Jun 8, 2011
A 100-year-old library’s “grand” opening
The Walker Library in the Uptown area of Minneapolis will be turning 100 years old in a few days.
In preparation for the centennial, Hennepin County Libraries posted the invitation that was sent out to advertise the Walker’s grand opening in 1911…
The building will be open for inspection at that time. With appropriate exercises.
I appreciate the value of complete, non-ironic austerity for really drumming up neighborhood interest, but I remain convinced that a treasure hunt, clowns, and a bouncy castle would have been in order.
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Is it weird that I think this simple invitation looks beautiful? Well kerned typeface, spacing and differences in height. It’s a treat for the eyes.
It was, afterall, Minneapolis. C’mon–you know these people! Austerity is of the essence.
What would be “appropriate exercises” for the grand opening of a library? I’m envisioning orderly rows of people silently doing calisthenics…