[Publib] bestsellers

[Moore,Ann]

Our central library has 2 different sections of bestsellers.  One is called Book Express; books go out for 1 week and cannot be reserved.*  This is a fairly small area and includes only the "top" fiction writers and very popular nonfiction.  The other area is New and Popular, which is much larger and more comprehensive.  Books here go out for 2 weeks and can be reserved.  We have 4 display units in this area, one for fiction, 2 for nonfiction, and one for the "newest" titles which are put out as they come down from processing.  We use Baker & Taylor's "Automatically Yours" standing order plan for fiction, with multiple titles for the most popular authors (Danielle Steel, for instance, is on SO for 4 Book Express copies and 6 New and Popular copies).  We order additional copies as needed--we check the reserve lists regularly and if we see a title is really taking off, we'll order more.  We do often end up withdrawing multiple copies once the title passes its peak, but we figure such is the price to pay to have satisfied patrons.  We post the current NY Times bestseller lists in these areas.  Some of the branches (which don't have Book Express, just New and Popular) regularly post lists of "Forthcoming Books," which patrons like and use regularly.   
 
*Our regular circulation is 4 weeks.
 
Ann W. Moore
Schenectady Co. (N.Y.) Public Library
(518) 388-4534
amoore at sals.edu
 

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From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org on behalf of Rachel Beerthuis
Sent: Wed 7/23/2008 11:52 AM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] bestsellers



Hello all,
I am trying to do some research into how different libraries handle bestsellers. Here are my questions:

How many copies do you purchase of fiction and nonfiction?
Are patrons permitted to put holds on them?
How long is the checkout period (the same as other books or shorter)?
How are they displayed?

Currently our patrons are not able to put holds on bestsellers and the checkout period is the same although overdue fines are slightly more. We also post the list and display pictures of the book covers. However we have recently had complaints at having the covers displayed when we do not have the books in.

Any help would be appreciated.

Rachel

Rachel L. Beerthuis
Reference Librarian
Central Library
298 Cedar Rd.
Chesapeake, VA 23322
757.410.7136
rbeerthu at chesapeake.lib.va.us



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