By Melissa Gephart
Rowan Public Library

When librarian Paul Birkhead purchased Lego in Focus: explore the miniature world of Lego photography for the Rowan Public Library collection, he had no way of knowing what an impact that purchase would make on the life of one young patron.

Jackson Beaver, 8, visits the RPL South branch weekly with his mother and sister, and much of their homeschool curriculum is drawn from the shelves of the library. His mother, Ruth Beaver, explained that, although they have a thorough curriculum for their homeschool lessons, she places a lot of value in permitting her children the freedom to browse the shelves, in the hopes they will find material that will both inspire them and foster a love of reading. An avid Lego builder from a young age, Jackson came across Lego in Focus while browsing the library shelves and was captivated with the nature photographs that feature Lego miniatures.

Jackson used his own personal collection of Legos to build various items: a boat, a truck and people — and then posed them in real nature settings to photograph them with a cell phone camera. Although he did initially receive assistance from his mother when it came to placement and photography, Jackson said that with more practice he has felt his confidence grow as he gets better at photographing miniature objects in nature.

The family often hikes at local parks in the area, and this new hobby has provided the family opportunity to scout promising local areas to photograph Jackson’s latest build. Jackson has a keen interest in local parks and animals and aspires to publish his own book of Lego photography and become a park ranger.

You can see Jackson’s collection of Lego and photographs at the Rowan Public Library South location in China Grove. This collection was organized by librarian Paul Birkhead, who said about Jackson, “His photography and creativity are so amazing that we were honored for him to display them at the South Branch during February. I am probably the most excited that Jackson now wants to publish his own book. I will be the first in line to purchase it. Well, maybe second. I’m sure his mother has dibs on the first copy.” For more information about library displays, programs, or to find a particular library item, go to www.RowanPublicLibrary.org or call 980-432-8670.

Melissa Gephart is children’s librarian at Rowan Public Library.