This document provides an overview of resources and strategies for librarians to use when providing viewers' advisory and recommendations for movies, television shows, and other audiovisual materials. It discusses genres, appeal factors, interview techniques, and lists numerous print and online resources for finding information on titles and determining what might appeal to different patrons.

1. Viewers’ Advisory in the Digital Age January 2011

7. … which is a query that puzzled even Aristotle… What is the nature of “goodness” ???

10. And as we all know, when it comes to taste, one person’s prime rib is another’s Hamburger Helper … vs.

19. Library Subject Guides/Lists You may want to consider creating print or online subject guides/lists for frequently requested subject areas. For example, you can help teachers planning their curriculum see what visuals materials can augment their teaching units. For example, Pratt offers its series guide: Teaching Aids on Video/DVD . and “ Pratt Recommends ” movie lists, such as: Bollywood Videos & DVDs British Mystery Series

22. Movie Lists The “What do you recommend?” query can be answered either by your personal experience or by referring to the opinions of leading film critics and their essentials or genre lists – of which there is no shortage of print and online resources – as well as award-winners lists!

38. IMDB – Movies tab IMDb’s Movies tab provides links for movies currently playing in theaters (Now Playing), Top Movies (by box office and other criteria), Showtimes & Tickets, DVD & Blu-Ray, Independent Film, Top 250 movies (as voted by IMDb viewers), My Movies (make your own movie lists), and Browse IMDb.

44. Metacritic.com – Sample “Metascore”

45. Metacritic.com Sample reviews (top down, highest to lowest) of The Road .

54. This entire slide show presentation may be viewed at any time by accessing the “ Viewer’s Advisory Slideshow ” link on the Viewers’ Advisory Resources page of the SLRC/Sights & Sounds Department web page or directly by clicking on the link below: http://www.prattlibrary.org/locations/sightsandsounds/index.aspx?id=61696 View this slideshow online

55. Viewer’s Advisory Bibliography For your convenience, we have compiled a bibliography of helpful print and online resources that can be viewed at any time by accessing the “ Viewer’s Advisory Bibliography ” link on the Viewers’ Advisory Resources page of the SLRC/Sights & Sounds Department web page or directly by clicking on the link below: http://www.prattlibrary.org/locations/sightsandsounds/index.aspx?id=44422