Super Books LIV Pits KC [MO] Public Library v SFPL

So the big game is this weekend and no matter if you are a fan of the game, the commercials, or none of the above, there is no question that people have the game on their minds. This is a great chance to make a display.

But it does NOT have to be a display of football books. That is what your patrons are expecting. We need to get their attention by offering them something they are NOT expecting.

Thankfully, The Kansas City [MO] and San Francisco Public Libraries are on the case and working hard for you.

Over on Twitter they are engaged in a fun competition to alter book titles in a way that playfully pits each library against the other.  Click here to see the bookish fun at #SuperBooksLIV [link will work whether or not you have a Twitter account].

Here are two screen shots to see how they are doing it.

Click through to see all of the bookish fun. I especially love how KC has a Coach "Read" that is going around town to promote the library. [In case you don't know, the KC coach is Andy Reid, pronounced "read".] You can see the Coach Read photos on the same Twitter hashtag.

This makes for a great virtual display, just link to this virtual competition. But you could also do this in your libraries. Grab the books they are referring to and stick the extra words on the covers with some tape or just a post-it note. Ask your patrons to suggest other altered titles [in the library and online.]

Use the inspiration from the KC and SF libraries to start a bookish conversation at your own library. Again, online and in person.

Have fun with it. And if you are feeling creative, come up with some that are local to your town's fans. The cheesier the better. Here are a couple of free ones for Chicago area people-- Clan of the Chicago Bears or The Chicago Bears and the Nightingale.