Marketing Fiction

While I am relatively new to the library profession, being exposed to a world of reading and practicing readers' advisory firsthand has given me the gumption and inspiration to create new ideas for marketing our fiction at the library. 

One idea is to create a program for adults and teens (separate meeting times) to share a book with the other attendees they are reading and loving, or a favorite book from the past. The club's goal is to create excitement for continued reading and allow the community to make friends with those who share similar interests. Attendees can read an excerpt, give a plot summary, or share what they liked about it within five minutes. For another five minutes, the others can ask questions about the book. Attendees are encouraged to share a book in the library collection, but it is not required. The staff member running the program will place fiction books they have read and recommend, and other staff picks on tables in the room to be available for checkout.

Another suggestion for a program is "From the Page", where attendees view a film adapted from a book. This would mostly be a family program, so all films need to be PG or under. However, a planned couples' night to schedule a romance movie (closed-door romance only) would make for a fun addition. The library will provide popcorn and water, but themed snacks and drinks would make for a fun splurge. This program would take place in the summer so that more families would be available in the evenings. For an added bit of fun, the library can use an outdoor screen (inflatable or tethered) to make it an outdoor movie. To encourage reading fiction, the library can bring all copies of the book being presented for patrons to check out with their card. While many books that are adapted to movies are already popular reads, we can also bring read-alikes or other books the author has written if and when the copies of the movie book run out.

Many times, while consulting with an adult reader at the desk, I have encountered patrons asking for new authors that read like the one they have been reading, or an author they like a lot. While we have old read-alike bookmarks for three authors, these have been sitting at the desk for two years, never needing to be refilled. I suggest that we create read-alike displays in the stacks, placed in small cardholders on the shelf where the popular author can be found. This gives patrons the opportunity to get a jump on that question, rather than needing to ask at the desk for help every time. These cards will also help our patrons grow their reading habits by introducing them to authors who may be lesser known. We can also take this opportunity to suggest authors who are POC or a member of the LGBTQ+ community, diversifying our circulation!