184. Community Library, Spring Green, Wisconsin

The first impression of this library is outdoors, where a large flower garden was being tended by a volunteer. A second garden, all prairie plants, was along the side of the library toward the door.

Spring Green is the location of Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin, and this building looks "Wrightish" to my eyes (high windows, wide eaves...). The librarian I spoke to said that it was designed by one of the Taliesin architects, Charles Montooth. There is an archives room with much local information and a section of books related to FLW. There is a large meeting room off the lobby (so it can be used when the library is closed); this room also has a significant historical display. Plaques in the lobby indicate that the library was funded by a Dr. Kempthorne in honor of his wife.

Inside the library, one of the first things to catch my eye was a set of unarticulated life-size human bones (plastic, I'm pretty sure) in the teen area--where else? There are at least six public computers, and a sign asks patrons to "eat and drink only in the lobby." The of audio books on cassette rotate among several libraries; it appears that the books on CD stay put.

I spent most of my time in the children's area. The Dig Into Reading summer reading theme was manifest here by a "beneath the surface" poster and a display of books about underground topics, like paleontology. Little kids can enjoy a Duplo table, a board with magnetic gears (a nice STEM change from the usual magnetic alphabet), and brightly painted wooden chairs. An upholstered chair is in the center of a rug with multicultural children's faces. There is a log cabin dollhouse with a collection of dolls, and a box of dress-up clothes. Spring Green participates in the "1000 Books Before Kindergarten" program, and there were photos of 18 recent graduates (or perhaps current participants, I'm not sure). I like this program.

For more information, go to http://www.springgreenlibrary.org/.

8/1/2013, car