Each year, we can count on the same events to happen at the same time: library orientation, introduction to state award books, a discussion of Mock Caldecott, etc, etc. Holiday and special event displays should be scheduled, too.
I keep looking ahead to the calendar, but sometimes the month moves too quickly! Just recently in my library I had a Martin Luther King, Jr. book display followed by a display of football books in celebration of Super Bowl Sunday:
Of course, I also have a Valentine's Day book display:
And with February being Black History Month, my displays will change again.
In the spring, I will do a flower/seed/garden theme, in March I will display green covered books for St. Patrick's Day, in April I will display baseball books for Opening Day, and in May it will be summertime/ice cream books. I'm sure there is something I've left out, but those are the main things.
Fortunately, I have volunteers who gather the books for me, and I pull additional books, too. Sometimes I am in such a rush to get the books out that I don't even make a sign (as I did with my Keven Henkes display -- see previous post). Sometimes I will have some nice decorations with them, but lately, it's only been the books, and those great book stands I buy from the Scholastic Book Fair catalog!
In thinking about my displays -- which sometimes, are planned, and sometimes are not -- I realized that what's important about displays is a connection: a connection to our reader's lives as well as the calendar. I want to show them that books can be there for them in any area they pursue -- whether it be their academics, their interests, or hobbies, or just to share a special season.
I love getting displays ready. I only wish I had more room to display more books!