Fiction_L Archives Fiction Ordering Procedures Dates: 2/24/00,7:31 AM  through  2/25/00,2:34 PM  (3 postings) Search for: Select one or more indexes to search: 2011-current     2009-2010     2004-2008    1995-2003    (Matches from each index will be displayed separately in the results page.) Return to February 2000 thread menu   |   Fiction_L Archives Menu

FROM: "Jim Keith" <[removed]@nslsilus.ORG>
REC'D: 2/24/00, 7:31 AM

> Greetings:

In a couple of months I will inherit the responsibility for ordering fiction.
This seems like a good time to take stock of our procedures. Currently, we
employ the Ingram list for best selling authors. For the rest, several
volunteers plow through Booklist, etc - looking up fiction titles to see if they
have been ordered or if we have another book by this author and how well it
circulated.
Has anyone come up with a better method of keeping track/researching titles than
this. Our fiction budget is about $20,000/year so this is a major portion of
our purchases as well as of our circulation.
Thanks very much for your help.

Jim Keith, Reference Librarian
Waukegan IL Public Library

FROM: "Karen Migaldi" <[removed]@nslsilus.ORG>
REC'D: 2/25/00, 12:56 PM

Jim,

I've ordered fiction for several years, and I haven't found a better method. I
would be interested to hear other ideas, though. I rely on circ. statistics for
authors already in the collection. In my opinion, it doesn't matter if an author is
well-reviewed if patrons aren't going to check out a book. This opinion comes with
some cautions. You have to buy some authors because of locality or because they are
considered classic authors.
I use reviews for authors I don't recognize or for marginal purchases. I
usually try to locate several positive reviews before I commit our funds. We do
accept patron requests so I can fill in marginal purchases that way as well.
Ultimately, you have to rely on your knowledge of your patrons. If you don't think
your patrons will read it, you can probably pass on it until you hear otherwise.

Karen Migaldi
Crystal Lake P.L.
Crystal Lake, IL

Jim Keith wrote:

> > Greetings:
>
> In a couple of months I will inherit the responsibility for ordering fiction.
> This seems like a good time to take stock of our procedures. Currently, we
> employ the Ingram list for best selling authors. For the rest, several
> volunteers plow through Booklist, etc - looking up fiction titles to see if they
> have been ordered or if we have another book by this author and how well it
> circulated.
> Has anyone come up with a better method of keeping track/researching titles than
> this. Our fiction budget is about $20,000/year so this is a major portion of
> our purchases as well as of our circulation.
> Thanks very much for your help.
>
> Jim Keith, Reference Librarian
> Waukegan IL Public Library

FROM: "Joanna Hazelden" <[removed]@chipublib.org>
REC'D: 2/25/00, 2:34 PM

We use the same sort of things, i.e. Kirkus, PW, LJ, New York Times Book Review, but
we also try to collect anything by Chicago fiction writers (a unique local
collection is important). We also sign up to get catalogs from the small
independent presses, although getting reviews can be difficult. I also keep an eye
out for any titles mentioned in the media or magazines--Vanity Fair, Chicago
Tribune, Atlantic Monthly, Newsweek, People, because people will inevitably ask for
the books after seeing them mentioned. I also use Web sites like Fiction Digest,
various publisher sites, web pages dedicated to genres. Patrons themselves often
suggest titles.

Is there a more stream lined method? Probably, but then I wouldn't know so much
about what books are being published, who my patrons read, I'd miss lots of great
conversations starting, "Somebody told me that book...." and the more you do it,
the easier it becomes.

Joanna Hazelden

Jim Keith wrote:

> > Greetings:
>
> In a couple of months I will inherit the responsibility for ordering fiction.
> This seems like a good time to take stock of our procedures. Currently, we
> employ the Ingram list for best selling authors. For the rest, several
> volunteers plow through Booklist, etc - looking up fiction titles to see if they
> have been ordered or if we have another book by this author and how well it
> circulated.
> Has anyone come up with a better method of keeping track/researching titles than
> this. Our fiction budget is about $20,000/year so this is a major portion of
> our purchases as well as of our circulation.
> Thanks very much for your help.
>
> Jim Keith, Reference Librarian
> Waukegan IL Public Library

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