readers advisory ideas with notes - melanie mutch
TRANSCRIPT
A copy of this presentation is available at
http://goo.gl/CdMZGR
Melanie Mutch: Warringah Council Library
Every library service has different levels of resourcing and support. Some libraries have dedicated readers services staff, a great internal training program, access to the social media platforms of their choice and time to create original resources. Others do not. RA does not have to be slick and expensive to be successful. I've gathered together some ideas that could be implemented at any library fairly easily. I've collected examples of libraries implementing them in different ways and on different budgets in the hope that you will find inspiration for a way they could work at your library. Most of these are ideas that can increase the visibility of passive (or self directed) RA services. These are a soft way to raise the profile of Readers Advisory with both customers and co-workers.
Rather than feeling discouraged by the things you can’t do, focus on what you can do, and do it well. Start with the resources you have, and build on them. It takes time to get your community to think of your library as the go-to place for reading suggestions, and it can take time and persistence to demonstrate the value of a quality RA service to your co-workers.
Managers are accountable for how library resources are allocated, and want to be able to demonstrate that the library is performing well. Think about hard measures for your RA programs that can prove they are successful. Think about the language you use - 'Readers Advisory' is pretty specific jargon. It may not resonate with your manager, or with your peers. It may be better to use works like 'customer service', 'customer satisfaction', 'increased circulation' - Columbus library uses the term 'Reading Conversations'
RA Makeover Presentation
New Hanover County Public Library used Novelist's Library Aware to make an eNewsletter to promote their eBook collection, circulation went up by 500%. You do not to use a commercial product to measure the circulation of a collection before and after a promotion. You can use your Library Management System to do this.
Page One 56%
Red Zone 44%
Sutton Central Library uses their LMS to manage their Page One collection, and record circulation statistics. The statistical information for this area comes straight from our Library Management System, as the books in this area have different home locations to the rest of the library stock. We can therefore select the data for the issue figures for these locations and compare it to the rest of the library home locations (particularly adult fiction, which is the main category in Page One.) In 2014, issues for the Page One area accounted for about 19% of our total issues in the Central Library (for adult fic, non-fic and childrens/teen). In terms of just the adult fiction, we had 16762 issues from Page One and 13218 from Red 1 (our main adult fiction area upstairs), so you can see it does make quite a difference! This is partly due to the fact that it is where all the new titles are held (apart from older stock that is being highlighted on display), partly because it is all front on display and partly because we have times when only Page One is accessible and the rest of the library is closed.
East Bay Libraries (no picture) shelving and display of newly returned items, and new books has created a browsing zone for customers, who then borrow heavily from this area, effectively reducing returns shelving by up to 47 percent.
New Book display Katoomba Library
A simple idea is to display new books using face-out shelving and acrylic signage, like this one from Katoomba If the budget for new furniture is not available, it might be an option to buy a table top display stand, or a way to repurpose existing furnishings.
Balance your RA program and resources for broad appeal. Think about the different ways your community members use the library. A person might be happy with a list of suggestions for items they can place on hold, but might also want material they can take home with them today. Some people might enjoy the convenience of browsing online for reading ideas, others might prefer to browse the library in person. Some like to ask for help, others prefer to help themselves. Does your program of RA resources have something for each of these people, and do they know about it?
South East Library has created a display of read-a-likes for a high demand title. Customers may not find the book they want on the shelf, but this library has made it easy for them to find an alternative while they wait.
Minnesota Library has used a display them ‘What makes the world go around’ that lends itself well to whole collection advisory. This display is easy to put together, and easy to keep filled up.
Pickerington Public Library
Pickerington Public Library in Ohio display cover art for not-yet-released titles along with corresponding cards to encourage customers to place reservations. Customers who may not be aware that an anticipated title will be available soon are invited to get on the waiting list early.
Can you get more out of an RA resource by repurposing the same content over a range of platforms? Library Aware is a NoveList product that makes this easy to do.. The same booklist is repurposed as a book mark, an electronic booklist, shelf talkers and social media content.
Get staff involved. Especially in a library service where resources are limited, it's impossible for one person to do everything. Look for simple ways to get staff involved, at a level that is not too confronting. This should lead to an increased sense of ownership and involvement. If you have support from management, you might be able to have this included as a measure in staff development plans. Are there people you can train to be responsible for certain displays, or to keep displays topped up?
