Dr. Elizabeth Johnson

What does Tennessee State University Brown-Daniel Library have in common with Valdosta State University Odom Library? Both libraries offer a place where patrons can craft, tinker, create, and experiment with seldom-explored tools and supplies (Bagley 94-96). Such activities in the library science field are labeled “passive programs.” Passive programs are informal and interactive events that allow patrons to create items that offer relaxation from hours of studying.

One passive program that Brown-Daniel Library work-study student Bryce McElroy mastered is book art. Book art involves recycling hard-covered books and folding the pages into Origami decorative shapes. In images 1-3, Bryce shows that not all books should remain on the shelf but can be “upcycled” to provide inexpensive decoration and a way to learn how to read patterns.

Image 1: "Roses"

Image 2: "Holiday Spirit"

Image 3: "Centering"

Origami is a Japanese word that means to fold paper – even boxes, books, and magazines- into various artistic shapes (Kowalski 30). Images 4-6 are examples from Wikimedia Commons where individuals executed origami with books and boxes. Two of the earliest known books featuring written instructions for Origami, Tsutsumi-no Ki and Sembazuru Orikata, were written in the late 18th century (“Kinetic Joy”).

Image 4: "Folded book art that says 'Read'"

Image 5: "Student Book Art"

Image 6: "Origami Boxes 5149"

Aleene Jackson published Folded Magazine Projects in 1964, giving instructions and patterns of how to fold popular magazines into artistic shapes (Jackson). While book art has a long history, 21st century authors such as Marta Decker and Holly DiBella-McCarthy have published various how-to books that provide step-by-step instructions. In addition, interested crafters can peruse YouTube videos for examples of book folding. To see more samples of book art, review Phil Cleaver’s 2019 book and the 2022 Winterbourne House and Garden art exhibit of Book-Object-Art, which has over 100 origami book art and artifacts he created.

Please consider checking out the materials available at the library on Origami and other passive programming activities.