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Week 14 Prompt: Marketing the Library's Fiction Collection

 

This Downton Abbey display was very popular with patrons. I had fiction, non-fiction, and audio-visual materials related to the show as well as bookmarks patrons could take.


With fewer people coming into the library, digital promotion is currently more important than ever. I would like to send out an e-newsletter to promote the library’s fiction collection. It could include staff recommendations, read-alikes for popular books (which would help keep patrons engaged when waiting on hold for popular books), and genre-themed lists. I would use circulation statistics and look at what is being checked out to see what is popular. To track the effectiveness of the library’s emails, I would write the number of current holds there are on titles we’re going to recommend before sending out the email. A week after the email is sent out, I would check the number of holds again to see if the number of holds went up dramatically after people had a chance to read the e-newsletter (Novelist, 2020).

I really how the Boston Public Library created book talk videos using their “SHELF Serve” service as a framework for those videos. Through the videos, librarians taught kids where to find the reader’s advisory form on the website and encouraged kids to write in. They gave book talks using the recommendations they’ve made and requests they’ve had. These videos made their requests for children’s materials jump from one or two a month to four a week. Seeing the videos reinforced the personal nature of the request service, which they found was important to patrons (Novelist, 2020).

I have found book displays based on a different theme each month to be an effective way of promoting the library’s fiction collection. The displays can have fun signs, bookmarks, and a variety of other decorations and materials to help them stand out. I try to choose themes based on the interests of our patrons, current events, or holidays. I really like incorporating interactive elements into the displays. Based on an idea from the Lego Librarian, I once did a display of children's dogs and cats book and had kids vote for either cats or dogs during election time a couple years ago. As Saricks mentions, librarians can get creative with finding spaces to display books. Slatwall shelving at the ends of aisles or a small display by the circulation desk can be a great place to fit in a display (Saricks, 2005, p. 143). While many patrons are currently utilizing curbside service and entering the library, I have seen libraries do video tours of their displays and post them on social media.

 



Novelist. (2020, December 7). Webinar: Form-based readers’ advisory when your readers (and staff) are at home. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qN1gp3BXwdc

 

Saricks, J. (2005) Promoting and marketing readers’ advisory collections and services. Readers’ Advisory Service in the Public Library. ALA. 136-160.

 

Comments

  1. Abby AbbottApril 19, 2021 at 2:06 PM

    Hi Christina,

    I love the voting display! Our youth services department did something similar with three books that the staff members chose to see what one the kids liked more. Kids really got into it and wanted to read each book before voting. I think having it be interactive draws patrons to the display because they want to know what is going on. The newsletter is also very timely with many patrons choosing to use curbside services and online resources. Great ideas!

    Abby

    ReplyDelete
  2. AmberApril 19, 2021 at 7:07 PM

    I really like your voting display!

    I suppose since this is adult readers' advisory, I hadn't even thought about asking kids to send in forms! I guess since I work in adult reference, I always just assumed that kids readers' advisory was all in-person interviews since many of the alternatives seemed like more than I would expect a kid to do. But I suppose older kids are perfectly capable of reading and filling out a form! Anyway, I liked the idea of making a video to explain what the process is, and I think that would be helpful for any section of the library and a great way to get the word out.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Alisha CrumpApril 20, 2021 at 11:21 AM

    Hi Christina!

    I really like your idea of creating interactive materials to go alongside the displays! Any way to get the patrons more involved in the library is ideal. Video tours for book displays sound like a great idea! Libraries just have to constantly stay creative in order to keep patrons’ interest in the library.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sara NorwoodApril 22, 2021 at 12:30 PM

    Christina,

    First, if I had come upon your Downton Abbey display, I probably would have squealed in delight. I love that show! And what a great display your library had, with all those different kinds of books relating to the show (I especially love that you had cookbooks in there). Have you done similar displays with other shows? I'd be curious to hear which other ones patrons were really interested in.

    Second, I love the cat/dog voting display. What a clever way to make kids feel like part of an election year. Which animal ended up with the most votes when you did this, and how did you announce the winner to the kids? (saving this idea to use in the future!)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Candace WellsApril 25, 2021 at 11:59 AM

    I love the Downton Abbey display. I think keeping up with the trends and popular releases happening can be a great way to market the fiction collection. Especially since Netflix has been adapting book series to the digital screen. It is a great way to jump on their promotions and creating your own with the fiction collection.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Erin CataldiApril 28, 2021 at 1:55 PM

    Excellent ideas! The voting display looks amazing! Full points!

    ReplyDelete

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