If you’re a K-12 school librarian looking for ways to make your collection more engaging and accessible, it’s time to consider dynamic shelving. This innovative approach—where books are displayed with covers facing out rather than traditional spine-out shelving—has been gaining popularity in school libraries, and for good reason. But is it right for your space? Let's dive in.
Dynamic shelving, also known as face-out shelving, allows books to be displayed with their covers prominently visible, similar to how bookstores and public libraries often showcase their newest and most popular titles. This method leverages the visual appeal of book covers to attract readers and encourage browsing.
Students, especially younger readers, are often drawn to covers. When they can see the vibrant illustrations and bold titles, they’re more likely to pick up a book they might not have otherwise noticed.
Face-out shelving is especially beneficial for emerging readers, ELL students, and those with learning differences, who may struggle with decoding spine labels. Visual cues help these readers make independent choices and build confidence.
Want to promote new arrivals, seasonal themes, or underrepresented voices? Dynamic shelving makes it easy to curate themed displays and highlight diverse authors and perspectives.
For students who find traditional shelving overwhelming or intimidating, dynamic shelving makes the library feel more welcoming and accessible.
Face-out shelving takes up more space than traditional spine-out displays. This can be a challenge for smaller libraries or those with limited shelving options.
Because covers take up more real estate, you’ll be able to display fewer books per shelf. However, this can be mitigated by rotating your collection more frequently.
Dynamic displays require more frequent curation and re-shelving to keep things looking fresh and organized.
If you have the space to embrace dynamic shelving, here’s how to make it work for your library:
Begin with a “hot picks” or “staff favorites” section where you rotate featured titles weekly or monthly. This allows you to test the waters without committing your entire collection.
Invest in tiered display racks or book easels to maximize vertical space and keep covers easily visible.
Rotate themes based on curriculum connections, seasonal topics, or student interests. For example, “Books with Strong Female Leads” or “STEAM Adventures.”
Not every book needs to be face-out. Use a mix of dynamic shelving for high-interest books and traditional shelving for reference materials or older titles.
Let students curate their own displays or recommend books to feature. This fosters ownership and engagement with the collection.
While dynamic shelving isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, it’s a game-changer for libraries with the space and flexibility to implement it. The increase in student engagement and circulation often outweighs the reduced shelf capacity.
If you’re eager to make your library feel more inviting, visually appealing, and user-friendly, dynamic shelving is well worth the effort. Start small, get creative, and watch your circulation stats soar.