On Friday, Aug. 8, the Auburn Public Library (APL) released its brand new recommended reading service. This easy-to-use form provides readers with hand-picked suggestions designed to aid anyone in their journey to finding the exact book they’re looking for in just 24 to 48 hours. First opening in the early 1890s, APL has given the city of Auburn easy access to a plethora of books for over a century. Now, inspired by other libraries across the country, APL has made finding the right book even simpler.
Ashley J. Brown has worked for APL for 19 years and currently serves as the Engagement and Outreach Librarian.
“[APL staff] really talked about, ‘how could we implement [a recommendation service] for our community?’” Brown said. “We went forward with it, and now it’s here. [...] [APL is] hoping that readers are able to connect with materials that they really enjoy and find meaning and [interaction] with."
The reading recommendation form consists of seven questions, with the first few requesting the prospective reader’s name, email and library card number. The reader must also choose from three age ranges: child (zero to 12 years), teen (13 to 17 years) or adult (18 or older). Next, there’s a choice for the format of the book. These choices include: any format, physical book, audiobook on either CD or Cloudlibrary, ebook on Cloudlibrary, movie or board game. This portion of the form also allows the reader to choose more than one format if they have multiple preferences.
Lastly, the reader is able to freely type out what they want to see and what they’d like to avoid. Whether it’s a certain genre, theme or author, these final two questions let the APL staff find what the reader wants or does not want in a novel. However, the recommendation form is not the only way for readers to find books appealing to their needs and interests. Any person with an APL library card also gets access to NoveList Plus, which shows the reader a list of books similar to what they’ve checked out on the bottom of the checkout receipt.
Elias Abercrombie, freshman in architecture, recently got a library card at APL and has personally received book suggestions on his receipt.
“[The receipt] gives a lot of similar recommendations with books [that are] by the same author or [are] in a similar genre,” Abercrombie said.
According to Abercrombie, he checked out Holly Jackson’s “A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.” The books suggested for him were the other two books in the trilogy, as well as some of Jackson’s other novels.
“On the receipt,” Abercrombie explained, “[each recommendation] gives you the title of the book, the author, the call number, a rating based on other readers’ opinions and then even a small description of what the book is about.”
APL and its staff are extremely proud of these new systems that are now in place and are optimistic for the future that is being created. The simplicity of these recommendation services appeal to families and students alike and can introduce many to the APL community.
“I’m not [a member of the APL], but now I want to be,” said Nadia Roberts, freshman in marketing and an avid reader, upon hearing about the recommendation service.
APL’s new recommended reading form and the NoveList Plus suggestions will change the way readers use the library, as well as positively impact relationships with books and reading for all readers at the APL.
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Amelia Gatzke, freshman majoring in psychology, is from Huntsville, Alabama. She has been with The Auburn Plainsman since the fall of 2025.
