How often do you use your local library? I use mine at least weekly! Just this past week I've requested two books on couture fashion through interlibrary loan, watched an episode of the Handcrafted America TV show via Hoopla (a library-related app), and followed a couple of sketching lessons lead by Lisa Congden via Creative Bug (a craft-instruction app). All were free to me through the Poudre River Public Library!
February is National Library Lover's Month, so I've been thinking of all the ways to use your library as an artist. Each library offers a unique mix of services and collections, so your own experience may be a little different than mine.
1. Meeting Space
The library is a public space, so I've occasionally met local customers here who were on a tight deadline and wanted to pick up their handmade orders in person. Our local police station also has a safe place for people to meet to finalize internet transactions, but the public library just feels like a friendlier environment. (Mine even has a coffee cart in the lobby!)
Libraries also let you reserve rooms of various sizes for meetings. If you wanted to host a meeting with other artists, the library is one option that might work, particularly if you need to use technology (lots of places to charge your phone), a quieter space than a cafe, and typically lots of parking.
2. Books
Of course, libraries still have lots of books even with all the other options they offer now!
My art/business-related check-outs have been fairly substantial over the years. When I was getting started, I checked out books with titles like Handmade to Sell by Kelly Rand and The Crafty Superstar Ultimate Craft Business Guide by Grace Dobush. I still occasionally check out business-related books on marketing or creativity. One I liked and wrote about was Life in the Studio by Frances Palmer.
I've also checked out (and reviewed) a number of art/craft how-to books over the years such as Washi Tape Crafts and Metal Craft Discovery Workshop. In the last few years, my library has taken this how-to book idea a bit further, offering how-to crochet kits that come with yarn and a hook to get started. This is a great way to see if a craft is right for you before buying a lot of supplies. The Topeka/Shawnee Library in Kansas also offers arts and crafts kits. Let's hope this is a trend!
With my recent work on the Spoonflower design challenges, I've checked out subject-related books on the topics of art deco, fika, doughnuts, granny squares, calligraphy, and astronomy to learn more about the subjects I'm illustrating. I'm not necessarily looking for illustrations in the books, but just ideas and background information to help ground my ideas. For example, with fika (Swedish coffee break), I learned of the importance of having handmade rather than store-bought treats. This lead me to make my fika design with watercolor and gouache paints rather than something entirely digital that lacked a handmade look.
Periodically I've found color or subject inspiration from just the book covers themselves. (See Ideas for Color Palettes from Library Book Covers and Celestial Ring Necklace and a Book Recommendation.)
My most intense book/art project to date was in 2016 when I read 50 Newbery-Award winning books and made little mixed media pieces inspired by the books. I checked all the books out of the library that year.
Libraries typically sell books that they can't use in their collection. All the books you see in my photos (such as in this one for my engraved More Books, Less Sleep Earrings) are from library sales!
3. Galleries, Exhibits, and Artwork
Some libraries host galleries which vary greatly in size and scope. As an artist, you can apply to have your art exhibited. (Two Colorado libraries with art exhibits are Loveland and Arapahoe.) There might also be opportunities for mural painting on outside walls or other public art. You can find information about the library's past public artworks on library or government (city/county/state) websites. (I like this bookshelf piece at the Denver Public Library.) Many of these art opportunities are designed to showcase local work, so be sure to check with libraries in your own area if interested.
Sometimes the exhibits will come with related events which may be free or may be fundraisers for the library. Think parties for show openings or lectures or classes by the exhibiting artist.
For the art lover, some libraries check out individual artworks to hang in private homes for a period of time. The Howard County Library is one example. In a similar vein, for awhile I had a sketchbook filled with illustrations that could be checked out from The Sketchbook Project library in Brooklyn, New York. This was a one-of-a-kind piece with original drawings and writing, rather than something mass produced. (The library has since closed.)
On one occasion, I (and lots of other artists) sold book-related art as a fundraiser for a library. I bought the book I used as the basis for my "Adventure" artwork from a library book sale.
