One of the things I enjoy doing most in our store is changing over the largest of our book displays. We have these monstrous tiered tables that are beasts to move (on their teeny tiny casters) but beauties when it comes to having ample display space on which all books are clearly visible.

When I took photos of the tables just over a week ago, they featured books for Women’s History Month (since replaced by National Poetry Month) and Earth Day — two displays that include some really bold and beautiful books, making for eye-catching (and hopefully customer-drawing) displays. I photographed both of them from all four angles, wanting to show off the range of titles we can and do manage to fit on these behemoths. Had I photographed them while the sun was still shining, they’d show up a lot better (our store’s lighting is not the best), but I think you’ll get the idea.

First the Earth Day display, which occupies the larger of our two tiered tables and is immediately visible if you enter through the back doors of our store, which open onto the parking lot behind us. Here’s how that display looks as you enter the store and turn to your left, facing the Board Books, Picture Books, Beginning Readers and First Chapter Books sections of our store.

Here’s a close-up of that side:

You’ll notice that these aren’t just books about nature and "greener" living. I think Earth Day is as good an occasion as any to feature books about world cultures and global social issues, so we include those books on our display.

Walking around now to the right of the table (see, those are the back doors off to your left):

Then around to the back of the table. That’s our Children’s Activities, Non-Fiction, Folk & Fairy Tales and Poetry sections on the wall opposite you. The stairs to our Used Book Cellar are in the back left corner. What you can’t see is that the not-quite-as-big-but-still-large tiered table sporting our Women’s History Month display is actually sitting behind this one. You’ll have to take my word for it!

Again, here’s a close-up:

And finally on around to the last side:

I haven’t counted the number of titles on that table, but I know — it’s a lot. What a luxury!

Now on to the Women’s History Month display, which sits in front of our Children’s Activities, Non-Fiction, Folk & Fairy Tales and Poetry sections. Here’s how it looks as you enter the store (again from the back entrance):

Again, walking around to the right (see the Earth Day display over there?):

 And facing the opposite side:

And coming around again:

Those of you NOT trying to carve out space for ever-changing displays may not understand the fuss about having tables like these, but TRUST ME — a good fixture is an invaluable sales tool. And a rare thing!

Booksellers and librarians, back me up here. Anyone have a favorite fixture? A table or bookcase you couldn’t live with out? If so, tell us about it. Hopefully the fixture-markers of the world will sit up and take note!