Book display / List Help - International Crime Fiction/ Crime Fiction in Translation

Crime fiction is very popular but lists and displays often have the same best selling authors on them. You could likely name 5-10 of those authors easily if asked. One way to dig into your backlist and help patrons find series and authors new to them is to look at crime fiction in translation or international crime fiction. 

The Petrona Award -Awarded to the Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year

The award is open to crime fiction in translation, either written by a Scandinavian author or set in Scandinavia and published in the UK in the previous calendar year.

Dagger for Crime Fiction in Translation - The Crime Writers' Association Dagger Award

This award is for crime novels (defined by the broadest definition to include thrillers, suspense novels and spy fiction) as long as the book was not originally written in English and has been translated into English for UK publication during the judging period. 

Translated Crime Fiction Books - Goodreads

Lawrence Picks: Best Mysteries Translated Into English, recommendations from the Mystery Book Club - Lawrence Public Library

International Crime Fiction - Crime Reads

4 Different Styles of Mystery Novels From Around the World- Book Riot

Australian Noir and the Best Australian Crime Fiction - Book Riot

Akashic Book's Noir Series - Many of these are set in international cities. Each book comprises all new stories, each one set in a distinct neighborhood or location within the respective city.

Irish Book Awards - includes a Crime Fiction Book of the Year category

Ned Kelly Awards - Australian Crime Writers Association

10 Thrilling African Noir Novels -Publishers Weekly

A Beginners Guide to African Crime Fiction - Crime Reads

Latin American Crime Fiction Books- Goodreads

Japanese Mystery/Detective/Crime Fiction Translated Into English - Goodreads

The new Scandi noir? The Korean writers reinventing the thriller - The Guardian

September Book Display Ideas

September is a big month for library celebrations! It is Library Card Signup Month which makes for easy active programming and in-house promotion. Don't forget to reach out to those people in your area who don't use the library but who would be interested in your digital services including eBooks and eAudiobooks. As always, don't assume that everyone knows they can checkout digital titles from their libraries; not everyone knows about our collections and services. 

The theme of the official ALA merchandise is Elemental - a Disney/Pixar film. You can tie the theme of that movie into online booklists and book displays. Fire, water, land, and air could each become a separate display for youth and adults. Interpret the theme broadly - titles can include one of those words or the theme can be included more broadly in the book or movie. The goal is to market your collection's backlist. No one will be grading you. 

Ask  patrons if they would like to have their pictures taken with a larger version of your library card and have a picture posted with the card and their favorite book. It is likely to be a backlist title. It also creates a greater sense of belonging to the library. You can even go out to events in your community in September and promote library card signup with that giant card. Get local community, business, and civic leaders to pose with the card for your blog and/or social media. 

Passive programming ideas would include asking patrons to write a few words about why they appreciate their library card. You can set up a wall display to post their answers or include them on your social media. 

Other events in September and ideas for book lists/displays include:

Labor day: Youth and adult fiction and non-fiction about working, working life, and workers. Books about career change, career improvement, and different kinds of jobs. 
History of Labor Day - US Department of Labor
Popular Work Related Books - Goodreads
Top 10 Novels About Office Jobs - The Guardian
The Grit of the Grind: 5 Novels About Work - Book Riot
Labor Books - Goodreads
There is Power in a Union: Fiction and Non-fiction About the Labor Movement: The Seattle Public Library
11 Novels Starring Essential Workers: Electric Literature

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: Youth and adult fiction about Judaism, Jewish history, and the holidays themselves. Books about Jewish cooking. Fiction by Jewish authors. 
Kids Books for Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur - New York Public Library 
11 Rosh Hashanah Books for Children - Book Riot
Popular Yom Kippur Books - Goodreads
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Books for Children: Jewish Book Council
Reading Lists - Jewish Book Council
6+ Books to Teach You About Judiasm (So Your Jewish Friends Don't Have To): Book Riot
High Holy Days - A Guide to Religious Observances - Brandeis University
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur - University of Denver

Mawlid: Youth and adult fiction and non-fiction titles about Islam and Islamic history. Fiction by Muslim authors
Birthday of the Prophet: Mawlid al-Nabi - The Pluralism Project, Harvard University
Islam Books - Goodreads
6 of the Best Islamic History Books - Book Riot
Council of American-Islamic Relations
Fiction by Muslim Authors - San Francisco Public Library
Muslim Authors in Adult Fiction, Memoirs, Poetry and Graphic Novels: Madison Public Library
Picture books by Muslim Authors: Ypsilanti Public Library

Equinox: Youth and adult fiction about autumn/fall. Books and movies about neopaganism and the holiday as a pagan holiday. You can use general books about witchcraft, paganism, and tarot to fill the display. Don't forget urban fantasy, paranormal romance, and horror with those themes. 

