Retailers ready for Man Booker 'Golden Five’

Retailers and libraries have revealed their plans to support the Golden Man Booker Prize, a one-off award crowning a winner among winners after five decades of the prize.

A "Golden Five" shortlist is being chosen by five judges—Robert McCrum, Lemn Sissay (below left), Kamila Shamsie, Simon Mayo and Hollie McNish (below right)—each of whom are responsible for judging the best fiction of a given decade of the prize. The five-strong shortlist will be announced during a reception at the Hay Festival tomorrow at 6 p.m. (26th May), following which the public will vote for the winning book on the Man Booker Prize website until 25th June.

As part of the year-long campaign, the prize has produced a range of point-of-sale material for bookshops and libraries across the UK, including bookmarks, shortlist and winner stickers, "shelf talkers" for shortlisted titles, A3 and A4 posters, gift tags and bunting.

Working with The Reading Agency, more than 300 public libraries, as well as some school, college and NHS libraries, have signed up to receive a p.o.s. pack. The libraries will promote the shortlist, as well as other previous winners, and create displays in their branches. The displays will be shared online and a competition will be held for "the most original and creative" display. Librarians will encourage visitors to cast their votes and help choose the winner of the Golden Man Booker.

UK chain bookshops and 66 independent bookshops are also on board to promote the shortlist to their customers. Waterstones is supporting the Golden Man Booker shortlist with p.o.s. material and displays in its stores while, online, it has created a webpage devoted to the prize and will be promoting it through social media. Foyles —which is running the official bookshop at the Man Booker 50 Festival at Southbank Centre—will be featuring the five shortlisted titles with a "staff pick" for each one in stores and online, along with social media activity. Blackwell’s will be promoting the books across its shops and encouraging the creation of shortlist bundles as "an excellent conversation starter" with customers. Daunt Books is also welcoming the opportunity to further recommend Man Booker winners to its customers through table displays.

The Book People will be featuring the "Golden Five" in its catalogue, online and on social media throughout the month-long public vote, encouraging customers to join in. Bertram Books will be promoting the shortlist to booksellers, running in tandem with its own 50th anniversary celebrations. This will include coverage via Bertrams.com, through its sales force, e-shot mailings and via social media.

Meanwhile, The Guardian Bookshop will be running competitions based on the shortlisted books—as well as some other special prizes—to get people talking about their favourite books while voting is open to the public. And iBooks is creating a special Golden Man Booker page.

The winner of the Golden Man Booker Prize will be announced on 8th July during the final event of the Man Booker 50 Festival at the Southbank Centre.