Even in today's online world, many people consider libraries their primary source of reading material. It's also a place where I continue to find new authors I learn to love so much I buy their backlists and future novels the moment they are released. Physical books, eBooks and audio books can all be obtained from many of the hundred thousand public libraries in the United States, and around the globe. This week, I'm holding a virtual roundtable with librarians serving different types of readers as they discuss their role in getting the right material to the right patron and how they showcase new authors and books.
First - Introductions
Mary Jo primarily deals with Senior Citizens in her role as the Senior Services supervisor for the Arlington Heights Memorial Library. The library, located in the Chicago suburbs, is one of the highest volume libraries in the country. She leads book discussion groups and deals with homebound customers who can't come into the library but are voracious readers.
Kara works in Adult Services. She received her library degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (my Alma mater!!) in 2006 and has worked in Adult Services at the Plainfield Public Library District for
nine years with a special focus on readers’ services and digital books.
Her favorite types of books are anything with graphic violence and hot
sex. Because she loves to read and loves technology, she describes the day the book met the
digital reader as "the happiest day in my life." She is a self-proclaimed
“download junkie.”
Debra is an Adult &
Teen Services Librarian at the Downers Grove Public Library. She is
enthusiastic about connecting individuals with information, and loves finding
new ways to inspire patrons of all ages at the library. In her free time,
she enjoys marathon training, eating gelato, and nerding out over anime
and all things Doctor Who.
Erin is a Children's Librarian and School Liaison at the Downers Grove Public
Library. She loves talking books and being able to connect kids of all ages
with the books they love. Her formative years were spent checking out as many
books from the public library as she could carry. Now she's grateful for ebooks
and bigger
Question 1: Do you introduce patrons to authors who are new to them?
Mary Jo: When customers come into the library we try to ask if we can help them find something. Instead of just saying, here’s the hot book, we probe first to get to know the customer. We
create reading profiles for our homebound customers to use to provide
suggestions for them based on current favorite authors and their different
backgrounds. I believe libraries should focus on reader advisory, an area we can’t be matched by an algorithm. Amazon may tell what other readers think about a book and give some recommendations based on what others read. We fine-tune recommendations to individual readers. Yes, many eBooks are inexpensive, but you can waste time and money buying books with a fantastic blurb that fails to deliver. It's nice to have a person who actually knows you to provide a more nuanced recommendation.
Kara: Some
readers are set on specific authors. Others might be more open to
suggestions and recommendations. When
the opportunity presents itself, staff take advantage
by offering to take readers in new directions.
Debra: Our patrons are amazing readers with their fingers
on the pulse of the literary world. They stay up to date with the latest releases
and popular authors. To provide recommendations they haven’t already read,
suggesting new authors is a must! We do this in many ways: through displays,
book talks, discussion groups, booklists, Goodreads, recommendations via our
staff blog, through Book Genie (http://dglibrary.org/genie), and in person. We always have a staff member roving throughout the
library, approaching patrons of all ages who are browsing in the stacks. This
creates opportunities for conversations about books and authors
and has become the perfect venue for suggesting new reading material.
Erin: When the
book someone wants isn’t on the shelf, or when a patron is just
looking for a good read; that's the perfect time to point out something new: either
a brand new author with a book released last week, a classical author who has
been around for years and years, or someone in between.
Question 2: Where do you see libraries fitting in with leisure reading (fiction) versus non-fiction, research, studying, etc.
Mary Jo: Leisure reading is not just about fiction. About 15% of my readership exclusively read non-fiction and biographies. Many more intermix non-fiction with fiction when they read for leisure, especially non-fiction that reads like fiction.
Kara: I hope the public sees the Library as their
resource for all of those things. We have had access to eBooks since 2006 and
it is still surprises me when patrons say "I didn't know we could get
eBooks from the Library," despite the amount of marketing we do. It would
be great if libraries could have the same recognition retailers have,
like Amazon.
Debra: Our community sees the library as a
venue for leisure reading as well as a source for academic pursuits. In
addition to providing reading materials across a variety of formats (print,
audio, ebooks, etc.), we promote reading for pleasure. Our Book Genie service is a fun way for
us to share reading suggestions on our website and encourage patrons to reach
out to us for more ideas. We are currently working on some
exciting new projects to highlight and share librarians’ individual reading,
watching and listening suggestions!
Erin: We fit in everywhere! If we don’t have what you’re looking for, we want patrons to tell us. Chances
are we can either find what you seek, or we can suggest something that
will be similar.
Question 3: What would you like to see in books that you don't see now?
Mary Jo: As a person who serves many patrons who love mysteries, I would like to see more American mysteries that are compelling and non-formulaic. I would also like to see more popular fiction available in large print. Not everyone wants an eBook as the sole solution to vision problems. Readers often want to hold a physical book in their hands. Publishers should consider putting out large print versions of backlists, especially with a series. Customer get turned off when only some volumes in a series are available to them.
