Lawrence Public Library Adds Personality to the Catalog and Website to Enhance its Readers Advisory Services

Lawrence Public Library transformed their library catalog and website into an accessible and interactive digital destination with BiblioCore and BiblioWeb. Now patrons can go to the virtual library and connect online with librarians and other patrons to find books, resources, and events that are specific to their interests and preferences. They’ve improved the patron experience, expanded their digital communications and programs, and built a growing and diverse online community.

Objectives

Lawrence Public Library recognizes that keeping up with technological advances is critical to staying relevant as information providers and community centers. The library is always looking to rethink traditional library services and innovate to find ways to help and inspire people to connect more deeply as a community and access essential resources.

While Lawrence Public Library was committed to excellent customer service in person, they didn’t have the same level of service for their online catalog. They needed the right software to help their personalities shine online as much as they did in person. They also recognized that the search for books and resources is what makes the catalog the number one service point for patrons. So, they set out to deliver a simple and effective catalog for visitors to use, aid in their discovery, and keep them coming back for more.

Solutions

Lawrence Public Library launched the BiblioCore discovery layer and the BiblioWeb content management system to power experiences that integrate the catalog and its smart search features with the rest of their website. The strong connection between the catalog and website instantly created consistent and rewarding interactions for library visitors.            

To make an impact online, Lawrence Public Library enabled their Book Squad librarians to develop personalized profiles to engage their patrons better. The Book Squad librarians use the integration between BiblioCore and BiblioWeb to showcase their personalities and preferences. Via the website, they connect with readers and promote their reading recommendations, blog posts, and lists that support pop culture happenings, current affairs, and local events. They have also been better able to identify and cater to patron needs and interests by adding more book reviews.

Another benefit is the time savings afforded by using BiblioCore and BiblioWeb. Instead of creating new content every time, library staff can repurpose existing content on their website, blog, and events calendar.

“We make a point to add a lot of book reviews because we know that’s the place in the catalog our readers are engaging us. The more book reviews we have, the better curated experience we have. They can see our book reviews and reviews from other people in the community and elsewhere through BiblioCommons.” 

Polli Kenn, Reader Services Coordinator at Lawrence Public Library

Results

Lawrence Public Library has developed a much more curated experience for its visitors and patrons. They promote their unique custom content and connect their library patrons with the mass of community-contributed content that is shared across all BiblioCommons libraries. Registered BiblioCommons users can post and share reviews and lists, making it an incredible opportunity to learn and explore the wealth of content in the catalog.

Being on a shared platform with many other libraries also benefits Lawrence Public Library. It gives the staff a window into the ideas and best practices of their peers, hidden gems, and the biggest libraries all in one platform. For example, they’ve learned how to effectively repurpose content so as to save time and free their resources for growing their programs and helping their patrons, be it in person or online.

“When you connect with one of us on BiblioWeb, you can click through to find us in the catalog, you can see all the blog posts
that we’ve written, you can see all the lists that we’ve made, and you can connect to our personalized reading recommendations. It’s
been really wonderful to continue our mission to get people to
connect with us as readers as well.”

Polli Kenn, Reader Services Coordinator at Lawrence Public Library

Future

The digital library experience has successfully come to the forefront, setting Lawrence Public Library on a new trajectory to make its online experience as engaging as coming through the library’s doors. To build this experience, the library leverages BiblioCore and BiblioWeb’s rich toolsets to personalize its website to reflect not just its brand, but its activities, events, and – above all – the voices and personalities of its staff. Their goal for the future is to build on this platform to reach more people in the community.