Marsden Library
Each staff member has a colour coded book mark with
a 5 star graphic and their name. They simply choose a book they enjoyed or would
recommend, place the bookmark inside with the
label showing, and place it on our designated end displays.
Using this method we have loaned over 11,000 ‘staff
picks’ in the last 12 months.
Logan North Library, QLD
ProjectREAD
Phoenix Public Library Staff Picks Featurette
Hume Libraries
on Facebook
2013/14 circulation: 16 206 loans Warringah Mall branch: 9.3 loans per item
Warringah has a permanent display, using the 650 tag and 'Staff Picks' as a subject heading to record stats and make items easy to find on the shelves. It was compulsory for all staff who attended in-house Rewarding Reading training to submit a list of10 staff picks, and these titles were used to establish the collection
People are interested to see what other readers have enjoyed. A display of items enjoyed by your community is a great way to share the books that people love, and a way to promote backlist material - remember that one of our great strengths is the number of wonderful older titles on the shelves, and it is our job to highlight them.
Wagga Wagga City Library - books most borrowed across the Riverina Regional Library in 2014. [Amy asked their] Support and eServices Officer to run a report on the most borrowed adult fiction, non-fiction, YA and junior books. I took the reports and made an image out of all the book covers and posted it. For those not able to use social media, or even those who can, it could also be a display.
Found on Flickr
Many libraries offer a high turnover collection of in-demand material, making it available to a much larger audience in a relatively short period of time. Good selection will lead to increased circulation statistics, and hopefully to increased customer satisfaction.
Randwick Library Ryde Library
Melbourne Library
Warringah Council Library FastBack circulation
Belrose: 19 loans per year Dee Why: 16 loans per year Forestville: 15 loans per year Warringah Mall: 27 loans per year Average circulation of the entire library collection :4.4 loans
Cairns Library Hot Speed Reads
•Cannot be reserved
•10 day lending period
•no extensions
•$4 fee (overdue fees
apply)
•Pick up a Hot Speed Read Rewards Card from your local branch to get every 10th Hot Speed Read for free!
http://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/library/my-
library/collections/hot-speed-reads
Our recent RA survey showed that some libraries aren't making great use of shelf talkers, but they are a very effective way of promoting read-a-likes, or encouraging browsers to ask staff for help. Book stores use shelf talkers very well. Our needs are not the same – we don’t tend to have multiple copies of the same title for instance, but there are ways to apply the ideas to work in the library context
Harris County Public Library
Form-Based Readers' Advisory allows readers to complete a set of questions about their reading preferences to help library staff create a list of items they might enjoy reading. The questions can be completed via a paper survey, the library website, or social platforms. The advantage is that readers can fill out the form in their own time, and then staff have the time and resources to offer the best possible suggestions. Advantages:
•an opportunity for staff to practice and improve their RA skills •a buddy system could be used to train and mentor less experienced staff •resources can be recycled, and posted on the library website or via social media •improved staff morale and confidence •an opportunity to promote hidden gems in the library collection •a great Readers' Advisory experience can be offered to all library users
Lawrence Public Library: Tumblr
Every Book Drop expert is expected to maintain their own content (which meant some website training). Experts were divided into categories to make the process simpler for staff and for users. This approach makes us into much more than that person behind the desk helping patrons - it's humanizing, and a lot of fun to see everyone's
different interests.
My Librarian: Multnomah County Library
Multnomah Library wanted to create the personal connection online that is the cornerstone of in-person RA. They applied for a grant to fund their project. They realized that there would need to be a full time person dedicated to this work, so the position of Reader Services Librarian was created. They set a goal of 48 hours to turn around a question; on average, our staff spends about 30 minutes on a basic question, and up to an hour on a question that requires a more thoughtful or nuanced response. As well as tools like Novelist and our catalog and lists, we use each others' expertise extensively. We answer between 30 and 60 questions a month. There are people who follow our lists and blog entries, who might never actually pose a question.
Look for ways to bring a spirit of play and irreverence to your RA program.
A connected culture is an infectious culture.
If we want our space to be infectious, we need to find ways that will make people want to come and be connected to us. A sense of humor is a great way to do this.
UTS Library Twitter
Brownsburg Public Library
Yarra Plenty Regional Library
Cuyahoga Library Facebook
UTS Library Hennepin County Library
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/goawayimreading/
Has your library put a new RA program into place? How did you come up with the idea, and how did you get support? Share this success with your peers so they can use the data to support their project proposals. Is there a library doing a great program that you know of? Send these ideas and we'll make them available on the wiki.