Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Libraries in the Digital Era

Presenter: David Vinjamuri, marketing professor at NYU and author of several books

in 1450 when moveable type was invented the most popular pastime was attending public executions, jousting matches and a sport called shin-kicking

Reading is a past-time because of libraries.  This isn't flattery it is a challenge.

Libraries instill a love of reading.  Publishers don't understand this and they need to.

We are the most efficient organization in the country at getting access to the community for a remarkably low cost.

Self-publishing is taking off (#61-63 on the Amazon best-seller list are self-published) and libraries don't have access to the digital lending rights.

While the perception may be that libraries are less relevant, the data says the opposite.

Our job as librarians can be discovery of the next great read.

*Can we market books to parents at storytime?  Ask storytime parents/providers what they like to read and put up a display of appealing titles in childrens. Chick/hen lit or craft books in amongst the picture books*

Think of milk in the grocery story - we don't necessarily have to put the good stuff in the front - we can draw people past other good things by putting best-sellers in the back of the library

 David suggested a library best-seller list.  Make books popular.  Pick self-published titles that are reviewed in indieReads and make them best-sellers

We can stop classifying books as self-published and just look for good covers, good binding, well edited, formatted correctly etc.

Work with publishers to get free ARCs for reading groups

  • showcase books
  • be a good storyteller - collect stories
  • change the best-seller list at local bookstores
Slides to come...


No comments: