1. Increase Library Usage through Strategic Merchandising presented by Kathy Dempsey of Libraries Are Essential (#LibsAreEss) Sept. 18, 2018

2. Think Like Retailers Timely Seasonal Creative Eye-catching
Pic from Wonder Book,
a small chain in Maryland.

3. What Is Merchandising?
Merchandising differs from displaying in that it’s a planned, promotional action. At its best, merchandising:
targets particular segments
is attractive and balanced
reflects your brand
draws positive attention
elicits feelings
involves much more than books
encourages usage and check-out

4. It’s More Than Books Facing Out

5. Let’s Start Outside

6. Signs Make Lasting Impressions

7. Closed? Tell ‘em What’s Happening.

8. Make Sure People Can Find You!

9. Your Entrance Says a Lot

10. Your Entrance Says a Lot

11. Why Try Merchandising? Make library look more inviting
Highlight underused materials
Silent Readers’ Advisory
Increase circulation
Promote upcoming events
Relate to customers
Differentiate branches/areas of building
Fun & creative for staff

12. Clear Sightlines

13. Show Off Special Sections

14. Display With Promotion

15. Go the Extra Mile

16. ‘Trading Spaces’ in Mt. Laurel, NJ

17. Before and After in Collingswood, NJ

18. Collingswood Circ Increase

19. Tips for Success Have an outsider do a “walkabout.”
Involve the staff for buy-in.
Note trouble spots.
Get patrons’ opinions!
Start small.
How will you evaluate success?
Publicize your changes.
People see signs for 2-3 seconds: Be legible!

20. Teens Like Their Own Spaces

21. Teen Space

22. Teen Space With Slatwall

23. Slatwall = Extra Space

24. Screens for Easy Changes
Digital screens that are programmable Digital frames of any size with changeable memory sticks Digital signage with scrolling words

25. Let’s Look at Signage

26. Fonts Matter

27. Let’s Look at Signage

28. Let’s Look at Signage

29. Let’s Look at Signage

30. Let’s Look at Signage

31. Promoting Digital Items

32. Promoting Digital Items
Marketing Your Library’s Electronic Resources: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians
By Marie R. Kennedy and Cheryl LaGuardia
Neal-Schuman, 2013 &

33. Good and Bad Book Sales

34. Staff Picks

35. Highlight Staff Members!

36. Cool Spaces: OBA (Amsterdam)

37. Cool Spaces: OBA (Amsterdam)

38. Cool Spaces: Baltimore County PL

39. Cool Spaces: T-Shirts

40. Cool Spaces: Goethe Institut (NYC)

41. Cool Spaces: Goethe Institut (NYC)

42. Cool Spaces: Goethe Institut (NYC)

43. Favorites: It’s OK, Really

44. My Favorites: Carry-Out Bags (Stockholm)

45. My Favorites

46. My Favorites

47. My Favorites

48. My Favorites

49. My Favorites

50. My Favorites

51. Kathy Dempsey Kathy@LibrariesAreEssential.com
Facebook:
Facebook.com/LibrariesAreEssential
Author:
The Accidental Library Marketer
Editor:
Marketing Library Services newsletter
Blogger:
The M Word: Marketing Libraries
Also an ebook!