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Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Little Family Library

We like our librarians bunned and bespectacled!



























"Richer than I you can never be -
I have a grandmother who built an entire library for me!"*










If you bring 'em to a library, they will read! If they work at a library, they will read even more!

And from where, you may ask, have I gleaned that fancy little fact?

Well, back in the day, when daddy was annoyed with us, he often scolded, "Why don't you kids go read something?" At that preliminary warning, my sisters and I frolicked away - to do nothing of the kind!

But mother? Well, very often, she took us to the library. And within that solemn sanctuary we read and read and read and filled our youthful hearts to far beyond contentment with printed word in prose and poetry.







































Our homemade family library has not yet made its debut. We're still training staff and stocking shelves, anticipating an early summer launch. Its goal is to attract grandchildren as patrons, employees, and most importantly - readers! A week or so ago, this colorful oasis was nothing more than a random stack of cardboard boxes, upholstery tubes and lively sheets of scrapbook paper. Today its promise is a gathering place, one sporting all the amenities of a "real" library. Those include story times, puppet shows, and a reading club with prizes (grandma style prizes, though! - not just coupons for a greasy slice of pizza!).













Patrons will usually be greeted by a friendly cousin taking a turn as librarian, not this grumpy, fuzzy-faced substitute whose penetrating glare demands some sort of valid ID!































But not to worry! We'll have everything we need! Here are personalized library cards ready to sign, reading club folders, and crazy-cute stickers to decorate them - one for each book completed.





No fancy electronic checkout system here! We're using the "old school" method that suited grandma just fine! Books are pocketed with cards to sign and present for stamping and tucking into proper place. It will be that librarian's job to match and shelve every volume that's brought back, too.






































We'll offer books for borrowing from a collection I've purchased over the past few years. But reading material can also be pooled for sharing from every family member, or gathered from a trip to the public library. I think we'll eventually add a clothesline to clip story inspired drawings and illustrated book reports. Maybe we'll have a reading poster contest, too. Lots of fun things go on at the library, you know!

The three major craft stores, along with Dollar Tree, supplied everything needed for this grandma-made effort. Boxes I love to hoard were covered in bright, fade-less bulletin board paper. JoAnn's has old-fashioned book pockets, although I needed to go to Amazon for circulation cards. Dollar Tree sells pockets too, but the quality isn't as sturdy. Their plastic tubs, though, are perfect for displaying early readers and other skinny volumes. Our book drop - a square laundry basket - and the rocking chair where the wise "old-ish" owl (grandma!) will perch at story time were household things we had in stock!

*The original, much loved poem, The Reading Mother, by Strickland Gillian (1869-1954) includes the oft quoted,

"Richer than I you can never be -
I had a Mother who read to me" 

(Source)

This original design, like all blog material, is intended for personal use only. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Thank you!

31 comments:

  1. This is delightful. Wow, the work that you put into it. Your grandchildren are very fortunate to have you as grandma. I WANT to go your library. My books are stashed away in my drawers (I use them for school) so my grandbabies know where to get them, but they know they have to go back for grammie's students. So colorful, fun and the concept, awesome!

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  2. Oh wow, this looks like so much fun! A wonderful way to introduce your grandchildren to the library and reading. I think your furbaby wants a book to read too. You are so creative, a great idea. Enjoy your evening the rest of the week!

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  3. You really do create magical worlds for your grand-children, and this one is just fabulous! I used to love the summer reading program they had at our libraries. Children were first given a poster, then a sticker for every book they read, after answering a question about it. The librarians were pretty easy going, and the children were always so proud when they received their stickers. It was adorable. Love the glasses!

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  4. I love, love, love your library! It's so colorful. So Bright. This is such a fun idea. I hope your grand opening is grand -- for your grands! (Please don't roll your eyes at my feeble attempt at humor!) This is a wonderful idea and you've got me thinking about how I can have a library in my home!

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  5. OH what a sweet idea - you have the most fun at your house. How lucky that you have grandchildren so close that they can come to your library.

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  6. There is no grandma on earth more dedicated than you! I love your library! When I ever get my preschool up and running, I'm going to come back to this post for ideas on making my own special children's library in the classroom!

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  7. Wow, love your library, I'm sure your grandkids spend ages in that most colourful place!
    It's so great to have someone who encourages kids to read, it's so important, specially nowadays when most teens only use computers who will auto-correct what they write...but if the computer isn't there they can't spell.

