163. Amherst, NH, Public Library

Once again I see the "street sign" signage that I saw in Batavia. There are rows of non-fiction shelves on the main floor and a mezzanine level with additional stacks for fiction; stacks on more than one level are unusual in small libraries like this, in my experience. A first-floor browsing area opens onto a modest rustic reading garden, unoccupied on this very hot day. The browsing area offers many newspapers and more than a hundred periodical titles.

A display table included books and many oaktag signs with famous first lines in literature. It appeared that the goal was to figure out which book the line was taken from; opening the book would afford immediate reinforcement of the correct answer--or not.

A sign by the service desk offered "information and research." I can't recall seeing a sign in any other library offering specifically to help with research, yet that was once a large part of a librarian's job.

The children's area is on the lower level. The entrance to this area houses a Parent Resource Collection, with thanks to the Friends of the Library 2004. Inside the area are the usual pre-school toys, a wooden train set, a tabletop puppet theater, and many picture books in bins. Not so usual is the fact the Wii games are available for loan; I've only seen a handful of libraries outside of Ramsey County, MN, that offer these games.

Beginning chapter books are labeled "E-J," an interesting designation. A computer designated for children has a sign pointing out that the computer is already loaded with games, no more can or will be added, the library staff is not able to help children play the games, and adults are expected to be on hand to help children. A similar sign is posted with the children's DVDs, pointing out that most are rated G but a few are PG, and parents are expected to help their children make choices. A modest number of Playaway video systems are available, but if I were a parent I would be scared off by the label that says the replacement cost is $99; replacement of a charger is $14.95!

Two posters explain the five-finger rule for determing that a book is at a just-right level. A display of new non-fiction books seems to anticipate the new national curriculum that is coming at us. A sign says that you could go to a zoo, explore a museum,..or curl up with a good non-fiction book from your library. Indeed you could.

For more information, go to http://www.amherst.lib.nh.us/.

5/31/2013, car, with Jean

162. Hollis Social Library, Hollis, NH

The original part of this library is a white colonial building on a classic New England village green. The modern addition is unobtrusive at the back, or as unobtrusive as an entry with a ramp can be.

This is the second library I've seen, both on this trip, that uses large, legible labels on book spines.

There are lots of large windows, a couple of two-person study rooms, and a Victorian-looking glass case full of stuffed birds. A modest meeting room is inside the main entrance. There are a handful of computers for adult use, none specifically for kids.

This library is located next to a park and near both middle and high schools. Perhaps this is why it's the only library I've seen that lends flying discs, with a sign that says "Borrow a frisbee and play in the park." They also have a telescope that can be borrowed for a week at a time. In the teen area, the librarian has created "teen book bundles" -- three thematically-related books with a label suggesting the theme: Why the hate? and Shakespearean Twists are two themes. A sign says "Say you're going on vacation..." It's a neat concept, but I wonder how popular these bundles really are. Another unusual feature of the young adult area is a collection of Shonen Jump magazines with a sign announcing to kids that they are free to take them home and return them "if you want."

The children's area is in the new part of the building, and a colorful mural spreads across the top of large windows. Large letters, perhaps 3/4", on the spines of the picture books make it easy to find the author's last name. There are book and media bags and a parent-teacher area.

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

5/31/2013, car, with Jean

161. Nashua, NH, :Public Library

This is the "new" Nashua library, built sometime in the 70s. To see what preceded it, put "where I got my start" in the search field. My mother worked as a reference librarian in both the old and new libraries; My sister and I were pages in the old one. I never knew the new library well, as I had moved away before it opened.

The reference area is now marked by a large red-on-white REFERENCE sign hanging from the ceiling. Nearby are large print books; world language books in French, Spanish, Portugese, German, Hindi, Lithuanian, Russian, and many in Chinese; and about a dozen public computers. The reference collection is quite large, and includes a card catalog (really) that appears to be an index to the Nashua Telegraph newspaper, pre-computer times. The non-fiction collection is next to this area, and I noticed that oversized books are shelved flat on the bottom shelf. A cute poster with a very large and very small dog, asked, "Where are the oversized (Q) books?" and then explained.

