GEORGE NEWS - A children's librarian at George Library, Garelene Muller, uses her amazing skills to create art out of recycled books. 

The art has been on display since Library Week in March and can still be seen at the George Library.

Muller says library displays form a core component of library work and is an essential method used by librarians to communicate with their users on many levels.

It takes an innovative and creative librarian to catch the attention of users and non-users by using little bits of paper, cut-out letters and expressions of thought to market, showcase and attract people to experience the library visually. Janine Carolus, another creative librarian at George Library, also made her own art from recycled materials.

Muller said the final product should be classy and high-end and not resemble rubbish being thrown together.

She says displays can become quite costly as it largely depends on utilising the best quality paper and paraphernalia. 

Libraries have been on a cost-saving stint for many years as there is simply no money to splash around, forcing librarians to push their creativity and become innovative through recycling as far as possible.

The turtle and all the fairies, bugs and grass were used in previous displays – made by Garelene Muller. The big board display of this library week during March had a background of recycled paper with figurines as well as the big tree that was cut out off the background paper utilised for the Africa Day display last year, done by Garelene Muller.

Recycle and save

"In the children's library, the mantra is that nothing, but nothing - not even the tiniest bit of paper, ribbon, chalk, paint prestik, toilet roll, etc - gets thrown away," Muller explains. 

"Fizzy drink bottles, milk bottles, coffee cans and glass coffee holders, simply everything gets repurposed and reused. We keep costs to a minimum, and most things are made by hand."

She said it takes great discipline to store these items correctly and sieve through what is really rubbish and what might have a second lease on life. Old magazines are used for lettering, pictures and paper.

Children’s librarian Garelene Muller reads to a group of young children.

Library week

In the children's library, they use huge, colourful display boards to attract patrons into the section. The displays act out different themes and scenarios of books by using colourful background paper and scenery. These boards are a main attraction in the library and catch the eye of library users as they enter from the foyer. It is therefore paramount that the final product is neat and well put together. 

There are strict rules that must be followed by all staff that use the paper and products of displays. For instance, no Prestik is used on the background paper, as it leaves a fatty residue. 

Only colour pinheads are used, to allow the mounted display items to flow, especially the lettering that is made from recycled paper bits. The pins are reused many times. All displays start with planning, collecting of materials, assembling and mounting everything. 

Muller explains that the disassembling of a display is even more specific, as all items are carefully removed and stored. Items are marked and used over and over in different genres and themes.

The book art of The Hobbit, made by Arleen Duff, was used during a different display at the George Library.

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