Summer Reading Crunch Time!
By now, you should have a pretty good idea of what your SRP program for 2023 looks like. You’ve got your performers lined up, got your giveaway items and prizes. However, let’s say you are like me and are biting off that proverbial chew of decorating the children’s section. I am in the lucky position of having two whole small branch libraries that I get to help decorate for summer reading; that was sarcasm.
That aside, it occurred to me to write a bit about the creative process. My painting students are frequently treated to it, so I thought of you, the audience at home.
It’s Always a Process and Frequently Involves Cardboard
This process gives a few options and rely on just a few factors. Here’s a flowchart for you to guide you!
If you dawdle and or procrastinate, here is what your creative process will look like:
So, yeah…cardboard
As I was leaving my warehouse job, I shouted, “I’ll never work with cardboard again!” The universe of course has an inimitable sense of humor.
Remember, you are only limited by your resources, so get lots!
Paint…lots of…Paint
You will need paint. Any kind of paint will do. Understand, though, there are some differences:
- tempera — okay for paper, looks like a toddler did it (no offense to toddlers), looks like poo on cardboard
- acrylic — excellent choice. Get some.
- house paint — almost the mack daddy choice. Get samples at discount prices at your local hardware store
- enamel — THE mack daddy of paints. Stinks, hard to clean up, but looks amazing
- spray enamel — convenient, stinks, hard to clean up mistakes, coverage is mostly okay
Tools of the Trade
Band-aids? I don’t need no stinkin’ band-aids — Lefty Malone
Tools I use regularly. Lots of sharp things and lots of sticky, stinky things.
And of course, guns…lots of…guns. That is to say, heat gun, glue gun…and a hair trigger…or a lack of hair if you look closely:
Interpreting All Together Now
For the purposes of this discussion, we’re interpreting All Together Now as multiculturalism.
So, I’m turning the library into themed areas. The teen section is referencing Japan:
Children’s Section will reference nine (9) countries around the world. Here’s Mexico so far:
Norway under construction. No, it is not a Pizza Hut with an IHOP on top:
Wall of Presidents
Enhancements
And of course, I fully plan on peppering the library with lots of visual references to other countries and cultures. Thankfully I also love to shop at Good Will. Here is my latest haul:
I am here for you
These five words I swear to you. Email. Call. I’ve got your back.