A north-facing window wall has clusters of study carrells and a sign advising patrons "Do not leave valuables unattended." That's good advice in any setting; seeing it here suggest past and perhaps current problems.

Moving along the outside walls, I found an alcove that at first glance seemed to hold full shelving carts. Closer inspection showed it to be a staging area for books heading for a local nursing home. A wall display labeled "Freedom Shrine" included framed replicas of many historic documents. The Hunt Room is dedicated to genealogy and Nashua history. A clipping file with many drawers is outside the Hunt Room. I opened a drawer at random, pulled out a folder, and was looking at an old clipping about the Nashua Boys Band, which was begun many years ago by my grandfather. (Not quite the way the article tells it, but I researched this for my own article some years ago.)

Back in the lobby I saw a display called Readbox: Seen the movie? Read the book. Book rentals $0.00. There was also a display for International Towel Day, May 25. "Grab your towel and don't panic." Near this was a box for donated towels. And there were flyers for an adult summer reading program, with raffle entries awarded for reading books and attending events. I've seen only one other library that has a summer program for adults, with prizes.

The children's room is a totally separate space with glass doors. There is a wonderful puppet theater that looks like a cabin or cottage; see the pictures. There are a significant number of world language books for kids, and a cabinet displays a former mayor's elephant figures, made of everything from china to plush.

Picture books are labeled J and are in bins. Easy Readers are on two shelves, grades 1 and 2, and grade 3. Beyond that are shelves labeled "Juvenile Older Fiction" for the upper elementary grades. I've never seen books divided or labeled quite that way. Recorded books are shelved alongside the paper versions, another first for me and one I think makes sense. I think they must have all of the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books! There are four computers for little kids, six for the bigger kids.

The lower level of the library houses a theater, restrooms, an art exhibit, and the Music, Art, Media department. Many of the '700' books are here, plus all of the DVDs and CDs. Signs by the CDs say "Copying music? You're breaking a Federal Law. Stop it. Now. Really." There is a grand piano in the middle of the space. It looks as if this lower level is being reconfigured in some way, but I'm not familiar enough with the "old" way to figure out what they are up to.

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

5/31/2013, car, with Jean

The window curtains open to create the puppet theater stage.

160. Richmond Memorial Library, Batavia, NY

This library has special significance because my Aunt Ruth McEvoy was the Director here from 1963 to 1971. I visited it once, probably in the late 60s, and would not have recognized it!

This is only the second library where I have seen overhead signs on brackets, sort of like street signs, sticking out over aisles in the "stacks." I like them. Cards on the shelf ends give guidance beyond merely labeling with the range of Dewey Decimals on that shelf. One example: a circle with the words "hello, bonjour, hola," and beneath that "Language" and "400-499."

There is a coffee shop with soda and pastries, right in the main part of the library; I wonder what Aunt Ruth would think of that?

The older part of the library has a fireplace; split wood in an adjacent rack suggests that it may actually be used at times. This area holds rockers, easy chairs, large print books, and the periodical collection. Current issues of periodicals are in stiff plastic holders that slide into diagonal grooves on recessed shelves. That's a system I haven't seen before, and it's very neat and classy.

In the DVD section, I noticed that the library hosts a movie and discussion evening once a month from January through October.

My memory said that there was a main floor and an upper level. Now, I learned, the upper level is the attic, and my aunt's office was probably there. The children's area is and was on a lower level, but my aunt probably saw no need to show it to twenty-something me!

Although the children's area is below ground level, it is brightened by a very large window that looks out on a garden with sculptures representing classic children's books. Colored dots on their spines guide one to concept books: colors, numbers, alphabet, shapes, and also early readers. I like the "pond" rug in this area. Signs suggest that "If you don't see the book you're looking for, please ask." A sign on a basket on the floor says "Looking at a book and don't want it? Let us return it to the shelf for you." I noticed a stack of plastic shelf markers (place holders) on the librarian's desk with a suggestion that one "try one of our new shelf markers," but I gathered that these were not being used widely or correctly--yet.

