Library decorations and Library Displays

 

Decorations and displays are important part of a library. They make a library

welcoming to everyone who comes in the library. Over the thirty five years that

I worked as a librarian I have worked in interesting libraries. Some were revamped

classrooms. One was the size of a small office, another one looked so great. Until

I started to work in it. It was an open space building and the library was in the

middle and in the traffic pattern of many classes was through the library. I felt like

I was teaching in Grand Central Station. Then, there was the dungeon.

We did have plenty of books and book shelves but not much room for the

students. My office was the top of my desk. Then, my last library that I worked in

was a dream with a beautiful story time area that was a semi-circle with two

stairs. I had an office with two rooms. Where ever I was a librarian I tried to make

the best of it. In the "dungeon" to decorate I made a "clothesline" line with yarn. I

taped it to the shelves and I made the line taunt so that the volunteers and I

could hang the students' work. I collected small clothespins that I bought at

Michael's and Joann's with coupons. Or I also used the large clothespins.

What to put on the clothesline? In early December I read The Mitten by

Alvin Tresselt and then the second graders made and decorated mittens and the

volunteers and I hung the decorated mittens. In spring the first graders listened to

a kite story and we hung up kites on the clothesline. I already have written in the

quilt post about hanging up collage quilts.

At times I did not have a lot of money to buy decorations. I went to dollar

stores, garage and yard sales. Also I signed up for Joann's for coupons

and used coupons from Michael's and A.C. Moore. I also made some of the

decorations because I like to make crafts. I can't piece and make quilts like my

grandmother but I can hand quilt and my small stitches are like my grandmothers.

I made several hand quilted hoops and wall hangings. I also ordered library

decorations from demco.com and highsmith/upstart.

In the "dungeon" I used a basket to display books. In the "dream" library I had so

many places to display and I loved it

Also, be careful when you hang up decorations. Please ask for a ladder or the

janitor's help.