97. St. Paul, Rondo Community Outreach Library

I have attended training sessions for Experience Corps literacy volunteers here, so I can vouch for the quality of meeting space. This is the first time I've walked through the whole library, however. One large room is called The Swamp, and is used for homework help during the school year. A table right outside this room is reserved for a MN Literacy Council tutor.

I like a poster that was headed "We immigrants want people to know..." I'd like to see that in more places. Nearby is a large world languages section; I saw books in Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Vietnamese, and Chinese. There may be others.

There are large collections of teen and adult fiction and non-fiction, periodicals, and a comfortable quiet reading area near the north windows. The reference desk is in this area, at the opposite end of the library from the circulation desk. It seems unusual to have this much separation--but that doesn't mean it isn't effective, of course. It puts the librarians near the books, not as close to the technology and meeting rooms, which makes sense.

The windowed northeast corner holds children's books for all ages, starting with three bins that look a bit like train cars. There are "big books" and a half-dozen or so dolls for creative play. I noticed that tables and chairs had a variety of sizes, to suit kids of many ages. A section of parenting books and brochures of various sorts is nearby. The library was busy enough that staff did not seem available to talk, so I did not ask "what should I be sure to mention?" Comments are welcome, as always.

8/17/12

96. St. Paul, West 7th

I was told that this is the smallest branch in the St. Paul Public Library system, and I have no reason to doubt that claim. I propose that it also has the most dynamic and energetic staff person you could imagine. The library is within a community center, and has a wonderful new playground right outside. One of the first things I noticed was a frieze of paintings running along the ceiling all around the room. They were painted by children in grades 5 though 8, under the guidance of a volunteer artist, to commemorate the renovation completed in 2010, and each represents a book. The curved top on each panel evokes the flow of the Mississippi.

One end of the space is a glass-walled room with 10 public computers, and there is another computer in the kids' area. There is also a bright "Hungry Caterpillar" rug and bins of picture books. The collection seems to include a bit of everything. In keeping with its small size, items here may not be requested.

This is the first place where I saw a sign indicating that faxes can be sent (not received), for a fee, at all St. Paul libraries.

At the point when other branches were stopping book deliveries to the homebound, West 7th joined forces with Meals on Wheels so that books and movies can be requested and then delivered by the MoW drivers. Very nice.

The library is to the right in the pictures.

8/17/12, bus

95. St. Paul, Riverview

A handsome Carnegie library, but I doubt that it has had a "river view" for decades. Sadly, handsome doesn't mean "acoustically suited to today's library users." Historic pictures on the wall show many children using the library, sitting quietly and reading. Twenty or so youngsters were appropriately busy today, and the room reverberated. An empty library would be quiet, but somehow not as satisfying. (But of course, I was only there for 15 minutes or so!)

People have long wanted libraries, and a lending library was started in 1905 in a drug store; the present building opened in 1917. It almost closed in 1981, but the large number of books loaned per capita saved it, and it entered the Registry of Historic Places in 1984.

The children's area has a small "market" for creative play and various signs with suggestions for parents to build knowlege and vocabulary. There is lots of Early Childhood and Family Education material available, along with the request "Please do not leave young children unattended."

Shelves create three "bays" at each end of the library, and each has a purpose: media, non-fiction, kids, and so forth. This afternoon, each area was being used by kids of different ages. It's one of the liveliest branches I've visited.

8/17/12, bus

86. St. Paul, Rice Street Branch

I felt a real science/technology vibe here. Perhaps that is because, in a meeting room inside the main door, about 16 boys and girls, grades 3-6, were using wood and hand tools to create catapults. They were obviously having a great time. I wish I could have stayed around for the logical conclusion, when they would have sent something catapulting! A whiteboard in the entry listed, in addition to the carpentry, snack time, Tech Time, a Microsoft Excel class, and an e-reader clinic. Also, this is the branch I've read about that hosts "Collector's Corner"--bring in natural history finds and get help with identification. As soon as I find that skull I've had for many years, I'm going to take it in. Really.

