The most successful displays I've done at my library have been passive readers advisory. For the last five years or so, I’ve done a monthly display of minature books based on the top YA titles checked out in my library system, with the top 10 books getting four readalikes.
The Tiny Library is a collection of tiny books based on our most popular titles. Each tiny book contains reading suggestions based on our readalike list. There is a QR code that leads to a Google Form where teens can choose the books they want to pick up from the library. When they pick up their book, they also get their own Mini Book Craft Kit to make their own tiny library at home.
Before Tiny Library, patrons would learn that the book they wanted (usually a very popular title) was checked out and leave empty-handed. The Tiny Library recommends new titles and keeps patrons reading!
Advanced Planning
Once I got the list of readalikes together, I made the tiny books using old summer reading advertisements as the covers. I used Microsoft Publisher to make the covers, printed them, and glued the tiny book covers onto the old advertisements. Two of our part-timers were a huge help with this.
For the take-and-make portion of this program, people made their own mini books with titles of their choosing and used cover images printed from the internet. For the kits, I bought a mini-accordion book kit from Dick Blick with an instruction sheet I created.
Marketing
I made a flier with a QR code of the Google Form that was posted to the library's Instagram page and placed in YA books on the hold shelf.
The QR code and TIny Library info was printed on the back of every readers advisory bookmark and placed in books on display.
Messages were sent out over Remind.
Budgeting
While there wasn't a monetary budget for the tiny books, making all those tiny books took a lot of staff time and color printing!
The mini-accordion book kit from Dick Blick costs less than $30 and has supplies for up to 72 books.
Day-of-event Activity
I originally planned on Tiny Library being browsable and set up on a table in our teen area. We were drive-thru only for the first few weeks of December, so I created a Google Form where patrons could request titles or simply list their preferred genres.
Program Execution
People are charmed by their tiny books! I plan on keeping the Tiny Library set up for a while so our patrons who only come in every one or two months can participate.
Advice
I think patrons in late 2020 were responding well to having something special and physical made for them. Libraries have moved so much stuff online, but there are still ways to add a personal touch to remote and passive readers advisory.
Going forward, I'm going to work to add that to our online and virtual offerings.
Supporting Materials
- Feedback (Coming Soon!)
- Programming Librarian Facebook Group
Slideshow Images
More Programs
Creativity Crates for Summer Reading
Audiences:
