We’ve got on display three personal collections from staff members. Swing by the library to check them out and read on to learn more about the stories behind these collections.

Andrew- Lego

“I grew up playing with Lego.  Pirate ships and castles were my favorite.  I was in high school when Lego started releasing Star Wars sets, and my toys became more of a collectible that I started prominently displaying in my living space.  As more licensed sets were released, I began to expand beyond Star Wars sets and now I have a whole neighborhood of characters interacting with each other, with their own storylines and motivations for being in the situation that they find themselves.  I think I fixated on Lego over other collectibles because I have to put some work into it.  I need to build the spaceship or the bookshop, and no matter how closely I follow the instructions, the version I built will always be my version, imbued with my passion and storytelling as the inanimate toy becomes a living part of my collection.  My favorite pieces in my collection are those that look awesome on display but were also fun to build.  All of the modular buildings have been fun to build with interesting techniques.  I very much envision myself living in the house adjoining the bookshop as there is not an official library model yet.”

Dani- Dolls

“I started collecting dolls a couple of years ago, but I’ve had a lifelong interest in fashion and dress up. I think dolls are a way for kids and adults to express themselves and to make their own characters and stories. One of the reasons I love dolls is that we as humans have been making them since prehistoric times. They may even be the earliest toys. Dolls, like books, can be mirrors or windows– they can reflect people’s own experiences, or they can be representative of someone else’s life experiences. That’s why it’s important that dolls are diverse, from racial and ethnic diversity to body type. I love to customize dolls as well to make my own characters. I also collect all kinds of my little ponies, from the first generation to the present.”

Zoe- Cross stitch

“When I was 10 years old my mother taught me to cross stitch. It was something my grandmother had done and had taught my mom how to do. The project my mom was doing that inspired me to start cross stitching was making beautiful angel designs for me and each of my sisters. I wasn’t very involved in cross stitching and would do the little project I had bought with my mom when I was 10, on and off. It wasn’t until 2020, when we were all cooped up at home, that I really dug back into the project. Since then, I completed most of the projects displayed in the case. It is a fun, mindless craft that I love to do while I’m watching TV. Watching each individual square of color come together to form the image I’m making is so exciting, and I hope to be able to pass this craft and art form down to new kids.”