One of my favorite resources to use as I help readers is Goodreads. Look, I know the site has issues, but it is the best resource we have to access data and trends about readers in real time. I can go there and get a snapshot of what people are reading and how they feel about it. Yes, I know some people use it to be racist, sexist, homophobic etc.... but the vast majority of information is from passionate readers sharing their opinions in a public space.
The people behind the database know this as well and they use the data they are gathering on every single user in so many ways, some probably nefarious, but also, some that help us serve readers better.
At our individual libraries., we are never going to be able to get a wide enough picture of what people are most interested in reading in real time. We might find out about trends after they crest, when really we need to be ahead of the wave so that we can not only have the books but also have them displayed in a way that shows people we know what they are looking for without them having to ask.
Here is a great example of how Goodreads uses their data in a way that helps us. At the beginning of the month they had this article listing the Five Cross-Genre Trends that they are noticing. I have posted the introduction below, but please click through and see what they have gathered and then look at the comments as well. Of course normally the comments are a place to avoid, but in this case, it is simply a continuation of the conversation but readers adding their own thoughts.
This is a treasure trove of information about readers-- from all over-- and their preferences right now. Also, since cross-genre books are one of the biggest trends in all of fiction AND it is a trend that has been driven by readers, following this conversation is essential to staying relevant in the eyes of your patrons.
First and foremost, an article like this one is a resource for you. Make sure you are aware of these cross-genres and the titles that readers are excited about. Order them if you don't have them. Suggest them or readalikes for them as you place holds.
Second, turn these 5 categories into mini-displays or lists. You can use Goodreads or NoveList or simply a Google search to find more titles that you already own to add to these ready made display titles. Get those displays up in your buildings, on your websites, and out on social media. Use a link to the Goodreads article to draw even more interest.
Do not underestimate how much more alluring your displays look to your patrons when they see that the wider book world is talking about the same thing as their library. Too often we think that references make us look less competent when it comes to helping leisure readers, but that is completely wrong. When we show our readers that we are engaged with and part of the larger "book atmosphere" (credit Robin Bradford on that phrase), they trust us even more.
Third, this article is a great example of a conversation starter like the ones I suggest in this "Conversation Starter to Display" handout. Why not show your patrons that you want to know what they are enjoying. Put up a display simply entitled, "Cross-Genre Trends." Don't specify the specifics of which genres are crossing. Trust me, they won't care. The "cross-genre" alone will be a huge draw. Then use the information in my "Conversation Starter to Display" post to gather information from you patrons about their favorite genre blends, both specific titles and any names they are giving to those blends.
There is so much we can do with the data Goodreads is already collecting. This post is simply a starting point. They are not going to stop and readers are there in numbers we cannot replicate, so why not use it all for good.
From Time Travel to Tech Startups: Five Cross-Genre Book Trends We're Noticing
As life’s rich pageant of books passes through Goodreads World Headquarters, we often take note of certain thematic and topical trends that suddenly feel like they're everywhere. These aren’t genre trends, exactly. In fact, what makes them interesting is that they often manifest across multiple genres.
We like to catalog these strange little pulses while they’re still in circulation, so we've gathered below a selection of new (published since 2022) and upcoming books sorted into five cross-genre trends we're currently spotting. Some are familiar and tend to come in waves over time—vampires are back, for instance—while others feel like distinctly 21st-century concerns. What's with all the books that are set in 2040, anyhow?
We’ve added some quick introductions and synopses. Click on the book cover images for more information about each book. Have fun, and if you want to add books or compare notes on other cross-genre trends you're noticing in books these days, feel free to continue the discussion in the comments section!
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