I am a Bookmark
by
Laine Farley
 Sometimes it is enough to declare a purpose and fulfill it simply, to do one thing and do it well. So it is with bookmarks whose main task is clear: rest between the pages of a book until the reader returns. In an effort to stand out from the crowd, bookmark creators have used all means from mechanical ingenuity to exotic materials. Bookmarks have been bejeweled, bedecked and tarted up with beads, bangles and bows. They have acquired levers, springs, rods, arms, clips and clasps. They have been made of bone and leather, celluloid and ivory, silver, copper, brass or gold, wood and plants, rocks and shells, plastic, rubber and glass, silk, satin, lace, cross-stitch and crochet. They have been die-cut into every shape, lasered, etched, molded, and soldered. They have been used to advertise, amuse, educate, entertain, and remember. From artistic designs, ethnic themes and beautiful photographs to kitsch, cartoons and cutesy animals, they appeal to all tastes. Here is a look at some examples that self-consciously celebrate their essence with humor, beauty, simplicity, and elegance.  The second example did come from an album containing a collection of all types. The side with “bookmark” carefully cross-stitched is probably the “B” side; the “A” side boasts purple flowers. But the simplicity of this side draws attention to how the letters are formed in cross-stitch and actually highlights the creator’s skill even more. Its thickness makes it a little impractical, but it has a nice weight and softness that is appealing.  A more intricate example is the whimsical design of dancing people, each of whom wears a letter spelling out “bookmark.” Found among donated books at a bookstore, this handmade card includes the name and phone of the creator or perhaps it was used to jot down how to contact a new acquaintance. Even though the design has nothing to do with books or reading, it does a good job of evoking the joy of reading.  Artists made these three bookmarks for the project called “Bookmarks: Infiltrating the Library System” sponsored by the Centre for Fine Print Research at the University of the West of England in 2004. Rob Kettell’s design printed numbers 1-100 for the number of bookmarks he made, and he punched each copy to indicate its number. He “marked” the word “book” to indicate the purpose of these cards.  Then there is the question of authenticity. How does one know for sure if a card of a certain size is a bookmark or just another card? The “Genuine Bookmark” leaves no doubt about its purpose even as it mocks its paper resemblance to real leather.  Another riff on determining the “what-ness” of a bookmark is a simple green card from a public library’s stack of giveaways that takes us through a progression of terms from “book mock” to the locked-up definitive term “bookmark.”  And finally, the best of all is the self-proclaimed “Generic Bookmark,” again from the public library. It was green (or blue, actually) before green was cool, reminding us that it is suitable for all books and stating its classic 2" x 7" size that is small enough so that it won’t overwhelm a paperback and large enough to hold its own in a hardback. It can be re-used, is printed on cheap paper and is “good enough,” especially since it’s free. It confidently encourages those who need tassels on their bookmarks to look elsewhere. It is a bookmark and that is all you need to know.
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