Rachel Wedeward

Watchers Advisory Paper

Independent Study at Skokie Public Library

Watchers Advisory in Public Libraries

The latest movies and TV shows are always a strong topic of conversation amongst
friends and family, especially with streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu becoming a
popular fixture for the latest and greatest movies and TV shows. With libraries, becoming less of
a service for books, its important to look at the utilization of movies and TV shows as part of an
expanded service to readers advisory.
The purpose of this project is to enhance and expand the readers advisory services at
Skokie Public Library in audiovisual so that it is consistent with current readers advisory
practices for books. AV desk at the Skokie Public Library is in high demand for
recommendations for movies, TV shows, and music, the purpose of this research is to make an
electronic readers advisory platform for this, similar to what is being offered with Bookmatch
services1.
Profile of AV Services at Skokie Public Library
AV services at Skokie Public Library offers a wide depth of resources for patrons to get movies
and TV shows. On the Skokie Public Library website, there is a whole page dedicated to movies
in a variety of topics. First, there is a section that lists all of the movies and TV shows that are
coming to DVD and Blu-Ray2. This list will also allow you to see the item on catalog and see
how many copies are ordered or are in for that particular movie or TV show. The second list
available on the Skokie website is a new releases page, which goes into new releases that are

1 "Bookmatch." Bookmatch. Skokie Public Library, n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2016.

2 Coming Soon on DVD. Skokie Public Library, n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2016.
1

Rachel Wedeward
Watchers Advisory Paper
Independent Study at Skokie Public Library

available at the library3. Third page on the movies portion of the Skokie website is a list of
Academy Award nominations4. Similar to the Coming soon to DVD and Blu-Ray page, the
Academy Awards nomination page also allows patrons to go into the catalog and see that the
item has been ordered. Patrons can put requests to have those items in, even though they have
not arrived at Skokie Public Library yet. Finally, there is a page on the movies portion of the
website that discusses movie screenings that regularly happen in the library5. Other pages that are
in develop on the Skokie website include, movie recommendations, as well as a link to the
Hoopla site to stream movies and TV shows through the library6.
Besides website resources, Skokie Public Librarys AV section keeps detailed monthly records of
all its circulation statistics. On average, the Adult Services department at Skokie Public Library
circulates almost 100,000 materials a month7. AV materials make up sixty percent of this
circulation statistic alone8. In the month of January 2016, audio materials circulated 10,357
times, video materials circulated 48,014 times, and video games circulated 1,761 times9. With
audiovisual materials making up more than half of the circulation statistics, it is critical to offer a
service that allows for patrons to get movie and TV show suggestions, as a continuation of high
circulation statistics.

3 New and Coming Soon. Skokie Public Library, n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2016.
4 "Academy Award Nominations on DVD." Academy Award Nominations on DVD. Skokie Public Library, n.d.
Web. 09 Feb. 2016.
5 "Events." Events. Skokie Public Library, n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2016.
6 "Hoopla." Hoopla. Skokie Public Library, n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2016.
7 McGrath, Laura. Skokie Public Library Monthly Circulation Statistical Report December 2015. Rep. Skokie
Public Library, Dec. 2015. Web. 10 Feb. 2016.
8 McGrath, Laura. Skokie Public Library Monthly Circulation Statistical Report December 2015. Rep. Skokie
Public Library, Dec. 2015. Web. 10 Feb. 2016.
9 McGrath, Laura. Skokie Public Library Monthly Circulation Statistical Report January 2016. Rep. Skokie Public
Library, Jan. 2016. Web. 10 Feb. 2016.

Rachel Wedeward
Watchers Advisory Paper
Independent Study at Skokie Public Library

