In my experience, both professionally and as a patron, displays can be a very powerful tool to help circulate materials. I love creating displays that can catch the potential reader's attention. With that being said, here is a list of 10 Library Display Ideas that I hope you try out!
1. Little Books
I have a soft spot for itty-bitty books. They’re so adorable! A display full of smaller sized books is definitely on my list to do. For the prop of the display, I think it’d be cute to create a few miniature versions of popular books (strung on garland? Yes!). Its Always Autumn has an easy tutorial on how to create mini books with one piece of paper. Or, if you're not into that level of effort, cutting out printed mini versions of covers could work well too!
Books to display: The Tiny Book of Tiny Pleasures by Astrid van der Hulst and Irene Smit, Cat Poems published by New Directions, We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
2. Local Books
This display does very well at my specific location. My city has a lot of history and we tend to get some tourism because of it's unique atmosphere. I find that patrons love to learn about the area surrounding them. If you're specific city doesn't have anything on your shelves about it, then try your entire state. You can even try adding fictional books that are based in your state. Does your location have any local authors? Try adding in those as well.
Books to display: Images of America or any other book related to your city, Local Authors, Local cuisine/cookbooks.
3. Cookbooks
Cookbooks go like hotcakes at my location; pun intended. They always do! I'd highly recommend displaying cookbooks if you're looking to circulate them. I always try to get a variety of materials - especially with cookbooks. There's something for everyone! Vegan, vegetarian, BBQ, baking, food memoirs, you name it!
Books to display: Patisserie at Home by Melanie Dupuis, Asian-American : proudly inauthentic recipes from the Philippines to Brooklyn by Dale Talde, Love Real Food: more than 100 feel-good vegetarian favorites to delight the senses and nourish the body by Kathryne Taylor
4. Silver Screen Icons
Ahh, the yesteryears of Hollywoodland! What a glamorous time to read about! A cute display idea would be to create the sign of Hollywood, along with the Walk of Fame stars that can be centered underneath biographies of actors and actresses from that time era. This might be a great time to add this display during the Awards season.
Books to display: Creating the illusion : a fashionable history of Hollywood costume designers by Donald L. Scoggins and Jay Jorgensen, The Photography of James Dean by Charles P. Quinn, Audrey Hepburn, an elegant spirit: a son remembers by Sean Hepburn Ferrer
5. Hygge
Though the pinnacle of hygge time is during the winter, this way of life is fun all year around. We always need to remember to slow down and have a cozy time with a cup of tea, good book and a candle nearby. The brilliant thing about a hygge display is that you don't have to try too hard - you're in a library afterall! I'd bring in some electric candles, a cozy looking scarf/throw or fabric, and a dried flower bouquet. I highly suggest pulling inspiration from Bookstagrams (ahem, check out @aforestoffables).
Books to display: How to Hygge: The Nordic Secrets to a Happy Life by Signe Johansen, ScandiKitchen: The Essence of Hygge by Brontë Aurell, Joy of Hygge: how to bring everyday pleasure and danish coziness into your life by Jonny Jackson
6. Cozy Cat Mysteries
There's an incredible amount of cozy mysteries out there in the literary world. Among those cozy mysteries comes ones with cats on the cover. We joke that these mysteries are made specifically for librarians but honestly you'd be surprised by how many people adore these cute paperbacks!
Books to display: Fool's Moon by Diane A.S. Stuckart, Kneading to Die by Liz Mugavero, Meow If It's Murder by T.C. LoTempio
7. Oversized Books
Yes, I'm piggybacking off of the tiny book display, but think about all of those massive books you have on the bottom of your shelves! They need love too! You might want to gift your co-workers some treats for having to check in and shelve those books though. "I like big books and I cannot lie" is a pretty popular sign for this display, but as for myself, I would love to install a large printed page of a book page.
Books to display: Lost Worlds by Robert MacFarlane, The Wes Anderson Collection by Matt Zoller Seitz, The Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker. (You can probably find much taller books in your collection!)
8. Fairytale Re-tellings
Adult fairytale re-tellings are so much fun! You can get very creative with this display. I adore this display from librarydisplay.org Another option would be to display fake ivy and a mirror with the words "Once Upon a Time" scrawled on it.
Books to display: Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge, Uprooted by Naomi Novik, Heartless by Melissa Meyer
9. Star Theme
If a meteor shower is happening sometime soon, it might be time to break out those star themed books! A black backdrop with stars and silver sparkly spray centerpieces (from a place like Party City) would look great behind materials.
Books to display: Written in the Stars: Constellations, Facts and Folklore by Alison Davies, The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Choski, A Court of Mist & Fury by Sarah J. Maas (Sorry, I love this book too much to not include it.)
10. Tea Party
There is such a science behind tea and the books about the subject are plentiful! Displays on this subject could be inspired by a Mad Hatter Tea Party or a regular ol' High Tea. Perhaps the prop could be a few vintage books topped with a beautiful teapot filled with faux flowers.
Books to display: A literary tea party by Alison Walsh, High Tea by Jill Jones-Evans, A little tea book: all the essentials from leaf to cup by Sebastian Beckwith
In closing, a thing to remember is to not create a display that is too beautiful to touch. For example, my display 'Blind Date with a Book' was not something that worked well at my location. It took far too long to wrap the books up and guess what? Patrons don’t want to mess up your super cute display by taking something off of it. While that may have been my case, it's important to experiment and learn what your patrons like. Have fun and I wish you the best of luck with your displays!
No comments