Jackie Morris shares some of her beautiful new library cards that she has created for four London libraries
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I still think that I learned to read not so much because I was taught at school, but because I was given the habit of loving books by the guidance of librarians who led me through the labyrinth to the treasure at the heart. Books. About everything. So that’s why National Libraries Day means so much.
I jumped at the chance to design the library cards in this gallery. The first one I want to show you is Mary Bear reads a Book, it seemed only right that Mary Bear, the Spectacled Bear who joined the library in HackneyLondon, should have a card that celebrated her and her reading.
Photograph: Jackie Morris
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Here’s my studio where I create all my artwork. The library authority said they wanted to 12 library cards that were beautiful, and would encourage people to want to join the library so that they could have one of the cards.
It’s no dearer to design and print something beautiful for people to carry in their wallets, to remind them of the value of a library. “Just a credit card sized image,” they said. But these weren’t credit cards that would get you into debt. These were credit cards that would work as keys to what is one of our greatest common treasuries. The common wealth of the library
Photograph: Jackie Morris
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In this card Hare is looking through a book of illuminated manuscripts, finding himself in the pages. I love the fact that these cards are in the hands of so many people who come to the treasure houses of books for the first time. It is wonderful to play a very small part in this. I make no secret of how important libraries are to me now and were to me when I was young. They were a place of refuge, and of excitement, a place for learning, a place of wonder
Photograph: Jackie Morris
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Years ago I illustrated a book written by James Mayhew, called Can You See a Little Bear. Here Little Bear’s Dad, Big Bear is reading Little Bear a bedtime story. It’s a big heavy hardback, leather bound book. It is based on the memory of the book I borrowed most from the library in Evesham when I was a child. The Jungle Book, by Rudyard Kipling. I never read it, as it had far too many words. I looked at the pictures. I loved that book
Photograph: Jackie Morris
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There are times when you get so involved in a book thateverything around you falls away. If you are lucky the huge cat that creeps up behind you will become captivated by your book too
Photograph: Jackie Morris
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I was lucky to have one of my books on The Summer Reading Challengelist (it was Tell Me a Dragon) last year. The theme of the Summer Reading Challenge was Mythical Creatures, so it seemed only right to paint a dragon for one of the library cards
Photograph: Jackie Morris
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At first the Snowy Owl card was painted as a celebration of the Harry Potter books. They had brought so many children to reading, and kept them there through the whole series. They were at one point the most borrowed books in the library. So, Hedwig seemed perfect for a library card. Owls are wise too. Then I decided that a series of three cards with owls seemed right
Photograph: Jackie Morris
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Here is my barn owl card. All three of the owls on my library cards carry keys. The library card is a key to the library, a key to the treasure house, a key to knowledge
Photograph: Jackie Morris
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Little owl carries a big key. Almost to big for him to fly with. This is what I felt like when I first got my own library card. It was too big for me. There were so many books. How on earth would I know where to start? I couldn’t even read very well. This is where a very special creature stepped forward to help me. A librarian
Photograph: Jackie Morris
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The beautifully cute Mary Bear clutches one of my new library cards as she gets ready for a trip to her favourite place. Mary will be joining me at The Mass Read on Saturday 7 February which is a protest of threats of budget cuts to Cardiff Central Library, The Hayes, Cardiff. The Mass Read starts at 12 noon and all are welcome to bring their favourite book and sit and read. 50 libraries were closed in the UK last year.
Also see this beautiful letter on love of libraries from 12-year-old Phoebe Howard. Phoebe will be reading it out at The Mass Read on Saturday
Photograph: Jackie Morris
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via Jackie Morris: love for libraries – in pictures | Children’s books | The Guardian.
