Readings creates a ‘Book Nook’ for Classic Cinema patrons

Tuesday, 23 July 2013 Books+Publishing

Melbourne bookseller Readings has created a mini library with one of its partners, the Classic Cinema in Elsternwick.

Launched last week, the Readings Book Nook is located in the foyer of the Classic Cinema and allows cinema patrons to browse books while waiting for a film session to begin. The books, which are spread across two shelving units and a window bench, are accompanied by book plates and stickers that direct patrons to return the books once they are finished browsing, and to purchase the titles at Readings’ St Kilda store, which is located close to the Classic Cinema.

Readings marketing executive Ingrid Josephine told Books+Publishing the idea for the mini library came when the Classic Cinema’s marketing manager Lior Albeck-Ripka asked if Readings could donate any spare books for cinema patrons to browse. Josephine said the pair then noticed some ‘ready-made “nooks” in existing shelving at the Classic where film flyers were displayed’. ‘We thought this was a perfect spot, hence the Book Nook was created,’ said Josephine. She added that the Book Nook is ‘a wonderful way to promote film tie-in editions to cinema-goers and introduce more people to our Readings St Kilda shop’.

The Book Nook currently offers 26 books, all donated by publishers. The collection includes books adapted for film, children’s books, and cooking, wine, gardening and lifestyle books. Titles on offer include The Great Gatsby (F Scott Fitzgerald, various imprints), The Silver Linings Playbook (Matthew Quick, Pan), Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace (Scott Thorson, Head of Zeus), The Book Thief (Markus Zusak, Picador), I Quit Sugar (Sarah Wilson, Macmillan), The Little Veggie Patch Co’s Guide to Backyard Farming (Mat Pember & Fabian Capomolla, Plum), Playing Beatie Bow (Ruth Park, Penguin) and The 26-Storey Treehouse (Andy Griffiths, illus by Terry Denton, Pan). Illustrated bookmarks and copies of the Readings Monthly newsletter are also available at the Book Nook.

Josephine said that Readings plans to add more titles to the Book Nook. ‘We’ll have a look at the books before the end of the year to add in some more new releases, especially film tie-ins for the big summer movie release season,’ she said.

There are currently no plans to create Book Nooks in other locations, although Josephine said Readings may consider additional locations ‘if they were an appropriate distance to one of our shops and if the business was the right fit’. ‘The appeal, I think, of the Book Nook is that it is unique and curated in a small space. If it were to be replicated, I think it would lose some of that charm,’ said Josephine.

To read more about the Book Nook, see the Readings website here.

Category: Local news