The inaugural Library Beat webinar focuses on adult fiction and features a case study presentation from the public library in Gwinnett County, Georgia.

The largest library system in Georgia, in the state’s most diverse county, Gwinnett County Public Library operates 15 branches serving a population of more than 950,000 people. Jenny LaJeunesse, technical services manager, has been a librarian for 25 years and loves talking about library books, labels, and cataloging. Adam Pitts, Collins Hill branch manager, enjoys connecting with community members, promoting lifelong learning, and helping people discover the resources and opportunities the library has to offer. 

Jenny and Adam talk us through what their patrons are currently seeking in the adult fiction space as well as the strategies they’ve used to get these titles into the right hands. Their lively presentation addresses the “I want it now” mentality characteristic of their typical patron: Folks who seek titles while they’re “hot”; expect full series runs from author backlists; and hope to discover the next sleeper hit before it explodes in popularity.

Together, Jenny and Adam answer two questions familiar to all librarians: What resonates with readers in our community? And how do library customers discover new titles and stay engaged?

Library correspondent Silvia Lin Hanick is chairperson of the library department at LaGuardia Community College (CUNY) in New York.