Introducing Follett List Notifications

Public library selectors spend a large share of time searching for titles: scanning review journals, tracking publisher catalogs, and checking author backlists one name at a time. The new Follett List Notification Program takes that search off your plate. Choose the audiences and list types you collect for, and curated book lists arrive in your Titlewave^® inbox with an email notification.

You review every title and decide what to order.

What’s the Follett List Notification Program?

The Follett List Notification Program is a free service from Follett Content that delivers curated book lists to public libraries. Libraries choose audience levels and list types, then the lists arrive in Titlewave with an email alert, and library staff review every recommendation before deciding what to purchase.

The program evolved out of what public librarians told us they needed – help keeping up with new releases, popular authors, and starred-reviewed titles that are easy to miss between review cycles, and they wanted those lists delivered straight to their Titlewave accounts.

Which book lists can public libraries receive?

Follett Content offers four list types, with 10 selectable lists across children’s, young adult, and adult audience levels:

1. Follett Street Date Program: weekly lists of select high-demand fiction and nonfiction available for preorder, with delivery ahead of the publisher release date
2. Fundamentals: monthly lists of must-have prepublication titles from key publishers, often available before review citations appear
3. Starred Reviews: monthly lists of titles with at least one starred review from an industry-leading book review journal
4. Popular Authors: monthly lists of new releases from more than 700 tracked authors at every audience level

Each list is curated by the Follett Content public library team, so recommendations reflect what public library patrons ask for and borrow.

Does signing up order books automatically?

No. A list notification is a recommendation, not a purchase. Signing up for Follett List Notifications doesn’t place orders or trigger shipments. Library staff review suggested titles in Titlewave, modify the list as needed, and place an order only when they’re ready.

That distinction matters for acquisitions workflows. A standing order generally authorizes a supplier to send materials based on agreed selection criteria, without a separate order for each title. List notifications keep every purchasing decision with library staff, so selectors can weigh each title against collection development policy, existing holdings, holds data, and budget.

How do list notifications save selection time?

Curated lists reduce discovery work while keeping your professional judgment at the center. Instead of remembering to check for a favorite author’s next release or a newly starred young adult title, the list comes to you. 

Here’s how the program fits into a typical selection routine:

• A children’s librarian who buys every new title from a favorite author no longer has to remember to check for it
• A young adult selector uses the Starred Reviews list to surface award-caliber titles between review cycles
• A front-list buyer acts on Street Date lists early, so in-demand titles are cataloged and ready to circulate on release day

Street Date lists pair especially well with preordering. Melanie Bruchet, Assistant Director at Mahwah Public Library in New Jersey, saw the difference with her library’s first Street Date Program shipment: “Thanks to the Follett Street Date Program, we now have these books a full week and a half before their publication dates.”

How much does the Follett List Notification Program cost?

Nothing. There is no fee to receive Follett List Notifications, and creating a Titlewave account is free. Subscribing to notifications is separate from purchasing books. When you order, Follett Content offers more than 3.7+ million books in stock and a 98% fulfillment rate.

How do public libraries sign up for list notifications?

Setup comes down to one decision: Which audiences and list types should your library receive? To get started:

1. Confirm your Titlewave username, or create a free Titlewave account
2. Complete the sign-up form and select your audience levels and lists
3. Look for your first lists in your Titlewave inbox and email, typically within a few weeks 

You can change your selections at any time by resubmitting the form as collection priorities or selection responsibilities shift.

Choose Your Lists

Not yet a Titlewave user? Create a free account first!