Trends in Reference

| Originally published by Library Journal, written by Jason Steagall | “Many patrons want a database to be searchable like Google—they want to be able to enter a basic term and have excellent and immediate results.”– Rob Tench, head of resource fulfillment at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA Publishers and librarians are acutely aware that … Read more

Develop a Robust LGBTQ Collection

A library’s print, eBook, and digital resource collection will always be the bedrock upon which service to a particular community is built. Developing a robust LGBTQ collection draws on the same core principles that define all aspects of collection development: 1. A collection plan/selection policy tailored to the needs of the community (both the larger … Read more

Booklist Webinar—Developing and Supporting your LGBTQ Collection

Join us Thursday, June 15 at 1 PM Central for a Booklist webinar on the importance of LGBTQ material in your library’s collection. During the webinar, Kristin Pekoll, assistant director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, will review how LGBTQ books can serve an underrepresented population and how to protect these titles from censorship, along with information about self-censorship and … Read more

Pick and Grin. Subscribe and Smile. Choose and Wallow.

Whatever way you look at it, when you choose a large print subscription to continually update and refresh your collection, you’ll be glad you did. How? Well, we can think of 36 ways. Thorndike Press has 36 different plans to suit your patrons’ interests: from African-American titles to Christian Fiction to Gentle Romance to Westerns — and everything in between.

Read morePick and Grin. Subscribe and Smile. Choose and Wallow.

What Lies Beneath the Bestsellers: Mine the Gems!

High-demand, bestselling titles meet the immediate needs of a large group of patrons. They’re the sparkly gold dust that attracts attention and draws in readers. But beneath that top layer of new titles are the “midlist” titles – the majority of all published works. In this group is where emerging authors, alternative and esoteric titles, and a much broader selection of works live. These are the titles chosen by libraries focused on providing a rich collection that encourages readers to look beyond the “shiny” titles.

Read moreWhat Lies Beneath the Bestsellers: Mine the Gems!