What will BookLetters do for my library?

BookLetters is an outbound communication service that allows your library to reach out to your patrons with "rich" book content that is automatically generated from our databases. It sends emails to Patrons based on parameters set forth by those individuals and links them back to your web site and OPAC. We carry forward the library's branding building patron awareness and usage of e-resources offered by the library. With increased awareness we believe the library will receive increased patron support.

What do you mean by "Patron-Friendly?"

Processes that reduce the amount of work and number of steps patrons need to take to find and use library services. For example, the library might send out a business newsletter to patrons interested in business linking them back to featured business titles in the OPAC, instead of waiting for those patrons to look your library up in Google then navigate through to your catalog.

What do you mean by "Staff-Friendly?"

Processes that relieve the staff of having to learn new systems procedures, reenter data, or manually create work that could be automated. In the case of Bookletters, checking a box authorizing a Fiction newsletter that is continuously updated and emailed to subscribing patrons.

Why is branding so important?

It is as important for libraries as it is for businesses. Branding influences future patron behavior and attitudes. Clearly establishing your brand with the patron will increase the likelihood of that patron thinking of your library web page as a primary source of service. It also increases the likelihood that patrons will have a greater appreciation and awareness of the value of library services when considering future library funding issues.

How does BookLetters enhance my OPAC?

BookLetters brings traffic to websites that house OPAC's. OPAC passes that traffic on to the catalog systems.

How much does the service cost?

Costs are based on number of patrons. Annual costs are $600 + $30/1,000 up to a maximum of $5,000 per year. A library with 20,000 patrons would be charged $1,200/yr. (or $100/mo.)

What kind of support do you offer?

The most appreciated feature of BookLetters is teh Tool Kit. It contains "staff-friendly" applications that allows staff to perform their duties without having to retrain with us. BookLetters is a point and click service built to be operated by non-technical personnel without the need for support. We typically provide 15-30 minutes helping you get your site up and running and answer questions to help you get up to speed and post coding hints in the FAQ - Editing section that should satisfy most normal site maintenance. We provide a monthly users newsletter, The Pacesetter, to foster the sharing of ideas.

How much staff time will be required to maintain this program?

Some of the libraries don't touch BookLetters for months, but most spend about an hour per week. The amount of time spent will be entirely up to library personnel and the amount of oversight exercised. We have easy to use templates built into the BookLetters Tool Kit for staff to cut and paste messages, and easy to build staff pick, events, and other informational pages. Most of the administrative functions such as adding patrons to the list, are totally automated.

Who picks the books being featured?

BookLetters maintains 14 lists and picks the books featured in those books. There are also 20 custom lists included in this module and the library picks the books for those lists. The library also decides which of the 14 BookLetters lists to offer.

How do we add our own reviews to featured titles?

BookLetters contains an "add review" feature in the Resource Center that provides for adding your own reviews as well as trading reviews with other libraries. You go to the Add Review page and select from the review archive. Only the reviews you select will be added and the individual and library will be properly cited with the listing of the reviews. If you add your own, then your review is automatically added to archive for others to use.

How do we match holdings with BookLetters recommendations?

BookLetters attempts to feature mainstream books that are probably already on your acquisitions lists. We also e-mail and post an Advance Listing of all recommended titles in the Resource Center one month prior to creating the newsletters.

How do patrons get added or deleted from the newsletter lists?

Patrons will sign-up for newsletters using the Newsletter sign-up page in the service. At the bottom of each newsletter is a footer with an "Unsubscribe" link that patrons use to be deleted from a list.

How do we build email lists?

Most new versions of Library Systems allow for the entry of and notification by email which will grow those lists exponentially over the next year. In addition, they system itself allows patrons to add themselves to the list. We are also sponsoring an idea exchange group for libraries to offer suggestions and help to each other.