485 Keene Public Library, Keene, NH

I'm now westward-bound, returning from New Hampshire to Minnesota. First stop: Keene, NH. Despite growing up in NH, I don't recall ever being in Keene before. After walking farther than I had expected from a parking meter on the town square, I found the library. I'm glad I took the picture below, because as it turned out I was not able to get behind those windows. Why not? Keep reading.

Up the curving ramp and into the building...

...with a slight detour to look at a signboard about the work going on in the library.

[If anyone can explain to me why an occasional picture taken in landscape format turns 90 degrees when it moves from my camera to the blog, please let me know. Especially if you know how to either prevent or fix it.]

Inside, I found a vibrant library continuing to provide services while major construction work was in progress. Those windows shown from outside? That part of the library is behind yellow hazard tape.

I took this picture because of the column in the center. I've seen various devices for tracking fundraising progress, but never one like this: a tall, square Plexiglass box holds a stack of books with labels to indicate the amount raised. And I'm happy to report that it was filled to the top. [Sorry about the blur.]

The original part of the library was once a private home. Here at the foot of the stairs and in some of the following pictures, look for clues to the lifestyle that must have prevailed in the house.

A historic house changes with the times with the addition of periodical shelves and computer workstations. This room is on the main floor.

Back in the lobby, you can see that part of the ground floor is screened off with white plastic and yellow hazard tape.

This model makes it easy to see what changes are coming...

...and a screen nearby offers a changing array of pictures showing the progress of construction.

But where are children's services? They are upstairs in a very large area full of light and action. In addition to all the books and media you would expect, there are multiple areas for activities...and everywhere I looked and saw something I'd like to share here, I found adults and kids engrossed in play and reading. The housekeeping area? Busy. The puppet theater? Busy. The craft room, with its window to the rest of the space? Busy. I simply could not find an angle from which to take pictures. It's a great problem to have on a Monday morning shortly after the library opened. And it looked to me as if there were just as many dads taking their kids to the library as there were moms--nice!.

I picked up a brochure about an early literacy program I had not seen before, "The Very Ready Reading Program." I know that the Eric Carle museum is not too far away in Massachusetts, and so I wasn't surprised to see the "Very Hungry Caterpillar" theme. The program has seven parts: Share Books, Share Sounds, Share Words, ... Rhymes, Songs, Stories, Playtime.

To make up for the lack of children's room pictures, I offer this interesting stone fountain in the town park. I've already mentally put Keene on my list for next year's trip, so I can see how the big project has turned out.

8/13/2018