Procedures for Creating Movie and TV Show Advisory

Initial work on this project started through outreach of other public libraries to see if similar
services were being offered. First step was to research other public libraries and what they are
providing in this area. Results concluded that a majority of public libraries that do offer a music
advisory service, but not a movie and TV show advisory10,11,12.
Once initial research was done, a team was assembled to help launch What to Watch. This team
consisted of Adult Services Intern Rachel Wedeward, Adult Services Manager Lynnanne
Pearson, AV Services Librarian Sharon Weinberg, Virtual Community Engagement Manager
Brodie Austin, and Readers Services Supervisor Kathy Sexton. With Adult Services Intern
Rachel Wedeward, leading this team, the first step in this process was to create a survey for
patron interest on this new idea. This survey ran for about two weeks on a catalog computer in
the AV section and patrons were asked about how they found movies and TV shows to watch
(Appendix A).
Skokie Community Survey Results
After survey was up in the AV section for two weeks, we received twenty one responses
(Appendix B). This number was considerably low due to technical difficulties, so additional
paper copies were made available at the AV desk. Despite the low numbers, the results from the
survey results turned out very good for the project. Eighty percent of the patrons surveyed would
use a service that gave them movie and TV show suggestions, and sixty percent of patrons
indicated they asked librarians for TV show or movie suggestions.
10 "Middleton Public Library CD Club." Middleton Public Library CD Club. Middleton Public Library, n.d. Web.
17 Feb. 2016.
11 "Personalized Playlist." Jacksonville Public Library. Jacksonville Public Library, n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
12 "Music - Books and More from Kent District Library." Music - Books and More from Kent District Library. Kent
District Library, n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.

Rachel Wedeward
Watchers Advisory Paper
Independent Study at Skokie Public Library

Creating Framework
After the survey was completed, the committee for this project met to go over the next
steps. Based on the survey results, there was a strong enough interest for it that we concluded
that creating the form was the right option to extending readers advisory services. The form
itself will be loosely based on the form established by Arapahoe Libraries called, What to Watch
Next13. In addition, the Screenmatch team compared the Bookmatch Wiki with the online form to
see what changes needed to be made. Overall, the Bookmatch template and the format used,
didnt need much changed other than the boilerplate text on the form and on the follow up
survey.
Establishing Guidelines for Screenmatch
At the end of March, I, Lynnanne Pearson, Kathy Sexton, Sharon Weinberg, and Reference
Librarian, Allyson Coan met to create the guidelines for selecting movies and TV shows. For
our service, we decided to have less than 5 movies or TV shows suggestions with the time frame
of 10 business days a suggestion must be completed by. A patron could fill out a form once every
three months.
Staff Launch
As part of continuous staff development, librarians at Skokie will take turns hosting a
once a month Brown Bag to help other staff learn more information about areas they might not
have a chance to work in. Since the Adult Services department was in progress on who should
carry forth the project after my internship completion, the committee felt it was best to have a
staff workshop for it prior to a set launch date. The staff workshop will be held on Wednesday
April 27th, 2016 from 12-1 in the Staff Meeting Room.
13 Slyziuk, Alison. "What to Watch Next?" Arapahoe Libraries. Arapahoe Libraries, n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
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Rachel Wedeward
Watchers Advisory Paper
Independent Study at Skokie Public Library

Discussion: What Other Public Libraries Are Doing

In a June 2013 Library Journal article, Music for the Masses: Music Advisory,
columnist Matthew Moyer discusses what other public libraries can do for creating a music
advisory service. First, there is a lot more flexibility in providing music suggestions than the
average public librarian estimates. Moyer suggests taking chances, and if a patron is not happy
with the recommendations provided, then there is always the next patron. Second, even when a
patron asks for the most popular music, be sure to provide suggestions that sound alike, but also
have historical context for those artists who may or may not have gotten the deserved
recognition. Third, do not be afraid of throwing in your own personal tastes into a suggestion.
Personal tastes can be an asset to a patron when they communicated effectively with great
enthusiasm. Fourth, tell patrons why you suggested a particular artist. As long as there is context
to a decision, then there is no right or wrong answers. Finally, dont be afraid to use resources
such as reviews for help, and more importantly, have fun with every recommendation14.
Other public libraries have taken on a similar practice of providing multimedia advisory.
However, these services are dedicated to music advisory, as opposed to TV shows or movies.
According to the Library Journal article, Weve Got the Beat: Music Advisory in Public
Libraries, Kent District librarians Penny Speets and Pete Lewandiski advocated for music
advisory being a standard for public libraries to offer. While both argue that music advisory is
unlike suggesting books, the key to providing a great service is by tapping into staff expertise as
it is very likely that every staff member will have a range in music tastes15. Since Kent District
14 Moyer, Matthew. "Music for the Masses: Music Advisory | June 1, 2013."Library Journal Reviews. Library
Journal, 1 June 2013. Web. 03 Feb. 2016.
15Rogers, Michael. "We've Got the Beat: Music Advisory in Public Libraries | PLA 2012." Library Journal. Library
Journal, 19 Mar. 2012. Web. 03 Feb. 2016.