The children's librarian has a sign at her desk "Bother me! I'm here to help you." So I bothered her, and she was delightful. We talked about the blog, about libraries we've visited, about children's programming. While I was there, a group from the Y preschool program visited, and when I was leaving, a parochial school class, perhaps middle school age, was coming in. This indicates how central the library is to the city.

As nice as it was talking to the children's librarian, I think the finest moment came just before I left. I was talking to a librarian on the main floor about Aunt Ruth. The librarian reminded me that Ruth wrote a History of Batavia; she commented on the wonderful index and said she refers to it almost daily. Yay, Aunt Ruth; I always did like her.

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

5/30/2013

The entrance I remember

The newer accessible entrance

159. Simcoe Branch of Norfolk Public Library, Ontario, Canada

With this post the blog is truly international. (Whistler, BC, is in here, but my sister made that visit.)

Simcoe is a Depository Library for government documents. One of the first things I spotted was a sign at the librarian's desk, "Ask me! Happy to help. Your library, online, all the time. www.ncpl.ca." Nice. There is a Coffee Corner with tables and chairs that looked very inviting.

The part of the building where I entered houses fiction. Another part, perhaps an addition as it was set off by a brick wall with arched doorways, housed non-fiction of all levels. There are a lot of public computers and a corner for reference, audio, and media. I noticed that requested books on hold are paper-wrapped for privacy.

Flyers advertised the official launch of the Teens Write for Fun! contest.

Upstairs and to the left is an area for "young adults and youth." This area holds young adult books and also what I think of as "J" fiction; I think that here this may mean "upper elementary" or middle school. An interesting feature is a series of small, low-walled cubicles formed of glass bricks, each with a table and two chairs. Tutoring? Socializing? They look nice, in any case. Sadly, there is a sign that reads "Because of vandalism this area is being monitored." This is certainly not the only place where I have seen such signs (see Waite Park, MN, for example), but they are always a bit disheartening.

A Literacy Room holds big old oak tables and chairs. Books are available in French, Spanish, German, Hungarian, Italian, and Dutch. There is also a mental health and wellness collection.

Moving through the literacy room, I passed jigsaw puzzles in boxes, the Canadiana Room, and a book sale. Books sales, whether a separate room or a single cart, are ubiquitous these days.

To the right at the top of the stairs is Kidzone. In this area are two half-round tables, the kind schools use for small group work. These have been placed facing a window that overlooks the main level of the library. Picture books are on low shelves with sloping tops, good for opening and reading large books.

For more information, go to http://www.ncpl.ca/.

5/29/2013, car

158. Moore Library in Lexington, Michigan

With this visit to Lexington, I've completed my sub-project of visiting the four libraries described in "Main Street Public Libraries." This is a smallish brick building a block off Main Street. In something like the manner of Lake Elmo, MN, it rambles on from room to room, and in this case includes a second floor. Old ceiling fixtures and stained-glass windows contrast with a display of new books. Books of local interest are featured in both the adult and children's areas. In addition to everything one would expect to see, the collection includes a fair number of Playaway sets for kids.

There are at least three public computers, plus one for kids. A youth corner by a window includes an easy chair and YA fiction and non-fiction. There are many posters from "Geek the Library"--see http://geekthelibrary.org/archives/2010/03/new-geek-the-library-posters.html for examples.

On the way upstairs I passed the "dragon stained glass," but unfortunately my picture did not come out well. I also saw a set of framed, old, photographs of "Women active in cultural and social activities of the village." I'm sure that if I looked in the Lexington chapter of "Main Street Public Libraries" I would find these women mentioned. Upstairs I found a knitting club busy at work and chat, the paperback collection, and a small room with an antique table supporting a very modern computer for genealogical research.

For more information, go to http://lexingtonlibrary.net/.

Lexington goes on the list of "libraries near ice cream"--I had a generous cone of a flavor called (I think) "chunky cake." It was buttercream ice cream with chunks of intense chocolate. Very good!

