Ducks and de-stress

Shoe Lane Library is a little haven tucked away in the centre of the city, literally buried by banks. It offers a friendly, caring and insightful service that goes well beyond the loaning of books or use of computers. I have seen how sensitively staff have responded to the individual needs of its users, the changing role of the service itself, not to mention the ever-encroaching cuts. They have started clubs, become advisors, entertainers and educators, as well as fulfilling their roles in the library, all whilst finding time to bond with the young families and children that participate in the (very) messy play they provide.

We were invited in by Rachel Levy, the dynamic library manager, to devise a project around mental health in the city — a great opportunity for us. We were all inspired by a City of London campaign, Release the Pressure, which tapped (excuse the pun!) straight into my long-held desire to make a playful installation using talking pipes and plumbing.

So we came up with a plan: a teaser piece that piques interest and feeds into two later installations. And what more surprising intervention in a public library — and appropriate object for talking about relaxation — than a bath tub. No bath-time would be complete without a duck, but even more fun is an entire army of mini ducks!

Ordering 600 tiny rubber ducks is probably one of our odder materials purchases. In the shower-head, a small speaker plays the sound of running water and gentle splashing, providing a small element of fun interaction and an opportunity to take pictures of people listening to a shower-head.

Using the bath to grab library users’ attention, we ask visitors our question: “What do you do to release mental pressure?” We recorded dozens of responses at events in the library and at the Thrive in the City mental health day across the City of London. We also trained the library staff to be able to make recordings themselves. We were delighted to see them take the work to heart and decorate the wall next to the bathtub with printed bubbles displaying some written contributions.

In exchange for lending their voice to the project, participants got to take away a duck to keep. I am forever humbled by how much people trust us when we record them: the responses we received for this project ranged from funny pasttimes to incredibly personal and moving glimpes into complicated lives.

“I was going to say I do flying trapeze once a week… but then I was thinking… actually I don’t think that is the release you are talking about… I also… I cry”

As the project matures — and people are hooked by the ducks, recorded and edited — we create two installations using copper pipe and discreet embedded speakers in listening horns, all controlled by a satisfying red tap. Turning the tap activates a recorded sigh (most soothing to edit) and a few words about how people manage their stress.

But during the process I am struck by reports of the ducks. People have taken to carrying them with them through their day, enjoying the occasional spontaneous squeak from a bag or rucksack. They become duck desk-mascots. People pipe up with, “yes I still have mine!” Others are keen to participate so they can take one home. I see ducks taking pride of place on library staff desks and am delighted to find one member of the team carries her’s with her — she picks out her ‘pocket duck,’ revealing a rather grubby but obviously loved little creature that she mischievously squeaks in public.

We had never anticipated the almost totemic relevance that would be bestowed on such a playful object, a symbol of bath-time and childhood innocence, and now our little project.

I am hoping the ducks, their presence and squeaks, will remind our team of the fun of working together. That they will remind people to look after their delicate and sometimes precarious mental health; remind them of their personal journey, its lessons in the hard times and gifts in the good; and remind them to develop an understanding and appreciation of their tender self. I know mine still does.

You can catch the installations at Shoe Lane Library until the end of July 2018. Feeling the pressure yourself? Check out the Dragon Cafe in the City events at the library. The project was funded by Carnegie UK Trust’s Engaging Libraries.