Library Clerk Michael Murtaugh creates whimsical displays at Ogden Farmers’ Library
Step inside the Ogden Farmers’ Library in search of the latest book to feed your mind and soul, and you’re likely to encounter a feast for your eyes. Library Clerk Michael Murtaugh has been the inspiration and elbow grease behind eye-catching displays that have patrons looking up and smiling.
Murtaugh began working at Ogden Farmers’ Library in 2009 when he was just 16. Since then, he graduated from Spencerport High School then went on to earn a bachelor of fine arts degree in advertising photography from Rochester Institute of Technology. He now aspires to move to New York City to work in the advertising industry.
“My grandpa (the late Anthony “Bud” Riforgiat) was an art teacher and he really sparked my interest in everything from art to photography to decorating to fashion design and everything in between,” said Murtaugh.
The artistic interest Murtaugh inherited from his grandfather even permeated his subconscious. “About four years ago I had a dream that I decorated the library with tons of real trees,” he said. When he awoke, he asked Library Director John Cohen if he could begin decorating the library for the holidays. Cohen agreed, giving him a $50 budget and creative freedom.
“The first year we made snowflakes out of old book pages,” said Murtaugh. “We do everything low cost, get ideas from Pinterest and use things we already have or buy what we need with coupons.” The displays are inspired by literature, such as putting authors’ names on big gift tags or creating a giant caterpillar with lanterns, like the one in Eric Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.”
What began as just holiday displays have grown into year round displays thanks to all of the positive feedback from patrons. “It seems like every day someone comes in and asks about the decorations and who did them,” said Cohen.
Murtaugh said that each display takes about a couple of weeks to put up in between helping patrons. Sometimes staff will stay late on a Friday or Saturday after closing to finish. “I couldn’t do any of this without my coworkers’ help,” said Murtaugh. He credits Marissa Wimer and Patrick Montanaro, who have moved on to other jobs, and Jamie Banaszak and Julie Daubert with helping to make the library’s décor so beautiful. “Everyone contributed. We’re like one big family here,” Murtaugh added.
