ProQuest, Patron Point Launch New Reading Recommendation Service for Public Libraries
Patron Point Recommends™ automatically builds professional, library-branded newsletters that draw patrons to explore new content
DUBLIN, OHIO, January 19, 2021 – EdTech leader ProQuest has joined Patron Point, a library marketing automation partner, to build Patron Point Recommends – a new reading recommendation service that helps public libraries market content to their patrons, increasing engagement and usage.
Patron Point Recommends automatically creates eye-catching branded monthly newsletters for new titles from a library’s catalog enriched with LibraryThing recommendations, as well as and summaries and covers from the Syndetics Unbound™ service. The newsletters deliver patrons straight to the library catalog to place a hold on the titles or search for other content. They can also automatically promote events and other library news.
The newsletters are built and sent automatically – no staff time required – and based on flexible design templates to match the library’s other digital communications sent from Patron Point.
“The newsletters will provide our members with a missing communication opportunity. Having them automatically generated and sent out to our members is a real time-saver for us,” said Christina Lauver, Marketing and Public Relations Manager at Dauphin County Public Library in Pennsylvania.
Patron Point Recommends is now available as an add-on to every Patron Point subscription.
“We are delighted to be working with ProQuest to launch Patron Point to the public library market,” said Ian Downie, Vice President of Growth at Patron Point. “Libraries continue to look for ways to streamline their marketing and communications while more actively promoting their services. Patron Point Recommends harnesses our data and platforms to help libraries promote their content in a targeted way and show patrons more of the content they want.”
“By combining the rich data from Syndetics Unbound with Patron Point’s engagement platform, we will help libraries drive engagement and transform the patron experience,” said Doug McMillan, Vice President for Strategic Partnerships and Licensing for Data Products at ProQuest. “For years, libraries using Syndetics Unbound have benefited from the improved discovery and usage that recommendations provide. We’re excited to be able to work with Patron Point and bring the power of these recommendations to Patron Point Recommends.”
In the future, library staff can use Patron Point Recommends to promote their own “staff picks” titles, and patrons will receive alerts when their favorite authors or preferred content is added to the catalog.
Visit the Syndetics Unbound and Patron Point websites today to learn more.
About Patron Point
Patron Point is the first of its kind patron relationship management system built specifically for public libraries harnessing data from a wide range of library systems including the ILS, ebook platforms, event/PC/room booking systems, databases and website to build a unified view of the patron’s engagement with the library.
With Patron Point, libraries more fully engage their patron audience across multiple channels including email, website forms and pop ups, web widgets and social media tracking. Libraries can benefit immediately from a foundation of Proven Programs™ or create their own workflows that are customized to their unique user communities and needs. More information on Patron Point can be found on our website or more details on Recommends can be found here.
LibraryThing is an online service to help people catalog their books easily. You can access your catalog from anywhere – even on your mobile phone. Because everyone catalogs together, LibraryThing also connects people with the same books, comes up with suggestions for what to read next, and more.
About ProQuest (about.proquest.com)
ProQuest supports the important work in the world’s research and learning communities. The company curates six centuries of content – the world’s largest collection of journals, ebooks, primary sources, dissertations, news, and video – and builds powerful workflow solutions to help libraries acquire and grow collections that inspire extraordinary outcomes. ProQuest products and services are used in academic, K-12, public, corporate and government libraries in 150 countries.
Along with its companies and affiliates Ex Libris, Alexander Street, and Bowker, ProQuest helps its customers achieve better research, better learning and better insights. For more information, visit our ProQuest and Extraordinary Stories blogs, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.