What Do I Check Out Next?

About the Program

Category: Libraries (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

Montgomery County Public Libraries’ (MCPL) “What Do I Check Out Next?” online readers’ advisory service grew out of a question. How can MCPL connect customers beyond its walls with its librarians and share their passion for reading? The purpose of this service is to connect MCPL customers with the right book at the right time wherever the customer may be. To use this service, customers complete an online form entitled, “What Do I Check Out Next?” The form asks for the customer’s name, email address, and types of books and authors the customer wants to read. Additionally, the customer can also describe the authors and books they enjoy (or authors they don’t enjoy), the genres they like, target audience (children, teens, and/or adults), and preferred formats (books, e-books, CD books, audiobooks, and/or large print). A librarian from MCPL’s team then emails the customer back with an exciting, personalized list and description of 3 to 5 books they recommend from MCPL’s catalog. The librarian explains why the customer will enjoy the books based on the customer’s input. The outcome has been overwhelmingly positive since the creation of “What Do I Check Out Next?” in May 2015, generating hundreds of requests, with many customers returning to use the service for more recommendations. Customers who have used the service are very diverse, including students, teachers, retirees, commuters, book club members, non-readers, workers, lifelong learners, homebound customers and customers whose English is not their first language. The service has allowed MCPL to reach out to the County’s diverse communities beyond MCPL’s walls, link customers to reading experts, and fulfill MCPL’s mission to connect people to ideas and information which sustain and enrich their lives. It also helps MCPL fulfill one of its FY17-20 Strategic Plan goals: to create a more Literate Montgomery County.