[Publib] An author's perspective on library book talks

[Barry Blesser]

To My Supportive Librarians,

As a new author who has recently given two book talks at local public
libraries in the metropolitan Boston area, my perspective might be useful.

The book, "Spaces Speak, Are You Listening?" has all the nominal attributes
of being a successful presentation: MIT Press is well known and respected,
Boston has a high density of educated people, the subject is interesting to
a relatively wide audience, I have good credentials as one of the fathers of
digital audio, and the book has buzz even though it has only been out for 3
months. (In it going into its 2nd printing, and the library copies have 5
holds waiting).

Nevertheless, even though there was a substantial audience of perhaps 40
people in both cases, about 2/3 were there only because of my personal
publicity to friends and colleagues, and their friends and colleagues.
Several other libraries and bookstores made the situation clear: they could
provide the venue if the author brings the audience. After listening to the
perspective of many people, the collective wisdom is that people are just
too busy to attend a library presentation unless they are retired, having
neither family nor professional obligations. The most successful talks
appear to be those of the "how to" kind, such as getting your kid into
college or what to do with aging parents. The topic has to be very hot, not
just interesting.

Another local library in the Boston area has dropped book talks in favor of
book clubs. Books are selected for members to read and then attend a
discussion. Librarians select books based on their perception of relevance
to the group. The group preselects itself based on their interest in reading
books.

In an era of massive over stimulation, the only issue is getting "head
space," which is the same issue for all marketing and selling. From this
perspective, we have all become marketing entrepreneurs trying to get
people's attention. One might take a look at the book: "Grapevine, the Art
of Word-of-Mouth Marketing" (chapter 1 is sufficient) to get a feeling for
the process of bottom-up marketing.

As much as I dislike coming to the obvious conclusion, the dominant culture
is no longer heavily invested in books. I love books but I am rapidly
entering the minority. To stay relevant, libraries must learn and adapt to
the culture of our decade. We do not choose our decade. Like an
anthropologist, one must do field work, entering the culture that one wants
to understand.

I hope my perspective is somewhat useful.

Barry Blesser