Read something spooky!

By Gabrielle Meares

Thanks to Gaby for sharing her Halloween / Day of the Dead displays. 

There is some interesting detail in them. 

Here are Gaby's comments:

'This year I showed the students the difference between the traditions of Halloween and Day of the Dead. Mark the skeleton was dusted off from the science labs and adds a certain authenticity to the display! 

Our students are enjoying colouring-in Day of the Dead masks, making Day of the Dead paper marigolds and watching ‘spooky’ movies in the library at lunchtime'.

Halloween

 

By Fran Karmann

Another feast for the eyes from Fran - this time a themed display for Halloween.

Fran says they try to keep the students coming into the building by displays and a themed environment.

I'm sure it works! I would definitely keep visiting to see what new surprises there are.

These themed displays must take a lot of thought but don't need to cost a lot of money.

Take a leaf out of Fran's book (a great librarian pun):

• Change displays regularly.
• Try  extending a theme throughout the library, with surprises around each corner.
• Beg, steal and borrow props from everyone you know!
• Get help from the students.
• Be brave.
• Have fun!

Fall into a good book!

By Fran Karmann

Thanks to Fran for sharing her latest display - I love Fran's displays because they aren't limited to one space - the theme spreads all over the library and gives a great impression.

This year Fran has gone with mainly black and white with a little fall color. 

The books that are in black and white have (in the last photo) a quote in front of them to entice readers by the catchy quote, which she tells me has worked!

Books are Scary Good!

By Elaine Pearson

It's the middle of October - time to think about ramping your displays up to something a little bit spooky! 

I saw this display on Pinterest. It was nice and easy - I robbed my car and home First Aid kits for bandages (must remember to replace them) and stapled them onto the display board over some spooky cut-out eyes. 

The lettering was adapted from free display lettering available through twinkl.

Creepy Woods Display

By Michelle Reid

This creepy display from Michelle should inspire us all as we think about Halloween! 

Here are her comments:

'The inspiration for this display came from a couple of different book blogs. One was on incorporating humor into library displays, and the other was on 10 books featuring creepy towns or creepy forests. “These Woods Give Me the Creeps” includes titles that feature creepy woods – perfect for October as we lead in to Halloween'.

Thank you for sharing Michelle.

Grab a good book

By Erika Brysiewicz

Thank you to Erika, librarian at Suriname International School in South America for sharing this display. A great display to remember for Halloween.

Book Graveyard

By Tammie Rienzi Soccio

Thanks to Tammie for sharing this fabulous idea. Here are her comments:

'We have had a rash of destroyed books lately, and my assistant said half in jest that we should have a book graveyard in the library so that the students could see firsthand the “horror” of not caring for library books. We got permission from our administrator to put it up as part of the Halloween display, and the conversations we’ve had with the students have been priceless. As young as first graders have been able to articulate that since someone didn’t make a good choice with their library book, the books were now “dead” and can’t be checked out anymore'.

Halloween

By Elsje Neal

Thanks to Elsje for sharing another display. Here are her comments:

'Not such an exciting display this year for Halloween as the larger spaces are already dedicated to other topics happening in the school. I usually try to make a new costume for the doll each Halloween but ran out of time this year to finish the Hogwarts outfit so had to recycle a previous one. At least should be ready with it for next year.Books from the display already having to be replaced so must be catching the students’ attention'.

If the books are moving - that's all that counts. I like the idea of dressing the doll for the occasion - looking forward to seeing the Hogwarts outfit!

Peek A Boo-k

By Fran Karmann

Fran used this Peek - a - Boo (k) idea for Halloween by displaying horror books.

Thank you for another great idea Fran - the display looks fab.

Through the Trapdoor (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)

By Tracy Taylor

This mesmerizing display has been shared by Tracy from Clinton in Kentucky. Here are her comments:

'I took an idea I saw on Pinterest for a baby mobile and turned it into a library display.

Inspired by Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone's Through the Trapdoor chapter--- I created the "winged keys" and broom needed to get through the locked door. (well…my talented father hand-crafted the broom for me…I bought keys at Michael's craft store and cut wings out of construction paper…the key at the top of the broom handle has a bent wing!)