Rachel Wedeward
Watchers Advisory Paper
Independent Study at Skokie Public Library

Librarys establishment of music advisory services, other public libraries have followed in the
same matter. Jacksonville Public Library and West Vancouver Memorial Library have both been
influenced by Kent Districts initiative to provide a music advisory service16,17.Besides Kent
District, Middleton Public Library in Wisconsin runs a very successful CD of the Month Club at
uses a lot of the same advisory tools as other libraries.
The real key is whoever does it has to be pretty passionate about music, in all its forms. I have
one patron who only checked 50s and pre50s for decades, and Musicals for genre. She's tough to
find 'new' stuff for. But that's what makes it fun. Initially, I envisioned selections being made by
a committee. We'd sit down once a month and go through the Club member profiles and pick fun
stuff for them. said Middleton Public Library Head of Circulation, Brendan Faherty18.
Other libraries are taking note of this expansion, which has been more recently coined as
Watchers Advisory. Beth Atwater, Multimedia Collection Development Librarian at MidContinent Public Library in Independence, Missouri did a presentation on Watchers Advisory
and its resources for libraries to use at the Missouri Library Association Conference.
Watchers Advisory really seems to be in its infancy. Critics sometimes say were living in a
golden age of television. Meaning we have more channels (both traditional and streaming) and
bigger tv budgets than at any other time in history. That said, were reaching a point when home
entertainment options are so overwhelming that libraries can fill a need for patron advisory said
Atwater of the need for libraries to fill a service in helping patrons with TV shows and movies19.
But even with this need building for libraries, Atwater states that the most difficult part of
creating a watchers advisory service is the continuing staff education and being able to meet the
user needs and the availability of the collection20.

16 "Music Advisory." West Vancouver Memorial Library. West Vancouver Memorial Library, n.d. Web. 03 Feb.
2016.
17 "Personalized Playlist." Jacksonville Public Library. Jacksonville Public Library, n.d. Web. 03 Feb. 2016.
18 Faherty, Brendan. "Watcher's Advisory Fiction L Feedback." E-mail interview. 17 Feb. 2016.
19 Atwater, Beth. "Watcher's Advisory Fiction L Feedback." E-mail interview. 24 Feb. 2016.
20 Atwater, Beth. "Watcher's Advisory Fiction L Feedback." E-mail interview. 24 Feb. 2016.

Rachel Wedeward
Watchers Advisory Paper
Independent Study at Skokie Public Library

The only public library that has the same model that this project was looking to create was
Arapahoe Library District in Englewood, Colorado21. Arapahoe Library Districts watchers
advisory is called What to Watch Next? And allows for patrons to fill out a form and then receive
suggestions for movies in one week22.
The guidelines are to respond if possible within a week of when the form was submitted. It
should include 5 to 10 suggestions but this is dependent on how much information the patron
provides in the form. Other librarians will suggest only three, which is a good rule of thumb
especially if you are short staffed and your emphasis is on a quick turnaround. The librarian
leaves their email address so that the patron has a way to respond and provide feedback. On the
form, it does allow the patron to choose the rating, so the recommendations are expected to
adhere to any limits the patron has requested. Said Multi-Media Librarian Alison Slyziuk23.
As a result of providing this service, patrons have given really great feedback and have
remained consistently popular with its highest usage in the summer months. The online forms
average to about 1 a week or 1 every 2 weeks. In the summer, we see the number of requests rise
to about 2 or 3 a week. The DVD of the Month now has about 50 people we put items on hold
for each month. Along with the CD of the Month Club we are at about 70 people. We had to cap
the number of people since it exceeded the amount that we could feasibly do said Slyziuk24.
Conclusion: Watchers Advisory: A New Step for Readers Advisory
Ultimately, watchers advisory is still new and growing in the public library field. With other
public libraries beginning to to expand traditional readers advisory services, it is expected that
more public libraries will adopt a similar format, as this expansion becomes a popular trend in
public libraries. However based on research, it is equally important to know what your

21 Slyziuk, Alison. "What to Watch Next?" Arapahoe Libraries. Arapahoe Libraries, n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
22 Slyziuk, Alison. "What to Watch Next?" Arapahoe Libraries. Arapahoe Libraries, n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
23 Slyziuk, Alison. "Fiction L Feedback." E-mail interview. 16 Mar. 2016.
24 Slyziuk, Alison. "Fiction L Feedback." E-mail interview. 16 Mar. 2016.
7

Rachel Wedeward
Watchers Advisory Paper
Independent Study at Skokie Public Library

community wants prior to executing a project of this magnitude. Not all libraries are the same, so
each institution should be treated differently.

