Displays
From experience, displays seem to still be the best way to highlight fiction. A “Bestselling Authors” table, as well as a “Just In” table, are very popular around my library system. Having a fiction display with a theme can help, too. I think the more you can make it stand out the better. At one of the old branches I worked at, we had a horror fiction display with a giant haunted house. It caught the eyes of patrons who entered the building. We added webs and other decorations to the table to make it more cool and eye-catching. I’ve seen lots of awesome displays on Pinterest I would love to try out!
Programs
I am starting a teen book club in August where I plan to display new titles, but also books people mentioned by teens from the previous book club. This would be a combination of fiction and nonfiction, but I have a feeling it will be primarily fiction. If you have a program on a particular subject, it doesn’t hurt to display books near the program that relate to the topic. A book tasting could be a productive program in getting patrons to try out new books. Choose books that just came in recently (preferably put on hold so no one can check them out) for people to sit down and read. If they like the book, they can go find more copies or put one on hold. This allows multiple people a chance to sit down with specific books.
Services
I know I need to do better at talking with patrons as they roam the shelves. At the moment I do not feel confident enough. But that is something I need to get over. You never know who is willing to listen to a few suggestions. Librarians need to be able to approach patrons with confidence and excitement that they can share something interesting about books. We need to be able to describe books in a way that makes the patrons want to go at least pick it up and read the flyleaf for more details, maybe even read the first chapter.
Libraries also need to implement and promote online RA forms so patrons can get recommendations sent to them. Librarians can take the time to evaluate a reader’s interests and compile a list of recommended reads that they, the librarian, could be proud of recommending. I love doing online RA forms and prefer them way more than doing in-person RA.
Better labeling and sings with directions for different collections could help promote genres better. Fiction genres are separated at my library. We have Fiction, Mystery, Western, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Urban, and Romance. When newer patrons come up to the second floor, they do not know where these genres are specifically other than knowing they are on one specific side of the building. Having arrow signs could help better indicate what genres we have sections for as well as where they are located. A problem with this is that people will only think the books they want is in that location (Saricks 138). This is where going up to patrons and speaking with them, or talking them about an online RA form, would be beneficial. By getting to know a user’s interests, you may be able to help them branch out from a genre and help them find appeal factors they like in other genres.
Works Cited
Saricks, J. (2005) Promoting and marketing readers’ advisory collections and services. In Readers’ Advisory Service in the Public Library. Chicago: ALA. 136-160.
Carter,
ReplyDeleteI am a huge fan of displays....readily available information without me having to seek out a librarian...or without me even having to think of the questions! They are fast and efficient.
I completely agree with your note on services. Libraries can look to bookstores for examples on how to make the customer/ patron feel welcome and at ease. Simple things like smells and shelving placement are important, but customer service is necessary. Chris Ripple lays out important elements that libraries can learn from bookstores including cross-training staff, so any staff member can offer basic RA services, easily meeting patron needs at the moment they arise.
Ripple, Chris. “What Libraries Can Learn from Bookstores,” Web Junction: The Learning Place for Libraries. 21 March 2012,
I love the fact there was giant haunted house! Such a great way to draw people visually in and let them know precisely what that area is 'selling'. One of my coworkers and I are intending to do a Book Train this coming holiday season (although it won't be for books which we own - but for books which have been donated and are needing good homes). We want to build to build an engine out of cardboard and then have the tables be the train cars. Making a display fun can really get people interested!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a big project, but one that would pay off very well!
DeleteHey, Carter, I was interested to see that your library is taking the "genre separation" approach. See, I'm still not a fan of it and it sounds as if you might not be either. You know, if I go way, way back, I can remember my high school library having the Science Fiction separated by genre. I don't recall ever asking WHY that was. In nonfiction, we had the biographies separated out and that made sense, but sci-fi? By itself? Like it's a completely separate thing? Anyway.
ReplyDeleteYou also pointed out quite rightly that signage is key, particularly if the works are by genre.
I also liked that you address the service issue. To stay alive and stay relevant, libraries have to provide great service. Readers can get books anywhere. I know how hard it is to walk up to a patron and chat with them and offer to help. I also know the flipside of how hard it can be to be a patron and ask for help. (Maybe you sort of want it; maybe you sort of don't...)
Great suggestions with the teen book club program. At the library where I intern, I honestly don't think the teen programs focus enough on books. We have game nights and movie nights, but no book clubs because they haven't been well-received in the past. I think we need to do all we can to remedy that and promote more reading!
I am for separating genres such as mystery, science fiction, romance, etc. It makes it simple to find. But that's my opinion.
DeleteBut I am not for separating topics such as LGBT books, African American authors, etc. because I feel like it is alienating those subjects.
I'm with you, displays with themes are my absolute favorite idea. Not only is it eye-catching, but it's a creative way to showcase different genres. I love the idea of the haunted house!
ReplyDeleteMy library has what my one of my coworkers call a 'signage phobia' problem. It's good in a sense because it keeps the walls/eye-level clear and uncluttered, but man, I can spend half my day on directional questions alone. It does promote interaction and conversation though, and it can be beneficial in having a starting point for the conversation/RA, especially if as you say, they're unfamiliar with the layout. Do you find that those familiar with the setup still ask where certain sections are, or do they become familiar with the layout (and therefore know where more than just their genre is located)?
ReplyDeleteMost people familiar with our set up know exactly where to go. These people tend to ask for recommendations more. The ones who rarely come in or are new always ask where sections are despite these sections being labeled.
DeleteGreat ideas! Full points!
ReplyDelete