In response to my post beautiful > ugly Suzanne Chapman just shared some examples of nice looking graphic design from the University of Michigan Library.
See her post and the MLibrary Branding & Marketing Materials set on flickr for more.
This got me thinking about two other things I’ve seen recently. The first is a collection of library cards from the Edmonton Public Library (via John Blyberg’s Twitter feed).
They also have an associated sticker contest. I think I have a pretty big crush on this library.
Lastly, the District of Columbia Public Library has two new library card designs. One of them is a promotion for the forthcoming second version of the DCPL iPhone app.
I really like the idea of a library putting out collectable, limited edition library cards that people can trade in their old cards for.
Three students and alumni from the Department of Art at the University of Minnesota have a project called Reading Rickshaw on Kickstarter:
The Reading Rickshaw aims to spread the word about art and books by offering patrons a ride on a 4-person bicycle fully outfitted with an art library. We seek to offer both mobile and stationary programming: Patrons can browse the permanent collection or pick a book from a temporary collection curated by artists, participate in mobile story hour, listen to artist lectures, and many more fledgling ideas. We will focus on creating a presence where a traditional library cannot go: parks, sidewalks, the lakes communities (land of 10,000=popular Minnesota activity), downtown Minneapolis/St. Paul, and high foot traffic neighborhoods. [emphasis mine]
It is interesting when non-librarians observe service gaps, brainstorm solutions and then take matters into their own hands. It sort of makes me feel like libraries aren’t living up to their potential. It is also interesting that often times they don’t consider partnering with established libraries. The IKEA ad I just posted is an example of that. So are the community book exchanges / tiny tomato gardens I see around Portland.
A related project: A group of folks involved with the Art Shanty Projects erected a library shanty on the frozen Medicine Lake:
Come hang out at the Medicine Lake Branch and create a library card, join a book clubs or enjoy the curated shelf-sized art exhibitions.
Ages ago I meant to point to this post about the the Library Initiative in New York. They’ve created some nice looking spaces.
Now there’s an entire book about the project: The Library Book: Design Collaborations in the Public Schools.
The L!brary Book takes readers behind the scenes of fifty groundbreaking library projects to show how widely varied fields and communities – corporate underwriters, children’s book publishers, architects, graphic designers, product manufacturers, library associations, teachers, and students – can join forces to make a difference in the lives of children. – Dexigner
From a series of posters for the WPA Illinois art project Be Kind To Books. The series of five posters is up for auction in May and are expected to go for $1500-$2000.
Okay, folks. File this one under “I’m using my site to rant” and/or “Clearly there are more important things to think about.”
In a restaurant the other night I noticed these things. Instead of peeling back the paper to expose more crayon , one twists the plastic around the crayon. I understand that these keep the crayons the same size, sure, but doesn’t it seem a bit much?
Let’s look back at when crayons were crayons and the packaging wasn’t gross.
Ah, the oft coveted box of 64 with built-in sharpener.
By the way, get off my lawn.
Photographs from Paul Octavious:
An art project from David Maisel:
Library of Dust depicts individual copper canisters, each containing the cremated remains of patient from a state-run psychiatric hospital. The patients died at the hospital between 1883 (the year the facility opened, when it was called the Oregon State Insane Asylum) and the 1970’s; their bodies have remained unclaimed by their families.
The prisoner’s use of the term “library” is apt. The room housing these canisters is an attempt for order, categorization, and rationality to be imposed upon randomness, chaos, and the irrational.
Okay, yes, a slightly morbid way to start the week. I’ll try to make it up to you.
From some point after its incoporation to the early 80s, the Library Association of Portland, which later became Multnomah County Library, operated its own bindery. Besides visually and texturally uniting runs of periodicals and sets of reference books on the shelves, the bindery, together with the mending department, breathed new life into well-read books.
He’s started a collection of these striking covers which is fun to browse. Thanks, Caleb!
A nice book themed cafe at McNally Jackson Books in NYC.
