How Librarians Choose the Best Magazine Subscriptions

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Both Greenwalt and Gray are enthusiastic about the digital magazine service they have purchased through Zinio. They have promoted the offering through their websites, fliers, and face-to-face conversations with patrons.

  1. Content

For many readers, magazines are the most familiar format on their reading list. Even if they don’t read them cover-to-cover, magazines provide a sense of familiarity and a known quantity that can help orient new or infrequent readers to the medium. As such, libraries that offer magazine subscriptions see high usage and satisfaction among their users, especially atypical and reluctant readers.

Magazine content can range from educational to light-hearted to serious, depending on the publication’s niche and mission. However, no matter the topic or style, magazines must always have a framework that sets them apart from other similar publications. This framework can include the length of articles, the content type (e.g., feature versus editorial), the voice and tone, and more. Without a clear framework, readers can quickly become disoriented and lose the sense of purpose that draws them to the magazine in the first place.

The best magazine content reflects the passions, interests, and expertise of its staff and contributors. In turn, the reader feels like they have a connection to the publication and its goals. This is particularly important when it comes to education, where the content can be used as a supplement to classroom learning or even to help students find information on their own.

In addition to content, magazines can also diversify their brand by hosting events or donating funds to charities that align with their audience’s values. For example, a fitness magazine may host a marathon to raise money for a specific cause. Similarly, a food and drink magazine might sponsor a cooking or bartending class.

Digital magazine publishing is changing the way libraries acquire and read media. Many publishers are now experimenting with different subscription models to meet the needs of their customers. Some offer single issues, subscriptions, “buffets” and package deals (like Zinio’s Z-Pass). Regardless of which platform libraries choose to use, it is vital that they have access to high-quality and diverse digital magazine content to serve the needs of their patrons.

  1. Format

When choosing magazine subscriptions for your library, consider the format of each publication. A traditional print magazine typically has a cover that announces the title and contains a table of contents. In contrast, an online magazine will be designed with a more dynamic interface that can include slideshows, videos, and web widgets. This can make it easier for users to navigate through the content and find exactly what they’re looking for.

If you’re thinking of adding a digital version of your magazine, be sure to choose one that offers flexible subscription options. Many publishers offer a variety of different subscription packages, including six-month and annual options. Bundling these packages allows customers to save money on the cost of the magazine while still allowing them to receive the same number of issues as they would with an individual subscription.

In addition to offering flexible subscription options, it’s also important to find a payment processor that provides easy ways to manage payments for magazines. This will help to reduce the amount of time spent managing billing and payments, and it will ensure that customers are billed on time and don’t have to worry about their subscriptions expiring.

Digital subscriptions are a good choice for libraries because they allow patrons to read magazines on their computers and mobile devices. They’re also more convenient than physical copies, which require that users visit the library to borrow them. Additionally, most digital magazine services offer a wide selection of titles that can be filtered by genre and audience to ensure that users are getting the most relevant content.

Another advantage of digital magazine subscriptions is that they don’t expire like library e-books. This means that patrons can keep reading their favorites as long as they want. For example, the digital magazine service RBdigital from Recorded Books, which offers its subscribers access to 850 magazines, does not limit the number of titles that can be “checked out” or restrict users’ access based on their lending history. This gives libraries an opportunity to market their digital subscriptions as a way to keep their patrons engaged in their favorite publications.

  1. Value

Magazine subscriptions offer good value for readers who want to keep up with the latest news on a variety of topics. In addition to being an entertaining source of information, many magazines also provide valuable lifestyle tips and recommendations for products that can help people save time and money in their everyday lives.

Subscribers can enjoy the added benefit of a discount on their magazine subscriptions by choosing from a wide selection of subscription options offered by Magsstore. This online retailer offers reading samples of various titles before committing to a full subscription, making it easier for customers to choose the best magazine for them. The company also makes it easy for subscribers to renew or gift their subscriptions, helping them stay up to date with their favorite publications.

In today’s increasingly partisan and politically divisive world, it is important for libraries to continue to offer resources that are unbiased and non-partisan. Magazines are a great way for librarians to share valuable news and information with their patrons and students. While social media can be a useful resource for staying current on breaking news, many people find that nothing beats a well-written newspaper or magazine article.

When choosing magazine subscriptions for their libraries, librarians should be aware that some companies may try to take advantage of them by misleading customers. For example, some magazine telemarketers may make false claims about the cost of the subscription or its ability to be canceled. In addition, they may also offer bogus “free” gifts that are often worth far less than advertised.

To avoid falling victim to these scams, librarians should only work with reputable publishers that the Federal Trade Commission licenses. These licensed publishers must abide by strict ethical standards. In addition, they should provide clear information about the cost of the subscription, including any renewal or gifting options.

To maximize the value of their magazine subscriptions, librarians should consider bundling titles together to create a package that is both affordable and convenient for customers. This option can be especially beneficial for library systems that offer digital versions of their magazines. For example, the popular Booklist-Digital Magazine offers librarians and their patrons diverse book and audiobook recommendations for all ages.

  1. Customer Service

With budgets squeezed in recent years, it’s been challenging for libraries to keep their magazine collections current. Andrew Fletcher, area manager for Newcastle upon Tyne libraries in the west of England, explains that with some titles costing £25 per issue, the amount spent on subscriptions can make or break the library’s collection.

That’s why he and other Newcastle libraries switched to Unique Magazines, which offers a single subscription service for more than 100 titles. A single agency manages the subscriptions, so there’s no risk of multiple invoices or fees. Plus, the agency’s service includes free RBdigital access for libraries’ patrons, which makes it easier to find and read the latest issues of magazines on any device.

Another way that Unique helps libraries save money is by offering multi-year subscriptions, which can be staggered to help spread out the annual cost of the titles. This allows the libraries to save 10-15% on their annual subscription costs.

As for the benefits of a digital magazine subscription, they are easy to integrate into existing library services. The Libby app and library websites include magazines, which don’t count against checkout limits or require holds like e-books do. They also last much longer than library e-books, with most magazines lasting for an unlimited number of checkouts.

Skokie libraries started offering digital magazines in the summer of 2011. Since then, usage has increased dramatically. Toby Greenwalt, virtual services coordinator, says they promote the availability of digital magazines with fliers in the library, on their website, and through face-to-face conversations with patrons.