Tag display cases

The image shows four pairs of brightly colored drop earrings suspended in midair from silver hooks, against a hazy pink background.

Upcycling and Sustainability with The Clarksville Youth Care Group

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The image shows two handmade wrapped packages with beaded drop earring of green, beige, and blue, above a bracelet with the same colors of beads.

By Nancy T.

The Clarksville Youth Care Group (CYCG), a student-run nonprofit in Howard County, is showcasing creative artwork made from recycled household items by talented local students. The display will run through the end of February in the display cases at HCLS Miller Branch. With support from a Howard County Youth Engagement Programming (YEP) Grant, CYCG has been actively promoting environmental sustainability, indoor composting, and upcycling throughout the county.

The display features more than 70 pieces of artwork crafted from everyday recycled materials, such as toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, eggshells, milk cartons, glass bottles, cans, scrap paper, paper cups, socks, sunflower seed shells, fruit nets, and more. Students have transformed glass bottles into vases or night lights, repurposed egg cartons and toilet paper rolls into animal sculptures and flowers, turned milk cartons into desk organizers, and fashioned scrap paper into jewelry. Old socks have even been upcycled into pumpkins!

The image shows four pairs of brightly colored drop earrings suspended in midair from silver hooks, against a hazy pink background.

Upcycling has become an increasingly popular part of the sustainability movement, allowing people to transform waste into new products while reducing environmental impact. This creative display hopes to inspire more people to explore upcycling, showing that all it takes is a little imagination and perseverance to create something beautiful. 

CYCG President and Co-Founder Amanda Wang expressed her appreciation for Howard County Library System for the opportunity to share student-created upcycled artwork. Amanda said, “We hope to inspire more people to start upcycling, which is easy and fun with just a little bit of imagination and creativity.”

The image shows papercrafted mini-parasols in shades of red and yellow, above three bracelets, one gift-wrapped package, and four cards which each have a set of drop earrings attached to them.

To complement the display, HCLS, in partnership with CYCG, is hosting a hands-on Upcycled Art class on Saturday, February 22 from 2:30–4:00 PM at HCLS Miller Branch.

Join us for this exciting workshop where we explore the art of upcycling through creative paper projects. Learn how to repurpose old magazines, gift wrap, and newspapers into stylish bracelets, earrings, and home décor. All materials will be provided—just bring your imagination!

Nancy T. is an instructor and research specialist and the display coordinator at Miller Branch. When she’s not in the branch, you’ll find her in the swimming pool, sitting with her cat, or out walking in the fresh air.

The photograph shows colorful works of art from student artists that reflect of themes on nature and outdoors, including fish, owls, leaves, spider webs, rainbows, and night skies.

Welcome to the Miller Branch Display Space

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By Nancy T.

The photograph shows colorful works of art from student artists that reflect of themes on nature and outdoors, including fish, owls, leaves, spider webs, rainbows, and night skies.
In October, HCLS Miller Branch showcases the work of art students from Ms Sun’s Artroom.


At HCLS Miller Branch, our display spaces not only showcase materials from our extensive collection and promote library services and activities, but they also celebrate the work of local artists, students, organizations, and groups. These spaces are dedicated to reflecting the rich diversity of our community, serving to both educate and inspire.

We invite you to explore the works currently on display, including a beautiful collection by Alice Webb. A beloved artist who lived in Howard County for nearly fifty years, Alice was known for her watercolor paintings and detailed etchings, as well as her ability to foster creativity in others. She inspired many through her teaching at her Sunburst Studio. Her work captures the beauty she found in the world, from the landscapes of Howard County to the many places she visited. Alice often created both paintings and etchings of the same subject, demonstrating her deep exploration of each medium.

The display case shows the paintings of Howard County artist Alice Webb as well as a photograph of her and descriptions of her pieces, which include landscapes and paintings of buildings.
A selection of the work of local artist Alice Webb on display at HCLS Miller Branch.

Alice Webb’s artwork is part of collections in other countries, the United States government, Johns Hopkins Medicine, and many local businesses. You can even find her work in an environmental textbook at MIT. Although Alice passed away in 2022, her artistic legacy continues through the works on display at HCLS Miller Branch through the end of October.

Don’t forget: the library offers a variety of free art classes throughout the year, as well as a wide range of books and DIY supplies available for lending. Explore your creativity and learn new skills with the many resources the library has to offer. Our art collection includes pieces from well-known and local artists, available to borrow from the Central and Glenwood branches. Be sure to check our catalog and calendar for upcoming opportunities and resources to foster your creativity!

Nancy T. is an instructor and research specialist and the display coordinator at Miller Branch. When she’s not in the branch, you’ll find her in the swimming pool, sitting with her cat, or out walking in the fresh air.