« Swindon | Main | Sitting Down To Read »
August 1, 2009
What do people read?
Think for a minute of the book, or books, you are reading at present.
If it or they were published since last Christmas, broadly speaking, in the jargon of publishers, it or they are a 'frontlist' title or titles.
Otherwise they are 'backlist'.
I could have asked the same question about music you choose to listen to.
This balance between 'front list' and 'backlist' is one that occupies the minds of publishers, booksellers and librarians. Publishers devote huge amounts of advertising effort on their front list, knowing that within six months, they will move on to something else.
People are often suprised about how much of what is read is 'backlist' . But then most of what has been written and is available to read is 'backlist' . Rather more than 99% of the books around us, in fact.
But oddly, having said that, in a whole set of visits to libraries recently I have observed that not only are the backlist collections missing a lot of what one might have hoped to find, but the front list collections are almost non existent. It has always been my theory that if libraries don't have what people want to read, then what they contain is what people don't want to read, and there is lot of that about, too.
There is a promotion currently operating called 'Quick Reads' for which the idea seems to be that the book will be loaned to you for a week. But many of the books on the stand looked to me to be far too long to be read in a week (and I am quite a diligent reader). And most libraries have the leaflets that announce the selections made by Richard and Judy, that might well be enjoyable summer reading, but it is hard to find the actual books. Apart from those I found I struggle to see the titles that publishers are advertising as their 'front list' - of any kind.
But I do find good advance warning that the libraries will be shut for the August Bank Holiday.
Posted by Perkins at August 1, 2009 9:47 AM
Comments
I am currently reading Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. 653 pages, so a decent read, and long listed for the Booker. Definately front list. There are 62 copies in my library service catalogue, and 50 reservations. I waited a week for it, and I can keep it for three weeks, so of course there aren't any copies on the shelves. Not on the shelvs means someone is reading it, which is the object of the exercise. This time next year the whingers will be complaining that there are too many copies of the same book on the shelves and not enough of the new front list, although it will still be a great book. A lending library is not the same as a bookshop, and shouldn't try to be.
Posted by: Diana at August 1, 2009 12:07 PM
Diana
I agree with you, it was a rather whingy entry that I made, but there are those of us who say that when the amount of money spent on book acquisitions has fallen to below 8% of library funding, then that is so low a level that the expectation of finding what one wants to read has fallen too low.
People talk about making libraries attractive and useful to people are not habitual users and the absence of stock is always one of main the reasons that is given for not using the library.
Posted by: Tim Coates at August 1, 2009 12:40 PM
I get frustrated by the fact that I can frequently find multiple copies of popular 'frontlist' paperbacks, on the shelves in my local library, yet am unable to find the 'backlist' titles, which I want to read or reread.
I have to rely on the reservation service, which thankfully is free in my libary authority.
However I recognise that librarians are under constant pressure to improve issue figures and they believe that stocking multiples of popular titles is the easiest way to do this.
I am currently reading 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' by the way.
Posted by: Ex Librarian at August 3, 2009 7:05 AM
I completely agree, but do you not think that this is also a direct result of Government policy? our libraries have been neglected for way too long, and in many cases the government has not seen the funding as important. I feel strongly this is an issue very much related to the falling standards of literacy in this country. More funding should be made available, as with better stocks libraries may see an increase in visitors. we can never progress if the tools are not in place.
Posted by: Robin John Morgan at August 3, 2009 11:21 AM
The vocabulary used, and my source, Bookseller, cause me to believe the comments were made by British readers. Acquisition money has been cut in Canada too. It is particularly irksome that the CD format is often cut, since I cannot read regular print. There can be multi copies of a regular print, not a great many holds, but nothing for CD listeners or large print readers.
Posted by: Evelyn at August 3, 2009 3:50 PM
I think the term 'whingers' reveals a great deal - The people Diana refers to are readers or potential readers, and offering valuable comment on the state of the bookstock. Commercial enterprises pay a lot of money for just such feedback on the services they provide.
Posted by: Martyn at August 5, 2009 11:58 AM
I absolutely agree, but i think something to be done seriously on the library hours so that working time must be through out all the days in rotation like in the police stations.
Posted by: Nicco Aron at February 28, 2010 1:05 PM