But today, I want to focus on one of my favorite resources that comes out before every major Library conference and it is one that is useful to all, especially those who are not in attendance-- the Library Journal ALA Galley Guide (Sponsored by Sourcebooks). This resource is a list of all of the ARCs that attendees can get in the exhibit hall.
This is a resource I post about every time there is a ALA or PLA conference, and I always talk about how you can use it as a resource even if you are NOT going to said conference. It is important to remember that the LJ Galley Guide for any conference is a wonderful resource for everyone, but it may be even more valuable for those staying home.
First, and most obvious, every single one of the ARCs listed here is also going to be super easy to download from NetGalley or Edelweiss. The publishers are prioritizing that. If you get the Library marketing emails, you have probably already seen that. They want everyone to have access to these books.
Second, those of us who are back at home, you have more time to go through the Galley Guide, taking note of which books the publishers are pushing the hardest. What do they think will take off? What should we be pre-ordering? We should all be using it as a resource to help our patrons and craft our collections, but unfortunately, those who are there, they mostly use it to be greedy and go around and grab books. [I am on the record here saying that running around trying to get free books and wait in long lines is not a good use of your time.] You should take your time and use it for collection development. I will be using it as resource not for a treasure hunt.
Third, everyone, whether they are attending or not, should look through the guide and note trends or authors who you already have in your collections who are going to have a new book, etc... Across the entire guide, what are you seeing that is similar? Where are the trends? Promote these upcoming titles and start taking holds. You could even make a few lists based off trends you find that would most interest your patrons and call them, "Hot Upcoming Titles from the American Library Association Conference."
Fourth, after noting trends in the guide, you should also be making displays of titles that fit those trends you are noticing at the same time. Reminding people of what you already have that they may like while you are letting them know what is coming soon is very important to do in tandem. Those buzzy titles coming soon can be supplemented by readalikes from your backlist. You are anticipating what they want to read by giving your readers targeted displays now. You get them excited about a trend or some readalikes of the titles you know are coming soon, and then when they see those titles promoted in the books news, they feel like you "get them," because you promoted books just like the ones they already like. Trust me it works and you look brilliant and even a bit clairvoyant.
So that is my push for the ALA Galley Guide for those left behind. I hope those of you who are going, go back to this post and do the same thing after you return.
Here is the introduction to this year's Galley Guide which is organized by booth number.
Highlights of attending the ALA Annual conference this year include a multitude of books to discover on the exhibit fl oor. Library Journal’s galley guide lists the many ARCs on offer and also includes an in-booth signing schedule arranged by day and time so attendees can keep up with author visits across the conference. LJ’s Galley Guide includes adult titles, but be sure to check in with all the publishers for YA and children’s book giveaways and signings, including an appearance by Jason Reynolds. Thank you to Sourcebooks (booth 1522) for sponsoring this catalog of titles to know, read, and share.
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