FARMINGTON — The Shiretown Bookers announces its summer exhibition, “A Thousand Words: Illustrated Books from Members’ Collections,” running from June 2 to Sept. 12 in the Bookers’ display area in Mantor Library, 116 South St., Farmington. 

In the summer, members of the Bookers are invited to share representative books from their collections. The broad variety of the books in the Members’ Show indicates the wide range of collections and interests in the Farmington area.

Books have been illustrated almost from the beginning, but the golden age for grownup book illustrations in the Western world stretched roughly from the 18th century through the first half of the 20th century. And children’s literature during the past century has provided an astonishing array of creative artwork.

This exhibition will illuminate the Bookers’ premise that a proper collection focuses on some particular theme that is important to the individual collector. A collection only incidentally involves rare or expensive books, and even then, only when they are necessary to support a full understanding of a subject. 

The Shiretown Bookers (the Community Friends of Mantor Library) are a group of book lovers and collectors who support the University library by fostering its relationship with the community. The group provides exhibitions and lectures throughout the year on literary and library subjects.