various views that results can come in, I quickly reaffirmed that 'Detailed' was one of my favorite views. Like many librarians, I'm a glutton for information, and being able to read a synopsis along with the other quick-view information lets me check with a patron that I've matched the book they're seeking, or allows me to give a 'quick sell' pitch to see if a new title might be a book that appeals to their tastes.
     I was struck by the thought that the 'grid' view might help in instances where the strongest memory a patron has of the book is of the cover image.

     The Book, Series, and Author Read-Alike suggestions are wonderful when you're in a pinch. When providing Reader's Advisory services I often find that I have my own read-alikes that pop to mind. When my first choices are checked out, or I'm asked about one of the genre's I'm not as knowledgeable about, Novelist provides quick options that are often quite handy.

     A great way to expand this beyond face-to-face interactions and to encourage discovery of similar works would be to make bookmarks printed with Novelist read-alike choices and leave them in the appropriate book.  For the books that are really hot item and won't stay on the shelves, I sometimes make a mock stand-in with the cover image on one side and basic information and a bar-code on the reverse. (For easy requests when brought to the circulation desk)  Including Novelist's read-alike lists would help give patrons a book in hand to walk out with while they wait for their request.