Libraries the new (?) tastemakers

One of the major reasons niche markets are expanding is not only because they are easier to access, but because of bit torrent, YouTube, media fire and all of the ways for people to share files for free. This makes people far more willing to try something new and outside of their established tastes. This is an area libraries have been excelling at long before the invention of the Internet. As Steven Colbert recently pointed out, at libraries, everything is free (unless you don't return those books).

Libraries already have systems in place for introduction people to new ideas, authors and tastes. Readers' advisory is a great way to introduce patrons to new books (music, videos ect.), authors and genres. It is also a good way to match books to patrons' interests. Recently I was helping a high school student find a book to read. While he was looking for an author he had read before, I asked his mother about his interests. Finding out the boy liked chess, I recommended a book about a teenage boy on a chase through Europe looking for a grand chess master. The boy was interested and took out the book. It is unlikely that without the recommendation he would have asked for a fiction book about chess.

Bibliographies are another way librarians match people with books. Fliers and bookmarks with recommended reading lists can be created for just about any interest. Many libraries have also been posting these types of lists on their web pages. BCCLS's teen page is a great example of what can be done with this. http://www.bccls.org/teens/bookBonanza/

Programing and guest speakers also help people develop new tastes and explore new interests in a familiar environment. People who don't want to travel to a museum may attend a lecture of a local artist at the library (or wander past the program and get 'sucked in' while looking for the newest People magazine).

Because libraries are still primarily physical places that have limited staff and budgets, they can not reach people the same way Amazon and eBay do (yet). However, with expanded inter library loan, collaboration between libraries and librarians to create content to help people find new niches, downloadable audio books and other digital services, libraries can expand the materials and services that they offer and reach greater numbers of people.

Will libraries ever go all the way down the long tail? Probably not, but we already have many of the necessary tools to help our patrons navigate increasing larger areas of this new territory.