Unshelve Your Collection - February Book Display Ideas

 

I know - the year has just begun but planning displays in advance will lead to better displays and less overall stress or trying to throw something together at the last minute. There are a number of month long events in February which can be celebrated. For these events, you can leave up displays for the entire month, switching out the focus if necessary.  For example, one of the most popular displays I have put up in February for Black  History Month is one dedicated to cookbooks by Black authors and biographies/memoirs of  Black chefs. Try to move beyond just history books to encompass other aspects of Black  history. One of my favorite lists on the internet is this one - 20 Black Picture Books That Aren't About Busses, Boycotts, or Basketball. It was created by Black librarian Scott Woods. I will also note that when Black staff members from my library have created Black History Month   displays, they always draw upon their own interests and help create a variety of displays that  draw upon parts of Black History and culture that don't always include the same topics that are usually used.  The other month-long events listed below definitely lead to displays with fiction, non-fiction, adult, or youth materials. Many of them could be tied to a presentation by a partner, active  program, or passive program. As far as how long to put them up, I usually suggest no more than one month. If you have  more ideas than you have space, rotate them out weekly or bi-weekly. Try to have fun with  them!

Month-Long Events Black History Month American Heart Month Great American Pie Month National Bird Feeding Month National Cancer Prevention Month National Cat Health Month National Embroidery Month National Wetlands Day  Weekly Observances 2-8: Children's Authors and Illustrators Week 7-14: National Marriage Week 9-15: Random Acts of Kindness Week; Jell-O Week;  Feb 27- Mar 2: National Pastry Week Days of Celebration 2: World Wetlands Day; Groundhog Day 4: World Cancer Day; National Mail Carrier Day 8: Safer Internet Day 11: National Day of Women and Girls in Science 12: Lincoln’s Birthday 14: Valentine’s Day 15: World Hippopotamus Day; International Childhood Cancer Day 17: President’s Day/Washington’s Birthday; Random Acts of Kindness Day

Welcome to 2025 - The Year We Unshelve Our Collections

 I am back at home after spending some time with friends for New Year's Eve. While we all re-evaluate what will be different in 2025, I want to encourage you to unshelve your collection more this year. I've chosen that well-used library phrase to describe taking books out of the stacks and moving them around your building to show off what treasures are in your stacks. 

Even if you have a small building and no fancy fixtures to use for a book display, you have a surface somewhere in the building that has space for a few book easels. Even without a sign, you can display books near your catalog computers, service desks, near the printers, on a cart anywhere in your building... Walk your building as if you are a patron and you will find places. 

Take pictures of titles on a theme and put them on your social media or blog. You can even create flyers with book lists and QR codes that link to your eBooks, library card registration information, and website. Partner with local businesses to put fliers in their buildings. Offer to create lists that complement special events or local celebrations. Spreading the word about the great titles in your collection needs to happen beyond the walls of your library. There are still people out there who don't know we offer digital books and audiobooks.  Every new user is a new library supporter who can potentially advocate for the library when it's necessary. 

Don't forget to archive the titles you displayed and put on lists either online or somewhere in your building so that they can be recalled for a curious patron. This idea from Gibson's Bookstore in Concord, NH is one of my favorites. That way anyone on staff can assist a patron who asks about a book that was on display a month ago.

If you would like staff training in passive readers advisory, including genre specific displays, book displays, displays that include passive programming, or passive readers advisory in general - please contact me at Lila [dot] Denning [at] gmail [dot] com. 

Book Display Idea - Using School Library Journal

I'm sure we all receive promotional emails not only from publishers and library vendors but from outlets like Library Journal and School Library Journal. Don't be so quick to delete them and move on. The staff at School Library has some really wonderful ideas that you can borrow for a book display or book list online. 

A recent mailing from them included an article called Reverse Engineering: Taylor Swift Inspired RA Tools in Canva. This February 2024 post from Karen Jensen (Teen Librarian Toolbox) includes several images she made in Canva. The idea of making readalike lists or displays for each of Taylor Swift's eras is one you could use throughout a month. 

Next up was 8 YA Thrillers That Blend Influencer Culture with Page-Turning Plots. While this article is about YA fiction, you could reproduce it with adult fiction as well. If you have non-fiction about influencer culture in your collection, you can add them. I would include some non-fiction about social media in general. 

This October interview by Amanda MacGregor called A ‘Fear Factor’ Rating Adds Spice to the YA Horror Halloween Season, a guest post by Tony Jones has titles you could reference to do a "Chilling Fears" display with YA fiction for post-holiday winter months. Horror has no season and is read all year. With its increased popularity, adding a YA display to draw attention to the horror in your collection for teens is a great idea. Another area to get ideas is this September article called Short Stories, Big Scares: 7 Middle Grade & YA Horror Collections.

If you check their website under News and Features, you will see a variety of articles. The headlines alone can spark an idea and send you out to unshelve your collection to draw attention to the great books that need some help to find their reader! While their audience is librarians who focus on youth, the ideas can easily be transferred to adults. 

I will leave you with another great idea that can be used with your juvenile, young adult, and adult collections - Out of This World: Eight Sci-Fi Graphic Novels | Stellar Panels. As popular as graphic novels are at the moment, I'm sure that you can find titles in all three collections which could use some time under the spotlight. 

Subscription information for School Library Journal is here. 

Books I can't wait to read in 2025

 Rather than create a book of top 5 for 2024, I am going to list some of the books I am most looking forward to in 2025. I've read a few but most of these are listed based upon the description  or the author alone. I will have to do an updated post as more titles are announced and titles published in October - December 2025 are available. 

If you are interested in horror or dark literature, Emily Hughes' website should be your first stop when planning your future reads. She assembles an upcoming horror list that is essential. Her book, Horror for Weenies, is a great read that summarizes horror movies and provides books that have similar themes. I used Emily's site to compile my list so check out her site.

I am certain that there are other titles that will catch my attention!

January 

Wake Up and Open Your Eyes by Clay McLeod Chapman (Quirk) My starred Library Journal review is here. This will be one of the most memorable books of the year. 

Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix (Berkeley) Becky Spratford's starred review for Booklist is here. 

At Dark I Become Loathsome by Eric LaRocca (Big Bald Head Blackstone) Becky Spratford's starred review for Library Journal is here. 

February

Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito - Anyone who already read this title told me it was amazing after I posted a picture of the advanced copy I had received. 

The Poorly Made and Other Things by Sam Rebelein (William Morrow) -Rebelein's debut, Edenville, was very well received. It was a work of dark academia with a cultic vibe. This book adds to the story of Redfield County. Becky Spratford's rave review is here. 

Haunted Ecologies: Stories by Corey Farrenkopf (JournalStone)- Corey's debut novel, Living in Cemeteries, was creative and unique take on the ghost story. Becky Spratford's review is here. Library Journal's review by Jeremiah Paddock is here. 

March

The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica, trans. Sarah Moses (Scribner) - The new novel by the author of Tender is the Flesh is about a cloistered order of women. Sign me up...

Vanishing Daughters by Cynthia Pelayo  (Thomas & Mercer) - Cina Pelayo's books blending modern day Chicago, it's fascinating history, and dark retellings of fairy tales have captured my heart while terrifying me since Children of Chicago. She weaves grief and loss within this book while also rethinking ghosts and haunting. My Library Journal review is here.

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, Stephen Graham Jones (Saga) - One of the current masters of horror, this book weaves historical fiction into horror using mulitple narrators to move the story forward. Jones' rethinking of the vampire trope is incredible. My Library Journal review will be posted soon. 

The Haunting of Room 904 by Erika T. Wurth (Flatiron) - A blend of horror and mystery by the author of the incredible White Horse. This has a great cast of characters with some wonderful friendships between women. I hope to see more of them in the future! My Library Journal review is upcoming. 

April

Another Fine Mess by Lindy Ryan (Minotaur)- The sequel to Bless Your Heart which was a delightful novel. The Evans women keep the dead from rising in their small Texas town. The trouble from the first book is far from over... My Library Journal review is upcoming. 

When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy (Nightfire): I loved Nestlings by Cassidy and this promises to be another winner. 

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker (Mira): Hungry ghosts and a serial killer during the pandemic in NYC. So much to like here. 

May

Requiem, John Palisano (Flame Tree): Gothic horror in space. I have loved John's short stories and I'm looking forward to reading this novel.

We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough (Flatiron) - We seem to be in a time for gothic novels. A haunted house and a crumbling marriage.  

Silk and Sinew: A Collection of Folk Horror from the Asian Diaspora by K.P. Kulski (Bad Hand) - I love folk horror and this anthology looks to be something special. Bad Hand has come out with some great books recently. 

June

Maria the Wanted by V. Castro (Titan) - A thriller about a Mexican vampire who is finding her place in the world, facing conspiracies and a vampire boss. 

Ecstasy by Ivy Pochoda (Putnam) - A retelling of a Greek tragedy about empowerment and desire. 

