Library Book Display Ideas
Grab Readers with Library Book Displays
Library users are often overwhelmed trying to choose from the huge selection of books filling the shelves. Libraries that feature books in displays help overcome that problem. The potential reader has a manageable selection to browse through. I spent fifteen years of my library career in Baltimore County Public Library. There was a heavy emphasis on merchandising the collection. When I became a library director in Texas, I trained my staff to display books in the stacks, to feature books nea...

Long Overdue Library Books
Amazing Stories of Library Books Returned after Many Years
Mention "overdue library books" and many people cringe. At some time, most library users have a small delinquency, pay their fine and continue happily patronizing their library. A few with overdue books that never get returned feel a real twinge of guilty conscience. It weighs on their mind, but somehow the book remains in their possession. Years pass and the library gives up hope of ever seeing that book again. Sometimes, like a miracle, the long delinquent book shows up at the library. The...

Funny Things People Say in Libraries
Librarians Treasure the Amazing Things People Say
I don't want to make you paranoid about talking to librarians, but sometimes we had a good laugh about something a library user said to us. Librarians love their library patrons and sincerely want to help them. Funny situations do happen or someone says something without thinking it through. Here are the resulting humorous things people say in libraries. (photo of the East Wakefield library in NH by Virginia Allain)

Themes for Library Children's Rooms
Make Your Library Inviting for Children with These Decorating Themes
A library can be a magical place for a child. For many, it's their first introduction to the wonders inside a book. Creating an inviting, colorful and kid-friendly space is crucial to making their experience truly wonderful. The children's room in a public library can be a place they look forward to visiting again and again. Let's have children begging their parents for a trip to the library! Creating that colorful and welcoming space in the library for children doesn't have to be expensive....

Libraries Need Friends
Join a FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY Group
Friends of the Library groups often first organize to help raise funds for a new library. The organization plays an important role in continuing support for a library as well. Most libraries operate on limited budgets, so a Friends of the Library supplements that with fundraising. The groups also play an important role in promoting the library, providing volunteers and hosting programs for the library. I was a librarian in public libraries for thirty years. The Friends of the Library provide...

In Praise of Libraries
Confessions of a Library-Lover
Librariesespecially public librarieshave got to be one of humanity's better inventions. There's something incredible about being surrounded by all those books. Big books, small books, old books, new books. Books with beautiful covers. Books on everyday matters and wildly esoteric subjects. More books than you could possibly read in your lifetime. And you're not even limited to the books around you. From most libraries, you can tap into a whole network of books. You can place holds on books ...

Stupid Library Tricks: YouTube Videos, Library Book Truck Drill Teams, Library Raves, Librarian Action Figures, and More!
Introducing the Best Library YouTube Videos
Here are my favorite stupid library tricks, with lots of YouTube videos. This lens has it all--book dominoes, library raves, library chair racing, musical numbers, and wild dancing in the stacks...With a special section for library book truck drill teams, the best stupid library trick of all!

Library Columns: Topics and Tips
A Library Column Is a Valuable PR Tool
During my years as a Library Director, I wrote hundreds of library columns for the local newspaper. It proved an extremely useful way to get the library's message out to the public and to shape their view of the library. Don't let your library's column become just a weekly posting of new books. There is so much more that you need to inform the community about the library's role and to lure them into becoming regular library users. Here are topics that you can turn into library columns, some ...

Library Topics - by Virginia Allain
Information for Librarians and Libraries by Virginia Allain
My thirty years in library work provides the basis for these web pages. You'll find ideas for book displays, library newspaper columns, decorating a children's area and other topics. (photo courtesy of the Weslaco Public Library, Texas) LIBRARIES Nothing Better by SchoolAids

I Love Books and Libraries
Books and Libraries - I Love Them
I made a good career choice when I picked librarianship.  It kept me fascinated for 30 years.  All aspects of library work from childrens librarian to reference librarian, middle management to library director, offered new challenges and rewards.  Even though Im retired, I still brake for libraries.  Theres some irresistable draw to an old Carnegie library building filled with books.  Our whole family loves to read.  My family has a number of articles about their love of reading.  Take a look...