As a librarian, I receive occasional PR boxes from publishers, and I wish I could tell them to cool it with the bookmarks. I have more than I could ever use, and readers don't want them at all. I used to put out these PR bookmarks as free goodies for library patrons to take, but I was still left recycling dozens of bookmarks when they went untouched for months.
I wish I could tell publishing houses and authors to stop spending their money designing and printing something that's going to quickly end up in the trash.
What do you all think? Do you like getting bonus bookmarks, or are they just more clutter for you to find a home for? Am I being too harsh? What item do you prefer to get when you go to book events or receive promotional material? Personally, I love a consumable-an individually packaged candy or tea bag that's relevant to the story in some way.
I would prefer getting nothing over being burdened with yet another bookmark.
by oliviebe
17 Comments
The only bookmarks my library ever offers are ones with the library’s name on them, which fine, but I’d be interested in some actual book-themed bookmarks.
I like bookmarks. I never seem to have enough and they’re always disappearing so I dont mind getting them. On the rare occasions I have extras, I just have a little mug on my bookshelf that I stick them in so they’re not really in the way or cluttering anything.
On the one hand there’s you, but on the other hand there’s me – losing bookmarks faster then humanly possible…
I only like bookstore bookmarks honestly. I’ve never liked the ones that were branded to a book or a series or was just frankly marketing for publisher XYZ.
But I have recently slowed collecting them as we seem to have several hundred now…they have a spot on our shelf so not a big deal but the appeal has worn off and they do feel a bit more like clutter.
Craft projects for the kids room! You can teach paper making or print making or paper chains or whatever
Sounds like way more waste and cost for a consumable item. I, personally, love themed bookmarks and just leave them in the book for next time.
I like good-looking bookmarks 😀
In Latin America, a lot of publishers routinely include a promotional bookmark in new books (usually promoting the same book you just bought???), either tucked in, or attached, perforated, to the cover flap. I think I have 50+, and yet, I routinely don’t have one handy when I need it…
The few people who do take them are probably super thankful for them
honestly, bookmarks are so 2010, lol. i get that they’re meant to be cute and all, but they just end up collecting dust or going straight to the recycling bin. giving out snacks is way better, everyone loves a little treat.
I do use a couple specific ones I have from time to time. More often than not, I just use magic basic land.
As an exclusively ebook reader I don’t have a practical use for bookmarks, but who says life needs to be practical?
Here’s my recommendation to you, librarian: make a cool art piece. Find a cheap frame at a thrift store and frame up a collage of all your promo bookmarks. Do them in a gradient of color maybe, or choose the ones with the most interesting art, etc. (Forgive me, but you can take inspiration from the Cullen family shadowbox of graduation caps in the Twilight movie.)
Then hang this art piece up somewhere very obvious, near your bowl of free bookmarks. Guaranteed you’ll have at least one or two patrons who look at it and go oh that’s neat, I can make that, and start clearing out your hoard for you.
Personally, I can never have enough bookmarks. And I think they are the best freebie. I’d much rather have a paper bookmarks than something plastic. And if it’s a good bookmark maybe there is some art on it that goes with the book, so you get something nice to look at when you are marking your place.
I am a voracious reader and I have a different bookmark for every book on my shelf. Every time I go to the library I grab another one. It’s a weird obsession.
As a reader, I love the idea of bookmarks, I just always lose them.
What I like is opening a book I haven’t looked at for years and finding in there an old receipt for something fun that I did, or a note from a loved one, or even a photo, that I have been using as a bookmark.
(I do like nice good-looking real bookmarks, whether from a publisher or whatever; but I can see how too much of a good thing could wear on you!)
No they can’t, what?
I love them, even the dumb ones. And I do in fact use bookmarks lol