Baldwin Library hosts ‘BPL Loves You!’

The Baldwin Public Library welcomed patrons with hot chocolate, candy, and displayed Meagan Meehan’s community art project on Valentine’s Day last week. 

The library hosted their event “BPL Loves You!” — where patrons enjoyed an afternoon of sweets, art, and Valentine’s Day inspired gifts like, bookmarks, page holders, pencils, temporary tattoos, and an art display in the library’s atrium on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day.

The library set up chocolate and candy at all service stations throughout the library and set up an art in the library’s atrium, while love ballads and Valentine’s Day songs played softly in the background like Paul McCartney’s “Silly Love Songs,” Melinda Doolittle’s “My Funny Valentine, and Dionne Warwick’s “What the World Needs Now.”

The art display featured hanging quilts and Meagan J. Meehan’s finished community art project titled “Covid Diaries: Celebrating Resilience,” which was fostered creatively by Meehan and the Baldwin community through the art and poetry/prose workshops held at the library over the past year.

Meehan’s hanging wall sculpture is scheduled to remain on display at the library until March 1.

The library provided a book for visitors to write their thoughts and feelings regarding the artwork and set up a cupid vignette bench, where some patrons took photos. 

Additionally, in true Valentine’s Day fashion, some attendees took the opportunity to set up blind dates  — with books.  Participants in the library’s Blind Date with a Book program checked out wrapped books to be unveiled at home. They can then return the books by March 3 to turn in their “Rate Your Date” slip, which comes with each wrapped book. Completed slips will enter participants into a raffle.