Enthusing Readers, Reaching Staff

Shirley Prescott & Sarah Field20 October 2006

The Reader-Centred Library

A reader-centred library service puts the needs of the reader first, above those of the staff or the traditional lay out of collections.

Opening the Book's research in over 100 library authorities

o 75% of readers are browsers; only 25% are searching for a specific title 

o Average length of visit is 5-9 minutes o Most readers prefer to choose

independently o Face-out book displays significantly

increase performance.

Library Layout

Traditional library layout is collection-driven

Reader-centred layout is user driven.

Effective displays should:

o Be highly visible and prominently positioned

o Offer smaller, more manageable choices – less is more

o Contain face out, new-looking books o Strongly feature paperbacks o Promote the books. Don’t use propso Be topped up regularly.

Collections for Quick Choice should:

Be targeted to the under 40s Not include hardbacks Not include best sellers Include lesser known titles Include titles you wouldn’t read

yourself

Give people the chance to experiment with books

The Reader-Centred Library Service

Giving your borrowers the chance to talk about books

Readers’ Notice Boards

                                                                                   

                                                                    

Reader-Centred Events

Put the focus on the reading experience

Does it work?

Yarra-Melbourne Fiction

Up 4% for 2005-06 Up 10% for first quarter 2006-07

Reading Victoria

The State Library of Victoria’s summer reading promotion for adults

Reading Victoria

December to early February Brochures featuring the 20 books Voting Champions Web site MMS Launch – 7 December Events

Events

Corangamite Mornington Port Phillip Upper Murray West Gippsland Whitehorse-Manningham Yarra-Melbourne & City

How you can be involved

Display Link to Reading Victoria site Collect and tally votes Purchase extra copies of books Book group involvement

Reaching staff

Convincing staff of the need to adopt a reader-centred approach

Getting staff on board

Let them know why Workshop ideas Promote a reading culture Use staff photos in promotions

Training

Reading Victoria promotions

Voting The 20 books Visiting the web site Contributing to the blog A sense of pride in Victoria RV events MMS

Key DatesFri 10 Nov Cut off date for libraries to register their

involvement in RV. We will need to know how many brochures you require. 

Thu 7 Dec RV launch @ Experimedia, SLV, 11am 

January RV events across the state 

Fri 26 Jan Voting closes  

Fri 2 Feb Votes tallied and sent to Shirley 

Thu 22 Feb RV closing ceremony, SLV