> Interesting. I always assumed mysteries were among
the best circulators
in libraries. Also, does this mean the publishers >define
the library placement, not the librarians? Mark
No, publishers have no influence over where a library places
a book, except in the definition of the genre that the book
represents. For instance, if a publisher's press kit
identifies it as a mystery, so will the common review
journals (Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, Publisher's
Weekly). Some libraries do shelve by type of genre, but
others (like mine) have one long alphabetical arrangement to
its fiction. If a publisher identifies a book as a particular
genre, and a library uses separate areas for genre writing,
then a book will be placed in that category by the
library.
The problem is that hard boiled is not a genre. As we know, a
hard boiled novel could end up in fiction, mystery, or even
one of the other genres. However, there is no library I am
aware of that has a hard boiled section. Hard boiled is an
appeal (based on a style) for readers, and librarians do not
shelve by appeal. There is a movement afoot to define books
by appeal, but this is just in its infancy.
>Oh, they are. All genre fiction--mysteries, science
fiction, westerns,
romances--circulate far more than "mainstream" fiction.
>And I'm quite certain that they gross, per capita,
far more in the
bookstores, too. Jess.
In the meantime, mysteries are great circulators in a
library. They just are not great sellers in the real world.
So, libraries must scramble to get hardcovers early, before
they are remaindered and unavailable. I was with an author
recently who told me his first book's print run was reduced
from 5000 to 2500 before release, then it went on to be
nominated for an Edgar. By that time, the books were long
gone. This is opposed to print runs of 100000 to 300000 for
mainstream authors. You can see why the average genre mystery
authors are not even considered mid-list in the publishing
world.
>Frankly, I don't see any point in separating
non-fiction from fiction and
adult from children in a library. Anthony.
Now that would be a hard boiled library!
Best, GWN Gary Warren Niebuhr P. I. E. S. (Private
Investigator Entertainment Service) P. O. Box 341218
Milwaukee, WI 53234
piesbook@execpc.com http://www.execpc.com/~piesbook/piescatalog.html
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