Idaho Commission for Libraries

Here’s a few display ideas to promote reading you can use during Family Reading Week or any time during the year:

Tie in with the election season by having kids vote on their favorite books by grade. Have teachers and parents vote too. Another way kids can vote is to participate in the Young Readers Choice Award. Students in grades 4 – 6 can participate. See www.pnla.org/yrca/ for more information.

One school librarian made a bookworm and added a circle to lengthen the bookworm each time a student finished a book. Cumulative displays where children or families can add an item for time spent reading or pages read are a fun way to involve all without singling out the “star” readers.

Try using “shelf talkers” throughout your library or book corners. Use table tents or fold heavy paper, stick on some clip art, and use some of these phrases with the displayed books: Check This Out!, Principal’s Pick, Betcha Can’t Stop at Just One (with a series), (Teacher’s name) recommends, Really Funny Book, Don’t Miss This One!, Write Your Own.

Many libraries promote book drives or book exchanges during Family Reading Week. Here's a few more ideas:

A Thanksgiving tradition, the Books for Joy program at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library gives hardcover books to at-risk families and youth. The program has given away hundred of books since it began in 1992. Contact the library for more information.

The “Dinner and a Book” book drive is organized by several VISTA volunteers in elementary schools across the state. Books are collected during Family Reading Week and distributed through the Idaho Food Bank with Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets. Operation Wish Book is a book drive organized by the Idaho Reading Association and is held in several communities throughout the state during the month of November. Books are then distributed through local social service agencies to low income families.

Other communities sponsor food drives or “Food for Fines” campaigns during Idaho Family Reading Week. One drive, called Food for Thought, is held annually with all the county libraries asking customers to bring a food item each time they visit the library during this week. Write a press release after you are done collecting food to thanks the community and report on how much food was collected.

To help children in need, one library sets up a Mitten Tree. Library customers are invited to place useful gifts of clothes B new or hand-made mittens, scarves, earmuffs, winter caps and gloves - upon the tree. In mid-December, all donations are given to local charities to distribute.

The Boise Basin District Library in Idaho City celebrated Family Reading Week by challenging community members to turn off the TV and read during the week. They kept track of the number of pages read and had a celebration.

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