Special Topics Paper: BookTube and BookTok as Tools for Readers' Advisory

To provide successful readers' advisory (RA) services, librarians must have a broad understanding of books and reading trends. Much of this understanding can be informed by reading broadly, perusing various review sources, and keeping an eye on the spaces readers flock to. Joyce Saricks suggests librarians seek information from as many sources as possible, noting, "Fans of a particular genre are often a great source of information on the state of the genre as well as authors and titles the library should have and we should be familiar with (Tarulli & Wyatt, 2019, p. 5). Librarians can look to readers who post book-related content on BookTube and BookTok for reviews and read-alikes they can add to their RA toolbox. This paper provides an overview of BookTube and BookTok and the types of videos that are popular on those platforms, a discussion about diversity, and ways librarians can use these platforms as they develop RA practices.

As Chiovelli and Cameron (2023) note, BookTok is fairly white and heteronormative, and BIPOC and 2SLGBTQ+ creators are not promoted by the app as often as their peers. Likewise, many BookTubers have criticized YouTube for its lack of diversity, noting that "viewers have to actively work to find marginalized creators, because they won't be equally promoted by YouTube" (Ellis, 2021). While both platforms provide opportunities for librarians to find reader reviews and stay up-to-date on book trends, the unequal representation of diverse creators, authors, and books means librarians must actively and intentionally seek out diverse voices and stories to promote. To diversify their BookTube and BookTok spaces, librarians should use search bars and hashtags to find, follow, and engage with diverse content and communities (Nassor, 2024). 

There are several ways librarians can use BookTube and BookTok for RA purposes. First, librarians can follow creators and engage with their content to stay up-to-date on trends that may influence reader demand and, therefore, the book industry. For example, as books gain popularity on these platforms, librarians can prepare themselves for RA interactions by reading, annotating, and writing reviews of those books; familiarizing themselves with other books the author has written; and finding similar books and authors. This is especially important for librarians who are not familiar with specific genres. Second, librarians can use these platforms to find read-alikes of books or other media that circulate frequently. If a popular book keeps flying off the shelf and patrons continue requesting it, Chiovelli and Cameron (2023) suggest "using the reference interview process to determine what about the book is making it popular" and creating displays or lists of similar books, including "diverse books that have similar themes." Third, librarians can use BookTube and BookTok as inspiration for displays. Merga (2021) suggests tapping into the language used by these online communities by "displaying... books in relation to emotions, such [as] a display of books that will make you sob until you have no tears left, or [the] kinds of characters that resonate with the current Book[T]ok community" (p. 8). Finally, librarians can create and post their own RA content on BookTube, BookTok, or other social media platforms to reach patrons and non-patrons where they are and encourage them to use the library.

BookTubers + BookTokkers Mentioned

BookTube:  

• @allisonpaiges
• @TheBookLeo
• @perpetualpages

 BookTok:

• @beforeviolets
• @cozywhimsyrose
• @SouthKenBooks
  

References:

Chiovelli, C., & Cameron, K. (2023, August 1). As seen on BookTok: Exploring interactions between TikTok and public library collections. In McNally, M. B. (Ed.), Contemporary issues in collection management. University of Alberta Library.

Ellis, D. (2021, May 26). The past, present, and future of BookTube, according to BookTubers. Book Riot. https://bookriot.com/booktube-according-to-booktubers/

Merga, M. K. (2021). How can BookTok on TikTok inform readers' advisory services for young people? Library and Information Science Research, 43(2), pp. 1-10.

Nassor, R. (2024, January 9). How to diversify your BookTok FYP. Book Riot. https://bookriot.com/how-to-diversify-your-booktok-fyp/

Tarulli, L., & Wyatt, N. (2019). Listening to advisors: A conversation about readers' advisory services, practice, and practicing. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 59(1), pp. 2-6.