Promoting Fiction (Prompt Response)

 What do you think are the best ways to market your library's fiction collection? Name and describe three ways you do or would like to market your library or your future library's fiction. These can be tools, programs, services, displays - anything you see as getting the word out.

1. Displays

I think library displays are the number one way to promote books! Displaying books face out makes patrons more likely to pick something up and take a look.  After all, publishers put a lot of work into eye-catching covers that set the right expectations for readers. Libraries should be taking advantage of this. 

When possible, I would try to reserve a shelf or two within the stacks to face out books. I like this look over simply facing out one book at the end of a row. This way there are mini displays in the stacks in addition to any more elaborate displays on a cake stand or endcap.

2. Booklists

Themed and read-alike booklists are a great way to promote books. I would like to create themed bookmarks for emerging reading trends in the future. This can help catch readers who are just discovering an appeal or theme and convince them to read more than just the one they planned to. 

Having bookmarks for popular authors and titles is also a good way to promote other authors or backlist titles

3. Online Recent Reads Bookclubs

I've seen some libraries hold a sort of virtual book club where members share what they have been reading during a set time on Facebook or Discord with other members of the virtual book club rather than having everyone read the same book. The versions I've seen also don't include an online Facetime component, just through comments. The only thing that holds it to a traditional book club is that it is a set time and books are discussed. So, I would not call it a book club, but maybe a book share. Either way, I think it could be a great way to get people involved who want new reading recommendations from people who read like them. I would like to try it around a theme or appeal (thrillers or mysteries, etc.) so that recommendations are more relevant and tailored to the specific group. This could be a way to start engaging patrons who are reluctant to participate in programs in person.