Kara: Quicker and
easier accessibility, especially to eBooks. Publishers still don't sell
all their content to us like they to do consumers, and patrons still have to
jump through several hoops to access content (Overdrive or Adobe accounts and
apps, check out length restrictions, etc.)
Debra: There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to this question, since
each individual reader is looking for something different. It’s our job to get
the right book into the right hands. That’s why it’s so vital that we provide
variety in our collections and reflect the diversity of the population that we
serve.
Erin: I want more novels, specifically young adult novels, that show girls working together to achieve
something that doesn’t have anything to do with a love interest. There’s been a
recent push for stronger female characters, which is awesome! Now let’s get those
strong female characters some friends.
Question 4. Are library patrons
embracing digital books? Any insights on why or why not?
Mary Jo: Technology levels vary. People can learn technology at almost any age if they are sufficiently motivated. But some applications need to be simpler, and that includes everything from Overdrive to the Amazon app. Yes, even Amazon confuses some users, especially once something goes wrong.
Kara:
It is hard to say since I don't
think kids who use our eContent are coming to the desk and asking for
assistance, whereas we receive many inquiries from adult patrons on how
to use our eBooks, etc. Circulation of young adult and juvenile eBooks/eAudio in our Overdrive platform has increased by 23 percent in the last fiscal year. However, there is no way to know if this is actually kids reading the kids content, or adults. There is a lot of crossover of young adult novels
that appeal to adults (Hunger Games, Divergent, Twilight, etc.).
Debra: Definitely! Our partnership with the school district
was rolled out recently, but already, our checkouts in 3M eBook libraries have increased
dramatically over just a few months span. In April, over half of our checkouts
in 3M came from school students. I’m very excited to see
this partnership being utilized.
Erin:
Our kids seem to like
having ebooks, but they are also very much still about the physical
book. Our school district participates with two ebook
distributors, and we at the public library have an additional one
outside of
our consortium, so there’s a lot of opportunity for the kids to have
access to
ebooks. But kids like having the physical book and they
ask for
that first.
Question 5: What do you see as the positive and/or negative impact of digital books on reading?
Mary Jo: I like eReading. Affordable, portable, and I can make notes and highlight areas without having to ruin the book. This feature is especially helpful for book discussion groups. But I view the trend of digital only releases as a problem. A preponderance of customers still want to hold a physical book, at least some of the time. Also, eReading, especially during the evenings, can interfere with sleep. I would like to see more on-demand printing, possibly via Espresso Book Machines or some related avenue. Unfortunately, sometimes publishers/authors make a judgment call and limit the available formats. That limits readership and crossover appeal.
Kara: I don't see any negatives. Research suggests that people retain better from print material, but I don't really buy into that. The fact that patrons are reading period is what is important. The vehicle they use shouldn't matter. Personally, I prefer reading on an eReader. It is easy to hold and I like the portability component. However, when I am preparing for my monthly book discussion group, I prefer to read those titles in print, as it is easier for me to stop to take notes and reference specific pages.
Debra: I am excited for the possibilities that digital books bring. Our library has partnered with our local elementary school district to link together our 3M ebook libraries. Every child in the district will now be able to check out our ebooks through their school, even if they don’t have a public library card with us. This has removed a significant barrier to access. With the district’s adoption of a 1:1 iPad initiative, students will be able to read anywhere on their devices.
Erin: Part of my job is to connect children with the books that they want to read. If that means they’re reading a digital book and that’s the format that they prefer, that’s okay with me. I don’t think every book translates well to the digital format just yet. This isn’t a negative so much as it’s a comment. I’m thinking specifically graphic novels, picture books, really image heavy books.
Question 6. What do you see as
key in creating young readers who become lifelong readers?
Mary Jo: You have to be non-judgmental about
what people are reading. You can’t get someone to become an avid reader
because they need to read. But if there is a story that sufficiently interests them, they will learn to push themselves, become better readers, and keep on
reading.
Erin: Start early and often!
Read to children, bring them to places where there are books! Make reading fun
for children--if you make it a punishment that’s how they’re going to few it.
Kids are so perceptive, and they need to see the adults in their lives reading.
Let kids read what they’re interested in. Don’t worry so much about what they
‘should’ be reading (school assignments are a little bit different, of course)
and instead, celebrate what they do want to read. Maybe this means being
creative--maybe your child doesn’t take to fiction, maybe he or she prefers
listening to audiobooks, maybe your child loves graphic novels. That’s okay!
Question 7. Are you concerned about making your collection more diverse in terms of character race, sexual orientation, religion, physical and/or mental disabilities and other factors?