Students are loving it…once they decide it isn't a Halloween display and really take a look at it'.

It's great Tracy, thanks for sharing it.

Haunted

 By Elaine Pearson

I liked Karen Waschinski's idea of using 'haunted' as a theme for Halloween so I came up with this easy display.

The window is made from four sheets A4 paper. I chose a coloured background and simply inserted clip art pictures of spooky stuff. The letters were printed on card, cut out and strung on string. 

Halloween

By Susan Kay

Sue needed a quick display to tide her over while preparing displays for her school's 75th reunion in November. This is pretty good for a quick display and will certainly draw the students' attention to the books - which is what it's all about! Thanks Sue and I hope the reunion goes really well.

Here are Sue's comments:

'I had bought this piece of fabric last year for next to nothing so that was my starting point. I pinned it up then added the net and a few black witches, pumpkins and boo signs. I had made the red back spider last year for a school assembly so that was dusted off and suspended from the ceiling. An old purple cloth was used on the display table and spooky books were collected from the shelves. That's it....done. Good enough to get me through the first couple of weeks of next term'.

Celebrate Halloween with some Devilishly Good Books!

By Barb Edwards

Remember this stunning display to use in October!

Thanks Barb - your displays are pretty amazing – in style, execution and idea!

Please click on the picture to see the detail.

Halloween

By Denise Borck
Denise Borck is the Media Specialist at William James Middle School in Statesboro, GA.
Denise's ghost is made from window screen mesh. Very clever - and creepy! For more grizzly photos and details of her display (and a great example of a library blog) take a look at 'LIFE IN THE LIBRARY'

Read tales of Horror

By Stephanie Trzeciakiewicz
As Halloween approaches why not take some inspiration from Stephanie's new display?

Stephanie is a Library Media Specialist in Virginia Beach and has done this timely display to highlight the Horror section.
She is in the process of genrifying the fiction section...changing it from alpha by author's last name to grouped by genres. I have never heard of anyone doing this with fiction before, it's certainly something to think about. Stephanie says it's a huge job (I bet!) but says it is already well worth it.

The closest that I have come to this idea is putting together some 'genre boxes' for classes of students to select from (just as a one-off). It's good fun and has introduced another way of looking at the collection.

Good luck with your project Stephanie and thanks for sharing your display.

Halloween - Ghosties and Ghoulies

By Gabrielle Karsai
Gabrielle (Library Assistant at Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta)reminds us that Halloween is just around the corner with her eye-catching display. She chose to narrow the selection to books that were specifically about ghosts and hauntings (with a few zombies thrown in).
Gabrielle says 'No vampires or werewolves were allowed as I think we are all very much over them!' Good thinking I say!

Halloween

By Sheryn Smith
Sheryn, Library Administrator at Wairoa College has been busy remodelling her library for halloween! Scary things sway overhead ... things move when you don't expect them to .... I'm sure the students appreciated this gory transformation!
Thanks for sharing Sheryn.

Halloween

[Click on the pictures for a closer look]

By Heather Stapleton
Heather works at a Catholic boys secondary college of 1400 boys and says that the horror genre is very popular at her school. 'The boys really enjoy the Skulduggery Pleasant series and one of our booksellers gave us the life size cut out of Skulduggery (he is a very popular addition to our library). Other popular titles are the Darren Shan series, Wardstone chronicles, Darkside series, Mortal instruments and the Twilight series. The skeleton strikes many interesting poses. The horror display would be one of the most popular at our college'.



Thanks Heather, love the display and it is certainly worth befriending your local bookseller, the Skulduggery cut out is great!

Halloween

By Lisa Stofac
An opportunity to promote all those scary books! Lisa has "carved" the letters spelling READ out of the pumpkins. Lovely and bright - a real attention grabber.

Dare to read Boooooks!

By Florence Micoud
Florence Micoud has shared this display with us. This one is a real winner and can't fail to impress our teens! Here are Florence's comments:

Here are the photos of the display I did this year, after a National Library workshop with Vince Collins. The scary display was very effective and sooo simple: the skeleton from the science dept, some masks borrowed from the students and a spider web from the $2 shop. The slogan with it "Dare to read booooooks" has proven good too!

Some super scarys: (Click picture for details)