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.
Eligible label display in CataList
The Eligible label displays on forthcoming titles in CataList to indicate titles that potentially could be ordered in time to make a future Loan Stars list. Referring to the criteria above, promote your titles to your library contacts at reporting libraries to request they order them.
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 | 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 | ||
Notes about the Schedule
Adult lists are released every month in advance of publication date, with the exception of the January/February list. 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: Loan Stars Jr. releases six lists per year, or one every two months. This list is intended for younger audiences, including Fiction and Non-Fiction picture books, middle grade, and Young adult titles.
Finally with LibraryData we will have the ability to produce specialty lists that will highlight particular titles by Canadian contributors, feature specific subjects, or focus on regional lists. These lists are scheduled to be produced six times per year, once every two months, in the months when the Jr. list is not published.
Share your Loan Stars picks with the supply chain.
Once your book has been picked, you can promote it through your ONIX as an Endorsement.
The ONIX 2.1 Method | ||||||
List | Code | Name | When to use | Notes | Example content | What it looks like in ONIX 2.1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
33 | 30 | Unpublished Endorsement | Title becomes a Loan Stars pick | In this case, the designation of a Loan Stars top pick acts as an endorsement. Your title was endorsed by Canadian library staff. | Loan Stars September 2018 Top Pick |  |
33 | 08 | Review Quote | Your book has garnered a review. | Your review quote selection should adhere to the Canadian Fair Use Guidelines. | The Book was Chewy? by Homer S. Published on: Sept. 3, 2018 in The Springfield Shopper "This book is like a big bowl of pasghetti with lots of momatoes." |  |
The ONIX 3.0 Method | |||||||
List | Code | Name | When to use | Notes | Example content | What it looks like in ONIX 3.0 | |
153 | 09 | Unpublished Endorsement | Title becomes a Loan Stars pick. | Loan Stars September 2018 Top Pick |  | ||
153 | 06 | Review Quote | A publication reviews your book. | The Cedar House Rules by Critic McCriticson A well-defined, heart-wrenching tribute to Arbour Day. 4 out of 5 Maple Leaves
April 3, 2018 |  | ||