Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Prompt 15

What do you think are the best ways to market your library's fiction collection?

Showcasing the fiction collection is extremely important in public libraries. Marketing can take place inside  the library with in-person and passive readers' advisory and outside of the library through the library website and social media like Facebook, Pinterest, Snapchat and Instagram.

Book Displays
One of the best ways to highlight the collection is to use book displays. These can be placed in high-traffic areas that people must either pass to get to material or upon entering the library. The library system I work in has "New" fiction right inside the door. Many times patrons do not get much farther than the new book section. Book displays can highlight different genres and/or authors. It is really important to change displays every two to three weeks with a new display in order to grasp readers' attention. If books are not being selected, then displays should be changed sooner. The goal is to attract readers to books. Simple displays are always effective, which is good because I am not always very creative at making an elaborate display. 

Book Lists and Bookmarks
Having bookmarks and book lists located at various spots around the library is a good use of passive readers' advisory techniques. Bookmarks can list a few titles or author read-alikes while book lists are longer versions of these. Both bookmarks and book lists can also be utilized on the library website to market books. Newsletters can be e-mailed to patrons which can contain lists of books. My library uses Library Aware, which patrons can sign-up to receive newsletters of book lists on various genres that are of interest to them. The staff at my library (myself included) create monthly book lists of new books in specific genres that have been recently acquired by the library. I make a newsletter of new cozy mysteries each month, usually about four or five new titles. I also make suggestions for old favorites or other titles that patrons might have missed in the Library Aware newsletter. 

Book Trailers
Book trailers are a great way to promote new titles or older titles that have been missed. Book trailers can be used both at the library, on the library website and through social media platforms. Our library system has just recently started using digital signage to advertise events, programs and services. Book trailers could be a natural extension of using this wonderful marketing tool in the library. Book trailers could be created by staff to promote titles and hidden gems in the fiction collection. Book trailers can also be included on the library website and social media which would link to the book in order for patrons to put a hold on a book or read it instantly with an e-book.

14 comments:

  1. I really like the idea of Book Trailers because it is a fun way of marketing lesser-known titles for patrons. It would also be an effective resources for those who are more visual, and these trailers could be easily used on a blog or the library's website. I like you would include links so that the patrons can access them so that they can either put a print version on hold or read with an eBook copy. That's a really cool idea, and I'll have to put it my toolbox when I start working in a library. Thanks Anne!

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  2. I really like the idea of book trailers! I knew that some libraries use digital signage, but I wasn't sure if this was a way to show book trailers or not. I didn't know what all you could put on them.

    I think that book trailers and using your library's website for reader's advisory items is a great way to get things out there. It would be best for a bigger library, though. I know our website doesn't get much action. Most of our patrons are seniors who aren't familiar with computers. In the right setting, it can definitely make an impact.

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  3. Hi,
    I like that you thought of old favorites. People do head to the New section most often, but there are "hidden gems" like you said that we should unearth for them :) We could find old read alikes for new titles that are hot. I also love the idea of us doing book trailers. Mine would be kind of awkward because I'm shy, especially about being filmed but I'd still do it. We could make old titles come to life. That is a GREAT idea about having a link that goes directly to where they can place a hold for it.

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    1. Book trailers don't have to involve filming yourself. I've made a number of them and I'm not in at all. Animoto is free for librarians and teachers and is super easy to learn. Give it a try - you'll love it!

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  4. Hi Anne, Your ideas are great. I'm curious about the digital signage showing the book trailers. Does your signage have sound? If so, how does it not disrupt others? Ours signs just scroll program posters, but I would love to take advantage of other uses.

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    1. Suzanne, we do have sound but it is turned down right now. Our digital signage is right next to the computer lab so there is a lot of noise. I was thinking outside the box and using a silent book trailer, kind of like silent movies.

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  5. Book trailers posted to social media is a great idea! I wish there were more people where I work that would be willing to do that to promote our collections.

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  6. I love your ideas as well. The book trailers could be done in person in the library as well. It could be in the area where you keep the fiction books. It could be formal (putting in on the library website) or just displaying a sign in the library as to when the times it would be taking place. I love bookmarks as well. I have been programmed at an early age not to fold over the book pages of a book and I am still like that now. I have used various items to keep my place intact such as money, bills, a piece of gum (with wrapper I might add). Great ideas though. Thanks for sharing.

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  8. Anne,

    I always forget about book trailers as a potential way to market books and materials within the library. With Instagram accepting videos longer than 15 seconds and other social media sites allowing videos, these might grab patrons eyes instead of being something typical like a event post.

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  9. I like how you brought up an idea to promote older books. Often times newer books are the focus of programs for libraries. Book trailers are a great way to display and turn the attention onto older books people may not be looking for.

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  10. Great prompt response! Full points!

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  11. Book trailers are so easy and fun to make. I sometimes binge watch them on youtube when I go on there looking for a trailer for a particular book and then end up clicking on more related titles! It's a great way to browse!

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  12. I'm not particularly gifted in the area of video production but creating book trailers does sound like such a fun task. I'm not 100% sure on the reposting of book trailers from publishing companies, but you could use those on social media as well to advertise new items in your collection, or items you want to highlight.

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