Update: Using ‘Unshelved’ in Your Library

It’s a new year – why not try a new reading promotion idea?

Or, like me, you can lazily take an old idea and “update it” for 2011 (I believe I’m supposed to mention something about the insanity of “re-inventing the wheel” here).

Back in the glory days of 2009, I wrote about how I used the superbly library-centric webcomic Unshelved to promote books in my school libraries, with impressive results. Each week they create an Unshelved Book Club strip, which is a booktalk in cartoon form. For example:

Well, lovers of lamination aroma rejoice! A year or so has passed and there’s an entirely new batch of Book Club strips for protecting under plastic. I’m beginning to think they are writing them specifically for me, as a ton of my favorites have shown up. Here’s a list of all the strips that generally work for my 5-6th grade school (if you’re looking for something different, click here to see every book they’ve featured):

The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

Tower of Treasure by Scott Chantler

Bill Peet: An Autobiography

Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce

The Unsinkable Walker Bean by Aaron Renier

Binky the Space Cat by Ashley Spires

Doctor Proctor’s Fart Powder by Jo Nesbo

Babymouse by Jennifer L. Holm & Matt Holm

Foiled by Jane Yolen

Schooled by Gordon Korman

Cat Burglar Black by Richard Sala

Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park

Mischief Makers Manual by Sir John Hargrave

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

The following strips were featured in my last Unshelved post:

Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh

Snow Spider by Jenny Nimmo

Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe

Emmy and the Incredible Shrinking Rat by Lynne Jonell

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

Magic Pickle by Scott Morse

Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson

Mouse Guard: Fall 1152 by David Peterson

Owly by Andy Runton

Kiki Strike by Kirsten Miller

Kampung Boy by Lat

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Ranger’s Apprentice: The Ruins of Gorlan by John Flanagan

Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

Bucking the Sarge by Christopher Paul Curtis

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

Using them is simple and it really works:

Step 1: Print ’em

Step 2: Laminate ’em

Step 3: Fan them out in a satisfying manner

Step 4: Stick ’em next to a stack of the books (I usually order extra paperback copies in advance)

Step 5: Finished product

I’m very interested to see if the increase in interest I call the “Unshelved bump” works on older books as well, so I’m including From the Mixed Up Files and Bill Peet: An Autobiography among the highlighted titles.

A wholeheartedly approved method of book promotion.

Filed under: Articles