Marketing the Fiction Collection

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The first idea that comes to mind for marketing the fiction collection is the tried and true method of displays. Just the act of facing book covers out on little display areas increases the chance of patrons interacting with the books and possibly finding new reads. We have a dedicated "marketplace" section at my library, with on side featuring new release adult books and DVDs and the other side featuring rotating displays. These displays tend to be switched out monthly and often correspond to things like Women's History Month, Pride Month, etc. as well as some new and fresh themes chosen by the adult librarians. Displays are a simple way to provide some passive readers' advisory to patrons and market specific sections of the collection. It's an old method, but it works!

Another great way to market the fiction collection, probably tied to displays, is shelf talkers. We don't use them at my library currently, but I love the thought of them! Shelf talkers can provide very short blurbs, annotations, or quotes about specific books to entice readers to pick them up and read them. Technology can be used in some great ways with shelf talkers too, such as QR code scanning to bring up more information.

I'd also like to see more book clubs devoted to books that are not just literary fiction. Genre-focused book clubs would be a great way to market some lesser known segments of the library collection and to engage more types of readers. Even ones that feature graphic novels or young adult books would be great too! More diversity in book clubs is needed in my opinion to properly engage all readers.


Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 23, 2023 at 10:59 AM

    Hey Laurie! I have never heard of the term "shelf talkers" before reading your post. I definitely think these would be a great idea when trying to promote any book. In my response, I said staff recommendations would be a great way to promote fiction books and I think that idea ties into your shelf talkers idea! I know I personally always find my eyes drifting over to shelf talkers/staff recommendations when browsing books.

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  2. Katie Reads BooksApril 24, 2023 at 7:28 AM

    Laurie,

    I didn't think about it that way, but I suppose the new books section at my library are a sort of promotion. Sometimes I do genre displays. Recently I did one on Dark Academia. Also, you are right about genre clubs. We have a cozy mystery club and it's our most successful with 8 regulars (that is a lot of engagement for us).

    The QR code is a good idea. I wonder if they would be set to go to the catalogue or maybe the Goodreads page. I'm not sure of the logistics of making those codes.

    Shelf talkers can be as simple as putting a little sign under the books. Its especially good for TV shows adapted from books, because that is more likely to catch someone's attention.

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  3. Erin CataldiApril 27, 2023 at 7:45 AM

    Full points!

    ReplyDelete

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