NELA 2014 presentation on LibraryReads

1. Reconnect with Readers’ Advisory
through LibraryReads
New England Library Association
Annual Conference
October 20, 2014
Kristi Chadwick Stephanie Anderson
Advisor, Massachusetts Library System Head of Reader Services, Darien Public Library
@booksNyarn @bookavore

2. What is LibraryReads?
● A monthly list of ten
adult books that
librarians have voted
for
● Books are all published
the month the list is
available
● A marketing and
readers’ advisory tool
for both librarians and
publishers

3. How It Started
The Question: Where is the IndieBound for
libraries?
The Goal: Connect books with readers and
show the power public library staff has in
helping to build word-of-mouth for new books
and the role we play in creating audiences for
authors.

4. Support
LibraryReads is run by volunteers.
Financial support from founding publishers:

5. Why participate in LibraryReads?
● Increase libraries’
relevance with publishers
● Help launch great authors
and their books
● Increase your awareness
of new books
● Enhance your readers’
advisory skills
● Improve patron
experience by connecting
your customers to great
new reads

6. How do I participate?
http://abovethetreeline.com/librarian/

7. Create your Edelweiss account.
http://edelweiss.abovethetreeline.com/

8. Find books to read.

9. And after you’ve found a book that you love,
log in to your Edelweiss account...

10. Look up the title and click “Your Review.”

11. Show some love, check “Submit to LibraryReads”
box and hit “Save.”

12. When Do I Vote?

13. The art of finding ARCs
● Publisher newsletters
o http://www.earlywor
d.com/publishers/
● Library marketing
newsletters, Twitter, and
Facebook
● Industry newsletters and
blogs like Shelf
Awareness and Early
Word
● Giveaways on Goodreads
and LibraryThing

14. The art of finding ARCs
At left, Netgalley. At right, Edelweiss. See how easy it is to request in both?

15. How to write a blurb
● Start strong and get
to the point
● Find a way to sum up
action in one or two
sentences
● Mention who might
like the book
● End strong!
● Writers’ block? Go on
desk and recommend
it to a patron

16. Find your hook!
● Hooks keep you
turning the pages
● Hooks = Appeal
o Character, Setting,
Language, Story
● Hooks are short and
sweet!

17. Your turn!

18. “I wanted to thank you for your
webinar on how to write reviews.
Today, one of my reviews appeared
on the June LibraryReads list. It was
so easy. So tell everyone just to try!”
--Lisa Joyce, Portland Public Library

19. How LibraryReads can help you
● Get your blurbs in
newspapers local and
national
● Create stronger
relationships with
publishers and authors
● Promote readers’
advisory in your
library
● Use for resumes and
LinkedIn

20. Making friends with LibraryReads
● Edelweiss
Community
● Request to be
friends with
colleagues and
LR nominators
● Daily emails with
books that
friends are:
o Recommending
o (or not)
o Anticipating
o Highly Anticipating

21. Using LibraryReads online

22. LibraryReads in the Library
● Collection development
o Check list against your
orders to add more great
books to the collection
● Readers’ advisory
o 10 more books you can
pretend you’ve read!
● Book groups
o Many LR blurbs point out
book group choices
● Social media
o Extra content for FB,
Twitter

23. LibraryReads displays in the library

24. Questions?
Stephanie Anderson
sanderson@darienlibrary.org
Twitter: @bookavore
Kristi Chadwick
kristi@masslibsystem.org
Twitter: @booksNyarn