117. Great River Regional, Waite Park

It's difficult to follow a large regional library with a small community branch, but Waite Park is clearly a special space. It definitely fits "good things come in small packages" and "don't judge a book by its cover." Several walls have large, attractive murals. Chairs and a table in the children's area are painted with images from well-known children's books. This area is well-stocked and includes a wooden train set and a small kitchen play set to help little ones feel at home and use their imaginations. There is a display of leaflets encouraging parents to help children develop early literacy skills. All picture books and J books are on shelves (not in bins) and signs that stick out from the shelves help young patrons find their way through the selection. A small area of books for teens is marked by a vinyl record (a 78?!) and a few inflated plastic guitars hanging from the ceiling.

The adult area is down a few steps (a wheelchair lift is available) and has a pleasant browsing area. The AV selection has a sign indicating that there have been recent thefts, prompting surveillance, an unfortunate but common situation these days. I thought it refreshing that the sign comes right out and mentions the thefts, rather than simply saying "surveillance cameras are in use" or something like that.

I was intrigued by an array of many glazed clay bowls, all different, on the tops of shelves. To learn what these are about, go to www.MeyerFarmProject.com, as I did. It's very interesting and a very worthy cause. I am guessing that "bouja" is the local version of what is spelled "booya" in St. Paul.

9/29/2012, car

116. Great River Regional, St. Cloud

This four-year-old library is really impressive, starting with the unusual bike racks, then the glass panels in the lobby (see picture), and continuing through both floors. I went upstairs first, and found Teen Central looking like a great teen hangout, with tables, couches, computers, and many teen books. Continuing from there, a long, curved window wall is lined with study tables and chairs, and an inner row of upholstered chairs. There is a large reference section, including pamphlet files (which don't seem very common these days). A sign asks that patrons seek help from staff in using these files.

A sign on the computer room asks that patrons take "phone calls, loud conversations, and unhappy children" away from the service desk and the computer room. Good idea, and the first place I've seen "unhappy children" included in such a list! A large area of adult books includes meeting rooms of various sizes and updated-classic tables with study lamps. Bookshelf ends are translucent with a design of small letters on them; these seem to add to the lightness of the area. Several signs ask patrons to "Relax, leave the shelving to us, thank you!" but I didn't see specific areas for leaving unwanted books. I should have asked someone about that.

Staff at the information desk were very helpful in tracking down the age of the building, and also tipped me off to an unusual sculpture outside; it uses recycled materials to screen the mechanical systems. See the picture, which doesn't do it justice.

Downstairs, the first floor houses media, hold shelves, and a huge children's area. There was so much to see. I spoke to a staff person (children's librarian?) who asked what I liked best. Where to start? Quilted book bags for use in the library; ten computers for "children 12 and younger," and room for more; a sign "Ask about our free children's programs;" the play area with Legos, a wooden train set, and a pretend boat. I think my favorite was the book display with a sign "Pick me! Pick me! Pick me!" I imagine that it draws kids right to it!

Even the restroom was great, with gleaming white, red, orange, and yellow glazed tiles. The bright colors and high ceiling... Well, every library I've visited has had a clean restroom, but this one has to get top honors.

9/29/2012, car

111. Great River Regional, Big Lake

This was a real two-fer: A train ride AND a library. On Saturdays, the NorthStar train and Big Lake's library hours combine to make a visit possible. I recommend the train ride, just for fun, but I'm glad there was no Twins or Vikings game today.

The library is in the noble tradition of store-front libraries, though larger than most of that ilk. The first thing I spotted was a display of "challenged books" decorated with yellow CAUTION tape. Nice job.

The kids' area seemed quite extensive in proportion to the entire space, and the emphasis on kids was also evident in the "Blue Ribbon Readers" essays displayed, and the "One Thousand Books Before Kindergarten" program, Sadly, I missed the culmination of the latter program by one day. It would have been fun to see.

There a study room, a large meeting room, tall tables with tall chairs, plenty of seating of various types, and a light, airy atmosphere although windows are limited in this space. I spotted six public computers and a couple for the library catalog. There must be an active Friends organization, because a silent auction was in progress on a large table near the entrance. All of the auction items I saw were bags of themed books.

Art includes a beautiful quilt on the wall, made by the Friends, and a miniature sculpture of the Swans public art displayed at the train station, a sculpture by a local artist.

Perhaps my favorite moment in the library, in addition to chatting with the branch assistant, Jenni, was listening to a child giving a tour of the children's area to a younger child: "And these are harder books, for bigger kids like me."

9/1/2012, bus, train, walk

110. Great River Library System, Elk River

Signs abound:

On the entrance door, "Sorry we missed you--visit our website at..."

Near the request shelves, "Please allow staff 2 hours to process delivery after notification of hold." I meant to ask about this one, but forget. I'm guessing that AMH checks the book in and sends the notice, but then the books must still be shelved with the requests.

In the children's area: ""Library Manners: Use your inside voice. Walk don't run. Be respectful of people around you. Take care of library materials. Ask a librarian if you need help." I like the last one especially.

The children's area is extraordinary, and I learned that the architect was inspired by the books of Eric Carle. There are a couple of tall "tree trunks" with large, round, flat green disks of "foliage" high above. Metal "insects" with tiny lights hang from the ceiling. One large table is oval and colored like a ladybug, with chairs to match. And one table with four bright cushioned seats (I simply can't describe it adequately) evokes the Very Hungry Caterpillar. The floor covering forms a wide, blue, curving path through the kids' area, with green "river banks." Anyone considering a new or renovated kids' area, you really should come look at this one.

In the adult area, there are adult rules for behavior that I didn't copy. The current issue of each periodical had a conspicuous notice that it is for in-library use only (that's standard) and a reminder that "Theft or defacing...is a violation of state law." The only other place I remember seeing this sort of notice was Northeast, in Minneapolis.

There are two "living room" areas for browsing, one with a fireplace. Most of the building has large, clear windows; in the teen area, there are several windows of different shapes and different patterns and colors of glass. It set the space off nicely.

There were computers in the adult and teen areas, a long counter for laptop use, and three study rooms that can be reserved by computer. There's also a very large wall clock, and I should have asked whether there is a story there. Perhaps someone will comment and tell us.

There's a good-sized meeting room off the lobby, as well as soda and snack machines.

8/27/12, car

109. Great River Library System, St. Michael

This library shares a building with City Hall and a Senior Center, a good use of space. It is two years old. I was able to have my St. Paul library card entered into the Great River Library System; I knew that I could, but I was still pleasantly surprised.

There is a sort of rubberized flooring in the kids' area; soft to land on, easy to clean, I think. I like the sign that says "Finished with your books? Please place them here for re-shelving." Polite but direct; there were books in the designated spot, and I didn't see any lying around, so perhaps it actually works!

There are tons of CD/book sets hanging in baggies, and they have many series books, including some series I'm not familiar with--and I thought I was familiar with a lot. I didn't see any computers in the kids' area, except one for the catalog. I have no objection to this. Let 'em read books!

There are many large windows throughout. In the adult area, the carpet is a nice green and has a pattern that makes me think of nature. There were at least seven public computers, and room for more. The shelves with wheels in the teen area look  as if they would make that space very flexible. In two places the adults have comfortable chairs arranged around low tables, very nice for browsing, and there are tables for study and laptop use. They even still have books on audio cassettes, which I must remember for next summer's road trip.

8/27/12, car

The library is on the left in the upper picture, on the right in the lower.