Urban branches: 8 ways to increase circulation

Ohio Libraries, Winter 2003 by Dutton, Brenda

* At the monthly after-school program and some summer programs, kids sometimes get to pick a prize from a grab bag when they check out a book.

* Show your card at a teen program to be entered for a prize drawing. The most popular items are the free centerfold posters from teen magazines that we remove when processing. A full color shot of someone's heart throb on his or her wall will gain undying teen loyalty. Display those magazines and any current hot CDs at teen programs and watch them circulate away.

* "Treasure books" were a summer hit. More about the treasure box under ideas.

* A few years back we all received the OH Libraries promotion kits. We used ours as a promotion during National Library Week. Any customer checking out a book could choose a pencil, magnet or bag. Adults love getting prizes too! All age readers are special.

* Parents are reluctant to let children bring their cards when they come to the library by themselves. To solve that, we asked the Youth Services Coordiantor to fund an order of READ lanyards for us. Through August and into September 2001 we ran a promotion of check out five books to receive a lanyard. We could punch the library card to fit onto the swivel hook. The promotion was open to kids, teens, adults, and staff. *This summer a customer gave us a box of vending machine gum. After summer reading club, in that circulation drought of mid- and late-August, we filled a colorful sun tea jar with thousands of the little gum squares. Check out a book to get an entry blank to guess how many pieces. The lucky winner of 3000 pieces was everyone's best friend for a day. The left-overs went to the staff room as a treat for the staff who did a fantastic job encouraging all those movie-only customers to take a chance on "winning" by checking out a book. We know readers are winners. We also know readers need books at home. If it takes something frivolous like a huge jar of gum to accomplish this, it's OK. When bored with the umpteenth viewing of some movie, someone might just pick up a book that wouldn't be taken home otherwise.

* Urban locations received free zoo passes for children and adults. We displayed animal books, added copies of the zoo bus schedule and gave passes to those who checked out books.

* Let teens know that the library has exciting "stuff" you can't imagine them being able to survive without-like the latest update on the top rock group, new hair styles or that great new book on how to build skateboard ramps.

* The youth services librarian has a critical role in library services-teacher collections, programs, tours and story times. Library staff must promote, promote, promote youth and adult programs and system promotions from the Circulation and Information Desks.

* Quality programming is essential in bringing people to the library so we can get them excited about books. Share materials used to prepare for the program. Testify about how important and FUN books are! The monthly after school program and every other month teen programs keep the library a lively and dynamic place. Holiday programs always draw big crowds because themes are familiar and generate excitement. Once inside the building, we have an opportunity to encourage reading and checkout.