Recently I learned that libraries have been around for 5000 years. 5000, hmmm…that’s interesting.

To me libraries are one of the greatest inventions/creations of mankind. Books still transport me today as much as they did when I was first introduced to them. The library has always been a wondrous place to visit. I have exceedingly fond memories of getting to go all the way downtown to the main library in Saskatoon as a kid for special trips to Pooh Corner. What a joy it was to be able to bring my own kids there decades later. I enjoy the gallery at the library, am a frequent Libby user, and still borrow books and occasionally magazines.

In honour of the soon to be opened new main branch of the Saskatoon Public Library I am making 100 keys out of no longer usable books (I found a terrific English text book, an old hymn book, and a copy of Dick and Jane for this purpose). Each key will be sold for $25 and 100 per cent of the purchase price will be donated to the Saskatoon Public Library.

I had decided quite some time ago that I wanted to do this because I love libraries and this is a very small way for me to give back to an entity that has given me so much. When I learned that the SPL had created a book called the Remarkable Door as part of their current fundraising campaign I felt that this was truly the right time for this project within a project.

This first batch of keys are all made from the Second Edition of an English Grade 8 text book (and sometimes a bit of vellum type paper that was gifted to me). I picked up this English text book because it had illustrations as well as text and it was so falling apart I thought it would be ok to reuse it. Since taking it apart and making keys with it I have come to appreciate what a dynamic book it is. I have been enjoying seeing some of the topics and was particularly interested in the section on writing essays (is it interesting? it’s important to make it interesting - I agree with that). I resined these keys and sometimes added bits of jewellery and other embellishments to them. I like the way the resin makes the paper translucent and have yet to master getting it to seep into all the parts of the paper. The keys are much stronger when resined (another good reason to do it) but the resin process itself is very labour intensive and somewhat difficult. I must say though that I am pretty delighted with how these are turning out and I am having fun making them (even if there are lots of “learnings” along the way).

The word “stories” appears at the top of the shaft of Key 2800.

Key 2802 has “Let’s Read a Poem” along the shaft.

The top of Key 2805 is actually made from a failed attempt at creating the design in the top of Key 2804 (in the end I decided to smooth it out and use it).