Our library

We all know what a library is, right? Almost everyone has been to a library at least once in their life—maybe even twice. When I was a little kid, our elementary school was located one block from the public library. Once every two weeks we lined up and marched down to the library to select a book. The children’s librarian read one story to the group and talked about the characters or the plot of the story and then we were “semi” free to choose a book. One book. On a scale of one to Dewey decimals, the library visit was way up there with social studies, recess and lunch. The only drawback was that we were only allowed to check out one book at a time. Fortunately, I also had access to the bookmobile and the bookmobile lady let me bring two books home every other week. The children’s librarian and the bookmobile lady, to the best of my knowledge, were not aware of my little scam.

I didn’t know how to articulate how I felt about books then, but “art in words” comes to mind now. The Ship That Flew, The Enormous Egg, Little House on the Prairie, books about archaeology, books about science, books about travelling, encyclopaedias and atlases. I loved them all. I loved the words. I loved the illustrations. I loved the little pocket in the front of the book where the return card resided. I loved the classification of books. I loved the quiet of the library and the orderliness of the card catalogue. The moment the idea of a paperless society hit the streets I was concerned about the disappearance of books, indeed, the disappearance of libraries as we have come to know them. As it turns out, the notion of a truly paperless society is as far from reality as the chance of a hen actually hatching a triceratops. Although the availability and use of electronic readers has soared, a majority of people still prefer to have a delicious, papery book in their hands when reading for pleasure is on the agenda. Ahhh.

Lucky us, our local library has a generous mix of both electronic and paper resources. And, luckier still, our library has a wonderful Friends organization that raises funds for activities, accessions, events and programs that, without the Friends’ hard work, would never happen. This year, on the weekends from May 9 until May 26, the Friends of the Picton Library present a show and sale entitled Art on the Shelf. Local artists have been asked to really mix the media. They have been asked to choose a book title and interpret it in a painting, a sketch, a drawing, a sculpture or a photograph. Imagine Fifty Shades of Grey really being fifty shades of grey. Or The Perks of Being a Wallflower being interpreted three-dimensionally as flowers on a wall. Perhaps an artist will choose, The Places You’ll Go or Grey’s Anatomy or Travels with Charley. Picture the creative, visual possibilities. When media collide with media, the results will be a tremendously creative metaphor.

This year, as in past years, Art on the Shelf will be hosted by the good and generous folks at Black Prince Winery in their “art cellar,” where two different media will swirl together—wine and art. Sixty works of interpretive art will be available for viewing and sale. The Friends of the Picton Library have raised over $150,000 through donations, grants, book sales and support from the community. The funds realized by this annual show and sale of interpreted works will be used to improve the landscaping in the front of the Picton public library. This is our library, kids. It’s where we send our kids for programming. It’s where we spend time catching up on the news. It’s where free WiFi brings the news of the world to our fingertips. It’s where we pick up a book or two or download a novel.

If you think your “late fees” pay the piper, think again. Think about visiting the show during the month of May and support your local library with a donation or a purchase, meet the artists and perhaps enjoy a delightful bottle of red, white or rose art upstairs!

 theresa@wellingtontimes.ca