I've always been a big fan of suggestion boxes and feedback options in libraries, so when I started here at St. Leo and there wasn't one, I figured, let's get that started! I pulled one together about a week ago and installed it up next to the circulation deck: just a small open wooden box, a stack of paper and pencils, and a sign asking for suggestions for books that students would like to see added to the collection, or library activities they (or faculty!) might enjoy.
It's been slow going at first. I had to explain to a LOT of students what the box was for, even after they read the sign, and furthermore they really weren't sure what the point of it was even then. Explaining that the library would try to purchase some of the books they liked helped some of them get the idea and enthusiastically add their requests, but others - usually the older kids, who were aware that the school didn't frequently get new materials in - still seemed skeptical that there was any point.
It's actually been a pretty fun time to help the younger grade students add suggestions; often, they know what they want, but aren't sure what it's called or how to write it down. I've been getting a good number of suggestions in the neighborhood of "more cooking books" or "pictures of horses" as well as specific titles or authors, but that's a nice barometer of what the kids like to read, especially at different grade levels.
Since purchasing is pretty infrequent, I've just been collecting the suggestions for now, which has also led to some conversations with students about why the item they asked for in it last week hasn't yet magically appeared, but we're slowly getting the whole process figured out as a school and set of patrons. In the meantime, at least I definitely know about some very in-demand series that, if I ever get that purchasing budget, would go over spectacularly!
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