FREE THE PEOPLE | 2021

Janel Young was one of 4 artists commissioned by the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh to create a special edition library card to commemorate the library’s 125th anniversary. The prompt for creation was “What does ‘Free to the People’ mean to you?” based on CLP’s historic motto.

Young’s design features one of her familiar pink-haired characters, Coco, giving the phrase a bold upgrade to read “Free the people.” The statement is meant to reflect how literature and arts can be a form of liberation; an escape or journey. The library cards are available to new and existing cardholders.