Animating the Collection

Understanding the purpose and techniques of book promotion and merchandising is essential in the contemporary library. How we can present books and ebooks so that visitors find them easily and enjoy the experience of choosing? Learn how to introduce new dynamic practice, build a strategy and gain staff support to implement techniques which will boost your circ. This course will help you bring your books alive and get them into the hands and minds of readers.

On our courses for Library Managers, you will develop a personal relationship with your mentor who will support and stretch your learning every step of the way. Your mentor will help you adapt the course content to your own workplace and shape your coursework so it is relevant to your individual professional situation.

Before you make a decision about taking a particular mentored course, perhaps you know a colleague who might also be interested in taking it? In our courses for Library Managers, we offer every learner the opportunity to pair up online with a colleague who is also taking the course and throughout the course you’ll be invited to share ideas, swap plans and keep each other motivated.

Was $305.00

$275.00 per place

Pay by invoice or by Paypal, credit or debit card.

Buy for a team

For library managers

Time:

6 hours online plus 3 practical projects which apply your learning in the library. Most learners take 6-8 weeks to complete, when fitted in with the demands of a library job, but you can choose a faster or slower pace to suit your circumstances.

Assessment:

Every learner has a personal mentor from Opening the Book. Your mentor responds to your work and will support you to get the best out of the course.

Course contents

How the course works

Unit One: Keeping books moving

A new opportunity
What readers want from a library
A dynamic collection
The core offer
Product knowledge
Using on-shelf merchandising
A few books make a big difference
Creating a feeling of change in the physical library
Creating a feeling of change online
Managing choices
Helping online browsers
Tempting the curious
Books can work harder
Revive staff interest in books and reading
A new way to showcase your collection is up to date
Selecting books for Trending
Task One: Using the Trending concept to keep books moving

Unit Two: Connecting books and people

Involving readers
Display as a conversation
Meeting different reader needs
Recognizing reading prejudices
Understanding physical factors
Understanding psychological motivations
Your role as curator
Book marketing and libraries
Book cover fashions
Linking old into new
The importance of range
Task Two: Choosing the area you will check
Task Two: Checking range by representation
Task Two: Checking the balance for beginners and experts
Task Two: Checking range by reading appeal
Task Two: Report on different ways to test range in one collection area

Unit Three: Bringing books alive

Unit Three: Bringing books alive
Bringing ideas together
Creating a strategy
Starting points
Making connections
Different types of promotional programs
Thinking deeper
Reaching beyond the traditional
Reaching beyond the expected
Reaching beyond the booklist
Reaching beyond a topic
Reaching beyond difficulty
Measures of success
Building collection knowledge with staff
Motivating staff to maintain programs and displays
People-watching
Create your timetable
Task Three: Design a six-month or one-year promotional strategy
Thank you