Introducing a Readers’ Advisory Competency Framework for Library Staff

During my time working in libraries, readers’ advisory was often seen as a distinct or separate role. Today, the work has evolved into the idea that helping readers is everyone’s job in the library because we know that patrons don’t approach us with neatly categorized needs. They walk up to any service point and ask for help finding something they’ll enjoy, something that resonates, something that fits where they are, right now. 

To reflect that changing reality, I’m delighted to introduce a new set of Readers’ Advisory Competencies. Designed by a team of readers’ advisory experts, the competencies offer a clear, structured way for libraries to define what good advisory work looks like. More than a checklist, they define a shared approach to helping readers discover materials they care about while positioning every staff member as part of that experience. 

The team behind it all

The Readers’ Advisory Competencies were developed by a team of library professionals and experts, bringing together perspectives from different types and sizes of libraries. That breadth of expert input shows up in the final product. The competencies reflect real-world practice and the evolving expectations of the communities libraries serve.  

Members of the team will present a webinar in September, to introduce the competencies and talk about how they see the document being used. 

A modern approach 

The framework introduces a few important shifts that give it a distinctly modern feel. 

First, it expands the definition of readers’ advisory to encompass a whole collection perspective. It’s about books and more. Incorporating other formats like movies and music reflects how people actually read, listen, and engage with the library today. 

Second, the competencies make a clear distinction between different dimensions of advisory work, particularly the relational and the promotional. The relational side focuses on the conversation itself: Listening, building trust, and helping readers articulate what they’re looking for. The promotional side recognizes that advisory also happens at scale: through displays, book lists, newsletters, and digital experiences that connect readers with materials even when staff aren’t present. 

That distinction is important because both are core to the modern library experience. A one-on-one conversation and a well-designed book display are doing the same work in different ways. Treating them as complementary competencies helps libraries be more intentional about both. 

Finally, the framework reinforces that the work is a collaborative activity that requires alignment across teams so that everyone is working towards the same goal of delivering a great patron experience. 

Taken together, these shifts move readers’ advisory towards a modern service aligned to current library priorities. 

Relationships > transactions 

Perhaps the most important idea behind the competencies is framing readers’ advisory as a continuous, relationship-based service, not a one-time transaction. Every interaction builds trust and deepens the reader’s connection to the library. 

This reframing has implications. It encourages staff to focus less on “having the perfect answer” and more on listening, exploring, and guiding. It also reinforces the idea that advisory work belongs to everyone in the library, and the goal is to deliver a great experience to readers. 

Heading into the future 

I encourage you to think of the competencies as more than a professional development tool.  

The competencies are a practical tool to: 

But what these competencies truly offer is a way for libraries to be more strategic about services to readers. They provide a common language and a framework for embedding advisory into the overall strategy of the organization. They position advisory services as central to the library’s role in building engaged, informed, and empathetic communities. 

As someone who has worked on both sides, inside libraries and now alongside them, I see this as an exciting step. In a time when access to content is abundant, trusted human connection matters more than ever. These competencies ensure that libraries continue to deliver human connection by connecting readers with books and more.