Book Discussions Theyre in the Bag

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Book DiscussionsTheyre in the Bag

• Karim Khan kkhan_at_loudoun.gov
• Holly Peterson hpeterso_at_loudoun.gov
• Susan Schweitzer sschweit_at_loudoun.gov
• Loudoun County Public Library
• Virginia Library Association Annual Conference
• October 2004

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Book Discussions in a Bag

• Book Discussions in a Bag are circulating sets
• Multiple copies of a book
• A notebook of information
• A bag

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Book Discussions in a Bag

• The Beginning
• Content Building a Prototype
• From Prototype to Project
• Integration
• Rollout
• The Future

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The Beginning

• Successful ongoing library book discussion groups
  
• Multiple copies of popular books just sitting
  there
• Library mission and goals

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The Beginning (II)

• Book Discussion Groups increasing
• Oprah Book Club and followers
• Media reports
• Retail booksellers

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The Beginning (III)

• Other public libraries with kits
• Bettendorf Public Library IL
• Dakota County Public Library, MN
• Troy Public Library, MI
• Pioneer Public Library, Norman, OK

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Content Building a Prototype

• Book club how-to
• Book reviews
• Book discussion guides, bios, interviews
• Related resources
• Read-alikes

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Content Building a Prototype (II)

• Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

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From Protoype to Project

• Proposal
• Defining project
• Identifying issues

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From Prototype to Project Moving the Proposal
Forward

• Collection Development
• Cataloging
• Replacement copies
• Impacts on other work groups
• Circulation
• Display/shelving in 7 branches
• Tasks, available labor, and costs
• 44 kits to complete
• Publicity

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From Prototype to Project Bags? Boxes?
Storage Jars?

• Discussions in a Box ??
• Cost, Storage and Aesthetics
• Plastic Boxes vs. Bags
• Bags were much
• Cheaper
• Easier to replace
• Adaptable to storage in different branches with
  different space constraints
• We could order a large run of bags and hand them
  out for other library publicity uses

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Integration into library systems

• Cataloging
• Create and refine workform in Horizon
• Analyzed helpful MARC fields
• Goal of easy search appealing record in online
  catalog
• Circulation
• Longer loan period

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Integration Online Catalog Record
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Rollout and Publicity

• A quiet rollout
• News release, web page blurb, and word of mouth
• Director and Branch Managers began highlighting
  new project at meetings before we had even
  completed the kits

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Rollout Display at Purcellville Library
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Rollout Display at Sterling Library
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Rollout Display at Rust Library
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The Future

• 23 new titles added since the initial rollout of
  44 titles
• Migration of content to the librarys website
• Family and Kids book discussions