Sources
"Academy Award Nominations on DVD." Academy Award Nominations on DVD. Skokie Public
Library, n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2016.
Atwater, Beth. "Watcher's Advisory Fiction L Feedback." E-mail interview. 24 Feb. 2016.

Rachel Wedeward
Watchers Advisory Paper
Independent Study at Skokie Public Library

"Bookmatch." Bookmatch. Skokie Public Library, n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2016.

Coming Soon on DVD. Skokie Public Library, n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2016.
"Events." Events. Skokie Public Library, n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2016.
Faherty, Brendan. "Watcher's Advisory Fiction L Feedback." E-mail interview. 17 Feb. 2016.
Hoopla." Hoopla. Skokie Public Library, n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2016.
McGrath, Laura. Skokie Public Library Monthly Circulation Statistical Report December 2015.
Rep. Skokie Public Library, Dec. 2015. Web. 10 Feb. 2016.
McGrath, Laura. Skokie Public Library Monthly Circulation Statistical Report January 2016.
Rep. Skokie Public Library, Jan. 2016. Web. 10 Feb. 2016.
"Middleton Public Library CD Club." Middleton Public Library CD Club. Middleton Public
Library, n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
Moyer, Matthew. "Music for the Masses: Music Advisory | June 1, 2013."Library Journal
Reviews. Library Journal, 1 June 2013. Web. 03 Feb. 2016.
"Music Advisory." West Vancouver Memorial Library. West Vancouver Memorial Library, n.d.
Web. 03 Feb. 2016.
"Music - Books and More from Kent District Library." Music - Books and More from Kent
District Library. Kent District Library, n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2016.
New and Coming Soon. Skokie Public Library, n.d. Web. 9 Feb. 2016.
"Personalized Playlist." Jacksonville Public Library. Jacksonville Public Library, n.d. Web. 03
Feb. 2016.
Rogers, Michael. "We've Got the Beat: Music Advisory in Public Libraries | PLA 2012." Library
Journal. Library Journal, 19 Mar. 2012. Web. 03 Feb. 2016.
Slyziuk, Alison. "What to Watch Next?" Arapahoe Libraries. Arapahoe Libraries, n.d. Web. 17
Feb. 2016.
Slyziuk, Alison. "Fiction L Feedback." E-mail interview. 16 Mar. 2016.
Appendices
Appendix A: Movie and TV Show Survey

Rachel Wedeward
Watchers Advisory Paper
Independent Study at Skokie Public Library

A Dominican University GSLIS-Skokie Public Library Intern is looking for feedback on how
patrons at Skokie Public Library find Movies and TV Shows to watch in and out of the library.
This information will be used to create a project for part of my Masters in Library and
Information Science, as well as filling a need at Skokie Public Library. Survey can only be
completed once. For questions or concerns, please email Adult Services Intern, Rachel at
[email protected].
Sources for Recommendations
1. How do you decide what watch next? Check all that apply.
Recommendations from family or friends
Recommendations from Netflix or other services
Reading reviews
Browsing (online or on the shelf)
Other
Finding What to Watch Next
2. Do you have a hard time figuring out what to watch next?
Yes
No
Skokie Public Library Website
3. Do you use the Skokie Public Library website to find movie information?
Yes
No
Librarian Recommendations*
4. Have you asked a librarian for a recommendation before?
Yes
No
Skokie Public Library Movie and TV Show Suggestions*
5. Would you try an online service for personalized movies and TV recommendations if SPL
provided one?
Yes
No
Additional Information
6. Is there anything else you want us to know?
Interested in What to Watch?
7. Please provide your email address for more information on What to Watch.