4. Inspiration Sources (Besides Books)
My local library offers free passes for hiking, museums, gardens, and other activities. A few years ago I used a free pass to visit a local garden that had a butterfly enclosure which is just as magical as it sounds. As an artist, it's especially important to get out and get inspiration from new places!
Libraries also offer movies, TV shows, music recordings, telescopes, musical instruments, fancy baking pans, and so many other items. (See some of the links in the Resources section at the bottom for more!)
5. Classes and Makerspaces
At the library you can find recorded how-to workshops and classes on DVD or streamed to your computer or phone. The range of instruction can vary quite a bit. You'll find university lectures such as those offered through The Great Courses and public TV shows like The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross. I once watched a series of lectures on the meanings of different colors around the world.
Sometimes libraries host presentations by illustrators (particularly those who do graphic novels or children's books). You might also be able to take a free in-person class that's art-related. (It's harder to find free art classes for adults, but there are lots for children and teens.) I once took a free painting class at the library for a couple of hours one evening. It was sponsored by our local sip-and-paint studio. We all painted silhouettes of trees against a dramatic dark sky. It was terrific fun to see all the variations among the students, many of whom had never painted before.
If you're looking for a volunteer gig, the library could be a good fit for someone with an artistic bent. They may need help with all those children and teen art classes either during the class or to set up or clean up. I've done this a few times. One time I got to cut out felt shapes to make a robot of my own design (to use as a sample to show the kids at storytime). I've also sorted beads, unpacked packages of canvas and paint, molded sugar skulls for a Day of the Dead event, and supervised some children's quiet coloring.
Boulder Public Library offers an extensive maker space with all sorts of tools such as sewing machines, laser cutters, looms and woodworking equipment. While you may not be able to run your entire handmade business using the space (rules may vary), it's certainly a good way for you to learn which tools are best for your type of work and what you're naturally drawn to. You will likely also meet a lot of other artists and creative folks.
6. Art Residency
I'll admit this is a bucket-list type of dream for me! A few libraries offer a residency where the artist-in-residence offers classes and open studio hours. The artist might also exhibit their work or conduct a research project. These spots can be competitive and may require a college degree or a specific art background. For example, the artist in residence program at the University of California San Francisco is intended for someone with a degree in studio arts or a "history of exhibiting artistic work in professional venues." In contrast, Mesa County Libraries in Colorado are open to artists at any stage of their career. I loved learning that the Carmel Clay Library in Indiana offers a Teen Artist in Residence program. How amazing!
7. Printers, Copiers, and Special Equipment
One discovery I made this year was that my public library offers a limited number of free prints (color and black-and-white) each month. A color copy is a much better way for me to proof some of my illustrations, even if the colors aren't true to the original. I find that it's hard for me to spot little errors on the computer screen. A black-and-white printout is better, but I do still miss tiny details sometimes. Since I only have a black-and-white printer at home, I was delighted to learn about the library's color printer. For one recent project, it was a color copy from the library that showed me that on one of my flowers the leaves weren't attached to the stem. Oops!
Some specialized libraries like map libraries have large-format scanners and/or printers that can be used for a fee. These are often at college and university libraries, so access may be limited. Many libraries have small scanners available if you want to digitize your work.
Occasionally, you'll find libraries with 3D printers. Once I took a 3D printing class at my public library and was able to make a few small items. The library did charge a fee (for material) but it was minimal.
Not all special equipment is technology-related. At the Lawrence Public Library in Kansas, you can check out a button maker to use in the library. This would be a fun way to put your artwork on a few samples to see how it looks at a small scale.
8. Gift Shops
Years ago I sold handmade earrings through a public library gift shop. Not every library has a gift shop, but some of the larger ones do. (My blog post 8 Unusual Places to Shop for Holiday Gifts links to a few of them.) Sales at these shops support the library's programs and services, so it felt extra special to be able to sell something I made and know that the funds were going towards a cause I believe in. It was a satisfying full circle moment: artists supporting libraries and libraries supporting artists. What could be better than that?
Resources
People seem to love writing about the unusual items found at libraries. Here are a few articles to get you started: