My library is also decorated by El Cheapos Rejects and the number of visitors that
say that it looks
like a downtown bookstore, not a kids' library is astonishing. But I am passionate
about having
attractive displays that have as many books cover-out to the kids as these are
always the ones that
move first.
There are some photos of some past displays online at
http://www.palmdps.act.edu.au/library/peek_inside/inside_library.htm
but I have just undertaken a huge re-arrangement by moving the computer lab out and
so haven't taken
new photos yet. (We are on school break right now so that is my plan for next
week!)
But some ideas -
I bought a number of plastic troughs from the gardening section ($A2.50 ea so
that's about $US1.50)
and now all the series have their own home together. Those with only a few titles
have little
plastic baskets which were even cheaper. The whole lot live in a spot called
Select-a-Series, and
it would be the most used part of the collection.
I made a Returns box by gluing two large cardboard cartons on top of each other
(think they
originally had computer monitors in them) and then painted them with a mix of brown
paint, PVA glue
and sand to give a roughcast look. Another box made a triangular roof, and that
was painted red. I
cut a slot in the front of the top box and removed three-quarters of the back (easy
access and saves
bending), stuck dwarves on the roof, plastic flowers on the base, insects and
spiders and stuff on
the sides, a 7 (for the Seven Dwarves), a sign saying No Junk Mail and another one
saying Returns.
Kids love it, brightens up the entrance and it stops the problem of kids taking a
book before it has
been returned thru the system ( which had been a huge problem.)
I wanted a waterfall effect so I put silver paper on the wall, strung some chasing
Christmas lights
over it, covered the lot with bunched up bubble plastic and then stuck some thinly
shredded silver
foil Christmas decorations on the 'outcrops' - they look like a grass skirt but
they move in the
breeze like water splashing. I bunched up black crepe paper down each side to make
it look like
rocks and then stuck plastic plants in to give it a tropical look. Works well.
My current project is painting an L-shape shelf arrangement that I got from the
junk shop ($A8.00)
and with a bit of braid and some fabric I will have the perfect place for all the
teddies that I
bought so each child had one to cuddle during our teddy theme. And I have a
section called Books
for Blokes (because the boys are the worst for searching through books on shelves)
and so I used
some cardboard tubes and strung some netting across them hammock-fashion, plonked a
boy doll in
there and that looks just right too!
I shall let you know when I update the photos so you can see for yourself. But
imagination is the
key. Whenever you see a display in a shop window that you like, take a few minutes
to figure out how
they have achieved the effect and how you might use it in your library and when you
are in your
local El Cheapos just see what there is that might spark your thoughts.
Have fun
Barbara
Barbara Braxton
Teacher Librarian
Palmerston District Primary School
PALMERSTON ACT 2913
AUSTRALIA
T. 02 6205 7241
F. 02 6205 7242
E. barbara@austarmetro.com.au
W. http://www.palmdps.act.edu.au
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