The Morton-James Public Library introduced a "Reader of the Week" initiative in their local newspaper to promote reading. The library director approached the newspaper editor in 2015 to create a weekly feature where library staff would recruit community members to answer questions about their reading habits and recommendations. Over a year, the initiative recruited a diverse range of readers and provided free publicity for the library's collections and programs in the newspaper's "Library Notes" section following each interview.

1. READER OF THE WEEK
2016
MORTON-JAMES PUBLIC LIBRARY
NEBRASKA CITY, NE
morton-jamespubliclibrary.com

2. • Initiative introduced by new director 2015-
2016
• Partnership with local newspaper,
• Paper published 2x/week, circ 10,000
• Readers recruited by library staff to answer
questions for a weekly feature
THE BASICS

3. DIRECTOR’S INITIATIVE
• Approached newspaper editor, Fall 2015
• Created format with staff input
• All staff encouraged to recruit readers
• One staff member designated as coordinator
• Publication began January 2016

4. CONSIDERATIONS
• Basically, a free advertisement
• Add something every week about a service,
e.g. “ Did you know that you can check out
Watt Detectors at the library???”
• Create more awareness of reading for
pleasure
• Feature a variety of readers and materials

5. “So, what is the task?”
• “Grab/call/write anyone you think might be
interested in being in the paper and talk
about books. Ask them 4-6 questions about
reading.”
• “I just want to see passion for reading.”
• “Don’t imagine much more than 200 (max
300) words in total. We are trying to talk
about novels, not write them ”
• Names, titles, photo of reader/image

6. INTRODUCTION
Prelude to questions:
“We know quite a bit about our books here at
the library, but we want to know more about
you, our amazing readers. Every week we will
introduce a new reader from the community
and we strongly encourage everyone to visit
with us at the Morton-James Public Library
about being a future “reader of the week.”

7. RANGANATHAN would like this:
• Books are for use
• Every reader his/her book
• Every book its reader
• Save the time of the reader
• The library is a growing organism
Jeff Koterba, Omaha World-Herald, January 2012

8. ? THE QUESTIONS ?
1. What is the last book you read?
2. Who is your favorite author and what makes
him/her so great?
3. Why do you read?
4. Have you ever had to give up on a book?
5. Name a book you would recommend and tell
everyone why they should read it.
* “Library’s notes” followed reader’s answers

9. CONCLUSION
• “Thank you for answering these questions. If
there’s anything else you’d like to comment on
about your passion for reading, feel free to
share it here: …
• The newspaper would like to include a photo of
the reader with this feature. May we take your
picture? If you’re not comfortable with that we
totally understand and offer you the option of
taking a picture of you with a book in front of
your face, a “bookface”! We can show you an
example or two – they’re quite fun!”

10. LOGISTICS
• Coordinate schedule with readers and
newspaper to meet copy deadlines and allow
time to write “Library’s notes” section
• RECRUIT, RECRUIT, RECRUIT = MARKETING
– Within library
– Beyond – Rotary Club and other meetings,
coffee klatch
• Spreadsheet to track people approached

11. LOGISTICS continued…
• Readers could answer ?s on paper or by
e-mail
• Periodic updates provided at staff meetings,
and sent to staff via e-mail: readers in
pipeline, photos pending, etc.
• Provided newspaper with ALA graphics –

12. “LIBRARY’S NOTES”
• Followed each reader’s answers
• Listed library’s collection of each author/ title
mentioned by reader
• Opportunity to tout access, not just
ownership, e.g. ILL service, OverDrive
• Leveraged to highlight special promotions
and upcoming events, e.g. NLW, book club,
summer reading programs, etc.

13. SPREADSHEET

14. Library director
Library
volunteer
City
commissioner

15. • Retired bank
president
• Engaged
community
volunteer
Business
owner,
senior
services

16. Home-
schooled
9-yr old
College
President
ONE BOOK
ONE
NEBRASKA
Siblings, 2nd &
3rd graders

17. Retired
principal
2nd grade
teacher
Insurance
business-
woman
Retired
educator

19. MORE NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK

22. ARBOR DAY LIBRARY

23. • Hey kids!
• YOU TOO CAN BE A READER OF THE WEEK, LIKE
EMMA!
• To get started just ask the librarian 

24. MORE MAY…
2nd
grader,
Daisy
Meadows
fan
8th grader,
Peg
Kehret fan
Substitute
teacher

26. Homebound
patron
High school sophomore
Local
pastor

27. Children’s
library

28. S
Summer intern,
high school jr.
Fifth grader
Author,
aspiring
counselor

29. M
A
G
I
C !!!

30. 6TH grader,
Mike
Lupica
7th grader,
Rick Riordan fan
7th grader,
Margaret
Peterson
Haddix

31. Academic
librarian
High school
freshman,
Boy Scout
Library board
member

32. City employee—
museum director
Health care worker

33. MJPL library
clerk
High school
sophomore
Award-winning
Innkeeper

34. OCTOBER SURPRISE
• October 28, 2016
“Editor’s Note: For each week’s Friday News-
Press, the MJPL has been providing a reader of
the week profile. This week is a bit of a
departure from that feature as the MJPL
Director talks about the recent unfortunate
vandalism of the Library’s entry in the local
Scarecrow Contest…”

35. Storytime in the Pumpkin patch…

37. Retired
English
teacher
Local
educator
High
school
English
teacher

38. 2nd grader, fan
of Junie B.
Jones
Painter, art
teacher

40. PICTURE YOURSELF HERE –
YOU TOO CAN BE A …
READER OF THE WEEK!!!

42. Notebook example

43. • READER OF THE WEEK
• Nebraska City News-Press (NE) - September
30, 2016
• Newspaper
• Page: A6
• Words: 426 (Average count: 535)
• Readability: 10-12 grade level (Lexile: 1170)
(Average: 1240)
BONUS: Content indexed in

44. BONUS: Content indexed in
Readability, n = 33
9-12 grade
(1)
10-12
grade (4)
11-12
grade (17)
> 12 grade
(9)

45. MORE “BONUSES”…
• Catalyst for promotion, e.g. NLW, staff
profiles
• Call from California
• Boy Scout reader identified library as his
potential Eagle Scout project
• Budding magician identified, added a new
magic book to our collection
• Increased community conversations about
reading

46. THANK YOU!
Questions?
Denise Davis
Morton-James Public Library
dmdmjlib@gmail.com
READER OF THE WEEK =
+