Hispanic Heritage Month: Search your youth and adult collection for titles by Hispanic authors. It's a good time to analyze your collection for titles by these authors and add some if you have difficulties finding enough for a display. You can also add non-fiction and DVDs about those countries to the displays/lists. 
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month With Books for All Ages - New York Public Library
Hispanic Heritage Month Books- Goodreads
Board Books and More: Hispanic Heritage- Colorín Colorado
National Hispanic Heritage Month  - US Government site with information from various agencies including the Library of Congress
Introduction to Latinx Heritage in Horror 2022 - Horror Writers Association
10 Delightful Romances by Latinx Authors - Chicago Public Library
12 Latine SFF Books You Definitely Should Read - Book Riot

9/2 World Beard Day: Find backlist titles with bearded folks on the cover. Book displays can be as simple as this. Setting up this display can be delegated to any library worker. (I usually leave up these kinds of displays for at least the week with the holiday in them.)

9/6 Read a book day:  I save book displays about reading/libraries/bookstores for days like this. You could also set up a "read-in" in your library. Use a meeting room and encourage patrons to drop in and read for awhile in your building. Add a passive program allowing patrons to post a note with their favorite book on a wall in your building. 

9/12 National Video Game Day:  Youth and adult fiction and non-fiction about video games, video game characters, and the history of video games. Movies about video games. 
20 Must Read Novels Based On or Inspired By Video Games - Book Riot
Books for Teen Gamers - Boston Public Library
10 Books About Gaming History That Gamers Will Love - Screen Rant
Books About Video Games and Virtual Reality - Goodreads

9/19 International Talk Like a Pirate Day: Youth and adult fiction and non-fiction about pirates and pirate history. Use the theme broadly and don't worry how accurate they are. Include movies as well. 

9/12-23 National Indoor Plant week: Non-fiction books about plant care. Youth and adult fiction about plants including horror and science fiction titles. You could do a display of books with nice images of plants on the cover. Plants have become the new pets for a lot of people. 

9/17-23 Tolkien Week: While books by Tolkien may be what first comes to mind, use the week to promote readalikes by authors your patrons may not have heard of. Check your non-fiction collection for books about Tolkien and Middle Earth to promote. Don't forget your DVD collection.
 15 Books Like Lord of the Rings - Book Riot
14 Books to Read if You Love The Lord of the Rings - Epic Reads (YA Blog from Harper Collins)
Leave Middle Earth for these ‘Lord of the Rings’ Read-Alikes- School Library Journal
Read-Alikes for The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power - Halifax Public Libraries

I hope these suggestions are helpful. I've added links with booklists and information about the some of the various celebrations. There are lists from various publishers but I mostly didn't use them. They are fairly easy to find. 

If you can't find a particular title in your collection and your library uses NoveList, check for readalikes there. Also, remember to include information about your digital collections on book displays. Not every patrons knows about that. 

October is spooky season so be ready! 

Find Inspiration in Book Store Displays

 Libraries aren't the only places to find great book displays and book lists. Independent book stores often have staff who are passionate about the books they love and clever at coming up with compelling book displays that put the focus on getting great books faced out so their customers can discover them. Take a look at your local indie bookstore or check out the websites and social media accounts of stores across the country. See how they use humor and unexpected combinations to promote and market the books in their stores. Give them credit if you borrow their ideas and include details about how your patrons can find them. 

One of my favorites is Gibson's Bookstore in Concord, NH. You can view their displays on their Instagram account for some inspiration. Their displays are book focused, clever, and memorable. One of their more genius ideas is that their past displays and curated book lists are available on their website. If a customer saw a title on a display but missed it, they can check these lists and find what they were looking for. They also have a great podcast with curated lists of the books they talk about. 

Tombolo Books in St Petersburg, FL has a number of book lists on the homepage, including an updated list of their weekly bestsellers. Beyond the NYT best sellers that you may have listed on your website or OPAC, showing patrons what's popular in your library might also be interesting for book lovers. Tombolo also hosts a number of book clubs and archives past reads so that people who have an interest in a particular topic or genre can find their next great read. Tombolo has a page devoted to staff picks. Finding someone with your taste in books can be a great way to learn about hidden gems.

Finally, there is Chicago's own Exile in Bookville. Like Tombolo, they offer a staff picks page with a lot of great backlist titles. Their past events page includes links to related books which can be a huge benefit to someone who missed an event or heard about one and is interested in the books discussed. Their page that focuses on preorders may not seem applicable for libraries but highlighting upcoming books and encouraging holds can generate interest in titles that patrons may not have heard about. It is also a way to remind patrons about your holds list. Don't forget your eBook and eAudiobook collections. 

Take time to visit your local indie bookstore and develop a relationship with them. Librarians and booksellers are natural allies!

Book Display Planning - August

I think that it's always easier to plan out your book displays and lists in advance. That gives you time to see what will and will not work with your collection as well as time to develop some of them into passive programs. Some will work better as online lists or social media posts depending upon your physical and digital collections. But don't forget to mention your digital collections in your library on the book displays. Never assume that patrons are aware of all the services you provide. 

First step is to consider the basics that come up every month. Read this post for a list. 

August doesn't have big national holidays to consider. But there are some fun celebration weeks and celebration days that can lead to great displays. 

LibraryReads has released their August list. Voted on by library workers, it's a great way to have a regular display with upcoming titles that are diverse and which will include a variety of genres. You can expand it with other books by the authors on the list, past August titles, or the Hall of Fame titles and authors. If you are not voting and participating, I recommend it! Read more about it here. 

August 1-7 is International Clown Week: This can clearly be made into a display of children's materials. Don't forget to look at adult fiction about circuses and clowns as well as non-fiction in your collection. There are plenty of movies that you can also include. 
The Ringling Circus Museum has an online archive which can be linked to as part of a blog or social media post. 

In the spirit of Summer Scares, don't forget scary clowns. Book Riot has a list to get you started.
For a passive program, hide clowns in your library and have patrons search for them as a scavenger hunt. They will learn more about your library on the way. 

August is also Black Business Month. You can put up a display with biographies of Black entrepreneurs as well as general titles about entrepreneurship, starting a business, and leadership. Reach out to a local Black business leader and ask them to create a list of their favorite business titles. Use your social media to list locally owned Black businesses and partner with them to leave flyers about your programs and services inside. 

ARRR-Gust: International Pirate Month will also be upon us. Displays with youth and adult materials should be easy to set up. Goodreads has a long list of pirate books to get you started. Be broad with how you define pirate and include space pirates as well.  Allow patrons to vote on their favorite pirate and post the daily results online. Don't forget to post staff favorites. 

A final suggestion is National Simplify Your Life week. Your non-fiction collection likely has more than a few books about minimalism, cleaning, organizing, and so forth. Don't forget books about financial simplicity or frugal living. Books on happiness and how to find it would also work as would meditation titles. You could solicit ideas from patrons about how they simplify their lives and share them. 

I hope this has given you a start for August!

Checklist For Monthly Book Displays

 I strongly encourage you to develop a plan in advance for what displays and lists you will put up for each month. They will be less daunting and it will allow you to distribute the task of setting them up among library staff. This will also allow for double-checking to make certain that the titles you will include are diverse and that you avoid perennial best selling authors who don't need our help promoting their books. 

There are a few steps that you can follow every month to start your planning. 

• What programs for adults, teens, and children are planned? Book displays can be used to promote your program as well as market your backlist to patrons. Include signage and flyers about the programs. 
  
  
• Does your local government (city, county, village, township...) have any events that you can promote with a book display? Make a list of your digital titles that relate and link to the page online that has details about the event. 
  
  
• Are there national holidays or days of celebration/commemoration? Planning in advance will let you order more titles if your collection is missing youth or adult materials. 
  
  
• LibraryReads is a national monthly list, voted on by library workers, which represents the titles that were most anticipated. (Here's an infographic which explains how it works.) It's not a best of list but instead is more of a buzz list. The list is released before the start of each month. It's a great way to promote your holds list. (Remember that not all patrons know about all of your services.) Link to the list on your social media and to your digital book collections. If you are a public library worker, I encourage you to vote. You can register at Netgalley  or Edelweiss  for access to advance reader copies. 
  
  
• Are there new services or resources at your library that should be promoted? Use book displays to show off a new database or public service!

Remember of course that your leadership team may have things that they want you to prioritize so checking in with them is a good idea. 

These may all not be applicable every month or you may have limited space and can only put up a few in the building. But book displays can be lists on your library blog, newsletter, or social media. They can also be bookmarks and flyers that your patrons pick up in your building or elsewhere in your community. 

Everyone On Staff Can Help With a Book Display

 When making up your book displays, don't forget to reach out to those staff who work all over your library or library system. You may have someone in facilities who loves space operas and can craft a list of the best in your collection. There may be someone in the business office who is an avid baker and can help you pull new books about baking you have overlooked. Various kinds of library workers may have done deep dives into areas of history, culture, fiction, or film that you are unfamiliar with. I have someone on staff who annually creates a display about heavy metal and we rock into fall. I could look up items of course but it's a fun way to break up routine and those who are invested in a subject or genre can pull out gems that you might not find. 

While your library may have rules about who can perform which tasks, any library worker can give input and make suggestions about what lists or displays you create. It's another way to diversify which parts of your backlist you market by using book displays. Reach out beyond your usual staff members and you may find yourself surprised. 

Goodreads review - Hungers As Old As This Land by Zachary Rosenberg.

 Hungers as Old as This Land by Zachary Rosenberg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This horror western is a fast read and it's a testament to Rosenberg's talents that readers seem to be left wanting more of both the world he's created and his characters. What could be a typical western plot of a good town facing invasion by bad men is made fresh with strong female characters, a town established as a haven for Jewish settlers, and bargain between a small town and monsters hiding in the nearby mountains. There is great character development with the two main characters being tough women who can take care of themselves and hold their ground. It's a rich novella that packs a lot into its pages. I can't wait to read something else from this author.

View all my reviews