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The course is clear and easy to follow. It was easy to log on the first time and the instructions were clear. I've enjoyed working through the tasks - the course is not too long and it can be tackled in small chunks. I liked the fact that my place was saved each time and I felt I was able to adapt my learning as I went on. As a library worker, I found the content to be appropriate and supportive to my work.
- Library assistants and librarians
- Public libraries
- Intermediate
Creating powerful promotions
This course will give your library displays some new bite! You will develop skills in targeting audiences and understanding reader motivations to support successful promotions. Working across stock areas and age groups, you will explore how to find readers for older and less well-known books as well as new ones. Includes ideas for social media and correctly sized images for Facebook, Instagram and X.
536 staff completed · 100+ services
Learning outcomes
What staff will know, value and be able to do:
Explain the difference between traditional, content-based book promotions and reader-centred promotions that focus on reading experiences
Recognise how library displays can help readers discover new books beyond their usual preferences
Apply the principle of 'selling the sizzle' to create displays that emphasise what readers will experience rather than what books are about
Identify hot spots and power display locations in the library to maximise visibility and impact with visitors
Create reader-centred promotional themes that link books across different genres and subjects based on shared reading experiences and emotional outcomes
Select books for displays using visual clues from covers including age appeal, gender appeal and narrative style to create cohesive, inclusive collections
Demonstrate effective display techniques using colour contrast and graphic cover styles to make individual titles stand out and attract browsers
Let book covers ‘speak’ to readers without adding unnecessary props or decoration
Plan displays that target specific groups of readers and manage stock rotation to maintain visual impact and prevent gaps
Value the role of skilled book curation to open up reading choices and help readers experience books as a form of adventure and discovery
- 01 A customer-centred approach
- 02 Helping people choose
- 03 Book display skills
- 04 Connecting with readers
How long do I have to complete the course?
You can start any time and work through the material at your own pace.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. A certificate is issued automatically once you've completed the self-assessment.
Can my whole team take it?
Yes - bulk discounts on 10+ places. Get a team quote →
What format is the course in?
Online text with illustrated examples, interactive exercises, audio and practical exercises you complete in your own library.
How accessible are the courses?
Self-paced with adjustable text size, width and contrast, plus an audio version with read-along text in every course. More about accessibility →
What learners say
I enjoy selecting books for Opening the Book displays (virtual or otherwise) as it gives me several hours to browse our library (or online) and find some hidden gems that warrant promotion.
I really enjoyed this course! It's an eye and mind opener, and I love the creative licence you gain!
I feel excited by the thinking behind the creating of powerful promotions
and look forward to putting my ideas into practice!
It was a great chance to reconnect to books, and to really consider book over design. The course was well structured culminating in the virtual display exercise, which was absorbing and illuminating. I enjoyed the philosophies that were expressed, and especially the idea of offering our customers a reading experience.
The course did a really good job of challenging the ways that we
do promotions. I feel very attached to the old style of doing it as it's
fun and creative to make big, silly displays with lots of decoration and
hyper-specific themes. This course convinced me that I shouldn't be doing that!
Everything I learnt makes sense and I look forward to shifting some more books
because of it!
I would recommend this course to others. I'd say that it's a good way to change
your perspective on library displays and could ignite some excitement in
this area if things are feeling a bit old and stale.
I enjoyed the course, it gave me the opportunity to review and look at how we promote our stock and to talk with customers and staff about how they choose books. This taught me the skill of thinking about promotions outside of work, when I am not with customers and the day to day running of the library. Thinking about promotions when you have some quiet time does help with being more creative.
Our displays have been stuck in a rut and staff have resorted to jazzing them up to grab attention instead of letting the books do the talking. Following this course, I can now see growth in the library team and we have been able to talk and share thoughts and ideas. This has already created more diversity in our book displays.
£50.00
per place
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