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  • 1-7 July : Māori Language Week

    The theme will be: Ngā Ingoa Māori.

  • TIP: Keep an action list

    Make a rough sketch of how the display will look like. Write down what materials and tools you will need. Create a time-line / checklist: This week copying and laminating - Next week: visit 2 dollar shops. - Two weeks: covering display boxes with matching paper - Three weeks: sea shells and driftwood collection

  • TIP: Staple at an angle

    Creating a display is exciting - demolishing one can be a hard job, especially when you can't get the staples out..... Your job will be much easier when you hold the stapler at an angle. The staples will stick out a bit at one side - perfect to get hold of them with pliers and pull them out.

  • TIP: Use a glue gun

    Glue guns are the most fantastic tools when creating displays. You can attach all sorts of materials like hard plastic, metal, fabric and everything else you can think off. Be careful with your fingers (blow - blow) the glue is very hot and you easily get blisters

  • TIP: Don’t overdo it!

    Too much text, images or books on display too close together distract the eye. Each object needs its own space. Think of a shop window that is more than full with appliances, you can’t distinguish one object from the other, while carefully placed objects attract the attention.

  • TIP: 3D effects

    Create a 3D effect by attaching rods or metal strips to your display and hang little objects on them, like fur animals – toy cars/planes/boats – artificial flowers – little books or lanterns. Staple cones or little boxes with contents to the board or little artificial lemons and cherries like in the GREEN FINGERS display.

Pandora’s box

Posted on August 21st, 2012 by Anita

                      

When preparing this display I just wanted to use a lot of colorful boxes. I didn't have a great philosophy or any deep thoughts about the topic…. just an image in my head that wanted to be acknowledged.

Searching on internet for phrases with boxes I stumbled on 'Pandora's box'. A great title for a display! How to match it with a theme or topic I didn't consider; that was something I would ponder about at a later stage.

The idea came first and I was sure that the content could be customized……

 At a Japanese dollar shop I roamed around and found the most fantastic boxes in different colours and sizes.       

A package of large (1 meter) straws in vibrant colours suited me as well and the shop also provided rolls of wrapping paper that would go well with the theme.

 

 

During a second visit I noticed a string of colourful lanterns, not really needed but by now I was so in the mood that I couldn't keep myself from buying it. Feeling guilty and happy at the same time I paid and justified it by telling myself that the display is an integral part of the library, that it is there for a full term and it will be made for the price of one art book or three novels……

                

What you need:
 

  • Wrapping paper
  • Boxes in different sizes and colours
  • Strong black tape (or tape in the colour of your background)
  • Package of large straws
  • String of colourful lanterns
  • Metal ends of dropfiles used as hooks to hang the lanterns on
  • Title (Word – text effects – printed – enlarged and laminated)
  • Christmas lights

What to do:
 

  • Cover the board with the wrapping paper
  • Bend the metal ends of drop files to create hooks (or any other hooks) and attach them to the board
  • Cover the top part of the hooks with little pockets of wrapping paper to cover the metal
  • Hang the lanterns on the ends of the hooks – secure with a piece of tape
  • Arrange the Christmas lights over the hooks as well and secure the string to the board with little pieces of the same wrapping paper
  • Use Blu-Tack to play around with the title – where does it look good?… where does it fit in?
  • When you are happy with the place for the title, staple it to the board
  • Attach tape to two sides of the boxes (double sided to give it strength) to enable you to staple them to the board
  • Use Blu-Tack to secure the boxes to the board and staple them (on the tape) when you are sure they are in the right place
  • I used the lids of the boxes as well. Because they are not so heavy I stapled them directly to the board
  • Cut the straws to the right length and secure them to the board using a glue gun
  • Cut small pieces of straws and use the glue gun to secure them to the inside of the boxes to prevent the books from sliding out

Stand back and have a look at your display – does it feel right? Does it need change?
If you are satisfied with the look of the display get the books out and arrange them on the shelves
I used Blu-Tack to secure some books to the lids as they are too shallow to keep the books in place without it

Plug in the Christmas lights and let it sparkle

      

This display is used to showcase favorite books of the library staff – it is a random collection with no particular theme

Filed under: Education, Literature, Mythology, Other

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