We took Season 4, What I Didn’t Learn In Library School, on the road. Straight from the tradeshow floor in NOLA, we asked librarians who stopped by our booth what they would share with the next generation of information experts. From building maintenance to library marketing that works, see if they add insight to your own ideas. Read More  

In the first part to this series we discussed what goes on behind the scenes of search, social media, and retail algorithms. We then touched on marketing tactics you can use to most effectively reach your audience on those platforms and ensure your content is providing value. Read More  

Debbie Davenport, MLS, Collection Development Librarian
Librarians, public servants that we are, see many things in our careers and are confronted with a multitude of questions, requests, and situations. I always viewed a patron’s request for information as slaking my own thirst for knowledge. The topics varied from World War II history to astrology; local genealogy to learning how to sew; green energy to the latest tax law. Most were exciting and effervescent unveilings of new information… but there were those library consumers who made requests in haunting ways I will never forget. Read More  

Joyce Skokut, Director Collection Development
If Stephen Hawking was afraid of it… When executives from Google, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, and another 100 business leaders visit the White House to attend a meeting about the need for a strategy for it… you know you should pay attention. Whether you’re aware of it or not, artificial intelligence (AI) is already at work all around you. Read More  

Jenny McCluskey, MSIS, Collection Development Librarian
After almost two years of labor, the inaugural Excellence in Graphic Literature (EGL) awards were announced last month at Denver Comic Con. The idea behind the awards is to further recognize the format’s value and importance as literature. John Shableski, VP of Sales at Udon Entertainment, explains, “One of the goals of the awards is to create an annual event that all publishers, authors, librarians, and educators will celebrate, much as they do the ALA Midwinter awards.” Thomas Maluck (Richmond Public Library) reacted positively to the EGL awards. He points out, “The increasing prominence of comics narratives in libraries and syllabi means more opportunities than ever for great reading experiences. Strong reviews, professional recognition of quality, and diversity of content go a long way toward book selections.” The EGL awards are yet another way to recognize quality in graphic literature. Read More  

Beth Reinker, MSLS, Manager, Collection Development Adult Materials
In many libraries, biographies are some of the most popular titles. Why? People love to read stories about others, and biographies and autobiographies are some of the most captivating stories out there. The fact that they are true only makes them more fascinating. Where else can you get an in-depth glimpse at the real lives of athletes, actors, politicians, musicians, well-known business people, supermodels, and everyday people who have experienced extraordinary situations? You can watch a movie or a documentary, but unless there is strong narrative to help you understand what the person is thinking and feeling, you miss a big part of the person’s story. Reading a biography is often equal parts surprising and reassuring—the stories inspire empathy, sadness, laughter, amazement, or disgust. But almost always, they remind us of the similar threads that bind all of us to the human experience. Read More  

Ingram librarians and reviewers recently selected and reviewed the most exciting new voices coming out soon.  Read More  

Written by: Bailey Davis, Publisher Engagement Manager (@baileydavis26)
Not all publishers are the same, nor are the means for getting their books to market in the most efficient and cost effective ways. As with most businesses that require some type of order fulfillment, when it comes to getting your book products to market, you need to match with a distribution method that best fits your business model. Read More  

If you are a true booklover you have most likely dreamt about opening your own independent bookstore. You’ve sifted through a list of book puns to pick out the perfect store name and you can envision your unique window display that is sure to catch everyone’s attention. So, what is stopping you from making this dream a reality? Read More