 5/29/2013, car

157. Escanaba, Michigan

Immediately on entering this library I spotted a new book display, carts with two baskets (like the ones I prefer but see too seldom in grocery stores), a machine applique picture of Escanaba based on photos, a large flat file for maps, and a display of models by the local LEGO club (which includes girls as well as boys, I was glad to see). The overall sense was "this is a dynamic place"!

Books are shelved on nifty shelves that I find it hard to describe. They are wood, and taper from the bottom to the top. Each shelf is topped with lighting enclosed in wood, so the shelves are very well lighted, making books easy to browse. Adding to the visual assistance, the author initials and Dewey numbers are larger than I've seen anywhere else; labels on older items are in what looks like a 3/8" font; newer ones are perhaps 1/4". Both searching and shelving would be aided by the lighting and labels here. Kudos!

The large type collection includes non-fiction, including cookbooks, and reference. It's a large collection; in fact, it's overflowing from the designated shelves to a couple of rows on a broad windowsill!

The browsing area has two-story-high windows looking at--well, it depends on your angle. It was a gray, drizzly day when I visited, but if you look from the right place, you can see a sliver of Lake Michigan. On a sunny day, it might be more than a sliver. A huge jigsaw puzzle was underway near the browsing area, and there is a good-sized "quiet reading room" that also houses the Friends of the Library book sale. Another quiet reading room/meeting room is also nearby.

A large area for genealogical research has the usual resources plus a long table and very good lighting. [Somebody here is very aware of the need for people to have good light for reading!] One item I haven't seen elsewhere is a "guest book" made of 3x5 cards bound with rings that invites people to leave name, address, email, and "families you are searching" so that searchers can find each other. Local historians, I believe, also check these cards and help to find information.

A youth area has metal-and-fabric chairs that look welcoming for teens but would be difficult for elders--one way to keep the elders out of the teen area!

Getting around to the kids' area, there is a wall that alternates tall windows with colorful posters. A window wall sports a large rope "spider web" (with fake spiders) and a broad window seat with storage for toys underneath. A sign says: "Parents, please be responsible to put away toys." Picture books on shelves with casters are arranged to form "parentheses" around a long table with a sloping top and bench on each side. Really nice.

The big feature of the children's area is the S.S. I Can Read sailboat, see picture below.

When I told the librarian about my project, she showed me one wonderful feature I would have missed on my own: a program room, completely closed off from the rest of the library. It has five carpeted risers at one end, tables for crafts at the other end. In some ways it reminded me of the program room in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. The librarian also gave me a tour of the library, giving me a chance to comment on the shelves and the lighting, and showed me the workroom, which reminded me of "home."

Just before leaving, I spotted a bulletin board titled "Do We Know Dewey?" with a lot of information about the Dewey Decimal System.

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

5/28/2013, car

156. Norway, Michigan

The first thing I noticed at this library was the staff greeting patrons as they arrived, giving the sense of a very personal, friendly place. This was borne out when I chatted with the librarian toward the end of my visit.

The second thing I noticed was a 3-D bulletin board display featuring a castle and some princesses. A sign says "For display only, not for play"--and in front of the bulletin board, two chairs were just asking to have kids climb up and...play. The librarian agreed that it was risky creating the display, but said the kids have been quite respectful. Apparently princesses get moved from place to place, but the castle (which sticks out quite a bit) has survived unscathed. I hope that is still true!

The shelves are all wood, a feature that I feel gives warmth to a library.  I spotted at least three public computers, a microfilm reader, a lot of teen fiction, and collections of movies on both VHS and DVD.

The kids' area features a rug with a large US map, a TV/DVD player, a couple of tables, beanbag chairs, and coloring sheets. A nice collection of books, too, of course.

A browsing area by a big window houses periodicals, newspapers, and the reference collection. A new bulletin board with an underrwater theme is in development--no doubt complete by now, since I'm a bit behind on these entries!

For more information, go to http://www.dcl-lib.org/.

5/28/2013, car

155. Iron Mountain, Michigan

There is a rare pay phone in the lobby, along with some Friends of the Library books for sale and a wheelchair. Just inside is a display of rocks, minerals, and fossils. Later in my visit a librarian asked whether I had seen the "geology area." I'm sorry to say, I missed it, but I expect that it was thorough, in this mining community.

