202. Meinders Community Library, Pipestone, MN

This is not unique, but it was new to me: a combined school library and public library, in the local high school. The area nearest the entrance is for the public, while the other end is for the school. Each area has its own service/circulation desk and staff.

In the children's area, the walls are painted to suggest castle walls. There are several computers for kids, as well as a CD player and a cassette (!) player with headphones. Big windows were shaded against the sun when I was there. Picture books are in bins, sorted by theme, main character, or author. Kids fiction includes graphic novels. All non-fiction, J and adult, is shelved together.

An adult browsing area is "living room" style with tall windows. A large card catalog was brought from an earlier building. It is not used at this time, though it still holds the old cards, but I like it for the continuity of history. If card catalogs intrigue you, take a look at the entry for the library at Philips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire. I also found a library that is using old catalog drawers to house (old) music cassettes, an intriguing blending of old technologies.

The school library area has a large reference section, as you would expect where kids will be working on reports and homework. An interesting graphic on the wall above the shelves includes gears and some large shapes that suggest freight train cars; the words with this graphic are "Beneath the Surface," which could have a lot of connotations. There is a computer lab, and eight study tables, each seating eight kids--that looks as if it would accommodate two classes at a time. When I was there, two tables were occupied by kids who seemed to be engrossed in their tasks.

Although this is the Plum Creek district, I didn't see anything special about Laura Ingalls Wilder. Did I miss it? Perhaps someone will add a comment about that. [I DID hear about this, but not in the form of a comment. Plum Creek district is very large, and this library is in a part of the district that is not connected to the Wilders. I overgeneralized!]

I had a wonderful time chatting with staff. A sign on the staff office door (public side of the library) assured me that this is a velociraptor-free zone. Whew! Then they pointed out that it isn't, really, as there is a sculpture with two v-raptors on top of a low bookshelf.

For more about this library, go to http://www.plumcreeklibrary.org/pipestone/.

9/25/13, car