My Very Own Library

A tale of two brands—coming together.

My Very Own Library is a literacy initiative that provides access to books and learning resources for students in public elementary schools. It was founded in 2011 by the late Anne Feeley, who believed a single book could alter the course of a child’s life.

In 2019, My Very Own Library found a new home at the University of Chicago, with the aim of extending the initiative’s reach and longevity by aligning with this historic institution.

UChicago Creative was tasked with devising a new logo and identity system that combined the two brands. Inspired by the idea that books are transformative, we created an icon of an open book with stars floating on top. The cutout of a child’s hand is seen on the front of the book, and the stars represent the flight of imagination.

Next we created a suite of iconography, including a field of stars and a stack of colorful books, to serve as a graphic library for a host of communications, from banners and collateral to websites and video.

Storytime goes virtual.

Along with the launch of the new brand identity, UChicago Creative created a video series featuring children’s book authors reading their work aloud. Now the stories and the graphics could really come to life.

UChicago Creative developed a video format that felt cohesive and branded, while allowing enough flexibility to adapt to each author’s chosen work. The graphic library was employed throughout in the animation, lower thirds, and colorful backgrounds.

The resulting series is a heartfelt compilation of stories and poetry that appeals to children and adults alike.