Today, I'm excited to share the newest Literati Partner, Demco, a company that has been serving libraries and schools for more than 120 years. From the library supplies and bookmarks we all know and love to flexible furniture, learning space design, and innovative solutions that help students discover books, Demco has been a trusted partner for generations of educators.
I recently had the chance to talk with Chad Martin, Product Category Manager at Demco, about how the company supports librarians and teachers, the inspiration behind some of their most popular products, exciting new resources on the way, and what it means to be part of the Literati Partners program.
Thank you so much for joining me today, Chad. Let's start by having you introduce yourself.
I’m Chad Martin, Product Category Manager at Demco. I help bring products and solutions to market that support libraries, schools, and the people they serve.
I love that Demco is one of the Literati Partners. For those who don't know about Demco, tell me about Demco to start.
Demco is a learning environments company that has served libraries and schools for 120 years. We offer everything from everyday essentials, such as labels and bookmarks, to furniture, space design, and installation services. Our goal is to help educators create more effective spaces for learning.
As librarians, we use Demco for so many things in our library and classrooms. Tell us how Demco works with librarians? How does Demco support librarians?
We know librarians wear a lot of hats. Our product, manufacturing, and sourcing teams work hard to provide solutions for every need, ranging from book processing and shelf merchandising to flexible learning spaces. Our sales and customer support teams guide librarians and other educators through product consultations, space design, quoting, and installation. Everywhere I look, I see the Demco team striving to make learning environments more effective.
What does Demco bring to the library?
We start by recognizing that libraries aren’t book repositories. They’re flexible learning environments, community gathering places, and safe, welcoming spaces for people with a wide range of needs. This awareness pushes us to extend our product selection beyond book processing and shelving, ensuring we can support libraries’ full mission with quality products, services, and guidance.
Demco also has tons of resources that can be used in the classroom. Tell us about how Demco supports teachers and classrooms?
Classrooms have changed just as libraries have. I still remember the rows of desks from my childhood. Today, students need spaces that can adapt to different learning styles, group sizes, and activities. Demco supports that flexibility with furniture, storage, and design services that help educators create classrooms that work for both students and teachers.
Are there other areas within a school community that Demco supports?
In short: the whole district! I recently saw 3D renderings our talented design team created for a schoolwide refresh that included classrooms, specialty learning spaces, the cafeteria, hallways, in-between spaces, district offices, and even storage rooms. It was a great reminder that every square foot can support the way a school teaches, serves students, and operates — and Demco is prepared to help with all of it.
I always wonder how things are selected for the Demco catalog. Can you share this process? Do you get feedback from librarians and teachers?
The selection process is collaborative: a full team of unsung heroes curates and designs the catalog, and customer feedback helps shape both what we feature and how we present it. We hear from librarians, educators, principals, and library directors, and that input has influenced everything from product selection to the presentation of shipping and pricing details. Many readers will remember the full-line catalog Demco once mailed each January. Our full assortment is now available online, while our printed catalogs focus on popular products, new solutions, and practical inspiration.
One of my favorite products you carry is the StickTogether posters. We love these at Van Meter. Tell me a little about StickTogether.
StickTogether posters are sticker-by-number mosaics that reveal an image as students work together to complete them. They’re fun, screen-free activities that encourage critical thinking, collaboration, and curiosity. They can also bring a calming, shared focus to a learning environment, and kids love trying to guess the final image before it appears.
Will there be new StickTogether posters coming out this year?
We recently launched a range of new StickTogether designs. You can explore them here.
Oh, and the bookmarks! My students always ask me about the Demco bookmarks! Will there be any amazing new ones this year? Who creates this? They are so much fun, the characters and coloring, etc.
Our fantastic Upstart team deserves the credit. Heidi Green and Jane Munden have nurtured this category for decades, staying close to trends, connecting with librarians, analyzing the market, and continually brainstorming new ideas. That passion shows in every piece they create (from bookmarks to other Upstart incentives and decor). Tell your students they can rest easy: the Upstart team is already hard at work on the next great designs!
Do you have a favorite Demco product?
I don’t have to think about this one: Demco Deluxe Acrylic Browsing Bins. Making books easier for children to see and explore is especially important for picture books. At Yahara Elementary, shifting from spine-out shelving to face-out, flip-through browsing had a meaningful impact on circulation. It’s a simple change that can help more young readers discover the right book and learn to love literacy.
What does this mean to Demco to be part of the Literati Partners program with others like Ozobot, Capstone, Mrs. Nelson’s, etc.?
We’re proud to be part of a program alongside organizations that serve libraries. We share the goal of helping schools and libraries connect students with books and opportunities for learning and discovery. Capstone, for example, creates and curates content; Demco helps libraries protect, display, and circulate it. Together, the partners give book fair customers more ways to turn their funds into meaningful resources for students.
What does Demco have to offer Literati book fair customers focusing on bringing more to their classrooms with book fair funds?
In a word: options. Book fair funds can support needs ranging from protecting classroom collections with book covers and book jacket covers to making books easier to discover with displays and wayfinding solutions. Customers can choose the products that best match their students, spaces, and priorities, reinvesting funds into the library to protect collections, promote reading, improve browsing, and support day-to-day needs.
Are there other resources from Demco that are helpful to librarians and teachers that you would like to highlight?
Demco’s Ideas + Inspiration site offers blogs, webinars, idea galleries, and other resources. Two other popular resources are the Book Doctor series, which helps librarians care for their collections, and our free monthly activity calendars, which provide ready-to-use literacy activities, prompts, and book ideas for children and families. Librarians can also explore ShelfSpark content about shelf merchandising. Start with “The ABCs of ShelfSparking Library Shelves”, a quick read with practical ideas for making collections easier to browse and discover. You will find it here.
What exciting things are coming up from Demco?
Something new is always in the works at Demco. I can’t share every detail yet, but we’re developing solutions that make learning spaces more flexible, collections easier to browse, and educators’ work easier. Newer launches such as our Ignite Furniture Collection offer a good look at where we’re headed.
What is one of the most impactful projects you have worked on within a library or school?
Oh gosh. You could ask any Demco employee this question and hear a different inspiring story. For me, Yahara Elementary School comes to mind. We added ShelfSpark face-out displays and wayfinding solutions to a few sections, and one section tripled its circulation in just a few months. I love knowing that solutions I helped bring to market are getting more books into more hands, especially for our youngest readers. As a product manager, I’m always thinking about the next way we can make browsing easier. Some of my coworkers are probably tired of hearing me talk about it!
Do you have anything else you would like to share?
Just this: we see you. Librarians and educators face so many challenges, and the work is so important. We appreciate you, and we’re committed to doing our part to maximize the potential of your spaces and the people they serve.
Thank you so much for joining me today, With our new library and Makerspace opening at our school this fall, I have a big wish list for things I would love to purchase from Demco. It makes me even more excited about my Literati Book Fair coming up in October.
You can learn more about hosting a Literati Book Fair and book fair rewards here.
As shared on the Literati Partner site,
Schools can redeem Literati Partner Credits for a wide variety of Demco products, including book processing supplies, shelf merchandising solutions, bookmarks, posters, circulation materials, booktrucks, soft seating and more. From everyday library essentials to products that help make reading more engaging, Demco gives schools practical ways to turn rewards into meaningful support for students and educators.
Browse Demco’s curated list of eligible products, then redeem your Literati Partner Credits by phone. demco.com/literati-rewards
Dr. Seuss Classic Books, 
a brand-new line of beginning books called Seuss Studios, 
fun nonfiction from Dr. Seuss, 
...and Dr. Seuss Graphic Novels. 
