The Webster Branch of the New York Public Library (NYPL) tested the old saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
The library wrapped several books with plain brown paper with a short description pasted on top. If the description intrigued the patron, they were required to check out the book before unwrapping it. The point is to try to withhold judgment until the content is examined.
Here’s more from the NYPL blog post: “One of the first books to go out, and one that sparked a lot of discussion, was labeled ‘3,856 stories. One book.’ … The secret book in question is Meanwhile by Jason Shiga. It’s an old school ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ story, in graphic novel format, with about five thousand more twists and turns.”