Loan Stars is the readers' advisory tool that allows libraries across Canada to indicate popular upcoming titles. Using LibraryData, the library data aggregation service, the forthcoming titles with the most orders become Loan Stars top picks! Along with Adult and Junior lists, Loan Stars periodically releases lists identifying the top-ordered Canadian-authored titles as well as genre-specific lists.
To be eligible for top pick status, a book must be:
publishing for the first time;
forthcoming;
English-language;
on order at reporting libraries; and
listed in BNC CataList.
But how can your books become Loan Stars picks?
The Loan Stars schedule
Adult List | Junior and Specialty Lists | Data Dates |
January & February 2023 pub dates | Junior January & February 2023 pub dates | December/January 2023 |
March 2023 pub dates | Specialty March pub dates - Canadian Adult | February 2023 |
April 2023 pub dates | Junior March & April pub dates | March 2023 |
May 2023 pub dates | Specialty May pub dates - Canadian Junior | April 2023 |
June 2023 pub dates | Junior May & June pub dates | May 2023 |
July 2023 pub dates | Specialty July pub dates - Can subjects?/Beach reads? | June 2023 |
August 2023 pub dates | Junior July & August pub dates | July 2023 |
September 2023 pub dates | Specialty September pub dates - | August 2023 |
October 2023 pub dates | Junior September & October pub dates | September 2023 |
November 2023 pub dates | Specialty November pub dates | October 2023 |
December 2023 pub dates | Junior November & December pub dates | November 2023 |
Best of the Brightest - Books of the Year - December 2023 - Librarian Survey | ||
The Adult lists are released every month. For example, the May list will be released during the first weeks of April.
For the Loan Stars Jr. list, the schedule operates slightly differently: Instead of releasing 12 lists per year, or one per month, Loan Stars Jr. releases six lists per year, or one every two months. This list is intended for younger audiences, including picture books, middle grade, and YA fiction and non-fiction.
Finally with LibraryData we will have the ability to produce specialty lists that highlight particular titles written by Canadian contributors, or featuring specific subjects, or focusing on regional lists.