Showing Everyone Your Fiction
I am not sure if these are the be all end all best but these are three things that have worked well in the library that I work in:
1) Book Clubs - This is one of the ways that books got a lot of attention at my former library. Not only does this have patrons become aware of books that are in the library, it has them read them as well. This was used very successfully to promote several authors that were prominently featured at the library.
2) Clever Displays - This one is a little harder because I would need to come up with something that pique people’s interest. Just putting an assortment of books out that had a theme did not tend to attract many people to look at the display, let alone check out the books from it. However, when the idea behind the display was more “unique” it drummed up a lot of attention. The better displays were pairing books and their movie adaptations and having a blind date with a book.
3) Bookmarks - Bookmarks were the single best marketing tool at my former library. Everyone would take them especially if they were colorful. A good way to promote books is to make some bookmarks that promote different books in the collection. I would have a book on each side offering a condensed book flap summary along with a picture of the cover of the book. This usually got patrons to at least be more aware of the collection.
4) Suggestions - I know that we are only supposed to do three but I wanted to add in this last one. I have had great success in showing patron’s new books when you listen to what they want and promote something that is similar but also a little different.
Those are the best tools I can think of to better promote a library’s collection.
1) Book Clubs - This is one of the ways that books got a lot of attention at my former library. Not only does this have patrons become aware of books that are in the library, it has them read them as well. This was used very successfully to promote several authors that were prominently featured at the library.
2) Clever Displays - This one is a little harder because I would need to come up with something that pique people’s interest. Just putting an assortment of books out that had a theme did not tend to attract many people to look at the display, let alone check out the books from it. However, when the idea behind the display was more “unique” it drummed up a lot of attention. The better displays were pairing books and their movie adaptations and having a blind date with a book.
3) Bookmarks - Bookmarks were the single best marketing tool at my former library. Everyone would take them especially if they were colorful. A good way to promote books is to make some bookmarks that promote different books in the collection. I would have a book on each side offering a condensed book flap summary along with a picture of the cover of the book. This usually got patrons to at least be more aware of the collection.
4) Suggestions - I know that we are only supposed to do three but I wanted to add in this last one. I have had great success in showing patron’s new books when you listen to what they want and promote something that is similar but also a little different.
Those are the best tools I can think of to better promote a library’s collection.
The lady that does our book display... she just made one with books that have blue covers... and called it, "Look what just blew in!" lol it is really cute and since we have had wind and rain all week... patrons get a kick out of it!
ReplyDeleteSoo cute! I love it!
DeleteBook clubs didn't even cross my mind despite their immense success for promoting interest at the library! My mind must have been dull when I wrote my post! ;) But book clubs are definitely a great way to promote books in our collection. Libraries could even double up and create readalike bookmarks to go along with the book and either put them with the book as it goes out or hand them out at the meeting.
ReplyDeleteYesss!! Another vote for bookmarks! I keep those forever, too; one can never have enough bookmarks. So with the book clubs, do you get a breadth of interest through that channel, or just interest in a select few, though? Or just a single author? Or do you come up with a read-alike list from that author/book?
ReplyDeleteGreat ideas! You make a great point about book clubs! Full points!
ReplyDelete