Sometimes the best library programs are the simplest ones.
If you’re looking for an easy, low-cost way to encourage circulation while adding a little excitement to every library visit, Book Battleship is a winner. It requires very little prep, can run for weeks, and gives children one more reason to check out books.
[Read: Passive Programming That Actually Works (and Why Most Doesn’t)]
How It Works
Create a large Battleship-style grid on your bulletin board using numbers across the top and letters down the side. Then, create an answer key with the locations of your ships. I kept my answer key behind the circulation desk so it stayed hidden while still being easy to reference each time a patron made a guess.
Every time a child or family checks out materials, they earn one guess. They choose a coordinate (such as B-4 or G-7), and you check your answer key to see whether it’s a hit or a miss.
Patrons marked their Hit or Miss on the board.
As the game progresses, the bulletin board fills, allowing everyone to see which spaces have already been guessed while building excitement about where the remaining ships might be hiding.
When the final space of a ship is uncovered, that ship is officially sunk, and the patron who found the last coordinate wins a small prize! They also got bragging rights on the board!
Prize Ideas
The prizes don’t have to be expensive. A few favorites include:
- Stickers
- Bookmarks
- Pencils
- Suckers or other individually wrapped candy
- Fun erasers
- A free book from the prize cart
The excitement comes from the game itself—the prize is simply the icing on the cake!
Keep It Fair
To give everyone a chance to participate, I allowed each child or family to play once per day after checking out materials. This kept the game moving, prevented one family from dominating the board, and encouraged repeat visits to the library.
Why It Works
Book Battleship is more than just a fun bulletin board—it creates a reason to check out books.
Children quickly learn that every checkout earns them another chance to find a ship. Families start discussing which coordinate to pick next, siblings develop strategies, and everyone becomes invested in helping sink the fleet.
It also transforms the checkout process into an experience. Instead of simply scanning books, you’re celebrating hits, building anticipation, and creating memorable interactions at the circulation desk.
Easy to Adapt
One of my favorite things about this idea is how easily it can be customized throughout the year.
Try themes like:
- Pirate Battleship
- Ocean Adventure
- Read to Sink the Fleet
- Summer Reading Battleship
- Back-to-School Battleship
The gameplay stays the same—you simply refresh the decorations to fit the season or theme.
Final Thoughts
Interactive bulletin boards don’t have to be complicated to be effective.
Book Battleship is inexpensive, simple to manage, encourages repeat visits, and—best of all—increases circulation. If you’re looking for a passive program that keeps children excited about checking out books, this one is definitely worth adding to your programming calendar.
Your Turn
Have you created an interactive bulletin board that increased circulation or library engagement? Share your ideas in the comments!
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