Helping the Reader

Lessons Learned in the Evolution of a Display Oriented LibraryAndy BarnettMcMillan Memorial Library490 East Grand Ave.Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsinabarnett@scls.lib.wi.us

Our Situation

Budget crunch - Industry layoffs, city-wide cuts on horizon, static population / tax base

Library - 1970 building

Advantages – Strong sense of mission, shared system, support of local foundations, library endowment, room to expand internally

Excellence on a Budget

Long range plan - community survey, focus groups, staff and board retreats

Consultation with architect

Best practices & PLA

Mantras: Leading edge of what had been proven to

work Adapt not adopt

2 ½ Strategies

Community Commons (three zone library) Maximize self-service options as consistent

with quality service.– Display oriented library

Display Oriented Library

Implementation will vary depending upon size and type of library.

Display / merchandise as much as possible Genre collections Browsing areas not shelving units Temporary displays - not

Our Gradual Implementation

Display shelving for New Book area Genre / subject collections of New Books Display shelving for AV Additional permanent genre collections Creating display areas wherever possible We still have stacks (so far)

Benefits to Readers

Simplest, easiest, most successful experience – Each reader, their book

Better service = better browsing Displays lead readers to new authors and

genres New authors lead readers to older titles

Benefits to Library

All authors/books get a chance at maximum display - Each book, its reader

Provides selection / weeding data 50%+ of displays checked out Displays lead readers to stacks Rewards patrons who visit library

Lessons Learned

Maximize books patron can see at once Browsing areas – open, room-like Seating and tables in display areas Importance of critical mass collections Display units don’t belong in aisles Stacks - where books go to die One aisle = one person (butt brush) Never use bottom shelves – anywhere

Lessons Learned (cont.)

Weed thoroughly – you can’t market what people don’t want

Fiction ≠ Non-Fiction Magazines a browsing collection We are all branch libraries now Direction of change > speed of change

Things we did wrong

Collections without critical mass Collections without definition Collections no one wanted AV Display Aisles - now six feet wide Children’s a tougher nut to crack

Getting started

Display shelving – expensive and not always ready for prime time

Wall units End units of stacks – x2 factor Cul de sacs, C or L shaped areas

Recommended Reading/Viewing

Civic librarianship : renewing the social mission of the public library by Ronald B. McCabe. Libraries, community, and technology by Andy Barnett. Why we buy : the science of shopping by Paco Underhill. The call of the mall by Paco Underhill. The art of the long view by Peter Schwartz. Inevitable surprises : thinking ahead in a time of turbulence by Peter Schwartz Richmond Public Library (B.C.) presentations

– The Public Library of the Future Today (2004) - http://www.yourlibrary.ca/presentation/frame.htm

– Good to Great (2006) - http://www.yourlibrary.ca/GoodToGreat.pdf– Creating Excellence (2004) - http://www.yourlibrary.ca/CreatingExcellence.pdf

McMillan Memorial Library - http://www.mcmillanlibrary.org/library/tour.html

Our Fiction Collections

New Fiction Collections New Fiction New Mysteries SF Fantasy Christian Fiction Suspense Thriller Crime Historical Fiction Romance

Fiction Genre Collections Mystery Science Fiction Fantasy Christian Fiction Classics Adult Graphic Novels Young Adult YA Graphic Novels Large Print Fiction, Mystery

and Western

New Non-Fiction Collections

Hot Topics Pop Culture Food & Celebrations Health & Fitness Self-Help & Psychology Art & Art Instruction Crafts Around the House Sports & Recreation

Memoirs & Autobiography Biography General History 20th Century History Travel & the World Science & Nature Religion & Spirituality Finance & Business