Key Takeaways:
- Promote the NoveList Reading Challenge: Use the 2026 monthly genre-based challenges and curated title lists to engage patrons and encourage exploration of new genres.
- Leverage Seasonal & Curated Lists: Access ready-made, themed reading lists in NoveList Plus to create timely book displays and keep patrons returning throughout the year.
- Use NoveList for Personalized Discovery: Help readers mix and match appeals, themes, and genres to find books that match their moods and tastes, inspiring ongoing reading momentum.
As we begin to look toward 2026, now is a great time to think about ways your library can drive patron engagement in the new year. A recent study shows that the number of Americans who read for pleasure has dramatically declined in recent years. This is concerning because we know the benefits of reading are numerous and lifelong. How can libraries help reverse this trend? How can you spark excitement about reading and keep readers interacting with the library and your collection all year long?
Reading challenges are a great way to motivate patrons to read more, expand a reader's worldview, or allow for a sense of accomplishment when milestones are met. Reading challenges also offer a chance to increase circulation and physical visits to the library. Patrons participating in reading challenges visit the library more often to check out books or claim incentives. This gives you opportunities to offer personalized recommendations, provide indirect readers’ advisory with displays, or promote your programs, resources, and services.
You, the library staff, are the key to helping readers meet their reading goals. No matter what metrics or criteria patrons use, success starts with finding a great book. You bring a deep knowledge of books and reading trends to the table, making recommendations that spark excitement and motivate readers to keep going. But it’s hard to stay current with new releases and hidden gems, and offer both personalized suggestions and broad, indirect recommendations to reach every type of reader.
This is where NoveList Plus comes in. Our book experts compliment your work to support and encourage everyone to read what they like, and to read often! And, in turn, we’re making it easy for you. Here are three ways to take advantage of NoveList Plus to connect with your readers.
Tip #1: Take part in the NoveList Reading Challenge
You don’t need to come up with your own reading challenges (unless you want to!) Our 2026 NoveList Reading Challenge is designed specifically to help readers find what they like. Each month starting in January, we’ll focus on a different genre. You’ll find a list of carefully selected titles that highlight the variety within the genre, different appeals, themes, or subgenres. Even if readers don’t think they like horror or science fiction, they will be surprised to discover that with the right combination of story elements they can find something that speaks to them.
You can encourage readers to take part in the NoveList Reading Challenge by sharing our monthly prompts and curated lists. Use these to make in-house displays, post prompts and titles on social media like Sargent Memorial Library, and add them to your email newsletters. You can even incentivize the challenge, as Iredell County Public Library does.
Tip #2: Feature unique and seasonal lists
Our team of passionate readers, current and former librarians, and overall book experts are always putting together custom reading lists in new and intriguing ways. You can peruse them all in NoveList Plus and use them as a shortcut to book display ideas and titles that will have your patrons exceeding their reading goals in no time.
Our Seasonal reads are especially helpful for engaging readers all year long. Because these lists are timely, and well, seasonal, they are a no-sweat way to keep your displays fresh and relevant. And they almost create a sense of urgency. After all, now is the time to grab a book from the “Winter is Coming” or “Holiday Mysteries” display. Check NoveList Plus monthly for new lists to keep your patrons coming back for more.
Tip #3: Let serendipity inspire you
The next time you’re talking to a reader who doesn’t quite know what they want, take them to NoveList to mix and match story elements. Our appeals, themes, and genres can guide them to something new to try. Ask your reader how they want to feel once a story is finished. Do they have a preference for story length, or style, or setting? NoveList Plus has a plethora of suggestions to match all the interests of your readers.
For example, your reader may tell you they love a book that feels like a movie. They may not use the word cinematic, but you know you can match that term with other appeal factors like moving, and historical fiction to help them find the right book. NoveList Plus encourages this kind of exploration! And by mixing and matching you can get different reading experiences that match an individual reader’s tastes. It may be that uninspired readers just need to see some suggestions to discover an unexpected favorite!
Bonus: Here are a few extra tips to help you, help patrons exceed their reading goals this year.
- Set up personalized book alerts. Search alerts from NoveList Plus are a great way for readers to keep up with what they like. Encourage patrons to set up search alerts to get notified anytime we add a new title to NoveList Plus from their favorite author, in that series they’re in the middle of, and more.
- Use Projects to collect and organize your reading lists. Projects are perfect for creating a list of books you want to read or keeping track of what you have read. Anyone participating in a reading challenge can use projects to track their progress!
Ready to make 2026 your library’s best reading year yet? With NoveList Plus by your side, you’ll have the tools to inspire, engage, and delight readers at every turn. Let’s help patrons discover books they love, exceed their reading goals, and keep the joy of reading alive—all year long. Here’s to new stories, new challenges, and a year full of possibilities!
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Lauren Campbell is a NoveList Librarian. She is currently reading The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