The teen area is very attractive, with "stained glass" on the tall windows. Next to it, the kids' area has couches, soft chairs, kid-sized tables and chairs, and many books. There's a dollhouse with furniture and people.

The librarians told me that this building is about 10 years old. The previous building was very small and reportedly had a dirt floor in the basement. An interesting angle on patrons at this branch: it used to be a very popular spot for teens, until a new youth center opened next door. Now the users have shifted to an older group, those who possibily had found the large numbers of youth intimidating. I can understand that.

When I checked out, I saw that the workroom is right behind the service desk, with a large window wall. I like the idea of patrons being able to see what goes on behind the scenes. The clerk also mentioned that being able to watch the desk while working on backroom tasks allowed better coverage when staff is short-handed.

8/13/12, bus

85. St. Paul, Hayden Heights branch

The first feature that struck me here was: auto repair manuals! Two walls of them, floor to ceiling, everything you can imagine, at least back to the mid-60s! Before I left I talked to staff about them, and learned that they have a back room with all sorts of other repair manuals for items electrical and mechanical. They have a computer dedicated to Mitchell's Auto Repair; and if you come in looking for a manual they don't have, they will find it and buy it for the collection. So far as I know, this is unique in MELSA. Kudos to Hayden Heights!

They are also a neighborhood library, of course, and have everything you would expect in fiction, non-fiction, reference. There is a coin-op copier with a note that it is "turned off 15 minutes before closing." Good idea; closing can be difficult enough without someone trying to copy a bunch of pages at the last minute.

The feature of the kids' area is a "reading cart" that looks like an open-air truck. There's a steering wheel, of course; on the back there is "produce" of various types and a cash register. This reminded me of the children's "market" at the Hopkins library. There are lots of E and J books on shelves.

There are a couple of meeting rooms and a sign mentioning a "quiet study room."

I have one regret: I was having such a good time talking to staff, I forgot my rule about "take out at least one book" and left without any. This one time, I forgive myself the lapse.

8/13/12, bus

82, St. Paul, Dayton's Bluff

This unusual branch is part of the Metropolitan State University campus; in fact, entering the library took me past the MSU bookstore and the entrance to the university library. Nice cooperation!

The first sign that caught my eye told how to get free interpreter service. Voter registration forms were readily available, along with large buttons that say "Vote in honor of a veteran. My vote honors _________." When I left and was heading down W. 7th on the bus, I saw a sign indicating MSU's commitment to voter registration.

There's an enclosed computer room called "The Zone." Its schedule for today was Job Search, 12-3; free snack for anyone up to age 18, 12:30-3:30 (many sites in the city offer this in the summer); and PowerPoint class 4-6.

There are windows along one wall and around a corner. The view was mostly of concrete, with some shrubs and trees, but it was light and connected to the outside world. I asked the volunteer in the children's area what I should be sure to note about this branch, and she mentioned how busy they usually are in the summer. I asked the same question of a staff person at the service desk and she pointed out that the building is quite new, about 8 years old. The connection with MSU allowed some funding advantages, including having The Zone for homework helper programs during the school year.

There was a lot of neighborhood and consumer information available in several languages. Definitely an interesting and vibrant branch.

8/8/12, bus

81. St. Paul, Arlington Hills

The bus stop was 3-4 blocks from the library. I don't know this part of St. Paul well at all. After riding the bus south on Arcade, I walked through a well-kept neighborhood and suddenly came upon a genuine Carnegie library! Like all of its ilk, the building is handsome, with tall windows curved at the top and a high ceiling.

The building had only been open about 20 minutes when I arrived, and already the computers were busy and there was a general sense of purposeful activity. Both adult and kids' areas had material in several languages. [I managed to forget my notebook--what is it with me and note-taking? I took notes on a couple of pieces of scratch paper that I found next to a computer, and tucked the papers into the book I took out. Now those notes seem to have vanished.]

