[Michlib-l] Coloring Books for Adults

[Maria Williams]

Dear Listserv-

Thank you for your answers. I've compiled all the responses I received and
pasted them in below. I did contact the Fort Walton Beach Library in
Florida by phone, and they've decided to let patrons color in the books
that circulate and consider it a mini community art project. Once the pages
are full up they'll withdraw them from circulation and display the
completed pages in the library for all to see. I personally love this idea,
and am considering doing it.

I urge everyone to consider copyright ramifications of copying images from
the pages, or otherwise encouraging patrons to make copies. Copyright can
be murky, but I'm sure we all want to be good stewards.

Good luck to all of you with your coloring programs!

Responses to follow:

*“I’m thinking about getting them and I was going to put a notice on the
front saying the book was available for checkout but you must make
individual copies to color.  Please do not color so that others can enjoy…
something like that…”*


*“We are starting an Adult Coloring event next week.  I plan to make copies
of the pattern the patron wants on cardstock.”*


*“We ordered Adult coloring books for programs but they are not apart of
the collection. They're simply going to be used for the program.”*


*“We gave those away as door prizes at one of our last events and they were
such a big hit. Personally, based on your question, it might be
problematic, but you could put a label in the book to suggest that if
people need to color they should copy the page rather than color in the
book.”*


*“We do not, because I don't know how we would keep people from coloring in
them.”*


*“I have several coloring books of my own and find them a very relaxing
pastime.  I do not have them in the library collection. They are meant to
be colored in otherwise why have them? Although I suppose patrons could
copy pictures that they wanted to do. It could also be a fun thing to put
on an activity table.  We have one where we always have a jigsaw puzzle or
a scrabble game always going. If you are getting a lot of requests for them
maybe you could try a couple and see how it goes.  I would be interested in
the result if you decide to add them to your collection.” *


*“We would be interested in this too. I guess you could somehow label them
so that patrons don't color in them, but make copies to actually color. Can
you please post the answers you get to this question?” *


*“We don't have coloring books in the collection here at my library, but
I've read several interesting threads on this topic surface on
various Facebook groups for librarians, namely Programming Librarian
Interest Group and ALA Think Tank. It seems several libraries have had
success using coloring books as passive programming: leaving the coloring
books and colored pencils on tables to be used in-house.”*


*“Rather than checking out coloring books, we made coloring kits that
patrons can check out in-house.   They can select from an assortment of
pages that we copied out of coloring books, and we provide colored pencils
and a pencil sharpener. Similarly, we have a Zentangle kit that includes a
Zentangle book, tiles, and micron pens. We provide coloring pages for
children as well.  Each child receives a box with 4 crayons that she can
keep.”*


*“We have a coloring club that meets once a month. We provide the copies
and colored pencils. Its a fun get together (for adults only)”*


*“It was my understanding that we can't copy out of purchased books? but
may copy any we find off the internet?  Can anyone clarify that?”*


*“ I would check on the copyright page of the particular book in question.
Some of them will allow copying for non-profit usage. Some of them will
not. I think it varies based on publisher and artist.”*


Maria Williams, MLIS
Head of Adult Services
Baldwin Public Library

300 West Merrill Street

Birmingham, MI 48009

(248) 554-4651

http://www.baldwinlib.org

On Wed, Oct 21, 2015 at 3:48 PM, Maria Williams <
maria.williams at baldwinlib.org> wrote:

> Dear Listserv-
>
> Do you have coloring books for adults in your collection?
>
> If so, do you let people color in them?
>
> If not, how do you keep people from coloring in them?
>
> Thanks!
>
> M.
>
> Maria Williams, MLIS
> Head of Adult Services
> Baldwin Public Library
>
> 300 West Merrill Street
>
> Birmingham, MI 48009
>
> (248) 554-4651
>
> http://www.baldwinlib.org
>
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