Public stunts and all-for-fun, utterly nonpoliticized publicity bashes can be a great way to promote a library to a community, get people to see the library in a different light and become interested and involved, and finally reach those who think that libraries are boring or stuffy places.
This light-hearted but precise manual provides step-by-step instructions on how to plan, equip and train a successful book cart drill team. It includes tips for recruiting members and making the experience gratifying, finding festive opportunities to perform, costuming, decorating the carts—and especially, clear choreographic drawings for imaginative, attention-getting routines. And by the way: grocery stores, retailers, rental outfits and others could easily adapt the ideas in this book. It doesn’t have to be library book carts, it can be grocery carts, baby strollers, and lawn mowers—anything you can push down the street.

Linda D. McCracken is the Adult Services manager and collection development officer of the Yakima Valley (Washington) Regional Library System. She lives in Yakima.
Lynne Zeiher is the managing branch librarian of the Peninsula, Key Center, and Steilacoom branches of the Pierce County (Washington) Library System. She lives in Gig Harbor.

Linda D. McCracken and Lynne Zeiher
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 168
Bibliographic Info: 82 photos, appendices, diagrams, index
Copyright Date: 2002
pISBN: 978-0-7864-1159-7
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0500-5
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments     vi

1 Our Parade Started Here: How We Got Rolling     1

2 Why a Book Cart Drill Team? Good Reasons for Stepping Out     12

3 Taking It to the Streets and Elsewhere: Opportunities to Perform     17

4 Getting Ready to Roll: Planning Your Performances     24

5 Getting Into the Act: Recruiting Team Members     44

6 Your Marching Orders: Choosing Routines     56

7 Forward March! Forward-Progress Routines     59

8 Before the Parade Passes By: Stationary Routines     85

9 Backup Plan: Reverse Moves for Routines     107

10 Curtain Up: Stage Routines     113

11 Tricks of the Trade: What We Wish We’d Known     122

12 Tell the World: Publicity for Your Team     132

13 They’re Everywhere! Book Cart Drill Teams Across North America     135

14 Happily Ever After: The Story of the Seven Noisy Carts     143

Appendix A: Sample Parade Rules and Applications     145

Appendix B: How to Make Book Clappers     153

Index     157

“a fun-filled approach that can promote the library, gain new community support, and achieve enthusiasm among staff and patrons”—Booklist; “a step-by-step guide…one-of-a-kind…highly recommended”—Library Journal; “highly recommended”—Public Library Quarterly; “well-documented…unabashedly practical…easy to read…bound to be highly valued”—Technicalities; “explains how to plan, equip, and train a successful team. Its clear choreographic drawings will have you rolling in no time”—American Libraries.