Guys Read Display

As we gear up for summer reading, here's a cool display idea from the Downers Grove Public Library in the Chicago suburbs.

They are using stickers downloaded from GuysRead.com, Jon Scieszka's initiative to help keep boys motivated to read. If you haven't been by, check out the site--it has lots of great book recommendations for boys.

I know ALD has been standardizing the use of permanent spine stickers and cutting down on the usage of special collections, but wouldn't it be cool to do something like this temporarily?

At Koelbel there is a special display for Adult Summer Reading, on our New Fiction shelves. It's kind of like a staff picks, in that the books aren't necessarily new, just good reads. But instead of having a Staff Picks bookmark in them or sticky note on their covers, they all have a special sticker on their spines to keep them together, just for the summer.

I'd love to declare a "Guys Read" month at ALD...we could have Father and Son book programs, choose male authors for our regular book clubs, have male writers come and talk, and have special temporary sections in every branch full of books with the Guys Read stickers on their spines.

Sweet!

Computer-esque books to lure boys to reading

Here's an interesting BBC article on books with computer-generated images that strive for "truly boy-friendly" content for boys uup to the age of 9. Some are critical of the graphics and the attempt to mimic computer games which is a totally different experience than reading. I don't believe the books are out in the mainstream yet because the article states that the books, authored by Charlie Higson, have been tested in 2000 schools, and I see none are available through ALD, Prospector, or Amazon.