3 Ways to Market Fiction in Your Library
Book Displays: At my library, we have three large book displays near the Information Desk and one small counter display space, all of which are always utilized. The reference librarians create book displays on a rotating monthly basis so no one person, or group of people, is always responsible for coming up with ideas for book displays. Most of us currently use Canva to create an attractive sign with a title for each display. The displays usually stay up between two to four weeks, depending on how fast the materials are going. We get a lot of interaction and positive feedback on these displays; people look forward to seeing what is next. The last month I was responsible for was February, and we had displays such as: “Sweet Reads,” “Better with Friends,” and “Find Us on Libby and OverDrive.” For the Libby/OverDrive display, I printed out on cardstock, book covers of popular titles currently being offered as ebooks or audiobooks. The cardstock covers were on display instead of the print books. The display was at the Information Desk counter, so if patrons had questions about how to access Libby/OverDrive, there was always a staff member nearby to help.
Book Lists: We currently have a few brochures with fiction reading lists such as “Cozy Mysteries,” “Westerns,” and “Christian Fiction.” I’d like to add to these lists by including more genres such as “Chick Lit,” “Humor,” and “Gentle Reads.” I’d also like to create a list of Read-Alikes that features novels for people who like popular TV shows or movies. For example, “If you like Game of Thrones, you might like …” I’d like to double-check, too, that the book lists in the brochures we currently offer are up-to-date and we still carry all of those titles.
Form-Based Readers’ Advisory: In response to COVID-19, our library created an online form that patrons can fill out to get reading recommendations for fiction and/or nonfiction. In addition to collecting basic contact information and library card numbers, the form asks users to, “Please list three to five books and/or authors you like and what made them great” and to “Please list three to five books and/or authors you don't like and what made you not enjoy them” There is also space for users to include additional information if they would like to. Most recently, our Marketing Director created a brand-new webpage on the library’s website specifically for our online readers’ advisory service, “Your Next Great Read.” Now, patrons can choose to fill out the general form or choose a specific librarian to select books for them based on the librarian's interests or area(s) of expertise. If you’re interested, you can check out our new webpage here: https://hcplibrary.org/reference/nextread.htm
ReplyDeleteHi Nicole,
I like your idea of displaying titles that are on Libby/OverDrive. I think raising awareness of e-services is really important. A lot of patrons don’t know what that service is or don’t know how to use it. The display could start a conversation not only about if you had those physical copies at the library but about Libby/OverDrive too.
I feel like it would be so easy to forget about promoting digital collections inside the physical library, and not just only through digital promotions -- I know when I first moved and went to the public library as a visitor, I had absolutely no idea about any digital services until I briefly went on their website and saw the "Online Resources" tab. People (aside from COVID quarantine) have to physically come to the library in order to obtain a card, so we should have promotions for our online resources at hand and ready so they know what all the library has to offer! Great idea and thank you for the post!
ReplyDeleteI like to connect our print collection and digital collection by creating a display to inform the patrons that these titles and similar reads can be found on our digital collection too. I have been noticing libraries including a digital reader’s advisory form on their website for patrons to ask for titles to read. This is interesting feature, and I was wondering about creating it on our own website. We tend to have more of the one-on-one moments when discussing a great read and can suggest they read something similar.
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas! Full points!
ReplyDelete