[Publib] Chalkboard paint

[dragynsnap at yahoo.com]

Hi John--
Remember what they say on all of the interior design shows...it's just paint, and can easily be undone.
That said, I see a couple of benefits to such a space.  It enhances the 'cool' factor of your library - -you are encouraging temporary graffiti, after all, and what kid doesn't like to be a little bit subversive once in a while.  Also, energy spent writing on the authorized chalkboard wall is not spent doing less desirable activities, especially those on the Standard Library Mischief List that I am sure you have on file.
On a non-library note, my small town has a wonderful movie theatre that has been through several eclectic incarnations over the years. One of the quirky constants has been chalkboards in the restrooms, usually covered in benign messages, which can be barely glimpsed here in photo #6 from the top
http://www.magiclanternmovies.com/MagicLanternPhotoGallery.php
On opening night this spring, cries of delight were heard when said chalkboards were spotted by the public.



Melissa Norton
Librarian-At-Large
Bridgton, ME
dragynsnap at yahoo.com


--- On Wed, 7/9/08, John Richmond <jdr1952 at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: John Richmond <jdr1952 at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Publib] Chalkboard paint
> To: publib at webjunction.org
> Date: Wednesday, July 9, 2008, 11:44 AM
> Our Youth Services librarian would like to paint a small
> portion
> (under a row of coat hooks, fairly low down, close to the
> floor) of a
> small-ish wall with chalkboard paint.  Small children could
> use it,
> and/or the YS folks might use it for story times.  I'd
> never heard of
> chalkboard paint, but I looked it up.  Haven't asked
> the board about
> it, and part of me thinks, "Why bother? Just do
> it," except that the
> building *is* The Building, so....
> 
> I'm wondering if anyone out there has used chalkboard
> paint,
> particularly in a place where the public and *not* just
> staff could
> play with chalk.  And am wondering if there are any horror
> stories,
> rapturous stories, pitfalls and problems to consider before
> proceeding
> with chalkboard paint, et al.  I'm really looking for
> people who
> actually have *used* chalkboard paint, and not just those
> who want to
> suggest pitfalls and problems; we've projected a list
> of those here,
> already.
> 
> Thanks.  You may or may not respond to me off the list, as
> the spirit
> moves, lest the list get too cluttered, as it did with
> Sunshine
> Hydrox, et al., I'm sure.
> 
> John Richmond, Director
> Alpha Park Public Library District
> 3527 So. Airport Road
> Bartonville, IL 61607
> jdr1952 at gmail.com ... or jrichmond at alphapark.org
> 
> 
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