Picturing America for Public Libraries

This was the first time the library featured an American art exhibit, so it was used as a visual “welcome” for patrons entering the library, introducing them to the world of American art. We, as the staff of Waipahu Public Library, believe in the calming effect of art, and were very pleased with the greatly minimized noise level as soon as the posters were displayed.
We officially used the posters from April 20 – May 15, 2009 to promote Children’s Book Week. A small flyer/survey was created to request feedback about the posters. Those who completed the survey and borrowed a book received a small gift of appreciation. The promotion was open to all ages, from grades K-12, including parents.

The theme for the 2009 children’s summer reading program is “Be Creative @ Your Library.” Throughout the month of May, book displays featuring arts, crafts and music have been made in preparation for the program’s launch on June 15, 2009. The Picturing America posters are vibrantly displayed near the books, some of which have background information on the artwork. It’s a pleasant convenience having the summer reading theme coincide with the Picturing America exhibit.

We displayed the posters (hanging from the ceiling) throughout the children’s room and reference area, which are directly facing the entrance of the library. We wanted the exhibit to be very noticeable and substantial enough to create a calming atmosphere for our patrons.
The majority of our patrons who completed our survey would like us to display the posters for the remainder of the year. In celebration of Independence Day, we will hold an American history contest, using the posters as clues. We also plan to use the collection to encourage children to participate in our upcoming poster contest in November 2009. The posters will be taken down in December 2009, but we plan to bring them out individually for use in future book displays, window displays, or class/program discussions.

Submitted by Christine Mogilewicz