Week 15: Prompt Response

   

 1. At my library branch, keeping displays consistently "fresh" is a great way to promote the fiction collection. We have a display table at the entrance that all patrons need to pass when they enter the library. For a long time we had new fiction here and then NYT best sellers. I had assumed that this would be a great place for the new fiction because I assumed that everyone would want the newest thing, but that turned out not to be true. Instead, we now swap out the fiction display on this table every week and a half to 2 weeks. Recent topics have included: beach reads and light romance, books that are not new fiction but recent fiction (think books that are 3-6 months old), random assortment of books that are shades of blue and purple, and books by BIPOC authors. What catches the attention of patrons is the fact that the display has changed since their last visit. Keeping this pivotal display fresh is more attractive to patrons than any one title specifically.

    2. Interactive art projects with corresponding fiction is also a fun way to promote the collection. We recently participated in the "Before I Die Project" as part of our community read of Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. The interactive display included a large sheet of paper spread over a table with people to write what they want to do before they die and several books related to the topic. 

    3. Finally, programming is another great way to promote the fiction collection. My library holds several author talks and other hands on activities as part of our community read, which usually boosts circulation in the fiction collection as people meet librarians and other community members and talk about the program and other related books.