Comments on: Romance in the Library Marketplace

By: Alice Audrey

Alice Audrey — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:42:41 +0000

I have been so frustrated with my local library. What they carry of Romance is either paperbacks stuffed together on a shelf with no specific listing so you can’t find anything specific except by chance, or established authors mixed into the stacks with the mainstream and no indication that the books are actually Romance.

By: Anastasia St. James

Anastasia St. James — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 07:25:49 +0000

I know I’m late, just wanted to tell you that it was a great blog. I haven’t been in a library in ages, I miss them. I wish there was an online one for foreign resident types.

Tks for the info Erica and Sarah!!!

By: Sarah Tormey

Sarah Tormey — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:32:18 +0000

Thank you Erica for sharing your insights into the wonderful world of libraries! And thanks to everyone who stopped by with questions, or simply to share their thoughts on libraries.

I’ll feature another guest blogger in February, more details to come soon:)

By: Emily Bryan

Emily Bryan — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:13:01 +0000

I’ve lived in 9 different states. The first stop after I update my driver’s license is the public library. I find new favorite authors and used the reference section for my research. (Reference librarians have been known to cringe as I approach! LOL!)

A library is a treasure.

By: Susan Squires

Susan Squires — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 02:44:00 +0000

Erica,
Many authors, though they love libraries themselves, don’t understand the power of libraries to create book addicts! Just as several of your posts have said, readers find a book they love in the library, and then buy others, creating a demand for the author’s back list. I have spoken at Librarians conferences about romance (and why depending on donations for your romance section only means that you’ll never have the books readers really love in stock–those stay home on the keeper shelf!). But I also love talking to Friends of the Library meetings. We have to support our libraries: anything that creates readers is all to the good. I also think that Library Journal and Booklist both provide cogent and thoughtful reviews that also tell librarians what type of reader will enjoy that book. Very useful. Thanks for the post, Erica… Libraries forever.
Susan

By: Brynna James

Brynna James — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:23:25 +0000

Hi, Erica.

Thanks for sharing this information. As an English teacher, I rely on my librarian almost every day.

You said you rely on reviews for the information you share with patrons. Have you discovered a way to determine if a book might still be good even if it’s received a bad review or do you find that reviews from these very well-respected sources are usually right? I’d be so tempted to feel like I needed to read something before I could recommend it. Do you ever feel that way?

I’d love to hear more about your day-to-day activities. And congratulations on your degree.

Thanks again for sharing your experience with us.
Bryn

By: Erica

Erica — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 21:02:29 +0000

Congratulations to Tessa Dare for GODDESS OF THE HUNT being shortlisted on RUSA’s The Reading List for the Romance genre!!
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/rusa/awards/readinglist/index.cfm

Established in 2007 by the CODES section of RUSA, The Reading List seeks to highlight outstanding genre fiction that merit special attention by general adult readers and the librarians who work with them.

By: Erica

Erica — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:13:32 +0000

My head is swimming with the excitement to have two authors I have read & loved comment on my blog post! I owe you, Sarah!

My department creates advertising and promotional materials like brochures and catalogs specifically for the library market. Our main contacts are the collection development specialists within library systems, whose responsibilities include book purchases.

We travel to several national and state librarian conferences each year. Every state has a library association, which welcomes authors as speakers!

I also help to coordinate author appearances at libraries and conferences. Libraries should never be left off of any book tour! They often partner with a local bookstore, or purchase copies for an event themselves through wholesalers.

In the past few years, we’ve increased our presence online through blogs, twitter, facebook, etc.

By: Anna Campbell

Anna Campbell — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:17:46 +0000

Hi Sarah! Hi Erica! What a fascinating interview! As a certified bookish type, I’ve always been a library junkie. LOVE libraries. Many authors I discovered in libraries became auto buys for me. And hey, how cool that you went from Mary Balogh to Eloisa James to ME! Now that’s certainly company I like to be seen in. Thank you!

By: Laurie Faelin

Laurie Faelin — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:43:47 +0000

I don’t know what I’d do without my library! I’m there at least once a week and I count the librarians as my friends. When I was home schooling, it was an endless supply of curriculum materials, and always a source of research and reading pleasure for me, my daughter, and now my granddaughter. Libraries have play areas for the kids, wireless internet and computers, and tons of activities and book clubs for every age.

I’ve found scores of new authors to read, audio books for the endless hours I spend in the car, and with our state’s Marina system, I can get books from all over Maryland. I think there are few more valuable resources in a community than a good public library.

As an aspiring author, someday I want my books in libraries everywhere! I want people to be able to try my books and find my backlist. It’s interesting to me to know how libraries decide how to spend their money.

So reviews are crucial in getting a debut author’s book into libraries? I always thought it had more to do with publisher clout. How hard is it to get a review in one of these publications?

Wonderful blog! I’ll look forward to watching Sweet Talk as soon as I’m someplace besides home with my dialup. Thanks, Erica and Sarah!

Oh, and Tessa, you’re books are cataloged in our library system.