What Motivates the Book Buyer?

From the Huffington Post:

What Motivates the Book Buyer?

Arielle Ford’s survey of her friends found:

“• I am in a few book clubs
• I always buy my favorite authors’ books the day they come out
• I read newspaper book reviews
• My friends recommend books
• I just go to the bookstore and see what jumps out at me
• I go by recommendations from magazines, emails and newsletters
• I am attracted to them by their title, and story summaries, and eye appealing artwork
• I am a back cover kind of gal! If it reads well, I buy it
• At my local bookstore, I read the shelf talkers (written by the staff) on which books they enjoyed and why
• I’m influenced by cross-promotion campaigns, like Amazon’s, where they keep track of book reviews I write and leave on their site, and so I get emails promoting new books coming out in that genre.”

So, what motivates the library book borrower? Is it the same? Is it because it’s free?

Are buyers and library borrowers identical?

Some ideas:

1. Ask.
2. Do a quick survey
3. Do focus groups
4. Ask about cost, convenience, barriers, etc.
5. Look at your website stats – how many come to your OPAC after visiting Amazon, Borders, or B&N?

Know your users.

Stephen