“So tell me what you want, what you really, really want:” Patron-Focused Displays

Each of us has a sibling or friend who tells it like it is, rather than telling us what we want to hear (or what they think we want to hear). If this person visited your library, what would they have to say about your displays? Despite your best efforts, are books stubbornly staying put on display shelves? Is your signage stale? Are your “read-alike” picks more like distant cousins than siblings to the original book? And are your approaches enticing new patrons and would-be library users, or are you preaching to the choir?

It’s time to take off your “librarian glasses” and see things through your patrons’ eyes so you can generate paranormal activity in your library – that is, make books fly off the shelves. If giving patrons what they want is the key to success, then what do they want? We’ll explore approaches to library merchandising on a budget with limited space and resources. Learn about ways to create virtual displays using social media and your library's website and examine how to measure the effectiveness of your initiatives, avoid common pitfalls, encourage staff participation, and facilitate knowledge sharing.