1. The benefits of Automatic Release Plans
The library and vendor perspectives

2. Presenters Sara Foster Children’s Product Manager
Phone: ext. 648
Angela Stuebing
Mass Market & Graphic Novels Product Manager
Phone: ext. 631
Alice Robinette-Woods Collection Librarian Phone: ext. 1420

3. 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.

4. 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!

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Template of a Bestseller Profile

9. Template of a Non-Fiction Profile

10. Template of Sample Budget Spreadsheet

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

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

13. 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

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

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

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

17. ARPs at KFPL: Junior
Toddler Books:

18. ARPs at KFPL: Junior
Junior Non-Fiction

19. ARPs at KFPL: DVD
Developing an ARP
Samples
Past practices

20. 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)

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

22. Presenters Sara Foster Children’s Product Manager
Phone: ext. 648
Angela Stuebing
Mass Market & Graphic Novels Product Manager
Phone: ext. 631
Alice Robinette-Woods Collection Librarian Phone: ext. 1420