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Need a Good Read? Print
 

 

Need a Good Read ?

The staff at Gail Borden Public Library are ready to help.
Our Custom Reader’s Advisory Service
will assist you in selecting new reading material.

Simply complete the following form and we’ll have
our suggestions ready for you within 2 weeks.
 
Contact Information

 
Name:  
E-mail:  
Telephone:  
Library Card Number:   All 14 Digits.

 

Preferred Mode of Contact

 

Phone call and paper pickup

Email

 

Genres and Formats - Check “High Interest” if you want a recommendation that includes this type of literature, check “No Interest” if you do not want to read this format, or “No Preference” if you don’t mind either way.
 
Best Sellers   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Classic Titles   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Literary Fiction   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Romance   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Romantic Suspense   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Mysteries   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Action/Adventure   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Thrillers   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Horror   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Western   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Science Fiction   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Fantasy   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Inspirational (Religious)   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Historical Fiction   High Interest   No Interest   No Preference
Biography/Memoir   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Non-Fiction   High Interest   No Interest   No Preference
Young Adult   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Graphic Novels   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference

 
Multi-Book Series   High Interest   No Interest   No Preference
Short Stories   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Audiobooks   High Interest   No Interest   No Preference
 
Tone, Style, & Mood - Mark your preference on the following scales, grading from 1 to 5 on each preference. Leave a scale blank if you have no preference.
 
Happy, Light   1   2   3   4   5  Dark, Ironic
Easy   1   2   3   4   5  Demanding
Funny   1   2   3   4   5  Serious
Safe, Relaxing   1   2   3   4   5  Suspenseful, Tense
Familiar, Typical of its Type   1   2   3   4   5  Unusual
One Plot Line   1   2   3   4   5  Many Plot Lines
Resolved Ending   1   2   3   4   5  Leaves you Thinking
Straightforward Language   1   2   3   4   5  Lush, Poetic Language
Sentimental, Emotional   1   2   3   4   5  Stark, Realistic
Old-Fashioned, Traditional   1   2   3   4   5  Modern, Contemporary
 
How do you like books to be focused? - For each of the following indicate your preference.
 
Focus on Characters   High   Medium    Low
Focus on Actions & Events   High   Medium    Low
Focus on Issues & Ideas   High   Medium    Low
Focus on Language and Style   High   Medium    Low
 
What Sort of Humor do you Prefer? - For each of the following indicate your preference.
 
Quirky Characters   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Clever Dialogue   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Humorous Situations/Events   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Wordplay   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Slapstick/Physical Humor   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Dark Humor/Irony   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Absurd Humor/Bizarre, Surreal   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
 
Length - For each of the following, indicate your preference for the length of a book.
 
Less than 100 pages   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
100 - 250 pages   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
250 - 400 pages   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
400 - 550 pages   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Over 550 pages   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
 
Characters - Mark your preferences for the characteristics of the main characters about which you would especially like to read. Leave a scale blank if you have no preference.
 
Just a few characters   1   2   3   4   5  Many characters
Characters who are sure of themselves   1   2   3   4   5  Conflicted characters
 
Age of Characters
 
  Under 12   13-19   20-35
  35-50   50-65   Over 65
 
Gender of Characters
 
  Male   Female   No Preference
 
Ethnicity/Nationality of Characters
 
  African-American   Latin-American   White
  Asian-American   Native American   Other
  European   Recent Immigrants  
 
Relationship Status of Characters
 
  Singles/Looking for Love   Married life/Committed   Gay/Lesbian
  Introspection/Interior Life   Divorced/Widowed   Parenting/Family Life
  Group dynamics/Social Scene   Friendship   Odd Couples/Mismatched
  Professional relations   Troubled relationship   Enemies
 
Setting - Check any setting about which you would particularly like to read. Describe or specify the setting further if you like. If you have no preference just leave it blank.
 
  United States Specify states, regions, or cities  
  World Specify regions, countries, or cities  
  Futuristic Places Describe futuristic setting further  
  Fantasy Lands Describe fantastic setting further  
  Historical Settings Specify historical eras and places  
 
Demographics
 
  Cities   Suburbs   Among the Working Class
  Small Towns   Farms or Ranches   Among the Disadvantaged
  Wild Places   Among the Wealthy  
 
Peeves & Pleasures - Content of a certain nature is annoying or upsetting to some readers, while others enjoy these same elements. For each item that follows, indicate whether we should avoid, include, or if you have no preference about that element when making suggestions.
 
Sexual Themes   Avoid   Include   No Preference
Explicit Sexual Content   Avoid   Include   No Preference
Rough or Obscene Language   Avoid   Include   No Preference
War   Avoid   Include   No Preference
Violence   Avoid   Include   No Preference
Death   Avoid   Include   No Preference
Illness   Avoid   Include   No Preference
Dark or Cynical Humor   Avoid   Include   No Preference
Technology   Avoid   Include   No Preference
Anti-Religion   Avoid   Include   No Preference
Pro-Religion   Avoid   Include   No Preference
Right Wing Politics   Avoid   Include   No Preference
Left Wing Politics   Avoid   Include   No Preference
Addiction   Avoid   Include   No Preference
Other:
 
Content - Check "High Interest" if you want a recommendation that includes the subject; check "No Interest" if you do not want to read about the subject., or “No Preference” if you don’t have a strong preference either way.
 
Animals   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Gardens   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Crime   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Disasters   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Men’s Lives   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Women’s Lives   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Minority Lives   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Romantic Relationships   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Childhood   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Coming of Age   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Families   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Senior Lives   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
History   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Religion   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Computers   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Military/War   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Books Made into Films   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Nature   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Outdoor Activities   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Sports   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Science & Technology   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Politics   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Food   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Books about Books   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Other Cultures   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Humor   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Holidays   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Journeys/Travel   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Art   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Music   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Medicine and Health   High Interest   No Interest    No Preference
Other:
 
Reading History