Body Art For The Brain
Librarians Design Tattoo-Inspired Reading
By Tara Bannon Williamson
Park Hill Librarian
The best thing about librarians is our creativity. We develop a million and one ways to suggest books to readers. Suggestions based on tattoos might be my favorite way yet!
For the last two years on July 17 – which happens to be National Tattoo Day – participants have sent in photos of their tattoos. We librarians have then provided three unique suggestions on what to read, watch, or listen to, complementary to readers’ body art.
The joy of recommending library resources to readers based on their tattoos was not simply that it was a completely new, highly enjoyable task. It was amazing to hear participants’ stories. Tattoos are, by their very nature, incredibly personal. Tattoos reflect what we love and want to commemorate.
The sheer number of literary tattoos that we saw was staggering. Illustrations by Shel Silverstein, owls on stacks of books, lines from poems, and Harry Potter tattoos were bountiful. We saw quotes from Hemingway, tattoos inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, and phrases ripe with meaning from Margaret Atwood and Tom Robbins. Music and movies were equally represented with artwork from album covers, lyrics and tributes to rock legends like David Bowie. Overall, we gave over 600 original recommendations.
This year, we even took it one step further and collaborated with Certified Ink to create literary tattoos at the Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales branch library on Sunday, Aug. 5. This fundraiser was the first of its kind in the country (and maybe even the world). Local news outlets were there to record the historic event, including 9News, which interviewed yours truly.
More than 120 people came to get a tattoo that day, and some for their first tattoo. Designs were inspired by authors, including Dr. Seuss, Douglas Adams, Edgar Allen Poe, Maya Angelou, J.K. Rowling and Kurt Vonnegut. A large portion of the proceeds was donated by Certified Ink’s President, Nando Mondragon, who grew up frequenting Denver libraries.
In an Aug. 7 Westword article, Leslie Wilber captured the importance of this event for one participant who traveled to Colorado to get the tattoo “Still I Rise” with his best friend: “For Walter, the tattoo gives him the daily encouragement he needs as a gay man living in Wyoming.”
Our stories are what make us who we are. The stories we cherish, the stories that inspire us, and the stories that are inscribed into our bodies. Far more than a building to house stories, the library wants to hear your story and be a part of it.
Pauline Robinson Library Events
Tech Help Appointments | Mondays and Tuesdays, noon-1 p.m.
Get technology assistance from one of our in-house experts on your own device or a public computer. Learn the basics, such as email, social networking, word processing and eMedia. Call the library at 720-865-0290 to schedule an appointment for Monday or Tuesday.
Preschool Storytime | Wednesdays, Sept. 5, 12, 19, 26, 10:30 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for 3-5 year olds and their parents or caregivers.
PHNEE | Saturday, Sept. 8, 10 a.m.
Park Hill Neighbors for Equity in Education (PHNEE) invites you to a discussion of how to use stakeholder power to improve equity in schools. This is a series of conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion in education.
Pauline Robinson Book Club | Saturday, Sept. 30, 12 p.m.
This month’s selection: The Secret of Magic by Deborah Johnson. Drop-ins are welcome.
Park Hill Library Events
Special Exhibit: Mementos from Home | All Month
This is a traveling exhibit and will mainly be in our community room.
All Ages Storytime | Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for children of all ages and their parents or caregivers. Craft activity immediately follows the program.
Baby Storytime | Thursdays and Fridays at 11:15 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for babies ages 0-18 months and their caregivers. Play and social time immediately follow the program.
Toddler Storytime | Fridays at 10:30 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for toddlers ages 18-36 months and their caregivers.
Writer in Residence: S.E. Fleenor | Tuesdays, Sept. 4, 11, 18, & 25 6 p.m.
S.E. Fleenor, a local writer of fiction, non-fiction, and articles, will be working with library patrons to help with a new or existing writing project. Whether you’re at the brainstorming phase, have started a draft, or are about to finish your piece, Fleenor will provide feedback and writing prompts.
Service and Assistance Animals | Wednesday, Sept. 5, 6:30 p.m.
Pigs on planes. Horses in hospitals. Dogs everywhere! Join Susan Wroble with therapy dog Hathaway to learn about the differences between emotional support, service and therapy animals, and what it takes to become a team.
Miniature Golf | Saturday, Sept. 8, 5:30 p.m.
Join us for a Hole Lot of Fun. The Park Hill Branch Library is closed to the public for the night, but re-opening at 5:30 p.m. for a fun family event – Mini Golf in the library. This year our basement community room will be the location of glow-in-the-dark holes for extra challenge and fun. Golfers are encouraged to sign up for a tee time in advance by calling 720-865-0250 or stopping by the library. Groups will tee off every five minutes. Walk-ins are welcome and will tee off on space available basis. Ideal for ages 3 to 99 – children must be accompanied by an adult.
How I Survived WWII and the Holocaust as a Young Boy | Wednesday, Sept. 12, 6:30 p.m.
Holocaust survivor Oscar Sladek will share a detailed story of his life from the age of 7 to 10, including how the choices he and his family made helped them to escape the Nazi roundups of Jews in his native Slovakia. Sadly, a large number of his extended family perished in forced labor and concentration camps. Sladek also touches on the progress of the ongoing war and its effect on our day-to-day survival. A question and answer session will follow the presentation.
The Deportation of Innocence Film and Discussion Saturday | Sept. 15, 2:30 p.m.
What happens to children when their parents are deported from the United States? Discussion following the film will be led by the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) who provides free immigration legal services to immigrant children and to adults in immigration detention.
Play and Explore | Monday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m.
Play with us. Family members and caregivers are a child’s first playmates and teachers. Engage your child in play activities that can help build creativity, coordination, and problem solving, strengthen muscles, increase social skills and encourage early learning. Ideal for ages 12 months to 5 years, accompanied by an adult.
Magic Club | Monday Sept. 17, 4:30 p.m.
Do you already play Magic: the Gathering, or are you interested in learning? Stop by two afternoons a month to play and meet other teens. Ideal for ages 10-17. *No Gathering Monday, Sept. 3.
Kids’ Book Club | Tuesday, Sept. 18, 3:30 p.m.
Book: My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
Activity: decorate a drawstring backpack
Ideal for ages 6-9.
Teen Advisory Board (TAB) | Tuesday, Sept. 18, 6 p.m.
Join the Park Hill TAB. Help plan events and projects, talk about your favorite books, music, movies and make your opinion count. Plus snacks. Ideal for ages 13-18.
Voting Rights with the ACLU | Wednesday, Sept. 19, 6:30 p.m.
The right to vote, and to have one’s vote accurately and fairly counted, is a fundamental right of all American citizens. The American Civil Liberties Union will share how they are challenging laws that impede our democratic process and their fight to restore the voting rights of formerly incarcerated people who often have their right to vote revoked for lengthy periods of time.
Tween Book Club | Thursday, Sept. 20, 4:30 p.m.
Book: Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
Activity: decorate water bottles
No Strings Attached Book Chat | Saturday, Sept. 22, 11 a.m.
Read whatever you want and attend whenever you can. Share a recent read, an old favorite, or anything in between.
Ukuleles: Easy to Play, Easy to Love | Saturdays, Sept. 22 & 29, 2:30 p.m.
Learn to read standard sheet music and ukulele tablature to play melodically and harmonize using chords and lyrics in this adult-level class. Get tips for buying, tuning and maintaining your ukulele. Loaner ukuleles are available. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Equity in Schools: We PHNEED to Talk | Wednesday, Sept. 26, 6:30 p.m.
Park Hill Neighbors for Equity in Education (PHNEE) invites you to a discussion of how to use stakeholder power to improve equity in schools. Add your voice to this series of conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion in education.