Library Displays on a Shoestring
by Wendy D. M. Barteluk
Category: Language Arts & Disciplines

When governments face financial difficulties, among the first departments to feel cutbacks are resource centers. Today, promoting libraries and the services they offer has become a necessity. Displaying that wonderful book with uninteresting cover will get it off the shelf and increase circulation; promoting the library informs users that there is more to the research than books. Barteluk shows the library worker in small to mid-size libraries how to turn out eye-catching, interest-raising displays. Using three-dimensional exhibits rather than bulletin boards, she focuses on the actual fabrication of exhibits. Liberal illustrations and photographs reinforce the philosophy that creating appealing library displays is easy, fun, and economical. The author explains why promotions are necessary and tells where to place the displays, when to put them up and when to take them down, what materials to use and where to find them, how to build and use a mannequin, how to draw when you think you can't, and how to use color. Readers will also find tips on using and creating brochures and handouts, building displays that can be used more than once, scrounging and using props and ideas, and, lastly, how to store everything for further use.