Reader's Advisory is libraryspeak for giving you ideas and suggestions about the next book you'd like to read. The staff at the nine branches and bookmobile of the Springfield-Greene County Library District, avid readers all, are trained and skilled at guiding patrons to fiction and nonfiction that they are almost sure to enjoy.

"We'll direct you to the right place in the stacks where you can make your own choices," said Lynn Clark, the Library Center's reference supervisor, "or we'll point out our collection of bookmarks that list the latest in all kinds of genres, or we'll be glad to have a conversation about your reading likes and dislikes."

Genre is libraryspeak for fiction separated into traditional categories such as Christian, mystery, romance, westerns, science fiction, horror and fantasy. Sub-genres of these include culinary crime (food is its main ingredient), cyberpunk (a sci-fi subset starring lots of powerful computers), paranormal romance (books that bite, so to speak), Christian westerns and cozy mysteries (in which the main character is an older female detective type).

Another excellent source for titles is NextReads. This reader's advisory tool is online at thelibrary.org, on the right of the page. Avid readers are in nirvana after they sign up for this free newsletter that lists thousands of titles in nearly two dozen categories. The site also gives you plot summaries, author and series listings for title, and, best of all, you can click on any title and place it on hold to pick up at any library location. You can also sign up and receive the newsletter updates in your e-mail.

A quick glance at the historical fiction page gives you the choice of these titles:
"Mary of Nazareth: A Novel" by Marek Halter—Based on extensive scholarship, the acclaimed author of Biblical fiction describes the life of a passionate and determined woman who calls upon the rebel, Barabbas, to help save her father, wrongly sentenced to death by the Romans.

"The Hidden Diary of Marie Antoinette" by Carolly Erickson—This fictional journal of the French queen, wife of Louis XVI and glamorous mistress of Versailles gives a human side behind the notorious image.

"Gone with the Windsors" by Laurie Graham—This is another diary novel about Bessie Wallis Simpson and the Prince of Wales and their courtship, the talk of 20th century monarchy fans.

"The Last Town on Earth" by Thomas Mullen—The title sounds like science fiction, but this novel about early 20th century worldwide flu epidemic captures the panic and fear that grips one town in Washington.