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A social media campaign launched by HQ Stories to get people sharing their "shelfies" proved a huge social media hit in the UK and beyond this week.
As millions were confined to their homes on Tuesday (24th March), HQ's team launched the hashtag #ShowUsYourShelves.
The team's Twitter post read: “CALLING ALL BOOK LOVERS! We know lots of people are staying home right now, so join us in brightening up Twitter the best way we know how‚Ķ with books! From your messy TBR [To Be Read] piles to organised bookcases, we’d love you to #ShowUsYourShelves!”
The publisher's post had 541,889 impressions by Wednesday afternoon, trending on Twitter, and by Thursday afternoon had racked up over 3,300 likes and 860 retweets. Those who got involved included Ben Fogle, Yvette Nicole Brown, Marryam H Reshii and organisations organisations such as PRH, English Heritage and BBC 6Music.
Controversially, some of the contributions included shelves where books were arranged by the colour of their spines. HQ non-fiction editorial director Kate Fox admitted: “I spent all self-isolating weekend colour-coding mine. Never been a better time to stay in with a book, people!”
Meanwhile, Curtis Brown's Jonny Geller showcased his curved bay window shelves while Dialogue publisher Sharmaine Lovegrove needed four pictures to fit in her mammoth living room collection.
Several publishers have turned to hashtags this week as they aim to remotely reach readers who are trapped at home.
In the US, Penguin Random House launched #BooksConnectUs, billed as “an initiative where readers can come together online and share their love of books”. It aims to get people discussing what they are reading and share tips on future buys.