Anyone inclined to dismiss libraries as dull places lacking in spark or initiative might be surprised to discover the imagination that is transforming those humble administrative tools, library cards, into little works of folk art. On Tuesday, we featured some of the best designs to have emerged in London, from Hackney’s mural to the graffiti of Kensington and Chelsea. Our appeal to readers to prove that this wasn’t just a metropolitan pastime produced the following gems from the UK and the US. Leave your own examples on the Twitter hashtag #librarycards and we will add them to this column.
@guardianbooks #librarycards Worcestershire's children's card pic.twitter.com/PSnMhQquu7
— Worcestershire SLS (@worcsls) May 27, 2015
@GuardianBooks We rather like our young people's #librarycards designed by 7 yr old Alicia. pic.twitter.com/Wy3eFsh3jI
— Torbay Libraries (@TorbayLibraries) May 27, 2015
London's best #librarycards? Share yours at @GuardianBooks. This is #Birmingham's... http://t.co/qK5RBu99qa pic.twitter.com/YrLO8E0DQx
— ThatNikkiBi (@ThatNikkiBi) May 27, 2015
My lovely card from @SFPublicLibrary #librarycards pic.twitter.com/6zYcbaxwHW
— Olivia Bays (@Olivia_Bays1) May 27, 2015
.@GuardianBooks has looked at library card designs. How does Oxon's compare? http://t.co/zD7aoN71ck #librarycards pic.twitter.com/C8yt4ebriE
— Chipping Norton News (@ChippyNews) May 26, 2015
@GuardianBooks #librarycards from @BromLibraries pic.twitter.com/Dgkq7vgpQe
— Tincture Of Museum (@TinctureOfMuse) May 27, 2015
@GuardianBooks #librarycards from @NHM_Library pic.twitter.com/enfFtUArNX
— Tincture Of Museum (@TinctureOfMuse) May 27, 2015
Whitby Public Library, in Ontario, Canada, offers a range of options:
One of three cards on offer from the UK’s Cumbria Libraries:
And finally, two late arrivals from London:
@GuardianBooks How could you leave out our amazing children's & young person's #librarycards? pic.twitter.com/om1KQDjBZi
— Richmond Libraries (@RichmondLibs) May 27, 2015
@GuardianBooks Here is our library membership card @Islingtonlibs pic.twitter.com/aT47VWINXl
— Islington Libraries (@Islingtonlibs) May 27, 2015
