Some are drawings by well-known illustrators, made during presentations to children, said Director of Library Services Brenda Gehm. Others were purchased from children’s book art galleries and conferences. Some were donated works from authors and illustrators, and have personal messages to the students of Monroe. Each is framed, she said, at a reduced cost by Bill Fletcher of Bill’s Frame Shop.
“Every author and illustrator who has been here has been very impressed with what we’re doing,” Gehm said.
Some, she said, have donated original art, simply because they know the care the district takes in displaying the pieces. Others have responded to written requests for autographs with additional works to display.
“We value the art as much as the words in the book,” she said.
The collection, which started when Gehm was a classroom teacher, has grown to more than 115 pieces of art, all categorized in a brochure found both in the school and online thanks to the work of media specialist David Hogan, who shares Gehm’s passion for children’s literature. From Gehm’s first piece, a poster of “The Sweetest Fig” by Chris Val Allsburg, to a prized original painting by Diane Stanley purchased at an auction, Gehm said they are always on the lookout for the next addition to the collection. In the corner of her office is a box of free posters she has been storing in case she runs into one of the authors or illustrators. The gallery is funded through donations or profits from the book fair, which also funds visits from authors and illustrators, she said.
Both said their goal is that their enthusiasm for literature will rub off on children.
“I’m really proud of it,” Gehm said. “When you walk in here and you see all this art on the wall — just think of what the library would look like if it wasn’t here.”
Students are not only introduced to new literature, Hogan said, but they become familiar with the authors and illustrators as well. The time they spend in the library is valuable, he said, adding, “One of the best things about our district is from the administration down, the feeling is the library is the hub of learning in the district.”
About the Author