With current events putting unprecedented pressure on the entire publishing ecosystem, it is critically important for readers to have access to the books they need to help them get through this global crisis—whether for information or escape. Public libraries have been recognized as essential institutions across the country, and many are ramping up their digital collections in response to increased demand, ensuring the ability to continue serving their communities’ needs as social distancing measures limit access to physical buildings and print collections.
Panorama Project in the News: PW, LJ, Beyond the Book, Book Riot
Project lead Guy LeCharles Gonzalez represented the Panorama Project as a featured speaker at PubWest 2020 last month, and was interviewed by Library Journal and Book Riot about our recently announced new initiatives for 2020.
2019 Annual Report Released; 2020 Initiatives Previewed
New Panorama Picks Offer Actionable Data for Local Booksellers and Authors
The latest Panorama Picks have been announced by the Panorama Project, spotlighting notable recent fiction, nonfiction, and young adult ebooks with the highest hold ratios in United States public libraries. The nine regional lists feature 25 titles in each category—190 unique titles in total, including 76 which only appear on one region’s list—reflecting the diverse interests and unmet demand of avid readers across the country not always reflected in national bestsellers lists or big budget marketing initiatives. The Q4 lists measure public library activity from October – December 2019, featuring books published from January – June 2019.
Data Points: Panorama Project Op-ed in Publishers Weekly
Public Library Events & Book Sales—A Panorama Project Survey
To get a better understanding of the different ways public libraries produce and host author visits—as well as literary festivals, book clubs, and other experiential events that directly connect readers to books and authors—the Panorama Project has launched a new survey: Library Events & Book Sales Survey | 2019. This survey asks U.S. public librarians for their insights into the various book-related events they produce for their communities, how they market them, which partners they work with, and how they measure and report on the impact of these events.
Panorama Project at PubWest 2020 in Portland, Oregon
Walkabout Northern California | Panorama Picks Regional Spotlight
New Panorama Picks Highlight Regional Summer Sleepers; Methodology Optimized for Local Booksellers
The latest Panorama Picks have been released by the Panorama Project, spotlighting recent fiction, nonfiction, and young adult books library patrons were waiting to read in 9 different regions across the United States. The new lists measure unmet demand from July – September 2019 and reflect updated methodology designed to identify titles that are more likely to still be in booksellers’ inventory but may have fallen off the radar as their publishers’ promotional efforts faded. Some were brief national bestsellers, while others are notable midlist gems with strong regional interest.