There is a computer lab with 10 public computers, one reserved for teens; that's a nice respectful gesture for youth. There is also a Teen Zone. A central browsing area provides seating near the periodicals and an extensive collection of large-print books.

Rare these days, there are nice long shelves that actually look and feel like library "stacks." I like this! Books on the bottom shelf are shelved "spine up," a great aid for searching and shelving. A basket at the end of one row bears the sign, "Please put materials you don't need here." A separate room houses the local history and genealogy collections.

In the children's area, the upper walls are painted in bright colors and decorated with sillouettes of active children. A large window wall faces a courtyard, bringing a taste of the outdoors inside. Toys are available, and kids can "check out a train" to play with at the library. The centerpiece is a handsome lake boat, which I was told the custodian built--see pictures below. The boat was so impressive, I almost missed the padded bathtub--and a padded bathtub is very, very cool.

For more information, go to http://www.dcl-lib.org/.

5/28/2013, car

154. Rhinelander, Wisconsin

This library is the third I've visited that is studied in "Main Street Public Libraries" from U of Iowa Press.

The first thing I noticed was the rack of music CDs in identical but color-coded cases, very tidy-looking. Beyond the CDs, fiction shelves zigzag along the wall, with non-fiction shelves filling the center of the space. There are very clear alpha signs along the fiction shelves, and tables and chairs are placed throughout. The non-fiction shelves are very high--the top shelf is well over my head--and I saw at least one short stepladder as well as regular library kickstools. Oversized books are shelved flat on the bottom shelf. It's funny: I recently saw this shelving practice for what I thought was the first time and here it is again. Now I wonder whether I just didn't notice until recently, and will henceforth see it everywhere! In any case, I like the idea. Oversized or "q" books simply don't like to stand up, and this keeps books with their thematic fellows.

From the town name, it's clear that this community was settled by Germans, and that is reflected in a large local history and genealogy section, which includes about 75 volumes titled "Germans to America". There is also some very attractive Geman folk art high on the walls above the bookshelves.

The children's area is down a flight of stairs that is quite easy to spot--once you know where to look! I needed help from staff in order to find it. It was worth the search, starting with the unusual Welcome to the Children's Department sign made of appliqued pieces of neckties! Although the space is underground, it is well-lighted and doesn't feel at all gloomy. Although it is much larger, it reminds me of Columbia Heights in Minnesota.

Fiction lines the walls, with non-fiction shelves filling in, as in the adult area upstairs. I liked the ring-bound sets of cards called "Brain Insights," full of ideas for parents to develop early literacy. The Dewey Decimal labels on each shelf instead of simply on the ends are helpful for kids, I think. The collection includes shelves labeled "Rhinelander District Library Early Childhood Collection," with books for parents, teachers, and caretakers.

The children's area has a lot of VHS titles, CDs, and audio books. VHS cases are labeled "Use AV drop," CDs say "Return inside." I'll hazard a guess that this reflects a policy change over time, not a deliberate plan to treat the two media differently. DVDs also say "Return inside," and a plaintive "Please, only ADULTS should handle disks." I mentioned that one to the librarian who seemed to agree that it represents wishful thinking!

There is a bright-yellow cardboard tractor, nearly life-size, in the preschool area, along with an alphabet rug and a cluster of kid-sized upholstered chairs and a couch. A couple of aquariums are close enough to the librarian's desk for easy supervision.

Finally, I noticed that the picture books that in many places are marked "E" for "easy" or "everyone," here are marked "J"--E is used for Easy Readers. I think I like this practice. One of my concerns is that kids after about grade 2 are unwilling to check out or read books perceived to be "picture books," thinking they are for littler kids. Take a look at "Queen of the Falls" or "Mrs. Marlowe's Mice" for examples of "picture books" that are not for little kids.

To learn more, go to http://www.rhinelanderlibrary.org/.

5/28/2013, car

Rhinelander Library is guarded by one of the "fierce"local Hodags.

