Summertime at Laurea Library Kerava

Despite the grey skies above Finland, the summer months are approaching. The library will close for summer on 19.6, which is sooner than we think. And our patrons might go on a trip. What a better way to inspire our users for the upcoming summertime, than by changing the library space?

In three simple steps we managed to promote our traveling books, advertise our summer loans and last but not least: bring summer to Laurea Library Kerava!

 

Step one:

We selected  videos of official tourism commercials from a big variety of countries.  The only conditions for selecting a country were high temperatures and clear blue skies. We created a long presentation with beautiful views and inspiring surroundings. The presentation will be running in the computer room on Coffee Tuesdays still for a few weeks.

 

During our first “summery” Coffee Tuesday (16.4), the students’ reacted to the videos right away. Some slowed down when they entered the room and stared at the screen. Others started to talk about the countries and videos. I am afraid some students might have been distracted from their assignments.  Pictures of golden beaches, green mountains, exotic destinations and adventurous leisure activities enchanted us all.

 

 

 

Step two:

Travelling books from our collection were showcased by the library’s entrance. Books about body language and gestures are bound to prepare you for the Do’s & Don’ts of many cultures. Moreover, books specifically presenting a country can give insights and helpful information before packing the suitcase.

 

Step three:

As usual, we printed signs with information on closing dates and summer loans. But this year we decided to add a little twist to our signs. They were decorated with simple pictures of the big blue sea! White paper boats invite our patrons to set sail to their summer vacation. And have adventures like the Greek Odysseus on his way to Ithaka.

 

Ithaka by C.P. Cavafy
Translated by Edmund Keeley/Philip Sherrard

As you set out for Ithaka
hope the voyage is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery.
Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
angry Poseidon—don’t be afraid of them:
you’ll never find things like that on your way
as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,
as long as a rare excitement
stirs your spirit and your body.
Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
wild Poseidon—you won’t encounter them
unless you bring them along inside your soul,
unless your soul sets them up in front of you.

Hope the voyage is a long one.
May there be many summer mornings when,
with what pleasure, what joy,
you come into harbors seen for the first time;
may you stop at Phoenician trading stations
to buy fine things,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
sensual perfume of every kind—
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
and may you visit many Egyptian cities
to gather stores of knowledge from their scholars.

Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you are destined for.
But do not hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years,
so you are old by the time you reach the island,
wealthy with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.

Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey.
Without her you would not have set out.
She has nothing left to give you now.

And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you.
Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,
you will have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.

www.cavafy.com

Dimitra P.