For this week I have been tasked with listing the best ways to market a library's fiction section. I will base my responses upon my five years of work experience in various library systems in the Dayton metro area.
MINI BOOK DISPLAYS
My current library is amazing at utilizing an objectively small library space to host multiple small book displays each month. Some of these displays have been: gardening, staff favorites, poetry, "he's a 10, BUT...", and many other fun, diverse, and creative themes. And since these books are shelved together with a small sign, these books will naturally circulate more than they normally would.
BOOK CLUBS
Patrons are hungry for more book clubs, especially as society begins to reconnect after COVID-19's isolating effects. Is your library home to a really robust adult graphic novel collection? Start a graphic novel book club! What about a classic sci-fi gab fest? No doubt this would attract patrons young and old.
BOOKMARKS AND READING LISTS
One thing my library likes to do is create monthly reading lists to coincide with certain holidays, months (Pride, etc.), and other areas of interest. Often these lists will be created for both children and adults and will include both fiction and non-fiction titles. Especially if your library has the capacity to print these in bulk, it would be easy to even include these lists with certain patron library interactions.
I like the reading lists idea!! And just from reading the title of that section, I had the idea that the library could give out themed bookmarks for free that have different books on them. I'm not sure how expensive that would be to produce, but people do love free stuff, lol!
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