Week 15- Marketing the Libraries Fiction Collection

Marketing is an important tool for libraries, just like it is for a business, and staff need to make thoughtful decisions.  While the marketing doesn't need to be flashy it does need to be eye catching and appropriate.  Personally I think that marketing should be done cohesively and when possible link a book display with a library program(s).  If possible, this could all fall under one main library marketing plan for the year.  While this isn't always appropriate or feasible, thought certainly needs to go into a plan.  Creating a general plan for the year will help with cohesiveness and allows staff to see which months might have heavy marketing events and/or displays and which months are lacking. It also allows staff to plan for national marketing, such as Black History Month, Banned Book Week or International Games Week. This promotion should when possible link to the libraries online presence, connecting with patrons that are heavy online and e-book users. 

Using sources such as ALA's events and celebration week staff can plan accordingly for marketing, http://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks.  Knowing that marketing materials will be produced nationally can save staff time on creating marketing materials and can help new patrons to find some cohesiveness across libraries.  

A few ideas for marketing a libraries fiction collection would be:

1)  An active wall display of "What the Librarians Read".  Staff would be encouraged to read a broad spectrum of the fiction collection and as they finish a book post a copy of the book cover along with what made that book enjoyable to them at that time.  For example a Debbie Mcomber book could be shared with a comment such as, "I was looking for an easy read to relax with in the evening."  The idea would be that patrons could see that librarians read those genres that are perceived as something to be embarrassed by.  To promote readers' advisory general signs that are cohesive with the libraries marketing plan with logo etc could say something such as, "Not sure what to read, ask us or fill out our readers' advisory form to get book selections recommended to your reading preferences."  I think offering readers' advisory in person and via a paper or online form help reach a wider audience. If online readers' advisory forms are available I would include with a virtual display that is similar with "What Librarians Read" so that patrons that prefer the online readers' advisory or those that access the library virtually through e-books see a rotation of what staff are reading.  

2)  Rotating displays that are used for seasonal or celebration promotional displays.  The displays should also include a "If you liked ABC then try one of these."  Promoted books should have a brief annotation and a link to why the reader might like them.  Such as "character-driven", "intricate plot" or "fast paced" etc.  By doing a general plan for the year staff will see the months that might have display gaps and can also make sure that if cozy mysteries are highlighted then next time the display might need to be a science fiction centered display, this allows you to see if there are genres or collections that are not getting highlighted during the year. 

3)  Another ongoing promotion could be bookmarkers.  These can focus on a genre and be displayed with that genre if they are on the featured display mentioned above.  They can also be included throughout the library.  If your library has end caps that could hold a few books for display this is a great way to have a small spotlight on a couple of genres and bookmarks with read alikes.  

4)  As mentioned at the beginning I believe that any marketing that can be done multi-dimensionally is ideal.  Perhaps a book display aligns with the featured book for book club, a bookmark as well as an educational program.  For example a Cozy Mystery display with read alike mystery books bookmark.  The featured book for book club might be a Diane Mott Davidson book.  In the same month adult educational programming could include a cooking class, food safety, or even small business management.

5) My list could go on and on but a few other ideas would include a "Quick Pick" Cart, a crossword puzzle of books, and a Go Fishing bowl  The "Quick Pick" Cart  would have books displayed spine out and cover out.  On a set rotation different staff members would be charged with filling the cart each week or biweekly.  This would be placed close to the entrance and circulation desk, making it a quick stop for patrons.  The crossword puzzle would include a partially completed crossword with book ideas but the clues would lead them to other books that would fill in the crossword.  This could encourage reading across the spectrum of fiction and conclude with other programming in the library with a small prize for the first crosswords completed.  The Go Fishing bowl would have slips of paper that patrons can take to find a new book.  Slips would have a variety of suggestions or prompts such as read an author with the last name that starts with BL, pick a book from the "What the Librarians Read" wall etc. 

Some ideas adapted from:

https://www.statelibraryofiowa.org/ld/c-d/continuing-ed/iloc/iloc-2017/handouts/dont-talk-to-me/donttalktome.pdf

Week 14 Prompt

The issue of shelving GLBTQ books and even Urban fiction books has come under great debate. What I find interesting is that for those that support shelving them separate want them shelved separate for different reason. I understand that some parents want to provide consent before youth can access the books, I understand that some want them in a separate group so that they are easy to find or so they can be highlighted as a feature in the library. However I think integrating them into the collections best serves majority of patrons.

