Library celebrates National Reading Month with homage to beloved literacy campaign

By Adrienne Miller

The Laney College Library and Laney Photo Department worked in collaboration to create a photo portrait series of students and staff with their favorite books in honor of National Reading Month.

The goal of the event was to celebrate reading and how much one book can inspire and influence a person throughout their life.

A temporary photo set was constructed by Laney students from the professional photo classes at the Laney Library on March 22 and 24. Students and staff brought their favorite books and received professional-quality portraits.

The idea arose from a collaboration between Laney Photography Instructor Black Moon and Public Services Librarian Reginald Constant.

Moon previously had an exhibition at the Laney Library which received praise from staff and students. “I did a display in the Library of our collection of vintage cameras and our books on photography,” Moon said. “It filled several cases.”

“We wanted people… to bring the books that had inspired them, what made them what they are, that inspired them to live their lives.”

Reginald Constant, Laney librarian

To keep the momentum alive, Moon suggested that Constant set up a studio where students could get portraits taken.

Moon was inspired: “I suggested that we have a photo shoot and we’ll have people have their portraits taken with or without a book. And [Constant] got very excited about that idea.”

Moon took the idea to the instructors, who echoed Constant’s excitement and followed through on the proposal.

Constant said he thought the inspiration came from the “Read” posters found in public libraries.

The American Library Association as well as other local libraries have created a series of posters with the headline: “READ” depicting celebrities or fictional characters with a book to promote reading as a fun activity.

“We wanted to get a step beyond that and make it more personal,” Constant said. “We wanted people … to bring the books that had inspired them, what made them what they are, that inspired them to live their lives.”

The Laney College Photography Department was enlisted to provide the creativity necessary to create quality portraits of the students who participated.

“The photo department had the creative vision as far as what kind of poses and what kind of backgrounds would look good,” Constant said.

The Graphic Arts Department was also invited to help in the editing process. Representatives from the Photography Department invited students in Daniela Nikolaeva’s beginning Adobe Photoshop class to participate on set, to learn how photo shoots work.

The photo students would then learn about the editing process in Photoshop from the graphic arts students.

The photo students used strobe studio lighting and instructed the participants on how to pose with their favorite books using both serious and fun poses.

They took portraits of students, library staff, Photo Department instructors, other Laney staff, and even a dean (pictured below).

The portraits will be shared with the participants and will be used by the library for promotional purposes.

Adrienne Miller is a Tower staff writer. Contact her at avmiller25(at)yahoo.com.

In honor of National Reading Month, below are eight recommended reads from the Laney Tower.

Adrienne Miller is a Tower staff writer and photographer.