Submitted by Joan Dudzinski
After tossing around many ideas and a little head-banging, the Post Road crew decided to use a "carnival" to illustrate the theme of "All Together Now" for summer.
Book character silhouettes gather together in the hallway on their way into the branch, as well as throughout the stacks.
There's even a roller coaster photo booth.
Endcaps feature big top toppers with themed "Play Together, "Make Together" and similar topics, in both the adult and youth sections.
Prancing carousel horses hang over the Ask Us desk.
It is a colorful and engaging theme that can't help but create excitement among our patrons. Being a newbie to the Post Road décor process, I was amazed to see the detail given to each portion of the branch and how it all came together. Melissa and Jane Elizabeth who spearheaded the carnival theme have been overwhelmed by how much everyone got on board with the theme and outdid themselves. It was truly a collaborative effort by all staff.
Special thanks to Melissa and Jane Elizabeth, and Facilities, for putting it together. Literally, putting it together with tape, string, ladders, and bunting galore!
Friends, take it from someone who is just as amazed by the transformation from library to carnival as all the patrons. You really need to make it a point to stop by and see how great Post Road's summer décor truly is. (And for the record, I feel like I can totally gush without it being considered as bragging because my contribution was extremely minimal with only two measly endcaps and a never ending supply of opinions.)
ReplyDeleteThe roller coaster photo booth started as a salvaged cardboard box and Alison's amazing artistic talent. It has become quite the focal point! Patrons stop on the way in to take pictures and then again with their stacks of books and prizes on the way out. Priceless!
The IS team threw themselves into the endcap project and fashioned puppets and more into carnival animals, made lifelike carnival games, assembled a frankly horrific clown car that includes a lurking Pennywise in the wheel well, and Poe is being shot out of a canon for goodness sakes (though there was great debate as to if it should be James Patterson, but Poe was determined to be a better choice). These are just the ADULT endcaps. You know, the "boring" side of the library.
And don't get me started on the hot dog cart selfie station, carnival games, and ice cream truck in the Teen Room! The Teen Room for teens who are hard to entertain and even harder to impress. The excitement is seriously contagious and, let me assure you, the adult and teen patrons are very happy to be included in the immersive over the top fun this year.
Our YS displays are as stunning as usual. A rollercoaster bulletin board made of pool noodles? I mean, who does that? Over and over again, the big items draw you in, but the small details keep you looking for more.
From the beginning, everyone agreed that All Together Now was a wonderful message, but the consensus was that it was probably one of the worst Summer Reading themes in the history of the universe. This team (led by JE and Melissa) has done so much to bring a weirdly abstract theme to life in a way that no one could have predicted. I really do hope you find time to stop by and see it in person. These photos simply do not do it justice.
-Shannan
Amazing decor! Very cool 😎
ReplyDeleteWe really want to take this opportunity to recognize the incredible work and creativity that all the PR staff contributed to our branch decor this summer.
ReplyDeleteTina’s amazing carnival ticket-themed bulletin board with all the youth events is gorgeous and so eye-catching! Who else but Sara could build a rocket roller coaster on a bulletin board using pool noodles? It’s so clever and well built! Shannan's ring toss "Game Together" endcap has everyone wanting to "Step Right Up" to see what books she has featured. And Erin's fantastic teen bulletin board has teens ready to rock the night away together.
Over on the adult side (yes, traditionally it's been the boring side....but not this summer!)... we have Brittany's awesome balloon pop decoration on her "Play Together" endcap with an FCPL Logo-featuring dart picture so realistic, we were afraid someone could get hurt! Angie borrowed a puppet from our youth collection who looks adorable in his party hat for the "Celebrate Together" endcap. What you might not know is that Angie built an incredible structure to make him be able to stand up; her exoskeleton-building skills are unbelievable! Aubrey's endcap for "Adventure Together" made us laugh out loud when we saw Edgar Allen Poe one entire endcap away after being launched from the cannon! And Trina's "Eat Together" endcap has our mouths watering for a yummy candy apple. She also created fake popcorn using cotton balls and yellow paint - terrific!
Of course, our resident artist, Alison, made the most brilliant part of all - the gorgeous roller coaster photo booth. There aren't even words for how amazing this photo booth is! We’re not sure how many kids have had their pictures taken riding the Reader Coaster, but we know that many staff members have taken a ride, laughing and screaming as they've had their pictures taken.
We are just in awe of how the entire PR team did such amazing displays and found ways to use the theme in every single area of the branch.
We also want to express our gratitude to our amazing facilities department. We shared the vision and they went above and beyond! Without Steve and Scot, there would be no carousel or happily posed Bear and Dog vignette over the youth entrance.
- Jane Elizabeth and Melissa
What an amazing job! The talent of my coworkers never ceases to amaze me!
ReplyDeleteI love it!!! Very cool.....
ReplyDelete