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Boosting Discovery: How Libraries Are Using Libby’s Shelf Talkers New

Boosting Discovery: How Libraries Are Using Libby’s Shelf Talkers
by gmendicino@overdrive.com August 20, 2025
Librarians Share, Library, Promotional Ideas

In today’s day and age, libraries from all over the world are constantly seeking creative ways to engage with their patrons effectively. After all, why meticulously plan a community event or launch a new resource without making sure patrons know that it’s available?

The American Library Association‘s Basic Promotion Guide covers several recommendations on how create awareness for programming, special events, or title features; including direct mailings, press releases, word-of-mouth, and advertising. However, one should never forget the effectiveness of informing an already-engaged audience to increase touchpoints and maximize engagement with your carefully curated content. If you have a patron that is already supporting your library (amazing!) using the Libby App (even better!) and are looking for more ways to connect with their community or librarians (we love to see it!), then Shelf Talkers are a great way to bolster that connection with them.

What are Shelf Talkers 

With easy-to-navigate settings, the Shelf Talkers feature puts the power to showcase their curatorial expertise and knowledge to patrons squarely within the hands of each library. Shelf Talkers in Libby allow librarians to connect with readers by recommending titles, providing interesting facts about a title or author, showing curators’ personalities and adding more library-specific flavor to their Libby collection, much like the physical shelf displays that you may have featured at your library branch now.

Shelf Talkers Sweepstakes Winner

In May of this year, we put out an open call to libraries all over the world to share how they utilize Shelf Talkers with their patrons, and we were blown away by your creativity. The winners of this year’s sweepstakes were the fantastic librarians at Lethbridge Public Library of the Chinook Arch Regional Library System. They shared how they promote their favorite titles and upcoming events with “Recommendations” and “Thoughts” through Shelf Talkers. Here are a few of their submissions:

Libby Shelf Talker Recommendation for Romeo and/or Juliet by Ryan North, text reads: If you hated the ending of the original Romeo & Juliet, why not give this choose-your-own-adventure a try?
“Ryan North’s “Romeo and/or Juliet” Ryan is going to be one of our headlining authors at September 20th’s Word On The Street (WOTS) festival at LPL. Adding Shelf Talkers on his books helps us raise awareness about the event, and gets people reading his books ahead of the festival.”
Libby Shelf Talker Recommendation, text reads: Check out these delectable dessert recipes from Alberta-based company Crave Cupcakes! The authors will be at Word on the Street at Lethbridge Public Library on September 20th, 2025!
“The wonderful bakers (and now cookbook writers) from Crave Cupcakes are coming to The Word On The Street – a festival our library hosts in September. Promoting their ebook on Libby will raise the profile of the event and let people know they can meet the authors.”
Libby Shelf Talker Thought by Paige the Teenbrarian, Lethbridge Public Library. Text reads: DYK Emily Varga is coming to LPL's Word on the Street festival on September 20th? You can meet her in the Teen Tent and have her sign your books!
“Emily Varga’s “For She Is Wrath” Emily is another one of our WOTS authors in the Teen Tent for 2025. The more people we can get reading her book before September, the better!”

These are great examples of how to utilize digital Shelf Talkers to increase engagement at an in-person event. I simply cannot wait for this Word on the Street festival – it sounds like it’s going to be chock full of amazing content and activities. I was so excited that I went and tried to find something similar at my local library, but it looks like I missed the Cleveland Public Library Word On the Street events by at least a month. Oh, well – marking my calendar for next year!

Though Lethbridge won the drawing, we wanted to highlight a few honorable mentions that you can draw inspiration from for all of our Shelf Talker categories:  Trivia, Quotes, Thoughts, and Recommendations.

Shelf Talker Honorable Mentions

Trivia

Knox Public Library’s tasty trivia tidbit left me craving a chocolate frosting with sprinkles donut. Oh, and this book looks good, too.

Libby Shelf Talker Trivia for Ginger Bolton's book, Survival of the Fritters. Trivia by Brenda B. at Knox Public Library. Text reads: There are two national Donut Days - first Friday in June and November 5th. There are also day to celebrate jelly-filled doughnuts (June 8th), cream-filled doughnuts (September 14th), and Buy a Doughnut Day on October 30th.

Melanie, the Head of Collections & Acquisitions at Middle Georgia Regional Library, used this fun fact to harken many a fandom.

Libby Shelf Talker for Princess of Wolves. Trivia by Melanie C. Duncan head of Collections & Acquisitions. Text reads: Did you know Person is a Georgia author? His Locrottum Universe titles are described as "Think Fast & The Furious, Twilight, Star Wards, and Harry Potter all in one!

Quote

Santa Rosa County Public Library System must know that I’m a sucker for a beautiful quote. Please excuse me while I add this to my Holds list in Libby.

Libby Shelf Talker Quote for Whalefall by Daniel Kraus. Quote provided by Martha B., Santa Rosa County Library System. Text reads: He lived his life amid a flood. Mistook drowning as sleeping. The whale was the ark he needed: prison, school, church, sickbed, crib.

Morristown Centennial Library shared their favorite (heart wrenching) quote from Clare Leslie Hall’s Broken Country.

Libby Shelf Talker Quote for Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall. Text reads: You can never change back once you've had a child, even if that child no longer exists.

Thought

West Georgia Regional Library System captured “Careless People” PERFECTLY. If you haven’t read it yet, do.

Libby Shelf Talker Thought for Carless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams. Thought by Kali, WGRLS - Admin. Text reads: This book reminds me of someone who stays with their toxic partner because they believe they can change them.

Edinburgh Libraries found an ingenious way to curb extra questions about where patrons could find the first two books in this series.

Libby Shelf Talker Thought for Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz. Text reads: Audiobooks two and three of the Magpie Murders series can be found on our BorrowBox service www.edinburgh.gov.uk/borrowbox.

Anoka County Library found the perfect title to help promote their Adulting 101 class.

Libby Shelf Talker Thought for Basic Hand Sewing Guide by Jennifer McDowell. Thought is provided by Northtown Library. Text reads: Looking for more? Learn to sew clothes at Adulting 101: basic Hand Mending at Northtown Library on Thursday, July 31, 2025! Bring an item you'd like to fix up and get advice on how to tackle your project.

Recommendation

George H. and Laura E. Brown Library Circulation staff member Sharon gave an A+ recommendation for suspense fans.

Libby Shelf Talker Recommendation for Open Season by C.J. Box. Recommended by Sharon, Brown Library Circulation. Text reads: I'm hooked on this series! Each book gets better, always exciting and suspenseful. Start with this first book, the inspiration for Paramount + series Joe Pickett. Can't wait for the newest installment.

Brandon Township Public Library used emojis to grab readers’ attention. They also featured a staff picture so patrons know who to go to for read-alike suggestions at their branch.

Libby Shelf Talker Recommendation for The Duke Who Didn't. Text reads: Emoji Mood Rating (sparkle heart, double heart, heart eyes, red heart, laughing face emojis) Laugh-out-loud, feel-good story sure to pull on your heartstrings.

Indian Prairie Public Library delivered a tasteful review of Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club in this Recommendation.

Libby Shelf Talker Recommendation for Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club. Text reads: J. Ryan Stradal writes masterful Midwestern sagas of food and family. This propulsive family drama is at turns tragic and hilarious, relatable and frustrating. Readers will feel like they're sitting in the supper club watching it all unfold over a relish tray and a brandy old fashioned.

How are you using your Shelf Talkers? Let us know!

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