Libraries in partnership with Mount Aspiring College's 'Students in the Community' programme have completed a fantastic mural showing a set of bookshelves at the Wanaka Recreation Centre. The project took almost a year to complete which made finishing this beauty even more satisfying.
Thanks to Allan at Wānaka Sport and Rec Centre the opportunity arose for libraries to paint the inside of a shipping container. The container's planned use is to be a seating and a shaded space for the community – of course, we jumped on the plan! The Mint Trust had already painted the outside with their crew, so the inside of the container was looking rather bland.
Libraries have a fantastic relationship with the Mount Aspiring College 'Students in the Community' programme and together 7 students volunteered their time to paint (along with me!) a shelf of library books.
The detail in the books and only being able to work on every second book on the shelf each session meant the project started to creep into winter. A learning point for us all was that paint needs 10*c or higher to 'cure' otherwise it drips... so we paused the project for winter.
Resuming again in the spring and completing the project before end-of-year exams started, we were all stoked! A Lillyput Library was made thanks to the Wanaka Community Workshop Men’s shed group and the area took shape.
The space we now like to call the ‘Play Space’ consists of a Lillyput Library, shade and seating, a beaut mural, and table tennis set up. A sign will be placed at the short end of the container letting our community know about eBooks and eAdudiobooks they can access for free with their library card.
Fantastic by-products of the mural work were the chats we had with the community as they walked past and the heart-warming squeals of delight of the children getting books out of the Lillyput Library. This was a true community effort with Wānaka Sport and Rec, Mint Trust, Men's Shed Wānaka, Mount Aspiring College, and Libraries all involved!
A huge thanks to Ava, Sophia, Tamara, Mia, Kate, Hannah, and Jenna from MAC whose attention to detail and perseverance on this project was incredible! To the Wānaka Community Workshop Men's Shed for building the Lillyput Library and to Allan at Wānaka Sport and Rec for being such a fantastic collaboration partner for Libraries!
Enjoy the photo progression story below!
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