What do you think are the best
ways to market your library's fiction collection? Name and describe three ways
you do or would like to market your library or your future library's fiction.
These can be tools, programs, services, displays - anything that you see as
getting the word out.
With the most recent update of my library’s ILS, we have the ability to
create special “carousels” for items. While this may be seen as a glorified
booklist, library staff members have the ability to change the items listed on
the carousel daily with relative ease. Along with highlighting popular genres
(i.e. mystery, science fiction, romance) and genres that may need more exposure
(i.e. GLBTQ, westerns), we can also display books that have been ordered but
have not been released. By placing upcoming titles front and center on our
catalog, patrons who don’t read Bookpages or keep up on Goodreads will be
excited to place holds on books before they come out.
Printed annotated booklists are great ways to suggest new and old
fiction titles. They can follow certain genres, books from specific time
periods, or be recommendations from library staff. While they can take time to
produce, and can be costly if printed in color, the work load can be shared by
several staff members. Booklists can also be a good way for Friends of the
Library to get involved in finding new membership and increasing the number of
active readers in the library.
In my community, I believe that more book discussion groups would help
increase visibility of the library’s fiction collection. Saricks (2005) states
that “no public library can afford not to offer an opportunity for patrons to
gather to discuss books, both fiction and nonfiction” (p. 157). Specialized
genre book groups, and groups catering to the reading habits of “new adults”
can help provide visibility on different parts of the fiction collection. When
book clubs choose to read certain books, even non-members place those books on
their “to read” lists.
These three marketing methods spread exposure to the library’s fiction
collection electronically, through print, and through word-of-mouth. Diversification
of marketing methodologies is of utmost importance for the continued success of
the library’s traditional literacy goals.
References
Saricks, J. (2005) Promoting and marketing
readers’ advisory collections and services. In Readers’
Advisory Service in the Public Library. Chicago: ALA. 136-160.
Our library has two book discussion groups, one which meets online, and the other which meets in person. Both are an excellent way to engage our patrons with our fiction collection (and non-fiction for that matter). Each month a book is chosen to discuss, but throughout the month we also highlight additional books and resources, and make our discussion members aware of new releases. We do this via email, Facebook, and print marketing materials distributed at in-person meet ups.
ReplyDeleteThe carousel function sounds great! It sounds like a virtual display right in the catalog. Has your library analyzed how this function has affected circulation? I think the ability for patrons to place holds on books before they are cataloged is a nice feature.
ReplyDelete