The Library Business

  

   I worked in some libraries and in the "About This Blog" section of this blog, promised that I would write about them.  Making such a promise indicates I wouldn't have done well in a career in Marketing. Realizing that libraries are not the most marketable of subjects is the reason I put the alluring photo at the top to lure you in.  Having checked to see why I am blogging, I also learned that I am not good at keeping promises since I promised a post a day and now owe you 1,350, a deficit unlikely to be overcome. I have even fallen behind in posting about libraries, so here goes. If you would rather read about more interesting things, my first post was about SEX and I did write about the DIRTY BOOKS sometimes found in libraries. 

   Although you have become used to not paying for information and are aggrieved when obstructed by the increasing number of firewalls, you should know that information is not free. Libraries have to pay a lot for it.  I thought about this recently when I received a couple of library-related emails from a market research firm offering advice about how do deal with the fact that there is not enough in the budget to purchase all of the material requested by  those who can be very demanding, even though they are not paying directly for the book or magazine they wish to borrow.

The Library Business is Tougher Than You Think - The University Library

  In this case, the emails had to do with the very big problem faced by academic institutions which have to purchase subscriptions to journals with very big price tags covering a wide variety of disciplines, all of which are supremely important, if only to the enraged faculty member who thinks the periodical absolutely essential to the mission of the university. The first market research report has the title - "Survey of Academic & Research Library Plans for Journal Subscription Cancellations".  It noted that: "These subscriptions are the heart of a research library’s scholarly services and often constitute the majority of materials spending, making them particularly vulnerable in an economic downturn." The second report was for those librarians who have to deal with the the serial cancellations: "Survey of Academic & Research Library Plans for Ala Carte Purchases of Scholarly Journal Articles." Among the few things revealed is that the libraries will have to pay thousands of dollars to retrieve the articles required by faculty that were in the journals to which they no longer have subscriptions. To learn more, the librarian will have to pay $129 for the 52 page report.

The Public Ones

    The budgets for public libraries are limited as well and the demands of the tax-paying citizen are likely just as tough to deal with as those of the faculty member. The decisions that need to be made are also tough ones. I thought of this recently when I looked at some recent purchases made by our local public library system (London Public Library) - purchases I am not criticizing. I suppose it is simply a question of supply and demand and definitely not quality. I would think, however, that some of the librarians who had to make these decisions, wish they could have bought more books rather than more copies of some books. Still even when multiple copies of some books were purchased, the demand outstripped the supply and I am sure the complaints outstripped the compliments. 

   The authors of those books which were purchased in large quantities are likely happy, although not as happy as they would be if consumers bought rather than borrowed the books. It is also good to be able to provide books to those who can't afford them, particularly during a pandemic. On the other hand, it might be better to have more good books on the shelves than lots of copies of mediocre ones.  That there are not is not because of the librarian. 

   For those interested, here are some numbers based on searches of the catalogue of the London Public Library. About the billionaire author, James Patterson, who often does not write 'his' books I will only offer a summary.  I just looked at the first fifteen of his titles (there would be many, many more) and there were 462 copies of those fifteen books. It looks like usually about 30 copies of each title are purchased.  Here are some more examples and in all of them you will see that the demand still far exceeds the supply:

Troubled Blood - Robert Galbraith - 78 holds on first copy returned of 47 copies.

One by One - Ruth Ware - 207 holds on first copy returned of 70 copies.

Invisible Girl - Lisa Jewell - 184 holds on first copy returned of 70 copies.

A Song For the Dark Times, Ian Rankin, 54 holds of first copy returned of 38 copies.

Daylight, David Baldacci,  211 holds on first copy returned of 25 copies. 

  These are just numbers and others could have been chosen. They do indicate that the demand is high for some titles and there is no reason to blame the librarian for ordering them or the reader who has chosen them, unless one wants to tackle the larger issues related to the purpose of the public library.

The Marketing of Library Services - The Public Ones

   Apparently public libraries have been busier than usual because of the pandemic and the few statistics above offer some support for that notion. Although the libraries are closed right now, one can sit at home and order a book from any library in the city and it will be delivered to the one closest to you. I have no doubt that those employed within them have plenty to do.

  That has not prevented them from offering to do more.  In the last email a new "Pick" service was offered as were the services of a staff member who will assist you in finding more books in the category you choose and then deliver them to you.  Also promoted was a new magazine platform and one can use it to get popular magazines that are behind firewalls erected to keep out non-subscribers.

 Other services are offered and apart from ordering films and music one will soon be able to borrow an Ontario Parks pass, the demand for which is likely to be high if spring ever comes.

   

The Academic Ones

   It is more difficult to determine what is going on in university libraries. The few libraries still remaining at Western are closed, but they were well-positioned for the pandemic. For the past few years the library leaders have been deemphasizing the libraries as places to study or facilities in which to store printed matter, in favour of making the material available online. The digital books and periodicals still have to be purchased and some of the packaged digital products costs thousands of dollars - for annual subscriptions.  That there is not much time left for promotion and marketing is understandable. They are also likely spending a lot of time explaining to a student or faculty member why they can't order a particular book or journal and pointing out that good information is expensive.

Post Script:

   When I did work in libraries, I often took positions that were contrary to those held by colleagues, a tendency which can probably be explained by the facts that what I lacked in proper training was made worse by poor judgement.  And, perhaps even before I grew old, I was old-fashioned about some things. For example, I like libraries that are vast edifices full of books and magazines (see, for example, my series - "Periodical Ramblings.")

   Among public librarians there is now floating, what appears to be a contagious idea, with which I do not agree. I am old fashioned and think that, given that books are expensive, one should have to sign them out of the library. As well, one should have to return them on time and be penalized for not doing so. I addressed the first issue in a very long post which you can read here: The Mystery of the Missing Books.  I understand the sentiment behind the elimination of fines - poor people can't afford them - but I am not convinced eliminating them is a good idea. I will leave it up to you to debate the issue and come up with a better alternative.