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Friday, February 22, 2019

Book Blogger Hop: Your Favourite Book Accessory

This week’s Book Blogger Hop asks what is your favourite book accessory that is NOT a book. 

As a librarian, I like bookmarks. They are decorative and protect your book from dog-earing.

I have a history with bookmarks, mostly the commercial ones made to advertise books. They are left on bookshop counters as a freebie. Dymock’s in Melbourne, where I have done a lot of shopping for my school library over the years, used to lay them out on a separate counter which acts as a barrier for their cafe area(Not so much now). I used to take a variety of colourful YA or children’s themed bookmarks, which I kept at the checkout desk for the kids. There were also the Insideadog bookmarks from the State Library(no longer, alas!) and, in more recent years, the ones you get from the Premier’s Reading Challenge. All put in a box and kept at the desk! 

I admit it was a sneaky way to persuade my library users not to dog-ear the books they borrowed, and guess what? It worked! “Would you like a bookmark?” I asked. Some said no thanks, because they already had a special bookmark. A friend, the art teacher, used to make bookmarks by hand  for the students in her literacy class, with their names on them.  Most of them gave me an enthusiastic yes. So I’d get out the box of bookmarks and watch them carefully choose the one they liked best. Sometimes they would ask if they could have two and I told them to help themselves. So... I prevented damage to the books and made it a favour!

One year I made bookmarks for Christmas gifts for my friends, on black cardboard with silver and gold pens, writing their names in Dwarvish runes. I was very proud of myself, until a friend glanced up from hers and told me I’d mis-spelled her name, which didn’t have an e in it! (I made it again)

Only two of my books got bookmarks made for them. One was Crime Time: Australians Behaving Badly. The other was my so-far only novel, Wolfborn. Crime Time was published by Ford Street, which has a policy of doing bookmarks for its books. The Wolfborn bookmark happened because the novel, which I’d hoped to launch at Aussiecon 4, the World Science Fiction Convention, was delayed till December. I was disappointed, but asked if they could at least come up with something I could give out and sign at the con, and the publishers came through, with posters, samples and bookmarks. I think the bookmark was designed by a work experience student - or was it an intern? - due to the regular person being off on leave. Anyway, whoever it was did a great job, even making a specific spot for autographs! 

Both bookmarks have come in handy for signings since then. Melbourne author Michael Pryor says that for children’s books mini-posters are even better than bookmarks, because kids stick them to their diaries or  textbooks and other kids see them. I do see his point, but the only mini-posters I ever had were for Crime Time. I’ve found those handy too! 

So, readers, do you have any stories about bookmarks? 

My bookmarks, photo by Romy of Lost In Stories

12 comments:

Brian Joseph said...

I really enjoyed this post. Bookmarks are cool! I think that you have motivated me to collect all my bookmarks in one place and perhaps collect some new ones.

Sue Bursztynski said...

Thanks, Brian, glad you enjoyed it! I have to admit, mine are all over the place, in books, though I do have a pile on my bookcases in the living room!

miki said...

i collect bookmark i started with the free manga one we got at bookshop but sadly it stopped very quickly, now i have several from book and those from bookdepository that i collect as well i have a special album to put them in ( may take a pic for you on day^^)

i could send you one with manga for your collection if you wish i have several pieces of some

Sue Bursztynski said...

Hi miki ! Much appreciated, but I don’t really collect them, I just got them to use, and right now I have a large pile! Thank you for the kind offer, though, it sounds lovely.

A latte beckons said...

As an author I would recommend leaving a blank space on the bookmark somewhere for your autograph -- great for school visits :)

Sue Bursztynski said...

Which is exactly what my Wolfborn publishers did, Kate! 🙂 My other bookmark doesn’t have that space, but I use the lighter bits to sign with a sharpie.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Sue - I brought some bookmarks back from Canada ... different ones ... but can quite see the advantage of having some made. I've noted! Cheers Hilary

Sue Bursztynski said...

They do make nice souvenirs, don’t they? And light in the luggage!

AJ Blythe said...

My eldest Barbarian collects bookmarks. He started thanks to the free bookmark Book Depository include with their books. Great idea!

Sue Bursztynski said...

Does he use them or just collect them? There are quite a few people who do that.

AJ Blythe said...

Uses and collects them =)

Sue Bursztynski said...

Good to hear! If you think he might like a couple of mine email me a mailing address. I have two bookmarks of my own book(see the photo) which I keep to give out at signings during the YABBA Awards.