On June 28, I left the sweltering heat of North Carolina and headed to sunny, breezy San Diego for the 2024 Annual Library Association Conference. Here are my five key takeaways from the event and how AdBiblio addresses each one!
THE FREEDOM TO READ
Perhaps the most talked-about topic of the entire conference was the urgency of defending the freedom to read. Headlined by award-winning poet, essayist and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib, the second-ever Rally for the Right to Read was held, celebrating the essential work of librarians in defending the freedom to read. One librarian I spoke with stressed just how much censorship was affecting their community, and their relentless effort to keep books on the shelves.
Here are some ways AdBiblio can help diverse and disputed books reach the right audience:
- Keyword targeting: Keywords like “banned books,” “freedom to read,” “Freedom to Read Foundation,” “Let Freedom Read Day,” “challenged children’s books”, etc. can be used to connect with interested readers.
- Foot Traffic ads: Targeting librarians, teachers, and parents in states with the highest number of banned or challenged books, including Texas, Florida, Missouri, Utah, and South Carolina. We can even be more specific, reaching people in public libraries in top banned book cities like Houston, Texas, Tampa, Florida, and Nashville, Tennessee.
DIVERSE REPRESENTATION
The diversity stage saw a continuous flow of attendees. Particularly popular sessions focused on Muslim representation in stories, neuro-inclusive Library Workplaces, Latinx readership, and more. In a presentation by the National Latino Media Study, I learned that 32% of Latino adults are avid readers, dedicating an average of 28.3 hours per week to reading books!
Our team has published multiple posts and case studies on reaching diverse audiences. Here are a few worth checking out:
- Four AdBiblio Ad Strategies for Juneteenth
- Three AdBiblio Ad Strategies for Pride Month
- Three AdBiblio Targeting Tactics for Hispanic Heritage Month
- AdBiblio Case Study: “She is a Haunting” from Bloomsbury
GRAPHIC NOVELS + GAMING
This year there was an entire stage dedicated to graphic novels and gaming, which is no surprise given how graphic novels and comics have taken the book world by storm!
AdBiblio has several ways to connect with the geek crowd, but here are a few of our most popular:
- Custom campaigns: Targeting graphic novel readers, comic enthusiasts, heavy gamers, cosplay enthusiasts, D&D fans, video game influencers, and more! You can click here to check out our recent post on reaching manga and comic book readers.
- Foot Traffic ads: Reaching shoppers in comic book stores, gaming stores, and conventions like NY Comic Con and San Diego Comic Con.
- Media comps: Serving ads to readers interested in graphic novel, comic, and video game adaptations like The Last of Us, Five Nights at Freddy’s, Mortal Kombat, Fallout, The Boys, and more!
THE POWER OF LIBRARIANS
I don’t need to emphasize the importance of librarians to their communities (we all know!), but I was once again struck by their significant influence in selecting books and authors for their communities.
Here are a few ways we can connect with readers, librarians and libraries:
- Foot traffic ads: Reaching niche readers and book buyers in public libraries, university libraries, museums, and similar institutions. We can also reach visitors of the nation’s largest public libraries, such as the Maricopa County Library District, the New York Public Library, and the Miami-Dade Public Library System.
- Custom campaigns: Ads specifically targeting librarians and school librarians.
- Keyword targeting: Using keywords such as “Librarian Book Recommendations,” “ask a librarian,” “Recommended Books from ALSC,” and “Librarian Recommended Reads” can effectively reach book buyers influenced by librarians.
THE AI REVOLUTION IS HERE
AI has certainly brought challenges to the book industry, but it seems that libraries are harnessing AI in numerous beneficial ways to benefit patrons’ experiences. For example, librarians are using platforms like OpenAI to help generate personalized recommendations for books, movies, and other content.
At AdBiblio, our in-house tech specialist, Will, continuously explores, tests, and integrates AI-driven innovations into our ad campaigns. Stay tuned for more updates as we prepare to introduce free video ads enhanced with AI capabilities!
Overall, my trip was a great success: I returned with a collection of picture books for my kids and gained new and exciting insights into the book industry. Several people said they’re excited for next year’s conference in Philadelphia, as it’s much closer to the NYC publishing hub. I’m already looking forward to it!
