Mingle with elegantly attired 20th Century holiday guests at Lincoln Public Library

[December 16, 2019]  The Lincoln Public Library has some special guests this holiday season, and they are all there at the invitation of library employee Deb Owens. No, they have not just stepped out of a time machine from 1902 when the Carnegie Library opened. They are all the creation of Deb Owens’ artistic skills.

“I wanted to make a special Christmas display at the library to honor the retirement of Richard and Sue. This is their last holiday with us,” said Deb. She is referring to Library Director Richard Sumrall and Assistant Director Sue Rehtmeyer.

Owens' also wanted her theme to fold into the historic Carnegie Library’s elegant interior, much as it was when the library opened in 1902. She got busy with several web sites and came up with the photos of people in full formal attire as befitting a turn of the 20th century party. “The idea just came to me in my imagination,” she said when asked how she came up with this wonderful concept.

After finding her subjects, she printed the photos and took them to Lincoln Printers where Noah worked with them to get the perfect size. “I went to International Paper, and Jeremy and Jerry donated cardboard to the project,” she said. The result is a tableau of elegant people adorning the library. But Deb did not stop with the guests in formal attire.

Every reindeer and star and garland came from Deb’s artistic creativity. She decorated the spectacular Christmas tree that even contains ornaments she made.

The Lincoln Public Library Carnegie Building is a must stop on everyone’s Christmas tour of downtown Lincoln. Formal attire is not required to socialize with Deb Owens’ beautiful people.

[Curtis Fox]