The benefits of Automatic Release Plans The library and vendor perspectives

Presenters Sara Foster Children’s Product Manager Email: sfoster@lsc.on.ca Phone: 1-800-265-3360 ext. 648 Angela Stuebing Mass Market & Graphic Novels Product Manager Email: astuebing@lsc.on.ca Phone: 1-800-265-3360 ext. 631 Alice Robinette-Woods Collection Librarian Email: arobinettewoods@kfpl.ca Phone: 613-549-8888 ext. 1420

What is an Automatic Release Plan? An Automatic Release Plan (ARP) is a value-added service that can be set up between vendor and library. Collections will be developed based on annual budgets and collection profiles. Material will be selected for your library by experienced selection specialists and automatically delivered in a timely fashion according to your library’s specifications.

Why do we need Automatic Release Plans (ARPs)? To free up reference and selection librarians’ time so they can focus on things such as: Outreach, community involvement, programming More staff time for developing library spaces including makerspaces or new media centres Library budgets aren’t necessarily increasing even with all the new demands on staff time Overall it allows library staff to focus on the community’s needs and tying the library into the community ARPs help free up time!

Moving to ARPs ARPs offer all the same benefits of using a vendor, including: Large volume purchasing discounts Books arriving shelf-ready Full cataloguing and processing Pre-publication ordering

What is the difference between Standing Orders and ARPs? No assigned budget Can include areas such as: adult and/or juvenile series (graphic novels or fiction titles), serials, authors, travel guides, reference, annuals No selection on part of the vendor ; all library-directed

ARPs Set budget is given to follow A profile is created to set selection parameters Profiles can include: Likes & dislikes Copy numbers Binding types Size limitations Library-specific details based on demographics and patron needs

Template of a Bestseller Profile

Template of a Non-Fiction Profile

Template of Sample Budget Spreadsheet

Selection for ARPs Audiences Formats Languages Adult Young Adult Juvenile Formats Print Audio-Visual Languages English French Multilingual

Additional services offered by Selections Specialists Branch building / Opening day collections Core lists Monthly lists (format-specific) Ongoing requests

How is selection done: Tools & Resources Publisher meetings and presentations Bestseller catalogues Monthly catalogues Awards lists Professional journals Websites / Blogs Publisher feeds Social Media Internal acquisitions software Library catalogues

What makes ARPs successful? Ongoing dialogue and open communication with the library

ARPs at KFPL: What works Bestsellers are ordered well in advance Rural branches benefit Local interests served Focus on patron requests

ARPs at KFPL: Communication is key (aka Too many James Patterson books Tiered authors

ARPs at KFPL: Junior Toddler Books:

ARPs at KFPL: Junior Junior Non-Fiction

ARPs at KFPL: DVD Developing an ARP Samples Past practices

ARPs at KFPL: DVD Determining a “bestseller” A numbers game Over $100 million – Transformers: Age of Extinction ($245 million), Edge of Tomorrow ($100 million), Fault in our Stars ($124 million) Between $50 million and $100 million – Hercules ($72 million), Tammy ($84 million), Muppets Most Wanted ($51 million) Below $50 million – Draft Day ($28 million), Chef ($31 million), Sex Tape ($38 million)

ARPs at KFPL: Strengths, weaknesses & Harlequins Flexibility Collection strengths Collection weaknesses Know your community

Presenters Sara Foster Children’s Product Manager Email: sfoster@lsc.on.ca Phone: 1-800-265-3360 ext. 648 Angela Stuebing Mass Market & Graphic Novels Product Manager Email: astuebing@lsc.on.ca Phone: 1-800-265-3360 ext. 631 Alice Robinette-Woods Collection Librarian Email: arobinettewoods@kfpl.ca Phone: 613-549-8888 ext. 1420