SELCO’s proudly announces the completion of Public Art at the Library. Undertaken as part of this year’s Library Legacy activities, five READ bike racks were installed. Locations include the SELCO office and the Rochester and Spring Grove Public Libraries.
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SELCO The first rack was installed at the SELCO office in November 2010 and served a dual purpose. First and most important to provide a bike rack for those (albeit infrequent) biking visitors and secondly to offer a visual prototype of the steel hardware that would be available for library installations. SELCO’s READ bike rack was the final detail of the 2010 remodeling job to shift the dual front doors and make the entrance under the long covered approach to the building. The adaptation allows staff and visitors cover from the weather rather than dashing between raindrops or snowflakes. | |
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Rochester The Rochester Public Library installed three bike racks in June 2011. The READ bike racks sparkle in a range of colors --- red, blue, and green. The Library offered a complimentary presentation focusing on Bike to Work Day. Click here  for more photos of the READ bike racks at the Rochester Public Library. |
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Spring Grove The Spring Grove Public Library installed a single red READ bike rack. The Library also displayed information on eco-friendly projects and books, as well as craft projects using recycled-items. More photos of the READ bike rack and the Library's informational display are on SELCO's Flickr page . |
The genesis of the Library Legacy Public Art at the Library project is the result of recommendations from library directors and community residents interested in blending functionality and public art. SELCO’s FY 2011 project goals included installing small pieces of public art at libraries and offering architecturally distinctive, high security bike racks.
DERO, a Minneapolis-based company, was selected as the bike rack fabricator. The company offers works of public sculpture that are easy to install and use, and whose creations include flexibility to libraries, riders, and the community. In conjunction with the installation and unveiling of the new bike racks, each participating library agreed host a program or series of programs on such topics as: public art, architecture, green environments, or healthy living practices.
SELCO's Library Legacy program, Public Art at the Library, was funded in part or in whole with money from Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.