Yes, the welcome sign is made of neckties!

Placeholder

Greetings to all who have found their way here. I am traveling and visiting libraries, and it was my intention to post every evening about the libraries visited that day. And I said that to all the friendly library staff I talked to so far. Ah, the best laid plans...

First day out, I visited Rhinelander, WI; Iron Mountain, MI; Norway, MI; and Escanaba, MI. Then I stopped at a little motel, so little that when I told the check-in clerk that I had a reservation, her response was "Oh, you must be Ellen!" Not just little, but ... NO WI-FI! How did I manage not to check on that? Therefore, no blog entries.

Today my old and trusted GPS decided to retire. It spent an hour "recalculating" in an effort to make me go west rather than east, and finally just gave up altogether, throwing me back to a reliance on old technology, namely "road atlas" and "I'll try asking that guy." Today I visited the library in Lexington, MI and Simcoe, Ontario. Tonight I have wi-fi, as you see...but I left my notebook in the car and I simply don't have the energy to go and get it.

So it may be Friday afternoon before I catch up with entries for these six and the two I plan to visit on Thursday. Please come back!

Little Free Libraries, St. Paul, MN

I've been meaning to add these to the blog for some time now, and today was just right for a walk to take pictures. Both of these Little Free Libraries are within a mile of my house, and within a few blocks of the neighborhood school. They are in front yards in a residential neighborhood. There is a third (that I am aware of) in a small corner park on Como Ave. in Minneapolis. In fact, I think Minneapolis is going crazy with little free libraries!

I took a copy of May Sarton's "Fur Person," which I swapped for an oldish edition of Heidi at the first stop. I meant to leave "Heidi" at the second stop, but didn't see anything I preferred, so Heidi came home with me.

I just spent some time looking around at www.littlefreelibrary.org, and I see that it's quite an operation.

Spotted another one from the #3 bus, a bit smaller, just south of Como Lake. Seemed to be sponsored by a Girl Scout troop; good for them!

5/27/12, walking

6a. WCL, Park Grove branch in Cottage Grove, re-visit

This was one of my early stops last summer, and I wrote nothing about it. Today, I'm determined to make up for that. My determination is spurred by a friendly librarian who chatted with me at some length and made sure I didn't miss certain details.

First, props to the library for staying open while a new concrete sidewalk was poured at the front door; the side door entrance through the meeting room worked just fine, and once in the lobby, there was no difference. Well, except for the yellow hazard ribbon criss-crossing the inside of the front door!

Shelves in the lobby hold a good selection of books for sale by the Friends of the Library. Beside this is a window that looks into the children's area, creating a very nice "teaser" for little ones coming in. There was a display labeled "Be a library artist! Challenge: Draw a person, place, or thing from a book you have read." Many were displayed. I like these activities that I have learned to call "passive programming."

There was a lot of art on the walls from students at a local school, paintings by first and second graders and some very nice copper work by fourth graders. One very creative piece appeared to be a "fish print" overlayed with clear plastic with an underwater scene done in markers. Neat! The librarian said that the art teacher is responsible for these displays, and changes them periodically. It's nice to showcase student work and brighten the walls at the same time.

Another display exhorted kids (and families) to "Get outside this month! Explore your world" with a number of related books showcased. The outside is not far away, with windows on three sides of the building, all looking out on trees and grass.

I was pleased to see a shelf labeled "young teen fiction," then disappointed to learn that this category is no longer used. Trying to decide where to draw lines between J, the defunct YT, and YA seems increasingly difficult as content and themes push downwards. And in non-fiction, I think the line between J and E can sometimes seem haphazard. [Consider Mrs. Marlowe's Mice, for example. A picture book, yes; an Easy picture book? Hardly.]

Seating and tables for adults line the windowed walls, and one corner is for browsing, with many periodicals. (The library also offers periodicals online through Zineo.) I counted 20 public computers plus 8 more in a "quiet room" lab. A magnifying reader and a reader for microfilm and fiche are invaluable for those patrons who need them, and I was glad to see them here. The "community jigsaw puzzle" was also nice to see; I find these quite often in smaller, rural libraries, but seldom in a library of this size.

