The Mattapoisett Library has received a $7,200 grant to help staff improve reading recommendations to patrons.

Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners awarded this grant from the Library Services and Technology Act.

"We're excited about the innovative library projects being developed with the help of these grants," said Cindy Roach, head of library advisory and development at the MBLC. "They benefit local residents and communities."

The Mattapoisett Library staff will have a special focus on recommending  books for adults who enjoy reading mysteries, but they also plan to improve their ability to advise on titles in other genres.

Through training, workshops and new reader's advisory resources, the library staff will be able to answer the "can you recommend a good book?" question with a higher level of success.

"Recommending 'a good book' has many meanings for different people. Our staff will be learning how to better determine the reading preferences of patrons and understand the appeal factors that make a book a good read for someone," said Library Director Susan Pizzolato.

She also said the staff will create book lists and displays to help authors discover new authors and titles.

The Mattapoisett Library will open at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 30 rather than at 10 a.m. to enable the staff to attend a workshop by readers' advisory expert and librarian Leane Ellis.

LSTA is administered on the federal level by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in the Commonwealth by the MBLC. More information about LSTA can be found at www.mass.gov/mblc.