Bakersfield Life

Libraries Case Decorating in 10th year

By: Marilyn Adams-George

Topics: Variety of topics in library cases

In 2000 Kathleen Stewart and Marilyn Adams-George celebrated Courious George's 60th Birthday by installing a Happy Birthday George display from their personal collections at the Beale Library in downtown Bakersfield. The patrons and librarians loved it.
When another library asked the women to move the display to their library a new volunteer vocation began for the two women. Today the collectors are placing displays in six libraries monthly rotating the displays or in the case of special holidays doing six complete display cases of that special topic such as The 4th of July. In addition when an extra small case is in the same library they also do an additional diplay of another topic there. All display have books on that month's topic on display in the case as well.
In 2010 along the topics of displays have been a collection of Franciscan dinnerware,  a Chevron eyeball car collection, gardening, a vintage ceramic chicken collection, 4th of July,  back to school materials, old collectible kitchen junk, cookie making, graduation, June weddings, Curious George. Still to come are a salute to Martha Stewart, etiquette through the ages, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Winter/Christmas Holidays.
In 2011 they will use some displays again but add Bugseum from Shafter bugmuseum,  Valentine's Day Presidents' Day, St. Patrick's Day, summer time fun and others as developed.
You can see these displays at Southwest, Beale, Wilson, Rathbun, Shafter, and Wasco libraries. Other libraries may be added later.