Book Display Basics - Scheduling

 One of the most common questions I get regarding book displays is how long they should stay up before they are changed. My usual answer is no longer than a month because after 30 days, your patrons will likely have seen it and will stop looking at it. As I have mentioned in presentations, you should archive the titles on your website so that patrons can locate titles they viewed but didn't check out. It also allows patrons who are interested in the theme to see the full list of titles that were included. 

To address scheduling more broadly, it's a good idea to outline your book displays at least several months in advance. Create a monthly schedule as part of a larger plan to market your collection which includes what themes for book displays and book lists you will use. Between your programs, major holidays, and local events, you are already scheduling much of what happens at your library each month. Adding book displays to this schedule will allow you to better leverage their ability to market your back list while also helping to promote your services and programs. 

When I worked for Barnes and Noble, each store received a monthly marketing plan which outlined which displays and initiatives were in play for the month. Most libraries create monthly programming calendars; the next step should be add a monthly plan to promote those programs, your existing services and databases, and your backlist. Take book displays seriously and use their ability to put your backlist front and center to increase overall circulation and introduce your patrons to the depth and breadth of your collection. 

You can start with a spreadsheet or form that details what programs, outreach, and initiatives your library will be involved with for the month. Add any holidays, cultural heritage observations, local celebrations, or commemorations. Note any ALA celebrations that you will be observing. That should be a good start to plan your book displays. Include the location for each display as well as which staff member or department will be responsible for setting up that display as well as keeping it full. 

As you work with your monthly schedule, you can make adjustments as necessary to meet your library's needs. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Book Display Theme- Black History Month

  It's likely your library has put up a book display or list related to Black History Month . If you look at the official US government site and review the exhibits page, you will see a huge variety of topics. There are exhibits on educators, visual artists, theatre, dress, folklife, colleges, literature, music and religion. Use these exhibits as a place to start your own displays and lists for Black History Month. In addition to displays focusing on slavery and the Civil Rights Movement, use this month to introduce patrons to titles in your collection that can allow them to see parts of Black history that they might not be familiar with. There are topics like t he Harlem Renaissance  , Black cowboys , Black entrepreneurs , Black scientists , and more. GLAAD has information on Black LGBTQ history . Don't forget to see what your local history collection has about history in your city, state, or region.  The most popular display I have ever put up in February was related to Blac
Read more

September Book Display Ideas

  September is almost here already and it's time to start thinking about book displays. Planning and scheduling them in advance is the best way to make certain that they are best able to help you market your backlist, programs, and services. Have fun with them and let staff be creative but don't lose sight of how they can be a serious marketing tool.  Back to school is the first topic that comes to mind when September rears its head. (Even though many students will return to class in August.) No doubt your youth librarians have picture books with themes including first day of school. There are also many juvenile fiction titles about school friendships and problems. Look to your adult fiction and non-fiction sections for books which reference school or teaching. Don't forget books about mathematics, grammar, and other basics. In addition, work with your local schools to see what topics, upcoming assignments, and focus areas would be most helpful to your patrons. Curate lists
Read more

August Book Display Ideas

  Back to school starts in August with school supplies and the pending new school year appearing all over. Beyond the usual back to school, 100 days of kindergarten, and other youth materials, don't forget adult and non-traditional students. By setting up a display of adult materials on grammar, writing, basic mathematics, and other related subjects, you can remind your patrons that your library does have these books available. If you have databases with test preparation, writing help, or foreign language help include information on them as well.  August 6 is Hiroshima Day or the day the City of Hiroshima holds their Peace Memorial Ceremony to remember those lost in the atomic bombing and to pray for world peace. There are plenty of US Government sites with information for patrons. The National Park Service  and the Deparment of Energy are among them. Include some memoirs from survivors. Beyond non-fiction titles about the war, the dropping of the bomb, Imperial Japan, post-war J
Read more