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  8. if only i had a grandmother like you as a kid. what a gem you are! i wanna go to this library! :)

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  9. What an amazing little library. I love how you make little booths for the kids. This one is extremely clever and will help to make your grandkids clever too!

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  10. Oh Grandma J -- I think the Book Fair-ie needs to make an appearance at the library! You would make a wonderful Book Fair-ie as you are certainly a wonderful and very craty Grandma! They are just going to love it!

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  11. What a cute little library! My kids are still mastering the art of organizing all their books on the shelves.

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  12. Oh, this takes me back! I used to love playing libraries. I had a whole card system going for all my books, with little envelopes stuck on the inside front cover. I think I had a date stamp from a post office play set that I used to stamp the cards with. My family, friends and cuddly toys used to all borrow books - such fun times.
    Yours looks much more professional that the shelf in my bedroom, I'm sure you'll all have loads of fun.

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  13. Oh you are just amazing!!!

    Still love libraries to this day. This is oh so darn CUTE!! :)

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  14. This is absolutely genius! What kid wouldn't want to read with a fun library like this? I love all of your creative ideas! Thanks for sharing it with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  15. Visiting from Over 40 Bloggers....I love this idea....I can't imagine how much they will love this library. I remember when my mom took us and read to us often....now I have my own library and read daily....good luck and I am sure all will have fun at your library.

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  16. This is amazing! My kids would love something like this! Our oldest loves to play library.

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  17. Such a cool project. Reading always opens up the world to everyone. Hopefully, your library will be a big hit!

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  18. Stopping in from the GRAND social...I love, love, love this idea! Even now my mind is racing as I consider how to do something similar! Can't wait to figure this out...

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  19. Stopping from inspire me Monday, I love love love this library! :D
    What a brilliant and pinworthy idea!

    ps. what an awesome inspiration to prop the teddy with a "dangerous animals" book.

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  20. Joyce, you do continue to top yourself. :-) I love this post because I think reading and libraries are two of the best things in the world, I also think you have the most beautiful librarian I have ever seen as well. After a cross country move, I haven't felt the need to own books so I am on a first name basis with our local librarians and use their on-line system to reserve books because I usually have two going at a time. Here's to a long life for all libraries including this wonderful family library with so many up and coming subscribers. :-)

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  21. This is amazing. My mother has a few books and all kinds of craft idea's in a tote which the kids love to play with. However your library is very special and I'm sure the grandchildren love it. Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop! I hope you’ll join us again next week!

    Cheers,
    Kathy Shea Mormino
    The Chicken Chick
    http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

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  22. I love this idea!
    This is something very special and meaningful for the whole family to enjoy!

    Hugs,
    Mila (Idea Box)

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  23. Ahhh such a great idea. I have never thought to do anything like this - and I do not think I have the space for it either. I know your kids would enjoy all the fun colorful library!!! Thank you for sharing with us at #homematters Linky party.

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  24. Oh, sweet friend, this is one of the sweetest ideas for little ones! When I was a child I loved playing library. Back in those days they had the pens that scanned the books and I thought that was simply the neatest :)

    Thank you for sharing your lovely creativity with Roses of Inspiration. Hugs!

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  25. I want to play in your library! Seriously, though - my kids would love this. They have played library before, but with a simpler setup. I love how you organized the books into categories too... I wonder if I could suggest that here :)

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  26. Hi, just hopping back to let you know that I will be featuring you at SYC this week.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  27. I just saw your feature at the Idea box and I just had to pop over and say that I love your post!!! I want to go to the library as well. :) Pinned it !! I will be hosting Friday Favorites on my site and would love to see what you have been working on. Link starts at 8pm tonight and runs all weekend.

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  28. I can't get over how creative you are! Love it! - Seri from serisblog.com

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  29. Just love the idea of creating a real library at home!! So colourful and vibrant and neatly arranged! Saving this post for my future use :).Thank you Thank you so much for sharing!! Beautiful and inspiring!! :). Following from Stephanie's Roses of inspiration.

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  30. Oh, I love this idea!!! Will definitely save it, as I don't have grandbabies, yet. Thank you for sharing your creativity with us! ~ Donna E.

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  31. Oh, my goodness! This looks like so much fun. My kids would all want to be the librarian. Pinning.

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