Portage Library hosts "Reading Room," an installation by Cynthia Coté, through March 4

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HOUGHTON -- The Portage Lake District Library is hosting an exhibit titled "Reading Room," an installation by Cynthia Coté, through March 4, 2013.

These hand made books are part of Cynthia Coté's installation, "Reading Room," on exhibit at Portage Lake District Library. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

In her artist's statement, Coté, Copper Country Community Arts Center executive director, says what inspired her to do the installation:

"I was first inspired to make my non-traditional hand made books with the end of the library card catalog system. I was saddened when card catalogs went digital. No more touching all the cards with the special information and librarians' notations to find the book you were looking for -- or even to pause on the card representing the card you were not looking for. (A librarian I met from Michigan State University called this 'field grazing')," she writes.

Chris Alquist, Portage Lake District Library activities coordinator, admires a miniature card catalog in Cynthia Coté's installation, "Reading Room." (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

"So I started making them, make believe," Coté continues. "I invite you to take a moment to read my books. They are written using found words and composed before assembly to be read from any direction -- up, down, left to right, or vice versa."

This exhibit is a collaboration between the Copper Country Community Arts Council and the Portage Lake District Library.