Spangdahlem’s Bookmark store is taking a novel approach to stocking its shelves.
Christopher Boylan, who runs the store inside Spangdahlem’s BXtra, is circulating a survey asking readers to pick their favorite book and author.
The survey will be available through Nov. 15. Boylan will then order the top 10 books from the survey and highlight them in the store.
“I hope that this survey can act as a vehicle to propel the readers to discuss books and reading with their friends and co-workers,” Boylan said. “Discussion is a book’s best advertisement.”
Customers can pick the survey up at the Spangdahlem BXtra Bookmark, the base’s main BX, and at the main store and BXtra at Bitburg. It also is available at the same stores on posts in Chièvres, Belgium, and Schinnen, The Netherlands, he said.
Boylan, of Seattle, started working at the store three months ago. Since then he’s started a number of new programs to help expand his customers’ access to a variety of books.
He has developed a customer interest program designed to let people know about customers’ and employees’ favorite books. Every month, he writes an essay about a classic author, then features the author’s work in a special section. He also set up a “knowledge table” where he highlights books under certain themes.
“The current theme is theoretical physics, which have sold surprisingly well,” Boylan, 26, said.
