Best Practices

What a Way to Display

Libraries are merchandising, marketing and promoting materials and services just like our favorite stores reach out to catch our attention and get our business. Library display furniture offers opportunities to merchandize items and activities in the same way store fixtures promote the latest and greatest things to buy.

Some of the more traditional approaches to display furniture include a “wedding cake” display that has multiple display levels and slatwall panels, gondola displays with or without slatwall end panels, a tiered book display and slatwall end panels for shelving. These display options can easily blend in with existing or new furniture.

The “wedding cake”, gondola and tiered displays are offered with optional casters so that they can be easily moved to promote activity in other areas of the library.

Displays can also offer a great way to provide merchandizing opportunity and be an integral part of a theme. At the Alice and Jack Wirt Public Library, cargo boxes and dock pilings become platforms for new book display.

The nature-themed Cambridge Public Library children’s area desk provides cubby holes for books, stuffed animals and an aquarium for small animals or fish.

The Allen County Public Library features display cases in the gallery that match the design of the furniture throughout the library. These cases provide security as well as enhancing the gallery space.

Many libraries are placing displays and directories near the entry as statement pieces of furniture. McCarthy Library at Napa Valley College combines the directory with display for the first piece with additional statement display pieces following.

Functional and interesting display furniture can grab any library user’s attention – no shopping needed.

Linda Visscher is a Sales Manager with The Worden Company. Worden has been designing and manufacturing furniture for libraries and learning spaces for over 60 years. www.wordencompany.com