I enjoyed talking to library staff, and provided the blog address. I hope the woman I talked to will comment and add whatever I've missed here.

8/8/12, bus

71. St. Paul, Highland Park

OK, you can only see the steps. They do lead up to a library. Library as favorite stuffed animal, I think: much loved and much worn. What I liked best, that I haven't seen anywhere else, was a quantity of kids who seemed to be on their own (I'm sure there were appropriate adults nearby) and were reading independently, some to themselves, some to each other. It appeared that it was necessary to go through the adult area to get to the kids' area, which could be a problem at times, I think. Another thing I liked was that books most libraries call "E" for "easy" were instead called "J picture books." Perhaps this is a solution to the fact that St. Paul uses LOC classification, and "E" is for history, but I like the result. I liked the big box on wheels labeled "Put books here for reshelving" and a sign at the Bookawocky table "We are so glad you are interested in the summer reading program; please go to the Information desk;" this sign was used when the volunteer had to leave the table. Nice, friendly touch.

7/30/12, bus

65. St. Paul Bookmobile

This is one busy "branch"--it has a biweekly schedule with stops at schools and "organizations serving children and families" in the morning and stops in various parking lots during the afternoon and early evening. It's on the road from 8 am to 4:30 pm or later, five days a week. There is a nice balanced collection, and they fulfill requests. I sometimes visit it with classes from the neighborhood school, and the staff is GREAT with kids. If a teacher asks for books on a specific topic at the next visit, they will be ready for her class.

7/25/2012, walking

58. St. Paul, Merriam Park

Right inside the door, a table display inviting teens to join an advisory panel to "plan and play." Nice idea. Biographies are shelved together--I think patrons like that. I like the "sitting room" reading area right in the center under a domed ceiling with windows. Looks cozy, inviting. There are plenty of other tables and carrels around for those who don't like to be in the middle, or who want to use laptops.

7/20/12, bus

41. Saint Paul Central Library

The nearest part is the J.J. Hill Reference Library; I've read that both parts of the building were erected at the same time, but by different builders; must have been interesting.

I only visited the children's area on this trip. It's partly below-grade, but has lots of windows and natural light. Large collection. I like having bins labeled for alphabet books, opposites, colors, etc. I also liked the table covered with paper and with the invitation "Hey, everybody, add your art!"

7/17/12, bus

40. St. Paul, Sunray branch

This was "my" library when I moved to St. Paul in 1973, when it was new. It's grown and changed a lot! The kids' area is fantastic; I've heard that it's the result of a collaboration with the St. Paul Children's Museum. When I was there, four kids were busy in the "diner," taking orders and "cooking" like crazy. Just all kinds of cool things, things you'd like to see in kindergarten but more and more--don't.

Good provision for adults, too, including a special job resources center. They're next door to 3M, which may be why they have a sleek new 3M checkout machine like none I've seen before. And you can't use the bookdrop when the library is open--you have to bring them in and put them on a one-at-a-time conveyor.

7/17/12, bus

15. St. Paul, Hamline-Midway Library

This branch is small, but has a good selection of kids' books, fiction, and non-fiction, plus AV media. It is very popular in the neighborhood, as was clear when St. Paul tried to close it. This branch runs a lot of programs for kids and adults. I know there is a meeting room with a fireplace in the basement, but I've never been down there.

On a good (cooler) day, I can walk to this one. In fact, I walked there a lot until I started take classes at the U; at that point, two other libraries that are on my bus routes took over.

7/2/2012, bus

12. St. Paul, St. Anthony Park library

This little gem is a genuine Carnegie library. I especially like the round children's area on the back, with shelves radiating like spokes from a central area. There is a special children's reading garden at the south side, and gardens and benches in front on the triangular lot.

I get in here once in a while because it's on one of my bus routes to the U of M. Occasionally I even walk from home, about 3 miles.

Susan, what else should be said?

6/27/2012, bus