By Lesley Paulk

During Women’s History Month, the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Library in Fitzgerald, Georgia, became home to more than just books—it became home to a powerful story told through pages.

Library assistant Loretta Varnedore, who joined the library team in 2021, crafted a striking and meaningful display: a dress made entirely out of pages from discarded books. But this wasn’t just any paper dress—it was a tribute to the strength, talent, and resilience of women throughout history.

Using a premade dress form as her base, Loretta layered book pages, transforming them into a flowing paper gown. The pages became a canvas, showcasing printed images of influential women from all walks of life: protesters who marched for rights, singers who found power in their voices, politicians who broke barriers, women who lead the way in science, actresses who lit up the stage and screen, and athletes who redefined excellence.

Each name and face on the dress tells a different part of the larger story of women’s impact—women who dared to speak, create, lead, and fight. And each page repurposed in the design is a symbol in of itself: the past, reimagined to celebrate those who helped shape the present.

More than a creative project, the display invites visitors to reflect on history in a deeply personal way. It encourages conversations—not just about who these women are, but about how libraries, art, and storytelling can come together to honor voices that must never be forgotten.

Loretta’s creation is a reminder that Women’s History Month isn’t only about remembering—it’s about reimagining, celebrating, and continuing the work of those who came before us.

Stop by the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Library to see the dress for yourself, and let its pages inspire your own next chapter. To learn more about the library, go to https://cprl.org/locations/benhill.php.