Week 15 Response

Week 15 Discussion Prompt

   1)  One of my favorite ways to market our library’s fiction collection is using physical displays. There are so many fun and creative ways to go about drawing patrons’ attention to new books, but also older titles as well. The more creative a display can be, the better. It’s a way to engage patrons while also helping to circulate lesser-known materials. My public library uses displays at all locations and for a variety of holidays, seasons, and events. When I worked in our Children’s department, creating displays was one of my favorite things to do. It was also a way for me to become more familiar with our juvenile titles. In February, I created a kid’s version of the ‘Blind Date with a Book’ display. With this display I pulled titles from all genres (juvenile, middle reader, picture books, playaways, non-fiction, graphic novel). I made sure to include some of our newer titles, but also titles that patrons may overlook. This was the talk of the library for quite some time with both patrons and staff. I was also able to create a display for National Child Abuse Prevention Month in which books about consent, proper touch, etc. were featured. It received much praise from visitors to the library and they appreciated raising awareness in a safe way for children and adults alike.

2)    Another way to market the library’s fiction collection would be with Reader’s Advisory. I’d like to see more libraries training staff at all levels on Reader’s Advisory tools and how to better help patrons find materials they are looking for. I learned in my Reference and Information course at the beginning of my MLIS degree path that libraries have dedicated individuals focusing specifically on Reader’s Advisory within libraries, but unfortunately these positions are often the first to be removed when budget or funding cuts take place, and that these tasks and skills are expected of general library staff along with librarians.

Currently, my own public library has one individual dedicated to providing Reader’s Advisory for the library. She is considered part of our administrative team in that her position is primarily virtual and she is rarely out in public with our patrons. There is an online form on our website that patrons can fill out when looking for their next read, but Reader’s Advisory is a better experience when done in person. It also means that for patrons who do not utilize the form or know that it exists, they are going directly to library staff for assistance who may not know how to use specific RA tools like NoveList. Everyone is capable of making recommendations and most of us typically do it without even thinking about it, but to really get into the thick of RA takes time and often a lot of training as well to be able to provide a great experience.

What I would like to see as part of the RA experience in my own library is the creation and implementation of personalized book bags. Patrons can fill out a form about what they are looking for in terms of their next read, a dedicated RA staff member would then pull recommendations, put together a book bag, and have it ready for the patron to pick up. This is a great way to promote the library and reader’s advisory.

3)     A third way to market the library’s collection would be more outreach efforts. My library has recently started looking at ways it could be more involved in the community, which includes partnering with local organizations to bring the library to them and their customers. Someone else had mentioned the idea and implementation of ‘pop up’ libraries, which I think is a great idea. It would not only help with outreach efforts, but it would also help bring patrons to the library when they must return materials.