Wrapping Paper Wrap-Up

Alex Brower

Information Services Director

Are you in need of an easy program for your library? Do you have an MLC card? If so, try out the DIY Painted Gift Wrap class on Creativebug. In this class, instructor Courtney Cerruti gives creators tips for creating unique gift wrap patterns using drawing paper, paint, and acrylic inks. She also gives you some ideas for how to use the wrapping paper for wrapping gifts. 

I used this class to have a practice program here at the Commission, and it went very well! It requires only a few supplies (I took out the acrylic inks and just used paint), the video is very short while providing several ideas, and it can be adapted for all ages and skill levels.

For my program, I invited MLC staff to stop by our main meeting room for a 1-hour program. Here are the supplies that I used:

• 2 boxes of various colors of acrylic paint
• Chip, foam, and regular paint brushes
• Paper and Styrofoam bowls for mixing paint, watering it down, or rinsing brushes

You can also use paper plates as a palette. To set up, I lined the meeting room tables with newspaper, spread out the paintbrushes along the tables, and set up boxes of paints at either end.

As participants came in, everyone grabbed some 12x18 inch 60 lb sketching paper and a bowl for holding or mixing paint. We watched the video, which is only about five and a half minutes long, and then we got to painting! Each participant was able to do two sheets of wrapping paper in the hour timeslot, and there was a separate area for drying that was also lined with paper. Set-up took about 20 minutes, mostly because there was a technical issue with the computer, and cleanup only took about 15 minutes. Everyone was incredibly pleased with their paper, and with good reason! Have a look at these beautiful creations: 

This program can easily be paired with other classes on Creativebug, like Stamped and Embossed Christmas Gift Tags, How to Fold a Paper Box, Gift Wrapping Techniques, and DIY Gift Bags. Creativebug can be accessed here: https://www.creativebug.com/lib/mlc with a Mississippi Library Commission library card. For more information about creating an account with us, call the Reference Desk at 601-432-4492, text 601-208-0868, or email mlcref@mlc.lib.ms.us.

New Albany Library Is Far From Ordinary

MLC Library Consultant Shellie Zeigler visited the Jennie Stephens Smith Library in New Albany, MS, a few weeks ago to conduct a site visit and attend their first summer library program of the season. Union County Library System Director Sissy Bullock oversees the system that caters to 27,000 people in this northeast Mississippi county. While the library offers a great selection of books, naturally, Sissy has found new and innovative ways to involve the library in this community and the community loves it.

Union County Library System Director Sissy Bullock and MLC Library Consultant Shellie Zeigler

Tanglewood Trail, a Rails-to-Trails Conservancy project located on the old Mississippi Tennessee railroad line, runs right by the library. The library decided the community needed better access to the trail and began a bicycle checkout program. All of the bicycles were donated by local patrons and businesses and the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services donated bicycle helmets. They even have a volunteer bike mechanic! Right now, their twenty-one bikes live inside the library, but the county is building them a storage shed right behind the building.

Bicycles available for checkout at New Albany library

Safety first! Each checked out bicycle comes with a helmet.

The library has also begun participating in the local "Biscuits and Jam" Farmers' Market. They truck their little trolley down the street on market days and pass out bookmarks, library card applications, and news about upcoming events. Want to learn about their summer library program? Head to the Farmers' Market!

Little Red Library Wagon

Speaking of their Summer Library Program, Shellie said the kickoff was a lot of fun. A slew of kids turned out to see Magician Bentley Burns perform a special space-themed show and a good time was had by all. If you're near Union County, you should drop by the library for more interesting and educative programming!

Magician Bentley Burns performs for a rapt audience.

These books were purchased with money from an LSTA grant.

Shellie also noticed this display of new books about Mississippi and by Mississippi authors. The purchase of the books was made possible by an LSTA grant administered by the Mississippi Library Commission. As a MLC Library Consultant, Shellie will check in on Sissy in New Albany again in several months, but will be back sooner if she needs advice or help with any issues. For right now, we love seeing the novel ways Sissy makes this library an essential community hub.

How to Build a Franken-Bear

Sometimes, the simplest ideas are the best. One day, Purvis Public Library's Youth Librarian Chancey Windham and Brandon Public Library's Reference Supervisor Kayla Martin-Gant were talking about Toy Story. (Who doesn't love discussing Pixar's first feature film?) When one of them mentioned destructive Sid Phillips and his toy mutilation predilection, inspiration struck.

Mutant toys from Toy Story

Why not host a program where kids could create their own crazy creations? That's when the Franken-Bear Workshop was born.

Event header from Purvis Public Library

Chancy talked local thrift stores and patrons into donating unwanted dolls and stuffed animals. He amassed quite the collection of stuffed dogs, bears, and babies. Patrons also donated assorted nails and screws. Buttons and fake plastic bones from previous programs were added to the pile. Chancy said, "Our cost for this program was practically nothing. After donations, all we had to buy was hot glue and some thread."

Donations from local thrift stores and patrons

Kids of all ages had a blast ripping apart the old toys.

Then they sewed and glued and stitched their new creations together, adding buttons and other gee-gaws as they saw fit. 

The finishing touch came when Chancy helped add a plastic bone to "bring the Franken-Bear to life," much like the heart ceremony at Build-a-Bear Workshops.

The program was a huge hit, bringing in many, many more participants than initially anticipated. Chancy said, "We had nearly 50 participants. When I think of something easy like this, I think no one will show up to the program. It's such a simple idea, but they came and it really blew up. We had such a great time and the kids loved their creations." Check them out--what do you think of these creative kids' Franken-Bears?

Sunflower County Library System Makes Learning Fun

The Sunflower County Library System works with local schools, day care facilities, and Head Start centers to provide the resources necessary to meet the community's informational needs. The county libraries strive to foster an environment in which young citizens can develop strong literacy skills. The library's Program for Enhancing Educational Literacy (PEEL) project, funded by LSTA grant funds, focuses on providing learning opportunities for preschool and school-aged children. The PEEL project provides programs involving parents and their children, such as Family STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Night which encourages parents to take an active role in their children's educational development and encourages them to become lifelong learners.