Display Window at my library, HELP?

[Former_Member]

My library has two large display cases in the foyer of the library. They have given me permission to use one of them next month to put a CPSIA awareness display together. I can't be rude, and oddly, I cannot use their books that they are pulling because they are before 1985 (although many of the books they pull are actually POST 1985, but with a 1985 or earlier copyright, so they are pulling them to be safe).

Anyway, y'all are creative, artistic, geniuses, and my talent is stringing words together, not pictures and materials. My posts would be kind of hard to read.=)

So I am wondering if anybody would care to contribute some ideas for what I might have in the display, how it might look, etc. Thanks.

[Former_Member]

I did this very job....for a library display case.

With your topic I would come up with a theme....like "a picture is worth a 1,000 words"....and work off of that. For example, Tell the story of CPSIA with images....and block text....something that can be conveyed at a glance. Most people walk by the glass cases but images with large block lettering will catch their eye.

Is the case deep enough to add objects or is it like a billboard?

Hope this helps somewhat.

[Former_Member]

I did many different sizes of display cases for our library and other dept.s as well....if you're able to add objects you can get really creative!

Also, you might want to use construction paper for background color in interesting patterns... as matting.

[Former_Member]

I'd be tempted to pick out a half dozen well-loved classic children's picture books and corral them behind construction paper "bars" with a label on the cage door: "WARNING: DANGEROUS BOOKS!"

Then below, in smaller letters: "The CPSA has deemed these classic children's books, printed before 1985, to be too dangerous for children because they may contain minute amounts of lead."

If you want to do a little extra twist you could add a few books with "lead" in the title--John Christopher's "The City of Gold and Lead," Glen Cook's "Angry Lead Skies," etc.

Or would that be too rude?

[knitwit4ever]

If you can't use actual books, how about using some good color-copies of the covers to stand in for the original items?

[SkyviewClay]

I agree with everyone who responded. You definately need a phrase that will get their attention.

Warning: Children's Books May Be Hazardous to Your Health.

Keep the display simple, yet powerful. Good luck! This sounds like something my school would have me do. :)

[Former_Member]

I love the "banned books" displays that libraries do... I always stand around and go "No way!!!". Do something like that, it has such impact (Dr. Seus, etc...). It makes you think about how stupid government can be.

[Former_Member]

It helps a lot, thank-you!!! Do not assume I know anything at all about what a good, eye-catching display would look like.=)

It is a fairly deep case (I would say about 18 inches) and has several shelves, sort of tiered. So I can use objects. I have plenty of 'banned' books from home I can use. I have a bunch of frames- I wondered about framed pictures of some Etsy crafts? I would print them out myself, and if that sounds like a good idea, then y'all could give me links to pictures of your stuff that you think this would work for. I am heading to my thrift shop to see what's left, and if they have stuff, I will pick up a baby's jacket and a pair of shoes, maybe a couple other things. Ballpoint pens for kids- I have a couple here at home.

OOOOHHHHHH- I have some Selecta puzzles and blocks- I can use those, since Selecta has left the American market due to CPSIA.

Thanks, again!! Keep the ideas coming.

[Former_Member]

Don't let it look like a health warning... but rather try to make it a censorship warning "Banned books".
With your photocopies of covers of OOP Children's books printed pre 1985. (I'm surprised librarians are pulling by copyright rather than by printing... unless this is part of their protest, which DOES sound just LIKE librarians I know.) And then big construction paper "prison bars" over the book cover display.

Be sure to get ones like The King with 6 friends, and Miss Suzy,with beautiful cover art that the Moms and Grandmoms will recognize those old friends...

[Former_Member]

Yes, and framed photos of ETSY items should be fine...just ask the artists first.

You are welcome to use ANY of my photos for this display.
(please note, this is not permission to anyone to use my photos for ANYTHING, but permission for THIS PERSON to use my photos in a library display.)

[Former_Member]

I keep telling people I live in a town where they are really, really big on the letter of the law, but it's hard to explain if you don't live here.

It's like.... to most of my fellow citizens here.... if the law says the speed limit is 50 miles an hour, they go 45 just to be on the 'safe' side of the law.

It drives me nuts. They are pulling by the printed date in the book just to be 'on the safe' side. It's not a protest. That's how people are here.

I am not from around here.

I actually own Miss Suzy and The King with Six Friends, so I'll put those books in the display. THANKS!!!

[Former_Member]

Here's the sign I have up at my bookstore:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3409/3279001383_d861b3462f_o.jpg

If you would like a copy of the source file, drop me a note.

[Former_Member]

OH fenrislorsrai.....THAT IS PERFECT!!!!

[knitwit4ever]

Love that sign, fenrislorsrai. We thought we'd left "1984" behind us...Obviously Big Brother doesn't agree!

[Former_Member]

That's genius, fenrislorsrai. Pure pure genius.

[Former_Member]

I love that idea of the bars over the books!

I was seeing something like books lined up falling into a trash bin; something no one wants to see happen.

To stay neutral...I would make sure that the message clearly conveys to parents the dangers of lead ingestion by babies and children for those who are unaware of the issue.

"$300-$600 to test a single book?" That could be a good byline.

I'm thinking Amazon's Kindle 2 will probably be the answer to this problem....putting pre 1980's children's books into portable computer book format for kids to read.

Good luck with this.

[Former_Member]

DeputyHeadmistress
DeputyHeadmistress says:
It helps a lot, thank-you!!! Do not assume I know anything at all about what a good, eye-catching display would look like.=)

It is a fairly deep case (I would say about 18 inches) and has several shelves, sort of tiered. So I can use objects. I have plenty of 'banned' books from home I can use. I have a bunch of frames- I wondered about framed pictures of some Etsy crafts? I would print them out myself, and if that sounds like a good idea, then y'all could give me links to pictures of your stuff that you think this would work for. I am heading to my thrift shop to see what's left, and if they have stuff, I will pick up a baby's jacket and a pair of shoes, maybe a couple other things. Ballpoint pens for kids- I have a couple here at home.

OOOOHHHHHH- I have some Selecta puzzles and blocks- I can use those, since Selecta has left the American market due to CPSIA.

Thanks, again!! Keep the ideas coming.
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You're welcome to use anything of mine. I wonder if Selecta & HABA (I think there was another one but I forget the name) are considering coming back into the US market since the stay is in place? Or is it one of those "we're out, it's done, it can't be changed" things? I'll bet that if they wanted to come back the stores that used to carry their products would welcome them.

[Former_Member]

Lets see, One side full of books and happy kids reading them label it pre CPSIA and the other side empty shelves with cobwebs and labeled post CPSIA. Just a thought>

[Former_Member]

I'm thinking Amazon's Kindle 2 will probably be the answer to this problem....putting pre 1980's children's books into portable computer book format for kids to read.
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Yeah, but that's like being on a computer--part of the fun of reading, especially for kids, is handling the book, turning the pages, etc....if nothing else CPSIA is taking all the fun out of kids' lives.....

Can you even do pictures on a Kindle, or is it just text? If it's just text then something like, say, The Hungry Little Caterpillar, is going to be totally impossible on a Kindle.

[Former_Member]

What a coincidence, 1984. Hmmmmm

[Former_Member]

AJewelersStash
AJewelersStash says:
Lets see, One side full of books and happy kids reading them label it pre CPSIA and the other side empty shelves with cobwebs and labeled post CPSIA. Just a thought>
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Good one! In the Post-CPSIA side there could be a "book jail" as was described above, books behind jail bars with a "banned due to CPSIA" sign in front.