If I was in charge of collections management I would shelve them with the rest of the library collection, by author's last name. I feel that unless the rest of the collection is separated by Western, Fantasy, Romance etc than these two  sub-genres shouldn't be separated. One reason being that while it makes them easy to find for those that might need/want to identify with a theme or character, it may also make it more uncomfortable for many of those readers to go to a special section. Therefore really missing connecting the patrons with the books. As a parent I understand the difficulties between respecting parents and providing access to all. However as a librarian we must remember our duty to uphold the Library Bill of Rights and in the ALA's statement and policy on schools and minors rights the interpretation is as follows, "Library policies and procedures that effectively deny minors equal and equitable access to all library resources available to other users violate the Library Bill of Rights. The American Library Association opposes all attempts to restrict access to library services, materials, and facilities based on the age of library users." For youth and adults we need to make all materials available to all in a non judgemental environment.

By labeling a book as GLBTQ or Urban when other books are not we also miss the patrons that might browse shelves and pick up something new. I believe that there is value in exposing other patrons to all varieties of books and labeling them may encourage others to avoid them. I think Kim Parker makes a good statement in Yorio and Ishizuka's article:

“I wonder why they can’t be in both places?” Parker says. “If we’re segregating in libraries, we’re saying you can be here, but you can’t be there.”
Young people use libraries differently than adults, she adds, and librarians must figure out where to get the “most bang for the buck.”
I think that means putting [diverse books] everywhere,” says Parker. “Maybe that’s text pairing, maybe it’s thinking differently how we shelve books, but access needs to change.”

A third reason for integrating books is that it removes the pressure from librarian determining what is GLBTQ or Urban vs Romance, or Fantasy, Mystery etc.  Leaving it up to individuals to determine if a romance novel that has a gay main character is still a romance novel or an GBLTQ book can cause confusion for staff and for patrons.  While these books might be highlighted in a display during celebrations just as horror books at halloween or romance at valentine they should be treated as any other book would be in the library, just as any patron should be.  All welcome and all a part of our literary world.  

Ishizuka, K. & Yorio, K. (Oct. 26, 2018).  Shelving debate: To separate or integrate. School Library Journal.  Retrieved April 22, 2020 from https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=shelving-debate-separate-or-integrate

American Association of Libraries.  (2019).  ALA statements and policies on access.  Retrieved on April 22, 2020 from http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/access

                                                               The Coldest Winter Ever
          By Sister Souljah


Synopsis: For a young girl raised in the projects of  Brooklyn, Winter has few worries.  Her father, Santiaga  runs the neighborhood and while they might have an apartment in the projects, it is 'dipped'.  Winter is raised in a culture of gangs, violence and drugs, although her dad doesn't use what he sells.  He has standards that include loyalty and only high quality goods.  Her mother teachers her and her sisters how to be 'a bad bitch' and is Santiaga's one and only.  Winter see's her parents partnership as a love story and enjoys living with all the fine things in life, doing as she pleases.

Santiaga moves the family to Long Island and when her mom gets fed up with being stuck in the suburbs Santiaga breaks his own rule and allows momma to go on a run with him.  Momma is shot and soon after the feds have arrested Santiaga, raided the house and seize all their possessions.  The young girls are picked up by social services and Winter's only hope is help from one of her pops men, Midnight. However Midnight is ready to get out and while he remains faithful to Santiaga he leaves Brooklyn behind to start a new life.  He continues to encourage Winter to contact Sister Souljah for help up and out.

Eventually Winter is picked up by social services and placed in a group home.  She starts her own side hustle, still believing she can get back in the business and rise to the top again.  Winter however can't see past a life of drugs and crime.  She will be loyal like her daddy taught her, but at what cost?

Key aspects to note:

Urban Fiction can be difficult to classify into one genre, Wyatt and Saricks choose to place it as a sub genre of Relationship fiction because the stories form around friendship, family, lovers and relationships.  However it also has many aspects of a Landscape, Romance and Literary Fiction.  However others, like Welch classify it as Street Lit.

Urban fiction is most often plot driven and the story is deeply rooted to the street with sex, drugs and violence.   Money is a key element in Urban Fiction or Street Lit and big brand names are dropped just as often as clubbing with big name rappers.  Storylines whether they plan to or not have a strong thread with relationship fiction, characters learn to or speak of only trusting their inner circle and being loyal to family.  Characters are typically determined to rise to the top. 

Setting:  Urban, with a street life focus. The Coldest Winter Ever sticks with the urban theme throughout and they storyline is always brought back to Winter's neighborhood in the projects.

Appeal:  With a casual language style, most stories are told in the first person and use of street slang and curse words are common.  The stories are bold, with sex drugs and violence.  These stories appeal to mostly youth/young adults that can relate to some of the struggles the characters face. 

Read alikes:
Books with similar urban fiction theme that fans of The Coldest Winter Ever might enjoy include:
Confessions of a Wild Child by Jackie Collins
Eve by K'wan
Sleeping with the Enemy by Wahida Clark

For readers looking for a different genre, but a strong ruthless female lead that will do anything to survive:
Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell