creating engaging book displays

CREATING GOOD BETTER AWESOME

ENGAGING DISPLAYSSusan Brown

Chapel Hill Public Library#bookdisplays

WHAT YOU’LL LEAVE WITH…

• Understanding of value of displays

• Basics of engaging display content

• Basics of engaging display design

• Creative ideas from me – and you!

http://www.ebscohost.com/novelist/novelist-special/twenty-rules-for-better-book-displays

WHY DO WE DO DISPLAYS?

• Increase circulation• Highlight underused collections• Better serve browsers• Celebrate holidays/special events

• Why do you do them???

It’s all about DISCOVERY“In an era where readers can find discover books in the supermarket, on their iPhone, via Amazon, and from social sites such as Goodreads and Pinterest, we need to make sure that libraries are engaged in book discovery and consider it a priority. Engaging book displays are just one way of helping readers discover great books.”

And CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

“But it is our collections of circulating books and materials that are our most visible attributes and most effective components in providing a rewarding experience to our visitors. So it is essential that they be arranged in ways that make them easy to find and also irresistible to browse.”

-Anythink Visual Branding Guidelines

And ENGAGEMENT!En/gage: a) to hold the attention of: <her work engages her completely> b) to induce to participate: <engaged the shy boy in conversation>      

22 Photos of, 34 Ideas for, and 20+ Rules for Creating

Engaging Displays    

1. Displays should reflect your patrons' interests, not your personal interests. You might be fascinated by ancient Japanese sword fighting or the history of dominos, but that doesn't mean that books on those topics will make a good display. 

GAME NIGHTludopieces by ajmint, CC SA 3.0

2. Displays should be popular. While a fair amount of time might be spent filling a display fixture, the ultimate goal is for that fixture to be empty. If, after a day or so, the same books are still on the display unit, consider a new topic.

3. Don't limit yourself to books. Whenever possible, include a mix of audiobooks, DVDs, and even CDs. Or only audiobooks, DVDS, and CDs.

4. The books (or movies or cds) should be the stars of the display. Choose items with fresh, visually appealing covers in good condition. Buckram bindings should never, ever be on display.

5. While the books are the stars, eye-catching visual signage is extremely important. This does not require bells and whistles or a graphic design degree. In fact, when it comes to display signage, less is more.

• Incorporate white space into the sign design. 

• Alternately, consider filling up the canvas with one great image.

• Use fewer words rather than more: if you need a full sentence to explain what the display is about, you need to re-think the idea.

• Choose card stock over construction paper and simple color palettes over neon and glitter.

TRUE CRIMEScrime scene tape by ash photoholic, CC BY 2.0

FALLfeuille rouge by ash monnaiux, CC SA 3.0

TURKEY DAYpumpkin pie by brownies for dinner, CC BY 2.0

6. Choose a simple, readable font over an intricate one. A few fonts I would suggest removing permanently from your display repertoire: Algerian, Bauhaus, Comic Sans, Jokerman, Old English, Ravie, and Snap.

SerifSans Serif

Algerian BauhausComic Sans JokermanOld English Ravie Snap

ArialCalifornianCentury GothicHigh TowerTimes New RomanPoor Richard Verdana

Austen & After

Austen & AfterAusten & AfterAusten & After

Austen & After

Austen & After

HAUNTED HOUSES

HAUNTED HOUSES

HAUNTED HOUSES

These books will keep you up all night!

HAUNTED HOUSEShaunted house by barbara, CC BY 2.0

7. If there is an icon or other key visual element associated with the theme of the display, be sure to include it in the signage. This might be a logo or a symbol or simply an author's photo. It may be all the sign needs.

8. Use props judiciously. You want browsers to interact with the display by taking items off. You don't want them to feel that if they do that, they will be messing up a work of art.

9. You want them to check display items out, so make it clear that they can. This may be obvious to us, but it is not always so for our customers.

10. Add value. A great way to add value to a book display is to include a bookmark with further reading, listening, or viewing.

11. Cross promote. Readers who find your displays interesting might also enjoy your library's book blog or be interested in resources like NoveList or NextReads email newsletters . Consider a small sign that points them to these resources.

12. Use  Chase's Calendar of Events judiciously. While the list of special months might be interesting and might appeal to our urges to inform and educate, our displays should be popular, not pedantic or preachy.

National Chicken Monthchickens by christine paulus, CC BY 2.0

13. Let pop culture inspire your displays. Leveraging pop culture demonstrates that libraries are fresh, fun, and relevant, not stodgy, serious, or old-fashioned.

14. Let current events inspire your displays. Displays - like libraries - should be responsive and relevant. Stay in tune with the local and national news.

15. Let your community inspire your displays. Is this year the centennial of your town's founding? Consider a local history display. Is the local theater opening a production of Hair? Consider a display of books about the 1960s that also promotes the production.

16. Consider moving beyond tightly themed displays to more general ones that can be used anytime – or continuously:

• Staff Picks• Patron Picks• People You Should Meet • Greatest Hits of the ____ (insert

decade)• Good Books You May Have Missed• Award Winners• What Your Neighbors Are Reading• Genres• Other ideas?

STAFFPICKS

17. Promote "hidden" collections, but only if they pass muster with Rules #1 & 2.

18. Unless the items are priceless or irreplaceable, do not put book displays behind glass. It's the equivalent of a "nanny-nanny, boo-boo" to customers.

19. Be flexible. Be willing and ready to change plans and throw up a display based on the news of the day.

20. Have fun! Displays should be fun, both for you to create and for your customers to browse. 

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE…• SIZE DOES MATTER• LOSE THE CLIP ART• SUPPLY IS IMPORTANT• WORKS FOR KIDS, TOO• MAKE SURE THE SQUEEZE IS

WORTH THE JUICE• MAKE IT EASY FOR EVERYONE

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

• Anything Visual Branding Guidelines• Why We Buy: The Science of

Shopping • Pinterest & Flickr• Retail environments

WANT TO FIND IMAGES?

http://techsoupforlibraries.org/blog/free-images-library-website-newsletter

QUESTIONS? IDEAS?

Susan BrownChapel Hill Public Library

sbrown2@townofchapelhill.org