Tuesday, July 24, 2012

LIBRARY DISPLAYS and BULLETIN BOARD IDEAS and a few TIPS



Here are some of the best bulletin boards I've seen or have created on my own.  I have given creadit to those whose ideas I am sharing that aren't mine when possible.  Where possible, I have added a link, if one existed...  I go "sight seeing" at libraries and book stores wherever I go and ask permission to take pictures of the displays and bulletin boards.  I have never been turned down.  Thanks for all the great ideas! You may not choose to copy the displays exactly but hopefully they may prove to be a springboard to inspiration and ideas of your own.

A fabulous site that I found that discusses "all things" about library displays is: http://www.creativelibrarydisplays.com/  You just have to go there and see it for yourself.  I didn't add any of her creations below.  It's worth the visit to her site!!!!!!!!


Below are just some simple pics I took at libraries and book stores I have visited.  NOTE the number of books FACING OUT ON DISPLAY!



READING GENRES




Face as many books forward as possible.  It makes a huge difference in circulation.


 Use puppets in your library as much as possible.  Allow the children to use them as well.




I want this in my library!!!


Great signage!

At http://www.barbrahesson.com/category/library-bulletin-boards/, there are quite a few ideas.  I have added my favorites below.  Thanks Barbara for sharing these ideas with us!!!














Origami Yoda


















cute

A Galaxy of Greta Books

Used this picture as my inspiration for a library display

Love it!

castle1.jpg

dino2.jpg


Reading Helps Your Mind Bloom

Can adapt for bulletin board.


Obviously, you wouldn't use the same book and it may not stay up long, but I thought this was kind of cool.





Here is a great article:  Ten Tips for Better Book Displays

1. Displays should reflect your customers’ reading interests, not yours.  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.  While a fair amount of time might be spent filling a display fixture with books, the ultimate goal is for that fixture to be empty soon after. 

2. The books should be the stars of the display.  Choose books with fresh, visually appealing covers in good condition.

3. While the books are the stars, eye-catching visual signage is key.  This does not require bells and whistles – in fact, when it comes to display signage, less is more.  Choose a simple, readable font over an intricate one.  Incorporate plenty of white space into the design.  Choose card stock over construction paper and simple color palettes over neon and glitter.

4. 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.

 


5. Use props judiciously.  A single bicycle wheel propped next to the sign for a display of books about cycling.  A single pumpkin with a sign that says Boo! for Halloween.  A small vintage suitcase can serve as the stand for the sign for a travel display.  Choose one 3D element over lots of smaller tschotskes.



6. Make it clear that the items on display can be checked out.  This may be clear to us, but it is not always so for our customers.  Here, the sticker that is used on display books is incorporated into the small signage that is included in the display:



7.  Don’t limit yourself to books.  Whenever possible, include a mix of audiobooks, DVDs, and even CDs.
8.  Consider moving beyond tightly themed displays to more general ones that can be used anytime:
  • Staff Picks
  • Patron Picks
  • People You Should Meet
  • Greatest Hits of the ____ (insert decade)
  • Good Books You May Have Missed
  • What Your Neighbors Are Reading (Put this sign on a cart of just returned books – they’ll fly out of the building and your shelvers will thank you!)
9.  Unless the items are priceless or irreplaceable, do not put book displays behind glass.  Putting books in a locked glass front display case says ”Here are some great books from our collection, but you can’t have them!”  It’s the equivalent of a “nanny-nanny, boo-boo” to customers.
If you have glass cases, free them up for local artists, crafters, or collectors to display their wares.  You could even give local children a chance to display their collections of dolls, Legos, action figures, or tractors:

10.  Be flexible and have fun!  Be willing and ready to change plans and throw up a display based on the news of the day.  Here’s a display that went up within hours of the announcement of a local author’s passing - we gathered his books and put it all out on a cart for a few days:



Displays should be fun, both for you to create and for your customers to browse.  Here are a few that got lots of attention and let folks know that we are tuned into pop culture and definitely don’t take ourselves too seriously:



 









1 comment:

Christine said...

The poet tree is super cute. What is written on the leaves? Thanks for sharing!!

Kristin Rast

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