Snapping the bottle cap mural into place at HWPL

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Taking inspiration from a mural in the West End of Long Beach made completely of bottle caps collected from the community that was seen by Head of Youth Services Alicia Rispoli, members of the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Library’s Teen Advisory Committee guided by Head of Adult Services Caroline Lynch thought of book genres as the theme for a new mural outside the HWPL’s Children’s Room as the previous one that has a pastoral motif was damaged in Hurricane Sandy had to be removed.

More than 20,000 bottle caps and plastic lids were collected from the Hewlett and Woodmere communities at the library within a few months time this year. Art student Chestine Tomas sketched the mural out on large sheets of industrial plastic. Over a few months, the teenagers attached the collected caps onto the sheets creating a giant open book with items representing fantasy, mystery, sports, science fiction and others.

The mural was installed by Assistant Head of Building and Grounds Andrew Dachtera. A dedication was hosted by HWPL on Nov. 4.