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Library Best Sellers

Public list of most popular books in library
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a) Public notice -- web site, posterboard, whatever -- of the hundred books most checked out in the last month. Idea: Frequency of checkout suggests popularity, which suggests the books you might want to look at, too (of course, it could also suggest slick marketing)

b) When a well known author comes out with a new book, post a notice of the other books by that author that are available

billblue, Mar 07 2002

(?) Borrowing trends in UK lending libraries. http://www.plr.uk.c...ds/pressrelease.htm
Cookson still rules the roost but J K Rowling is putting up the first credible challenge for years. I think they should duke it out over 15 rounds at MSG for the undisputed title. [DrBob, Mar 08 2002, last modified Oct 04 2004]

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       I like the peace and quiet, too. And if I implied that this was to speed up the in and out, then I withdraw that part. But libraries are in competition with Barnes and Noble et al, and when I go to Borders, i can get someone to tell me what the best sellers are. The library may not have those newest ones, but they have a trove of usage information that I thought could be used to promote the image of the libe as a place to go. At mine, the most popular things are computer classes and puppet shows!
billblue, Mar 07 2002
  

       Gee, that *does* make me feel better. <g> And I suppose I didn't mean the general public, but rather 'people like me'... you know, literate, urbane, charming... But to cut to it, *is* there a way that libraries could use that user database to provide a better service? (At the risk of alienating all the libarians who are doing their best with shrinking budgets and demanding customers)
billblue, Mar 07 2002
  

       I think the "most checked out" list for a library would be interesting because I think it would be very different from a bestseller list. I think it may well be more valuable, too, because it would point out the books that have maintained their worth and popularity over time.   

       It would be interesting to see which reference books are the most used as well (even though most of those are not allowed to be checked out, a fact which leaves me slowly buying up reference books for home--an expensive venture).   

       Me? Quibble?
bristolz, Mar 07 2002
  

       what is left for me to read then? you leaving me the newspapers with the cr*p jobs; me nasty old illit. where's me carrier bag? slinks out of nice warm place feeling unwanted and unloved .
po, Mar 07 2002
  

       The value of it would depend on how the library was going to use the information. If they're going to say "No-one's checked out this book on 17th century English church music for two years; let's get rid of it." and "These Mills and Boon bodice-rippers are really popular; let's get more of them.", I'd be totally opposed.
angel, Mar 08 2002
  

       The most regularly borrowed book in UK Public Libraries? A Catherine Cookson book. The second most popular? Another Catherine Cookson. The third? Ms Cookson. The fourth? Do I really need to tell you? Just to make it all *really* exciting, Danielle Steele does just manage to make it into the top then, though.   

       If this was ever going to work it'd have to be separated into genres. It should be reasonably straightforward - most libraries have automated management systems these days.
salachair, Mar 08 2002
  
      
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