Simple display ideas for when you get stuck

If you are anything like me, you have a love-hate relationship with displays and passive programs. Thankfully, I love them more than I hate them. It’s an 80/20 split. And, to be honest, the hate has nothing to do with the projects themselves. The hate has a lot more to do with my guilt around not doing more of them.

Displays and passive programs tend to take a back seat to all the other things I have to do in the library, and I haven’t yet worked out how to add displays and passive program design into my regular workflow. This is especially sad because I actually really like creating them. I like coming up with themes and I like letting my creative energy fly free. But I often find myself struggling to actually get them done.

But in the past few weeks, I have been full steam ahead with displays and passive programs. I’m hoping this is the start of more consistent displays and passive programs.

Here are some simple displays and passive programs you can implement if you are stuck and in need of ideas.

Thrillers and Chillers

I sometimes forget how perfect mysteries are for spooky season. Instead of creating a display that was solely for horror books, I created one that also included mysteries. The darker, the better.

Food in Teen Fiction

This display features teen books that involve cooking or food/drink in some way. This display is simple because you can create a collage of food pictures.

Hiking

Folks from the Washington Trails Association recently hosted a program at my branch and they left us with some really cool handouts. I pulled some hiking books and created a “Go On A Hike!” display as a way to give away some of the handouts they left us with.

Candy Wars

This is a simple voting passive program. Teens vote with a sticker dot to select their favorite candies.