Greetings Earthkind!
As part of this class, we are required to publish a weekly response to a prompt given by our professor. This is my third prompt response!
Prompt
For this week’s prompt, I would like you to think of an innovative way to promote romance, gentle reads or horror at your local library (pick one, just one!). What would be most effective? A catchy display? Some passive programming? In what ways could you incorporate integrated advisory? Pretend you’re pitching an idea to your boss and write at least a paragraph in your prompt response.
Response
Usually, when I pitch ideas to my boss, I tend to talk about it in person to her and then follow up with an email after I gauge her interest. In the email, I would restate my idea and then try to do as much as I can to show her that I’ve thought through my idea but am open to suggestions.
At our branch recently, our Adult Reference Librarian put together a successful Suspense Thrillers versus Cozy Mystery display. This display had a couple of signs with lists of cozy mysteries and suspense thriller novels and authors.
After putting the display up, I added the titles onto our Pinterest page and posted about it on our Facebook page.
This display was actually why I started reading cozy mysteries in the first place, and according to our librarian, circulation of cozy mysteries picked up significantly afterwards.
Anyway, my idea is inspired by that display.
Spring is rapidly approaching, and with spring comes warmer weather and rain. Either way, gentle reads are perfect for any season.
This display would be located in the corner of our library that has a couple of big comfy chairs in front of it. It would have a main sign indicating the idea of the display, and there would be a couple of other signs and lists to accompany it as well.
I would put together a list of gentle reads that we have in our system (not just the ones on display), and I would also design a bookmark with a list on it as well.
On the bookmark and list, I would indicate which ones we have in audiobook, ebook, and e-audiobook formats as well.
There would also be a sign over the display to highlight the audiobook options. It would probably say something like, “Want to enjoy a gentle read on the go? Check out an audiobook!”
Lastly, I would promote the display on our Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter pages, and hopefully by that time, we will have a library blog where we can write about it, too.
To me, gentle reads are winter books, but I hope that this display would show that they’re enjoyable any season.
Thank you for taking the time to read this response, and until next time, Happy Reading!
The Alien Librarian 