Updated 1/31/14: I’ve had requests for the “want ads” I wrote for the books. Here’s a set of 16 that I plan on starting with as well as the sign I plan on using this year: blind date display 2014 blurbs
I have a template in a publisher document I can email anyone who is interested. Leave a comment or a note through the contact form.
This isn’t an original idea. Because I follow a bunch of libraries and librarians on Facebook and Twitter, I’ve seen quite a few of these types of displays. That’s what I love about social media; people can quickly share ideas.
I First saw a similar display on Pinterest last year. I’ve seen a couple more since, but I wanted to make ours a little more eye-catching and I happened to have plain red wrapping paper that was too long to fit in my wrapping paper storage bin and had just been leaning against one of my bookshelves since I’d wrapped holiday gifts. Plus, I figure if you’re going on a blind date, you want to jazz it up a bit, and the red seemed fun and Valentine-y. I thought this “blindfold” take on the idea in this display was also cute, if you wanted something different. There are lots of alternative spins for the “blind date with a book” theme. I saw one library that was using mysteries only, and another said they were doing it with adult nonfiction books.
The sign says: No Valentine? No problem! Make a date with one of these books! Don’t see anything that catches your eye? We’ll play matchmaker and find the right book for you.”
It doesn’t even have to be a February display, it would work for any time of year. I liked the idea of only giving a hint of what the book was (that’s the fun, right? the surprise!), but wanted to be more specific than genre. I wrote blurbs as personal ads, “this book seeks this kind of reader” style.
Anna and the French Kiss became “charming romance seeks reader for a rendezvous in Paris.” If you’ve already read that or are really familiar with YA lit, you might guess which title the wrapping paper contained, but if you were in the mood for a romance, you might take a chance on the unknown. My favorite blurb was “quirky, award winning road trip book seeks reader who will appreciate its dark sense of humor (must not be afraid of yard gnomes)”—can you guess the title?
I included a variety of books on the display—humor, mystery, sports, fantasy, sci-fi, historical, etc. Some were popular books and others were personal favorites or lesser known titles. I made sure that the area around the barcode was cut out so they could be checked out without unwrapping and wouldn’t annoy the people at the circulation desk too much. Using a high quality wrapping paper was easier than thicker paper or too thin, easily tearable wrapping paper. You could use the comic section of the sunday paper and do a graphic novel display. I liked typing and printing out the blurbs rather than hand writing them, because I didn’t want to worry about misspellings or not fitting all the text on the book.
I found some other displays for February that I loved, like this one from The Magpie Librarian that features LGBTQ titles.
Have you made or seen another cool library/bookstore display? Tell us about it in the comments!
wrapped up in books 
Hi Molly! Could you please send me your Blind Date with a Book template? I am a high school librarian working on my February display and would love to get more ideas. Thanks!
I would love your template as well. I work in public library and we are trying this out this year. I love your sign much better than mine!
Help! I’m running out of time and like every other librarian have tons to do. Why reinvent the wheel? I love your “pick up lines” and would love to get the template. Care to share? I’ll give you the credit.
i’d like a copy of your template
Are you still sharing your template? If so, would you mind sending them to me? I’m a high school librarian and I usually do book speed dating for valentine’s day but I wanted to switch it up this year. Thanks so much!
I would love a copy of your template. Great job!! This is my first year in a high school media center and i am so excited to do this!
I am a new HS media coordinator and I LOVE your blind date post and would love a copy of your blind date blurbs if you don’t mind sharing!
Hi, love this idea! Would you please email me your template? My middle schoolers would love it!
Hi Molly! I would love to get the template for your blind date with a book display, I love your personal ads!
Thank you so much!. Wrapping books and creating the sign was no problem. But I am HORRIBLE at coming up with cute phrases to make the books attractive and give a bit of a hint at the type of book. I LOVE having the templates for the specific books. I know they will fly off the shelf!
I would love the blind date materials, please.
Hi Molly,
LOVE this idea and hoping to recreate the display with some of the recently named BFYA titles next month. Would you mind sending me the template? Thanks!
Meredith
Great idea! I’d love to have the template, too!
Thanks so much for sharing! Found your idea on Pinterest and happily discovered your blog. I’d love to have the template when you have a spare moment.
Please email me a template. I love this!
Great idea… I love it. Please email me the template when you get a chance.
Thanks,
Julie
Please email me the template for “Blind Date With A Book”….GREAT idea, I will be using it in the HS Media!
Thank you!
Molly,
your blurbs are so witty and engaging, could I please get a template?
Thank you
I love this display! Would you share your template?
LOVE your personal ads and display! I’m planning to do this in our HS library. Could you please send me the template?
Hi Molly–I’m working on a book for ALA Editions, working title Handbook for Story Readers, and in my chapter on Raising Readers, I’d love to quote your post on Speed Dating and use your images in my PowerPoint for a book talking workshop I’m giving in NY State in May. Would this be OK? Also, I’d love to see your template. What I most enjoyed was seeing how you took a good idea and added a few twists to make it even better. Thanks–Judy Freeman, Children’s Literature Consultant, http://www.JudyReadsBooks.com
Hi Judy,
Email me at mollymwetta@gmail.com or use the contact form under the “about” drop down menu and we can talk about it. Thanks!
I love this and would very much appreciate you emailing me the template. Thanks!
Oh I love it. Would you email me your template? We’re thinking of doing this at our library this year.
Molly, would you please share your ‘blurbs’ for your chosen books?! Great idea, love it.
I would love to see your books and descriptions if you are willing to share!
Hi Molly,
Would you send me your publisher template for the Blind Date blurbs? I really like your display. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Molly, I am a high school English teacher. I would LOVE it if you could email your descriptions to me to use in my classroom library. Thanks for the great ideas! hkhollands@gmail.com
Thank you for posting the link to those!
Hi Molly! Your display is awesome! Would you be willing to share your YA personal ads?
Great idea! Love the display!
What an awesome idea! I love your personal ads, hehe. I’ve never seen this before, and I am so jealous. :)
I wouldn’t be surprised if your local library gets one! They are everywhere this year ;)
I’ve been seeing so many of these Blind Date with Books pop up in various posts around the blogosphere–it’s such a cute idea! I toyed with the idea of doing a giveaway based around this, actually, but I think it’s just going to have to wait for another time. Thanks for the cute roundup. :)