General Information

• The Coolness Factor (Teens' impressions of libraries)
• Demco Creative Merchandising Grant ($3,000 for innovative display & merchandising of library materials)
• Librarians' Yellow Pages
• Mid-Hudson space planning
• Suppliers
  • Try local thrift shops, office supply, furniture, dollar and Target stores--to save on shipping & ask for discounts
  • Take teens with you to help choose

Space

Signs

• 10 Signs I Hope I Never See in the Library (or how to create more positive library signs/atmosphere)
• Improving "No" signs (Examples)
  • Thanks for helping keep your library safe from rogue food and drinks.
  • Even if you thirst for knowledge, please leave the drinks behind.
  • YES RESEARCH AND READING (but without food and drinks, please)
  • Dewey has food and drink at 641; you can have them in the cafeteria
• Jan Brett Dewey classification signs
• One-on-one signs

Furnishings (In addition to usual library suppliers listed in Librarians Yellow Pages)

• Big Cozy Books furniture
• Creative Library Concepts
• Herok Library Furniture
• Indoor Play Products
• Petite Stuff furniture
• Puppet Stages
  • Creativity Institute
  • Puppet Gallery
  • Puppetville
• Safe Business Systems
• Waldorf Play Stands

Cool Stuff/Accessories

• Cardboard stand ups (monsters, heroes, animals, sports, cartoon characters)
• Free standing displays
  • Herok Book Displays
  • Sign-EEZ Systems (Demco
• Magnetic Poetry
  • First Words
  • Kids' Kit
  • Kids' Storymaker
  • Poetry Journal
  • Really Big Words
• Mannequins (Dress up seasonally, or to promote specific programs)

Space

• Kim Bolan's space analysis grid (author of Teen spaces: the step-by-step library makeover
• Laptop Lounging--Creating Comfortable, Well-Equipped Technology Space by Linda Braun

Furnishings (In addition to usual library suppliers listed in Librarians Yellow Pages)

• Agati
• Beemak Plastic, Inc. (Acrylic racks)
• Demco (Teen specific furnishings)
• Foof wedge chairs
• Gifts in Kind International (Distributes used furniture & more to nonprofits; materials can be refinished by teens)
• Good Will Stores
• Jasper Seating
• Kron USA
• Pottery Barn Teens
• Salvation Army Thrift Shops
• Sauder 3-position chair
• Siegel Display Products (Wide variety of literature display units
• Specialty Store Services (Shelving, interesting signage)
  Sudanco (Specialized labels)
• Turnstone

Cool Stuff/Accessories

• The Attention Getter (noise decibel monitor for Teen Room)
• Cardboard cutouts
  • Famous people
  • Monsters, heroes, animals, sports, cartoon characters
  • People, cars, etc.
• Cork panels for wall displays (Home supply stores like Lowe's, Home Depot, Target)
• Listening Stations
  • DBI International
• Magnetic Poetry Boards
  • FunkyFridge
  • MagneticPoetry
  • Magnetic Poetry Journals
  • Make your own
• Mannequins (Dress up seasonally, or to promote specific programs)
• Lighting
  • Neon
  • Rope lights
• Posters, magnets, etc.
  • AllPosters
  • American Association of Publishers "Get Caught Reading" posters-free
  • Greatest Posters
  • Northern Sun Merchandising
  • Ten Speed Press/Celestial Arts (Unusual posters)
    

Cool Ideas

• One-on-one signage
• Sign Ideas
  • "Phat Books"
  • Hang 4-1-1 over teen reference or nonfiction area
  • Hang chain from ceiling; clip new paperbacks & DVDs on it with sign "Off the Hook"
• Working with schools & teens to plan your space (from WLS Annual Partnership Awards)