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May 28, 2009
Once Upon a Time, There Was a Monkey
An aspect of my personality that widowhood has really cemented is my tendency to take things I hate and turn them into things I can love. Longtime readers will know the sad and sordid history of my hatred of the stuffed Curious George that used to live in the back corner of the Children's Room.
Since George met his all-too-timely end, the back corner of the Children's Room has looked like this:
Not exactly the aesthetic we're going for.
On Tuesday, though, it transformed into this:
This is part of our new area geared toward older kids, which is still very much a work in progress. The booth, however, is an accomplishment to celebrate all in itself. Because it is awesome. Kids started noticing it and using it right away. Here's one:
Seriously, though, this is something I love not just about my job, but about life. You can make stuff better. And after months and months of planning, it's wonderful to finally see this particular transformation starting to take place. Once the booth was in, I could see the rest so clearly, how cool it's all going to look when it's done and how many more kids we are going to be subtly coercing to walk through the nonfiction aisles, a place people forget about with the way our room is currently laid out.
Ah, progress.
Posted by adrienne at May 28, 2009 12:09 AM
Comments
That is a fetching purple.
Posted by: Jules at May 27, 2009 11:35 PM
That booth is SUCH a lovely color. It looks periwinkle blue or is it purple?
Posted by: Sara at May 28, 2009 06:26 AM
Thanks! The color is called "blueberry," but it is definitely more purple than blue. It struck the right balance for us. Jason and I are both fans of purple, and I was insistent on getting some back there, but we didn't want the WRONG purple--nothing garish, nothing too girly. This color is rich and interesting without calling overmuch attention to itself. So say I, at any rate. :)
Posted by: adrienne at May 28, 2009 07:17 AM
Ooh, snazzy! And I got to read two bonus backstories for the price of one! I have to say good riddance to George, too. The snot/dirty diapers smell issue would have finished me; I would have lit him on fire. At least if you had floor pillows, they'd have covers. WASHABLE covers.
*shudders*
Booth: I Like!
Posted by: tanita at May 28, 2009 08:25 AM
I love this booth! If you can't find me some morning before the library opens, check there. I might be "doing work" there.
Posted by: olivia at May 28, 2009 09:03 AM
OMG I love that booth!
"Seriously, though, this is something I love not just about my job, but about life. You can make stuff better. And after months and months of planning, it's wonderful to finally see this particular transformation starting to take place."-
Amen to that! This is exactly how I have been feeling since the PWL renovation has started. Its amazing to see the plans come to fruation. You'll have to come by sometime after 6/15 to see what's been done here.
Posted by: Lori at May 28, 2009 01:32 PM
Looks great! I wish my library did something like this.
Posted by: Vivian at May 28, 2009 07:32 PM
Tanita, Yeah, I know. When I had to move George, I'd just kind of kick him around because I couldn't stand to touch him with my hands.
Olivia, Me too!
Lori, Thanks! And, yes, I will have to come see the library when it's done.
Vivian, Thanks! And you never know, maybe they'll read my blog and get ideas. ;)
Posted by: adrienne at May 28, 2009 07:55 PM
That booth is fantastic! It looks so comfortable too. I love booths, the slide and glide over the vinyl and the feeling that it is a world of your own as long as you sit there.
Great idea!
Posted by: BookMoot at May 29, 2009 01:54 AM
I need to take a WPL trip to check this out in person. Yes. Yes I do.
Posted by: Sabrina at May 29, 2009 09:52 AM
wow, what an improvment, and I love the color too, verrrrrry nice Adrienne, good choice.
Posted by: Bri's Mom at May 30, 2009 09:36 AM
Camille, I've been daydreaming about getting one for my house.
Sabrina, I think you'll like the chairs we're getting, too, but they won't be in for probably another month or two.
Linda, Thanks! :)
Posted by: adrienne at May 30, 2009 12:38 PM
RIP smelly George...kudos on all the awesomeness that is now possible in the formerly funky corner! Now it will be the good kind of funky!
Posted by: Xandi at June 1, 2009 11:12 AM
Xandi, Seriously. Now all we need is that soda fountain we've always wanted.
Posted by: adrienne at June 1, 2009 01:36 PM
That booth is outstanding. What a great idea! Do you have an extra lying around?
Posted by: Kirsten Cutler at September 29, 2009 10:46 PM
Thanks! If only one could just find this sort of thing sitting around!
Posted by: adrienne at September 30, 2009 07:01 PM