10

Rachel Wedeward
Watchers Advisory Paper
Independent Study at Skokie Public Library

Survey Thank You

Thank you for taking part in the survey. Please grab a Hershey's kiss at the AV Desk for your
participation.
*=Required Question
Appendix B: Survey Results

Timestamp

Sources for
Recommendations

Finding
What to
Watch
Next

Skokie
Public
Library
Website

Librarian
Recommendati
ons

Skokie Public Library Movie

and TV Show Suggestions

Recommendations
from family or friends,
Reading reviews,
Browsing (online or on
2/23/2016 10:06:23 the shelf)
No

No

Yes

Yes

2/23/2016 12:59:04 Reading reviews

No

Yes

No

Yes

Recommendations
from family or friends,
Browsing (online or on
the shelf), television
2/23/2016 13:17:10 ads
No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Recommendations
2/23/2016 15:34:13 from family or friends

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Recommendations
from family or friends,
Recommendations
from Netflix or other
services, Reading
2/29/2016 14:56:33 reviews, Librarians
No

Yes

Yes

Yes

2/29/2016 20:14:42 Reading reviews

No

No

Yes

Recommendations
from family or friends,
Recommendations
from Netflix or other
3/2/2016 15:34:21 services, Youtube
Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Recommendations
3/2/2016 17:18:38 from family or friends

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Recommendations
from family or friends,
Reading reviews,
Browsing (online or on
3/2/2016 18:55:59 the shelf)
No

Yes

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

No

Recommendations
from family or friends,
3/3/2016 9:57:13 Reading reviews
Yes

11

Rachel Wedeward
Watchers Advisory Paper
Independent Study at Skokie Public Library
Recommendations
from family or friends,
Recommendations
from Netflix or other
3/3/2016 17:17:06 services
Yes

No

No

Yes

Recommendations
from family or friends,
Recommendations
from Netflix or other
3/3/2016 17:38:44 services
Yes

No

No

Yes

Recommendations
from family or friends,
Recommendations
from Netflix or other
3/3/2016 17:38:54 services
Yes

No

No

Yes

Browsing (online or on
3/6/2016 13:49:38 the shelf)
No

No

No

No

Browsing (online or on
3/6/2016 15:37:43 the shelf)
No

No

No

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Paper Response

All of the Above

Paper Response

Recommendation from
Family and Friends,
Browsing
Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Paper Response

Other

No

No

Yes

No

Paper Response

Reading reviews

No

No

Yes

No

Paper Response

Recommendations
from family or friends,
Recommendations
from Netflix or other
services, Reading
reviews, Browsing
Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

55% Don't
Use
Library
Website

60% Ask for

Recommendati
ons

80% said yes to adding this

services

Totals

20 Responses

No

35% have
trouble
finding
what to
watch

Appendix C: Screenmatch Form Draft

Screenmatch allows Skokie Library cardholders to receive a custom list of titles prepared for you
by the library's expert movie and TV lovers.
What are your favorite types of movies or TV shows? Which genres do you return to again and
again? What is a movie you've seen recently and loved (or hated)? The more information you can
give us, the more accurate your Screenmatch profile will be.

12

Rachel Wedeward
Watchers Advisory Paper
Independent Study at Skokie Public Library

After finishing the form, expect to receive your custom Screenmatch reading list within 5
business days.
* indicates a required field.
Name *:
Library card number:
Email address *:
Phone number *:
How would you like to receive your list? *:

Email
Mail
Pickup in the library

What is your age group? Adult Teen

Which formats do you prefer?

TV
Movies
DVD
BluRay
Hoopla

Select all that apply

Do you have a rating preference? (check all that apply)

G
PG
PG-13
R
Not rated

13

Rachel Wedeward
Watchers Advisory Paper
Independent Study at Skokie Public Library

Which types of movies do you enjoy?

Action/Adventure
Comedy
Documentary
Drama
Foreign/World Film
Horror
Musical
Science Fiction/Fantasy
Western

Select all that apply

What are you in the mood for?

Family friendly
Romantic
Classic
Feel good
Film snob
Surprise me
Hidden gem
Flight of imagination
Quirky
Period piece

Is there anything that you rather not watch?

What are some movies you have enjoyed?List at least three
What are some movies you have disliked?List at least three
Anything you would like to tell us?

14