Blank Paper Captures Summer Readers’ Attention Pulp Fixation Highlights Papermaking Session At South Hill Library

Nearly 100 children and 30 adults made the paper last week - literally.

They came to the South Hill Library from all over the city on the first day of July to make note-size sheets of paper using water and a lot of imagination.

The hands-on project is part of a summerlong library program called “Spokane Reads.”

The program emphasizes summer reading, but it also includes playful learning activities.

With the help of children’s librarian Kristen Snyder and youth services coordinator Cecilia McGowan, everyone got the chance to get a little messy.

There’s not a lot of science involved in making paper, just a lot of fun.

You need water and recycled colored paper shredded into confetti-size pieces.

How much water do you add? someone asked.

“Until it looks good,” McGowan answered.

How thick?

Try for a consistency equal to a bowl of milk and corn flakes left too long on the kitchen counter.

The next step is siphoning the water and paper into large plastic squeeze bottles, which was done before the papermakers showed up, as was the covering of the meeting room’s beige carpet with black plastic tarps.

Just in case.

From there, McGowan explained, the process is simple, just untidy.

“The orange stains your fingers,” she warned.

Participants were given 3-inch by 6-inch plastic-foam trays, which formed a mold for the paper.

The next step?

Squeeze the mixture from the bottle into the tray, “smoosh” it with your fingers, and choose another color - or three - until the tray is filled. Shake out the excess water and presto, a sheet of slush?

“It dries overnight,” McGowan said, reassuring worried participants.

Kyle Orozco, 7, squished and smoothed his purple, yellow, blue and pink piece of paper.

“I’m going to put it out and let it dry today,” he said.

“I’ll probably leave it on my desk,” he said.

Elizabeth Matresse, 9, explained her papermaking technique.

“You pour out little glops of it - different kinds of color. Then you pat it down to make it thin,” she said.

Elizabeth and her sister, Jessica, 7, planned to send their completed sheets of paper to their respective pen pals who live across town.

Their youngest sister, Katie, however, said she was going to keep her paper.

“I’m going to admire it,” she said, resolutely.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: READING PLANNED The South Hill Library will present a reading of “Casey at Bat” July 23 at 2 p.m. A schedule of upcoming summer events and activities is available at any Spokane Public Library branch.