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As a reminder, that very department was recently announced as the 2019 recipient of the ARRT sponsored ILA Award for RA Service.
Since I am here, I figured it was a good chance to accomplish two things for all of you out there.
The first is for all the Northern IL people. I want to remind you that next week, ARRT is hosting a program on podcasting entitled "Earworms for Bookworms: Podcasting in Libraries." This program will be taking place at the Ela Area Public Library and features the staff from Popular Materials who produce the Three Books Podcast and representatives from Des Plaines Public Library who do the Miner Recs podcast.
ARRT is specifically using local libraries who do smaller podcasts on purpose. Notice we did not bring in national experts. The focus here is on these libraries and why they decided to do a podcast, how they make it work with very little technical help, experience, or fancy equipment. And, if you come in person, you will get a tour of the "studio" where Three Books is recorded. I put it in quotes because the studio is one of their rooms that patrons can also use. They book it just like a patron and if you have listened, they make a very solid product on their own.
Although I will be unable to make this program, I am super excited about it because I feel like it will give everyone who attends the practical advice and information to decide, one, if a podcast is something that may be worth their time, two help them decide if it could it work for their community, and three, how to begin with little to no experience or funding.
Both libraries see their audience as their patrons too. It's another way to connect with the community. These are not podcasts with grand designs to become national phenomenon. They see it as a different way to serve their patrons. And they have found that a podcast has 100% been worth the time and the effort.
Sign up and come learn about podcasting from practical, no previous experience people who have managed to find success in the format.
The second reason for this post is that I have talked about the Three Books podcast before as one of my favorite local library podcasts because they not only have a podcast, but they have made the commitment to bridge the physical virtual divide by buying a copy of every single book that is mentioned to put on display. This means they have created a display of books that has no boundaries; if a guest mentions it, the books are together in one display. And their guests talk about everything and anything!
For example, when I am on and mention a horror book, it can end up next to a children's book that another guest mentioned, as this picture of the display taken today shows:
One of the things not enough of us do at the library is create displays that illustrate the breadth of our holdings to patrons. We are so focused on having kids books in one area and adults in another. Fiction on one display and nonfiction on another. And god forbid if you put some graphic novels or audio with "regular" books. We spend too much time and engird trying to keep the books and formats from mixing. WHY?!?!?!
I am over it. We complain that the public doesn't understand everything we offer. Well, maybe they don't because we don't let them see it. We should show them more often. We should have more displays that cater to any and all patrons IN ONE PLACE. Seriously people, this is not as big a deal as we think. No one will go to library jail. And our patrons will be happier.
Here is a picture of the current Three Books display:
And here is a close up of 2 very different books, next to each other to also showcase the spine sticker and call number. And yes, they have copies of these two books in their "proper" library sections too. These are extra copies, but on a display together. I would argue that this is the only library with these 2 books on the same display. Same for the first example. And it is wonderful!
The staff will address both the podcast and the shelf in their presentation next week, but I can tell you that they now know that there are people who have never heard the podcast but LOVE the Three Books display. They are constantly checking it for reading ideas. So way to go Ela. The shelf alone makes the podcast worth their time. No question.
So, if you are reading this post today and are thinking, "I will never do a podcast. This post is useless to me," I am here to tell you you are wrong on the second point. Whether or not you podcast, you can learn from the Three Books example. Find a way to create displays, in central locations at the library, especially near the entrance, where you can display items from all over the building. Where you can welcome all patrons with something that says, "Oh, they have something for me."
That attitude and willingness to welcome all is why Ela Area Library's Popular Materials Department is now an award winning department, not because they podcast.
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