Last week we shared the August Idea Calendar full of tips, search suggestions, a free printable, and more to help you save time and connect readers to their next great read. Creating these calendars always gives me so many great ideas, which is why I’m excited for the chance to take a closer look, or deeper dive, into one of the topics mentioned and explore the ways you can use NoveList products for booklists, display ideas, social media shares, storytime help, promotional content, and more.
Because I’m just not ready to let summer go and start on my kid’s back-to-school to-do list, today I’m heading to the beach. OK, so not physically, but through a good book, and if you’d like to join me, read on!
NoveList Plus
If you need a quick recommendation or a list you can grab as you breeze out of town headed to the shore, look no further than the Recommended Reads lists in NoveList Plus.
In addition to the Beach Reads list mentioned on the August Idea Calendar, our librarians have put together fiction and nonfiction ocean-themed lists for every age. Created to tie into the summer reading theme Oceans of Possibilities, they’re also perfect for any reader looking to escape to the sea for a while.
From entertaining and engrossing books set at the beach or near the ocean (Oceans of Possibilities: By the Sea) to picture books you can sink your teeth into (Oceans of Possibilities: Sharks), there are lists for all kinds of readers. Nonfiction fans can journey underwater with the list Oceans of Possibilities: Marine Life, while teens and younger readers can dive into fantasy with the Oceans of Possibilities: Mythical Creatures lists. To find them all, simply type Oceans of Possibilities in the search bar and click on the Lists & Articles tab.
LibraryAware
Bring the beach to your library with the sandy and sunny templates found in LibraryAware. Search for beach to see everything or refine by Collections to zero in on exactly what you're looking for.
LibraryAware has Summer Beach Reads Bookmarks or vacation-ready book flyers such as Stay-on-the Beach Reads (ahh, do NOT get in the water) or Fun in the Sun Beach Reads (don't forget the sunscreen), as well as Fin-tastic and other book display flyers. Use the book display flyers in combination with the Recommended Reads lists from NoveList Plus to quickly pull together a display before relaxing with your toes in the sand (or nose in a book).
For a whole suite of undersea-themed marketing materials, from calendars to flyers to book widgets, search oceans of possibilities. Like the Oceans of Possibilities Recommended Reads lists, these templates were designed with summer reading in mind, but since all the templates in LibraryAware are customizable, you can use them for any sea-themed promotion. With custom artwork from one of our talented graphic designers, they are a beautiful and coordinated way to promote your programs and collections.
Core Collections
If you need to refresh or purchase more books to round out your beach-related collection, Core Collections can help.
Core Collections uses NoveList vocabulary to capture genres and subjects, making it easy to search for titles related to the beach! Search for subjects such as marine animals, marine biology, beaches, or shells to find both fiction and nonfiction titles. You can even search for the NoveList genre Sea stories for some saltwater in your face with stories set on the open sea.
The Core Collections levels of recommendations can ensure that you have the essential and recommended titles, while also allowing you to quickly check supplemental titles. From the search results page you can sort or limit by relevance to find books we recommend at all levels for all ages.
Linked Library Service
Linked Library Service gets your data into the Google knowledge panel and other web services that help attract new users to your library. But did you know you can use your linked data to create book widgets to embed on your website, within blog posts, or on partner websites?
Like any of the Recommended Reads lists highlighted above? Because Linked Library Service is enriched with NoveList metadata creating a responsive book widget based on those lists is as easy as click, click, embed. These book widgets can be placed on your library’s website or shared with community partners to increase your collection’s visibility.
I hope these suggestions have given you some out-sanding ideas to make waves with your own promotions! Not into beaches? NoveList Plus is sure to have all kinds of resources for whatever topics float your boat.
Lauren Campbell is a NoveList Consultant. She is currently reading Book Lovers by Emily Henry.