Debra: Having a collection that reflects all viewpoints and
experiences is a priority for us. Public libraries
generally have a mission to focus first on fulfilling the needs and wants of
their local community. Beyond that, they also have the opportunity to widen
readers’ perspectives and broaden their horizons to cultures beyond the local
community.
Erin: Yes. The best thing I
heard while taking a graduate class on library materials for children for my MLIS was that your collection should be both a window and a mirror. Children
should be able to see themselves in the materials in your collection, and they
should also be able to look out and experience something different. I’m also
super inspired by the folks over at
We Need Diverse Books.
Question 8. Who do you purchase material from?
Mary Jo: Primarily Baker and Taylor. For Large Print books we use Thorndike.
Kara: Print books: Baker &
Taylor. They don't always seem to carry every title our patrons demand, so occasionally we turn to Amazon. Some recent examples include
The Commons: Book 1: The Journeyman by Michael Alan Peck. This is a self-published book and the next winner of the
Soon To Be Famous Illinois Author project. We are adding a copy to support this project. Another example is
Barefoot in Lace by Roxanne St. Clair. She is a popular romance author and we have a number of her books we were able to purchase from BT, but this particular title was not available from them so we had to order from Amazon.
We obtain audiobooks directly from the publisher (i.e. Books on Tape, Recorded Books, Blackstone,
Tantor, Brilliance Audio). eBooks & eAudiobooks: Baker & Taylor TS360,
Overdrive Marketplace, and Recorded Books
Debra: We purchase the bulk of our print materials through
Baker and Taylor. Our audiobooks are typically purchased
through Midwest Tapes. We also provide digital materials through 3M, Overdrive,
Zinio and Hoopla. If items are unavailable through our main vendors, we will
purchase from outside sources.
Erin: We use a combination of
book vendors who come to the library and a distributor who we place orders
through after we’ve read reviews on books. The vendors often have materials
that the distributor doesn’t have, especially when it comes to books featuring
television and movie characters, so we like to have both options.
Question 9. How much of the book buying decision is based on patron request?
Mary Jo: Patron interest in a more generic sense, yes. We will entertain requests, and if it fits into general interest, we buy. My job includes augmenting things when Collection Management does not purchase something my audience wants. We stock the kinds of things our patrons like and ask for.
Kara: We still read reviews and make
purchase decisions proactively. For anything not purchased by selectors, we
have separate monies designated for purchase on demand (POD) where we will
purchase patron requests that fit within our collection policy. Additionally,
we use POD funds to purchase materials we are unable to obtain via InterLibrary
Loan.
Debra: We always encourage patrons to suggest titles; our
goal is to provide the community with the materials they want! If we don’t have
a title that someone is looking for, we’ll do our best to obtain it, whether
it’s by borrowing it from another library or by purchasing the item for our own
collection. Patron requests are taken seriously.
Erin: It’s hard to give a
percentage! If a patron requests a certain book, or subject, we try to
accommodate because it’s important to have a collection that patrons will use.
But there are sometimes extenuating factors--if the book is out of print, for
example, that don’t always make that feasible. Still, we try!
Sounds like you rely on reviews heavily. Could you tell us some of the review sources your library uses to determine which books to purchase?
Mary Jo:
I look at Indie Next (Independent Booksellers picks), Bookpages. I also look at ARCs and preview copies. I'm constantly looking for books that are not on the bestseller lists, the gems no one has heard of. The fact that a book has not won any awards does not mean its not a
fantastic book. I try to find the unknown but fantastic books for my
book groups.
Kara: Our sources include Booklist, Kirkus, Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, NYT.
Debra: For print materials we primarily use Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Baker and Taylor Forecast, Ingram Advance. A staff member also forwards Blueink's monthly newsletter to our department. I personally also always look at other lists and sources like LibraryReads, the Indie Next List, Amazon's Best Books of the Month, NYT bestseller lists, and blogs like EarlyWord.
Erin: Here in the Children's Department we use School Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, and the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books.
Bonus question:
Sometimes there are challenges to having certain books on the shelves. In my library, various books, from Fifty Shades to Captain Underpants have faced requests to remove them from the library. Could you tell us if your library has a
procedure for handling challenges to their material?
Kara: Procedure is as follows:
RECONSIDERATION OF MATERIALS
The District believes that people
have the right to decide for themselves what is appropriate reading material.
Responsibility for the material chosen by children rests with their parents or
legal guardians. A patron finding material objectionable may request that the
item be reconsidered.
B. The request form must be filled
in completely.
C. The complainant must be a
resident of the Library District.
D. The Library Director shall act
upon the complaint by establishing a staff committee to review the material and
render a decision. The decision shall be forwarded to the complainant in
written form. A copy of the written decision together with a copy of the
complaint shall be given to the Board of Trustees of the Plainfield Public
Library District.
