4 Library Trends Shaping the Way You Work

Libraries are as fluid and dynamic as the communities they serve — it’s the nature of libraries! Sometimes, that means library staff chase trends to see how their community will respond — some things stick, some things don’t. In honor of this pursuit, we researched what trends seemed to stick in 2024.

Library Trends in 2024

• Library Trend #1: Generative AI use in libraries
• Library Trend #2: The need for more effective staff retention and development strategies 
• Library Trend #3: The connection between collections and community 
• Library Trend #4: Libraries are taking a stand  

Our sources include conversations with libraries, patterns in programs presented at conferences throughout the U.S., popular topics in library-related social media groups, casual surveys we put out on LinkedIn, our internal data regarding collections and marketing, and published articles and blogs within the library industry.  

Here’s what stood out to us.

Library Trend #1: Generative AI use in libraries.  

This trend should come as no surprise to anyone with regular access to the internet. Generative AI has taken the world by storm. There are also many mixed feelings about it, from excitement to rejection. Staff who try generative AI say they use the tool to save time. It can help staff develop program ideas, summarize meeting notes, draft policy documents, and create social media content calendars.  

Libraries are also exploring generative AI for image and text generation, whether for use in their promotions or to supplement their programs. Examples of the latter include libraries using AI to help program attendees learn how to write resumes and cover letters, to write lessons for language classes, and to help create objects in 3D printing labs.

Concerns about generative AI still exist: Amalgamations of facts and fiction that are presented as fact (aka “hallucinations”), ethical issues, lack of regulations, and environmental sustainability are issues that must be addressed. We noticed there was a marked increase in the number of programs on AI and digital literacy at conferences this year. That emphasizes the need to show patrons how to responsibly use platforms like ChatGPT. This is a natural flex for libraries, who are commonly at the forefront of information technology.  

NoveList acknowledges the potential of generative AI — but we’re committed to serving readers, from our human minds and hearts to yours. Danielle Borasky, NoveList Vice President, offers her thoughts on AI here. And while most of us can agree that generative AI helps save time with routine, non-creative tasks, we also feel that your time is well spent bringing readers joy.

Library Trend #2: The need for more effective staff retention and development strategies.

One trending issue in 2024 is staff turnover at libraries. It’s important to note that this issue did not begin this year. Libraries have been dealing with staff turnover for some time, frequently due to budget cuts, cost of living, pressures from the community, or some other reason, such as a lack of growth or professional development.

Learn with NoveList was created to help with the latter two. Staff who receive professional development training feel valued, which builds morale and aids in retention. High-quality, expert-led courses in readers’ advisory and library promotions can help library staff connect with their readers and community. Staff who are well-trained and confident feel more ownership in their work, leading to greater retention and higher morale. And when turnover does happen, Learn with NoveList can help train new hires at all levels.

Library Trend #3: The connection between collections and community.  

One trend we enjoyed watching in 2024 was the creative ways libraries promoted their collections through traditional marketing or programs.

We enjoyed hundreds of social media videos promoting library collections, including two from Milwaukee Public Library, whose focus on books gets a big thumbs up from us. We loved this simple, funny post or this one celebrating local college athletes reading. From Phoenix Public Library highlighting “Super Users” like Lola here to Los Angeles Public Library’s Short Story Dispenser to Nashville Public Library’s celebration of their Library of Things with a Wes Anderson-style video, libraries are promoting their collection to their communities in truly inventive ways.

And, oh, the programs we’ve been seeing! Libraries are running robust programs to connect whole communities to their collections. Check these out:

• “One Book, One Village” at Arlington Heights Memorial Library
• Sewickley Public Library’s Book Tasting event
• “Phone-a-Story” at Denver Public Library
• New York Public Library’s Community Reading Party  
• “Beer and Books” at Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library

Collection promotion is a back-and-forth exchange between the library and the community. Smart libraries are watching their data to see what their communities are interested in — because it might not be The New York Times bestseller’s list. With NoveList Select, libraries can use the Analytics dashboard to see how their patrons are viewing and interacting with titles in their catalog. Being data nerds, we ran an analysis on the libraries that use NoveList Select, and these are the top titles for 2024!

Promotions aren’t the only work being done for collections. Not by a long shot! Establishing, developing, and maintaining a collection takes time and energy. With Core Collections, libraries can get the help they need to take it on. Core Collections is a comprehensive guide that helps you build and maintain well-rounded collections of non-fiction and fiction titles with recommendations that are vendor and publisher-neutral — and all titles are chosen by expert librarians! 

Library Trend #4: Libraries are taking a stand.

Of all the trends we noted in 2024, this one might perhaps be the one we’re most proud to see: Libraries are getting better at standing up for themselves. They’re leveraging authentic promotions and engaging marketing strategies to spread the word in the community about what they do. More than that, they’re asking people to stand up for their library, too.

For so long, libraries have assumed (and not without reason) that communities understand what value a library provides. But we’ve learned that we need to keep talking.  

Take, for example, the epic promotions by the New York Public Library in 2024 to fight budget cuts to the tune of $58.3 million. They spread their messages on their website, over social media, and via email. They partnered with other library systems for an #InvestInLibraries campaign and created a petition to amplify the voice of the community. New Yorkers sent 174,000 letters of support to City Hall, shared NYPL’s social media posts, visited libraries, and attended programs. On July 1, 2024, NYPL announced that their budgets had been saved and praised their community for making it happen.  

LibraryAware has everything libraries need to advocate for themselves. With the templates and tools available, libraries can create emails, newsletters, flyers, social graphics, and more to educate their community on their value, the freedom to read, digital literacy, and more. The templates are beautiful and designed by professional graphic designers, and with unlimited users and sends, libraries can spread the word far and wide.

Leigh Gaddy is the Lead/Demand Generation Marketing Specialist at NoveList. She is currently reading Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese.