Red dot means go

We'll admit it: there are times we take the sheeplike approach to trying out a new book.

Going into our library's New Fiction section can feel like a drift into the market's maelstrom of trends. Look over here -- African-American mystery. Over there: teen vampire adventures. And there: the over-the-hill chick lit.

In a bookstore, we're guided by book promotions delicate (posting of the NYT Bestsellers List), and overt (40% off a B&N designated hit). There are shelf ads, "Staff Recommends" bookstand, and stand-alone tables/bookshelves to guide the buyer.

A number of librarians have cottoned to adopting a bookstore's feel to their library. Beyond the comfy chairs, Teen Lit sections, and even lattes in the lobby, these libraries have adopted some of the stealth ways bookstores push certain titles.

(excerpted from www.ckls.org/~crippel/marketing/bookstore.html )
"One librarian, Sharon Baker, discovered that merely placing a red dot on spines of books on the regular shelves with signs on the end panels saying red dots mean recommended books increased circulation of those books by 9% to 179%. Dots of different colors could represent different genres, different awards (e.g., Nebula vs. Hugo) or different sources of recommendation (e.g., Modern Library list best novels)."

As a fan of the color red romantically, Mr. Obie Joe, is impressed with a quiet, but expert, way to help readers try out titles unfamiliar to them.