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Stealing Like an Artist: Book People Addition


Every good trip to Austin, for me, includes a stop at Book People.
It's magical, really.  Two glorious floors of books and various wonders.
Funky and eclectic.
Workers who know and love books, and who help but don't hover.obtrusively.
A fantastic children's area.
I could (and have) spend hours there just breathing in the air and soaking up all the goodness.
It is a soul-healing space.

I always find a multitude of things I want to purchase, of course, but I also am always super inspired to bring home to my own library a bit of the magic they've created in that space.

As one of my favorites, Austin Kleon, says, steal like an artist. 
So, here are 5 things I've taken with me this time around:

1. Book People is an Independent bookstore, so they get to do what they want, unbound by any far-away entity telling them how to market.  They know their people and they know their books, and they create the best displays to showcase their stuff.  I'm going to up my display game this year, creating several display stations to market the great books we have. I'm hoping my senior library clerks will be inspired to unleash their artistic ability, too.  

2. They are books, but they are more than books. Part of what delights the senses in their space are the other items of wonder. Fun and funky, sometimes bookish, sometimes witty, sometimes beautiful items.  Yes, their items are for sale, but incorporating the idea of shifting my passive makerspace stations more often, for example, and including fun signage and out of the ordinary things to do and explore can bring that same idea home to the library. Novelty catches the eye.  Beauty enchants. Those things spark joy and wonder and get kids (and adults) playing, thinking, tinkering, and dreaming.  If you ask me, we could all sure use more of that in our lives.

3.  They have really cool events. And while I can't do it on the same scale, I can totally up my game in this area.  I met with some students last year and asked them what kind of events/speakers/groups they'd like to see in the library and we came up with a list of awesome possibilities.

4. They have a TON of books faced out with book recommendation tags from their employees or other bookish folk.  Just take a closer look at my pic up top for an example.  I keep meaning to do more of this, but this year, it is absolutely happening.  It is so helpful when looking for something new to read to see what other readers love and recommend.

5. They spread the word of their awesomeness.  Librarians are notorious for not shouting loudly enough about the Awesome that is the library. Keep in mind, that you are shouting about the library, and not about you personally. So shout it to the rooftops and let everyone know of the greatness going down in your space.  That's what I intend to do this year.  Advocacy, advocacy, advocacy, y'all.

My goal?  #BeMoreBookPeople

We got this!
Sonja
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