Shelf-Ready Services for Public Libraries: 5 Takeaways from Our Webinar

New books arrive, and then the list starts: cataloging, processing, and matching call numbers to your library’s own rules. Every step stands between a new title and the patron who's waiting for it.

During our Shelf-Ready Services webinar, Trisha Vreeman, Custom Library Services Director, and Corrine Lagacy, Professional Services Manager, showed public library staff how shelf-ready services shorten the trip from delivery truck to shelf. Missed the live session? Watch it on demand.

Here’s what they covered.

1. Shelf-ready means straight from the box to the shelf.

With shelf-ready services, every book in your order arrives fully cataloged and processed to your exact specifications. No unpacking into a backlog and no local rework required!

The scale behind it matters, too. Follett Content keeps 3.7+ million print books in stock, processes more than 50,000 items a day, and works with 18,000+ publishers and partners. That adds up to a 98% fulfillment rate and free five-day shipping on in-stock print.

2. Brief records get books moving; full records keep them findable.

Trisha and Corrine walked through real MARC records at both levels.

Brief MARC records carry just enough to load into your ILS and start circulating: ISBN, author and title, publisher and year, a summary note, and a locally defined 9XX tag set up for your ILS. Full cataloging follows separately.

Full level records are the permanent record for classification, discovery and shelving. They add Dewey classification, your shelf-ready call number and item tag, subject headings for both children’s and general collections, genre and form headings, and added entries for illustrators and co-creators.

3. Every cataloging service covers the essentials.

Whichever level you choose, every record ships ready to load, with:

• 100% cataloging coverage: every title gets a full MARC record before it ships.
• Reading program data: Accelerated Reader™ and Reading Counts!® reading level and point value, on the record and the label.
• Authority control: author, subject and series headings matched to national authority files.
• Series cuttering and volume numbering: multi-part series shelve in the right order.
• Dewey or LC classification: whichever matches your existing collection.
• Item-specific holding tags: each piece carries a unique barcode tag tied to your ILS.
• Custom call numbers: built to your rules by collection, literary form and age level, such as Easy, Juvenile or YA.

4. The ordering that works with your ILS.

Grid ordering currently integrates with Evergreen, Koha, Polaris, Sierra, SirsiDynix and TLC. Pair that with one-click ordering and electronic acknowledgements and invoicing, and your records and paperwork land where you already work.

The session also previewed processing and label options, including new labels built specifically for public library collections.

5. Getting started is guided (and Titlewave is free).

Custom onboarding starts with a conversation. Corrine meets with libraries as they come on board, translates their cataloging needs into specifications, and offers guidance wherever things need more clarity.

Along the way, you have free access to Titlewave®, Follett Content’s ordering platform built for librarians, with book lists for every audience and professional reviews. Free curation support, Opening Day Collections and the Follett Street Date Program round out the offerings. New to Titlewave? Create a free account or watch the Titlewave 101 webinar on demand.

What’s on the roadmap?

Trisha and Corrine also shared what’s coming next for shelf-ready services:

• New labels that support customized fonts, plus branch, date, bibliographic, alpha and barcode-format labels
• OCLC records
• Searching your library’s catalog
• Additional MARC customization
• Alternative classifications, such as BISAC or topical

See what's possible for your library.

Curious how your own cataloging rules would translate? Start with the Public Library Specs Form, and our team will take it from there. No pressure, just a look at what’s possible!

Learn more about public library services and programs.