• We recognized that patrons may not want to wait the two week turnaround time for our personalized Bookmatch and Screenmatch services.
• We realized some patrons need guidance finding items in our digital catalog, and wanted interactive ways to promote our digital collection to mostly-print readers.
• We wanted to support readers who preferred a structured reading schedule for reading motivation.
• We wanted patrons to know our librarians were still available to help them, despite the library’s limited in-person services.

#Mini matches: Communications coordinator passes requests from social media to the advisory team, who submit recommendations. In less than an hour, the patron receives a curated list of about 10 recommendations. Recommendations are shared on Instagram for followers with similar interests.

Monthly discussions: We choose a book that is on Hoopla or Overdrive/Libby. Discussion 1 on Goodreads is in-depth and moderated by staff. Discussion 2 on Instagram Live is an informal two-person chat with viewers commenting as they’d like.

We have sent more than 300 book, TV and movie recommendations through #Mini matches, many of which increased digital collection circulation. Our Goodreads group has 62 members. Our Instagram Live book discussions have anywhere from 50 to 150 live viewers, more than in-person discussions. One of the highlights of Instagram Live was when R. Eric Thomas, the author of Here For It, joined us for an interview. We used the Goodreads discussion to allow patrons to share questions they had for Mr Thomas.

Instagram Live Discussion with R. Eric Thomas

Adult Book Discussion for Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia