In this issue, we are fortunate to welcome a pioneer in readers’ advisory. Duncan Smith has helped shape how we think of readers’ services and how we help our readers find their next good book. But, more than that, he has a passion for RA that shines through his presentations, work, and writing. With other pioneers such as Joyce Saricks, Nancy Pearl, and Nancy Brown, we have shaped our RA practices around appeals, the reference interview model and implicit knowledge. In Bill Crowley’s 2014 article “Time to Rethink Readers’ Advisory Education?,” Crowley questions our current practices and provides thoughtful reflection on a new direction for growing RA. This article, written by Duncan Smith, is a response to Crowley’s thoughts. Addressing some of Crowley’s ideas directly, but also reflecting on what it is to be a professional, Smith presents ideas that should start a dialogue within our profession about how we view RA services, who can be a readers’ advisor, and how we push our services into the future.
Readers’ Advisory: The Who, the How, and the Why
