[Publib] adhesive for signs/posters

[Judith Turner]

Hi, Hillary --

There's no really safe adhesive to use on a painted surface.  If left in contact with paint long enough, any adhesive will either
make a permanent adhesion to the painted surface or dry up with the result artwork falls off the wall, generally leaving some adhesive residue behind.  Temperature and humidity levels will also impact the amount of adhesion left behind; interior vs. exterior walls react differently, too.

There are some fairly decent adhesive removers on the market that you
could try - perhaps in a discreet area so you can see how the remover interacts with the paint without leaving a stain in a noticeable spot.

Another solution is to gently sand off the residue and touch-up the surface with some fresh paint when things get too unsightly.

A better, more permanent solution would be to mount a track high on the wall hang artwork using string or wire to drop the item to appropriate level.  Then tape, glue or use a clamp to attach the artwork or seasonal decorations to whatever you're using as a hanging device.  

As far as level and even, the best way is probably one of those laser devices (they emit a visible light that runs along a wall in a straight line to use as a guide).  They are sold at Home Depot and Lowe's and via tv home improvment show ads), among other places.  Not sure what they are called but perhaps another publibber could help.

Judy Turner
Whitefish Bay, WI

"Donna Noble has left the library. Donna Noble has been saved." ---- "Silence in the Library"  (Doctor Who, Season 4, Ep. 8)  



--- On Fri, 1/30/09, Theyer, Hillary <HTheyer at TORRNET.COM> wrote:

> From: Theyer, Hillary <HTheyer at TORRNET.COM>
> Subject: [Publib] adhesive for signs/posters
> To: "'publib at webjunction.org'" <publib at webjunction.org>
> Date: Friday, January 30, 2009, 1:01 PM
> A question that I'm sure plagues the library world.
> 
> We are refurbishing our five branch libraries.  A very
> exciting project, that includes new paint!  When we closed
> the first branch, scotch tape and tape residue became my
> enemy.  I scraped with my fingernails, then I got a scraper.
>  There was tape on the windows, the walls, the doors.  I am
> now on an anti-tape crusade.
> 
> Yet, I am not going to forbid the library from hanging
> anything up.  I love the fact that we had posters up,
> displays of kid artwork, etc.  The walls are going to be
> plain pearl white (we call it Torrance Beige) so I want the
> libraries to be able to decorate for holidays and such. 
> It's part of what we do and who we are, and I'm not
> going to force them to look sterile and boring.
> 
> So, what's the best stuff?  What comes off clean, but
> can hold a piece of paper or a poster up?
> 
> And, has anyone hung stack end signs yourself, and has any
> tips on making sure they are straight, centered and uniform?
> 
> Thanks!
> Hillary Theyer