This post is part of my year end "Attack of the Best Lists" coverage. To see every post in my "Best Books 2021" series you can use the best lists tag.
I am a huge proponent of using Covers as part of our regular RA Service. Click here for all of my posts on the topic.
Two of my favorite year end Best Covers lists just came out. And there is some overlap too.
- Best Covers of 2021 via Book Riot [chosen by staff]
- 101 of the Best Books Covers of 2021 via LitHub [chosen by book designers]
One of the biggest reasons I enjoy including "best covers" in my annual year end "best" discussions is because it acknowledges those who take in information better through images.
When we are thinking about how we help readers, we need to be cognizant of all of the different ways people learn. We want to cater to ever possible patron. This is why we include graphic novels and audio book lists in our "best discussions." But there is a still a stigma around using covers to judge a book.
Sharing best books as judged by their best covers will attract different readers. It will allow another entry point for our patrons to find a good read for them. It will allow us to be more responsive. And, it will give us another "best" category through which to offer as wide a range of reading options as possible.
Rethink your own cover bias by looking at the Book Riot and LitHub lists, especially the LitHub list because they asked graphic designers to give discussion points about WHY these covers are so effective.
As a "words" person who is graphically challenged I look forward to this list every year, especially the explanations. Also note, LitHub has a regular "book covers" beat which you can follow with this link.
Covers matter. People are paid a lot of money to make them. Authors reply on them to project the appeal of the book to a potential reader. Don't underestimate the importance of the book cover in your regular service to readers.
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