The Nut House by Patrick Barb (Undertaker): A squirrel horror novella. 

July

My Ex, the Antichrist by Craig DiLouie (Redhook) - A punk band and the antichrist. Occult/possession horror is another favorite of mine. 

The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Del Rey): Women in different eras fighting witchcraft by the author of Mexican Gothic. More occult horror!

Angel Down by Daniel Kraus (Atria) - The premise of this book is fascinating. Five soldiers encountering an angel during WWI. Kraus is a phenomenal writer with an amazing range.  

August

Game in Yellow by Hailey Piper (Saga) - Hailey Piper is one of the most original voices in horror. She reimagined the vampire novel in All the Hearts We Eat. (My Library Journal review is here) I can't wait to read her take on a couple trying to spice up their sex life. 

Feral & Hysterical: Mother Horror’s Ultimate Reading Guide to Dark and Disturbing Fiction by Women by Sadie Hartmann (Page Street) - Horror by women is something that I look out for. I loved Sadie's (Mother Horror) first book, the Bram Stoker Award winning 101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered. 

The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel Cañas (Berkley): A demon possession in 18th century Mexico. From the author of Vampires of El Norte and The Hacienda.

Secret Lives of the Dead by Tim Lebbon (Titan) Dark folk horror about a deadly family curse...Lebbon is an award winning author who's The Silence is now a Netflix movie. 

September

Play Nice by Rachel Harrison (Berkley) - Harrison's books are always delightful. She surprises readers by switching subgenres with each book. This time it's haunted houses. I love the way she writes about female friendships so I will be checking out this title. 

Roots of My Fears: An Anthology of Ancestral Horror, ed. Gemma Amor (Titan): This has such an interesting premise and the line up of authors is incredible. 

Fiend by Alma Katsu (Putnam): A wealthy family dynasty with an ancient cure. It's wonderful to see another Katsu horror novel on the horizon. 

Five for Friday - Baking Edition

While I emphasize over and over that bestselling/titles with many holds don't need our help, I know there are libraries and times when your supervisor or board may want a hot title used in your social media. My suggestion is to use that book to draw attention to other books. In the picture below, I have put Milk Street Bakes in a stack with four older books. At my library, cookbooks by Milk Street always have holds. I have placed it in this image with four other books including a book about Kwanzaa and a book by a black author. Given that Hanukkah and Kwanzaa have not ended, including books about both would be appropriate. Also, those celebrating any holiday can use other cookbooks to prepare baked goods for their celebrations. Keep cookbooks in mind for any cultural heritage month, by the way. It is the most popular display I put up for Black History Month. 

 

Book Display Basics - Signs and Decorations

 For some people, book displays refer to bulletin boards in a library or are a reason to bring out craft supplies and design a variety of embellishments for the display. As I say every time I speak about book displays, the books should be the focus of your display. The purpose is to market your collection and get the books unshelved and into the hands of readers. I have seen book displays with so many decorations that the books actually blended into the background instead of popping out. 

Even in retail bookstores where publishers provide cardboard displays or signage, the books remain the focus. Take some time to walk around your local big bookseller as well as those indie bookstores. You will see piles of books and books on easels, rather than elaborate paper cutouts and tons of display material unless it is also for sale. This is usually the case, even during the holidays. 

My recent post about the LaGrange Public Library (IL) shows a great way to use signage to highlight what the display is about and provide more information for patrons who are interested. Use a sign to link to an eBook shelf/display with read alikes or books on the same subject. You can also add a QR code to a blog post or additional resources. 

Another benefit to keeping things simple is that if the display empties out a few times, you can change it out without a lot of fuss. There won't be excessive decor to take down and have to replace. Instead you can switch out the sign, remove any remaining books, and get the new display up quickly. 

Since the primary reason we are putting up displays is to showcase backlist (older books) titles and those titles that need more attention to find their reader, the books should always be the star. 

ARRTCon 24 Presention - Marketing Your Collection, Programs, and Services With Better Book Displays.

I am a huge fan of Chicago-Area libraries and their library workers. Every time I visit, I learn something from the trip. Recently, I was fortunate enough to present at ARRTCon 24. ARRT is the Adult Reading Round Table and is dedicated to helping library workers with their readers advisory skills. The steering committee is filled with creative, enthusiastic librarians. 

My presentation was about how to market your collection with better book displays. I've embedded the slides above. I will be updating the presentation for next year. If you are interested in having me speak to your staff about how to use book displays and online book lists to market your collection, please reach out to me at Lila[dot]Denning[at]gmail[dot]com.