Get Prepared for the Busy Fall Release Season

Fall is a very busy release time and it is easy to get overwhelmed, both my the number of HUGE titles coming out and by the patron reaction to the long holds queues. 

First and foremost, be aware of the release calendar. My favorite resources to stay on top of the current news and upcoming releases are:

• Book Pulse, PW Newsletters, Shelf Awareness: any and all of these newsletters can be delivered to your in box daily or you can check the sites on your own. I appreciate receiving them automatically, and while I do not read them all completely every single day [there isn't always time], I do skim them at the least. Even a quick perusal of these every day keeps you up to date on the current news.
• The Millions and Lit Hub: Those links go to the best places to find their lists of upcoming books. They both do extensive coverage and it is geared toward those who work in the book industry like us.

Second, and actually more important, let's talk about using the backlist for while you wait suggestions. We often get caught up in our patrons' excitement for the newest titles we forget a few things.

1. While people like Colson Whitehead and Lauren Groff have new titles coming out, titles everyone is talking about, most of your patrons have NOT read their backlist. Making a suggestion of a past book by someone who has a hot Fall title coming out is an easy and satisfying option for your readers.
2. Last year's hot Fall books are also EXCELLENT suggestions. The Millions is a great resource here. Click the search I ran, " Top Ten October 2020." That's how easy it is to pull up any month's back list of "hot" books. But its success comes from how you sell it to the patron. You tell them that you know they have to wait for the current hot books, but what about books from a year ago, 6 months ago, etc..... Just run the search and you have dozens of "hot" titles at your disposal.
3. Good old fashioned readalikes. Use Novelist or Booklist [they had this article about how they are constantly updating their readalikes for perennial favorites here] or simply Goggle, "Lauren Groff readalikes" [or whatever author you need to match up]. These will get great reads in your patrons heads, yes, but even better, it will show them how important you are in their search for their next good read. 
4. Always remember, it is important that you ask every patron if they want something while they wait. Just the offer that you can do that will remind them that you are there for them; even those who leave in a huff because they can't get the book they want that second.

Finally, sometimes you just need a humor break during this very busy release season. For that I pass you off to Lit Hub and this fun flow chart of how you should pick you big Fall read. 

While it is a bit silly, like the best jokes, there is a lot of truth here. Pass it off to patrons and then put them on hold for the title that best matches what they are looking for and then use what you learn by them going through the flowchart in combination with my tips above to find them something to read right now.