Conversation Starter: What Books Are You Most Thankful For

Over the last year I have really focused on helping you find ways to have conversations with your patrons, to build relationships rather than tallying transactions. I have done this by using my Conversation Starter to Display Exercise everywhere I go. And this focus over the last 18 months is also going to lead to a HUGE refresh of my Ten Rules this January. But that is for later. 

Today I have the perfect thing for you to do starting now and through next week, something that people will love to participate in-- Ask your patrons what books they are most thankful for. And then showcase the results.

Speaking of the result, you will love them. I have done this before and seeing what people say is eye opening. It is never the bestsellers or current titles. It is always books that are older and often a bit more obscure. Very genre heavy as well. Seeing the results always renews my faith in humanity, yes, but it also gives you a deep look into the books that resonate most with your readers. It reminds you that although we worry so much about having the latest Patterson, Roberts, Hoover etc... , those are not the books that our readers appreciate the most.

Again, go to my explanation post to see how to actually administer this conversation starter to display exercise. Here is a short excerpt from that post to make you want to click through for more:

But we don't only have to ask verbally. Turn these six questions into books marks, with one question on the top of each. Leave them out on your displays, at the end of rows, on your desk. Also, put them in every book on the holds shelf. Place a note at the bottom to have them return it with their item. Gather the answers and turn them into the displays with the titles I suggest below.

There is much more in the post. Don't be lazy....click through now and come back to finish the post when you are done reading.

You can use your results all year long. First, get them up as a year end display in December. Title it the books our community is thankful for. This will still work after Thanksgiving as the entire season has a heartwarming feel. And it is seasonal, not religious holiday specific.

Second, save these titles in your back pocket and turn them into other displays later in the year-- Our Community's Sure Bet Reads or Forgotten Favorites or simply, Curl Up With A Good Read Suggested by Our Patrons. You can re-ask the question with these other conversation starter ideas, but add the results to these questions to the answers to the thankful one. Compound interest with these conversation starters is key-- the most times you ask the same question (or similar ones), the most options you have for your displays.

[Side note: Please, make these displays intergenerational-- include books from all age levels of the library. Why, well I have a lot to say about it here, but first and foremost, having a display near the entrance of your library that includes titles from across the building, shows your readers that you are inclusive and that you care about them-- all of them-- as an entire library, not only in their age level silo. I know there is reistsnecre at some libraries to do this, but I refer you to Cuyahoga County Public Library's presentation at PLA where they explain why they do this. If they can do it, you can too.]

Third, use the results to help you craft your collections. When you ask a question as earnest as "What books are you most thankful for?" you get back answers that are true, heartfelt, and reflect what your readers truly enjoy. This is way more helpful than circulation statistics. Those just show us what was checked out but does not let us know if the readers enjoyed them or not. 

Too often we get too caught up in the stats and simply add books that reflect what circulates the most. Yes, we have to do that, but by asking conversation starter questions more regularly we can do a deeper dive into the books that resonate with our readers and work to help them find readalikes. These results will allow you to take a few more chances at adding lesser known works, yes, but you should also use these results to make displays to highlight those titles. 

For example, if you get a lot of people saying they are thankful for TJ Klune, well you already know people love his books, yes, but you should also use this to make a Cozy Fantasy display. Look for more authors who are doing this, add their titles, and then show them off. 

The answers to a "Books you are thankful for" display in and of itself will reveal subgenres and specific reading interests that will help you find new display ideas.

Plus, as I said above, this kind of question will renew your faith in humanity and fill your own heart with warmth and joy. And honestly, right now, that might be all the reason you need to turn this post into action at your library.

Back tomorrow with a giveaway on both blogs of one of the most hotly anticipated books for the new year by one of the best authors (in any genre) out there.