Hello, Opportunity: What I Learned from Public Librarians

Hello Kitty sold thousands of library cards.

That's not a typo.

At the October 2026 Library Journal Directors’ Summit, a Los Angeles County library leader shared how a Hello Kitty-themed campaign, amplified on social media, inspired thousands of people to sign up for library cards. As someone who appreciates the power of a pink brand collaboration, I loved it.

And that was just one example. Public library leaders described poetry nights, gardening clubs, karaoke, Adult Battle of the Books, and reading challenges. One library is planning a car show to connect women with trade careers and practical learning opportunities.

Public librarians are finding inventive ways to bring their communities together. And I left the Summit thinking about what they need from partners like Follett Content to make those ideas possible.

Listening to what matters most

I joined a panel at the Summit and spoke with library leaders from across the country. It was an opportunity to learn from the people shaping the future of public libraries and reinforce Follett Content’s commitment to being an active, invested partner in this community.

And their message was clear: they want dependable partners who understand their work and make it easier.

As the library supply landscape changes, librarians are looking for flexibility, reliability, and choice. They need books to arrive when promised, ordering to fit existing workflows, and support when challenges arise.

We’ve heard the same needs in our ongoing Public Library Advisory Board meetings. That feedback is shaping our investments, including EDI integration, Grid Ordering, Brief MARC Records, customized processing, and programs that help librarians discover and receive high-demand titles. These improvements start with the people who use them, and we’ll keep listening as their needs evolve.

Connecting school and public libraries

On the panel, we also discussed how school and public librarians can work together to get more books into readers’ hands. Some described strong local partnerships. Others spoke candidly about the pressures that make collaboration harder. But the interest in stronger connections was unmistakable.

Follett Content has a special opportunity here. For generations, we’ve supported school librarians as they help students discover books and develop a love of reading. We’re continuing that commitment while expanding how we serve public librarians, who support those readers throughout their lives.

Think of a child who finds a favorite author at school, then heads to the public library for the next book in the series. Or a family whose first library experience is story time or the summer reading program at their neighborhood branch.

Reading doesn’t begin or end at the school doors. Neither should the partnerships that support it.

Building partnerships that last

Summit conversations also reflected the pressures librarians face, from uncertain funding to growing demands on limited resources. When every collection dollar matters, a dependable supplier can make a real difference.

Our job is to make ordering easier, provide accurate cataloging and processing, deliver books reliably, and respond when librarians need help. Just as important, we need to recognize that no two library systems work exactly alike.

Trust isn’t earned through one conversation or one successful order. It grows through consistent service over time.

The opportunity ahead

I keep coming back to those Hello Kitty library cards. A creative idea brought thousands of people through library doors. Across the country, public librarians are finding new ways to spark that same connection.

At Follett Content, we want to help them follow through, with the books, services, and partnership their communities count on.

That's an opportunity we’re excited to be part of.

-- Britten

Learn how Follett Content helps public libraries quickly deliver the titles their communities want.