Better Displays, Today

This manual helps staff at a variety of libraries and cultural institutions learn to create intriguing, accessible book and media displays, with the aim of increasing circulation and creating positive patron experiences.

Book and media displays are ubiquitous in libraries—yet many librarians report that they feel “stuck” with uninteresting displays and don’t know where to begin making improvements. With a bit of guidance, it is easy to create arrays of books and media that will surprise and delight patrons—even in the face of budgetary, space, and other practical constraints. Better Displays, Today is a pragmatic manual for staff at all types of libraries and cultural institutions. In it, Faithe Miller Lakowicz leverages expertise honed from years curating museum exhibits to explore tips and tactics for improving the way that books are “exhibited” for library patrons.

Book displays are more than a simple tool for passive readers' advisory. A well-crafted display captures patrons’ attention, sparks imagination, increases circulation, and sends subtle (or not-so-subtle) messages about an institution’s values and culture. The tactics in this book will help the staff at libraries and cultural repositories learn to select more diverse themes and materials, to keep displays accessible to a variety of patrons, and to craft the desired “voice” for their business or department. Learn to meet patrons where they are and use displays to make them feel even more welcome, curious, and enthusiastic about their library, museum, or archives experience.