The teen area could use some sprucing up, and I understand this is in the works. I did like the "Teens Only" sign. The librarian I spoke with tipped me off to a plan for a bit of passive programming for teens: With the help of teen volunteers, discarded books are being cut into separate sentences; the sentences will be displayed with the challenge to "guess what book these sentences came from." (That's what I think I heard; if I've mangled the idea, please leave a clarifying comment.)

All non-fiction, J, Y, and A, is shelved together. I like the way the bottom shelf is being used for oversized books, with only eight or nine inches between that bottom shelf and the next one up. This approach allows the large books to lie flat, which they strive to do anyway, and keeps them with their kin. The top shelf, well over six feet up, is rarely used.

In addition to "book club in a bag" sets for kids and adults, there are "Parenting Kits," kept near the 600s. These are similar zippered bags which contain books for both adults and children, and include topics like divorce, communication, and discipline.

Altogether, a very nice facility. Very quiet when I was there, but as I left it seemed that a nearby school had just dismissed, and a gaggle of gradeschoolers approached as I drove out of the parking lot.

For more information, go to http://www.co.washington.mn.us/index.aspx?NID=467.
And if you want to see this library in action, head here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMVw0mRwm6w

5/23/13, car

Books and Ice Cream

Two days ago, I commented that the library in Woodbury is praiseworthy for being under the same roof as an ice cream shop. Then I realized that there are other libraries that I have visited that, although not under the same roof, are not far from my favorite treat.

St. Francis in Anoka County, where staff directed me across a bridge and up the road a short way, where I found an interesting coffee shop...with ice cream! [Sadly, I've learned that this coffee shop has closed.]

Rice Street branch in St. Paul is across the street from perhaps the best chocolate malted I've ever enjoyed.

The Hudson, WI, library is a few short blocks from a wonderful ice cream and candy shop.

Cold Spring, MN, a branch of Great River Regional Library, has its famous bakery...

Marine on St. Croix has an ice cream shop about a "block" away. I forgot to mention it earlier because it was closed on my recent trip; closed, but preparing to re-open. I had ice cream there last summer.

This blogger, like an army, travels on her stomach. If your library is close to good ice cream (or other treats), add a comment. You're likely to get on my "must visit" or "must re-visit" list!

All of this interest in ice cream can probably be traced to my childhood, when the "Sunday afternoon drive with a stop for ice cream" was a weekly event.

7a. R. H. Stafford Branch, Washington County Library, Woodbury -- Revisit

I visited this library several times last summer; I heard Alexander McCall-Smith talk here and I got a gamecard for the adult summer reading program. But I spent very little time in the library, and didn't do it justice when I wrote about it. Today I hope to make up for that.

The library itself is part of a large community complex that includes an indoor park and a YMCA. The children's area is to the right as you enter, and is set off by the shelves of J fiction books. There are five carrels with computers for children, each equipped with a wooden "rocking" chair; the chairs don't exactly rock, but they have bases that allow several positions for restless kids. There are large windows to the outside and to the indoor park.

The Collector's Corner reminds me of Rice Street Library in St. Paul. There is a display case of interesting objects and a bulletin board with commercial posters plus pictures and reports by kids. A nearby space has an estimated 500 juvie audio books and 200 DVDs; I like that ratio! There are also book-and-CD sets, book club in a bag sets, and music CDs.

Each of the two AMH book returns has a shelf, about 8" x 30" in front of it; good idea!

I saw at least 22 public computers in the adult area, and large windows to the outside on every wall. There is a meeting room for up to 12 people (must be reserved) but I didn't notice any small study rooms. There is, however, a glassed-in Quiet Study Room with 10 tables.

The fiction shelves are shaped a bit like A-frames and have grayish ends; they are five shelves high.
Non-fiction shelves are straight,with blue, red, or yellow ends. They are seven shelves high, but the top shelves are not used (yet) and the bottom shelves hold over-sized books, lying flat. All non-fiction is shelved together: adult, youth, juvie, DVDs, and Reference. I asked about shelving reference with non-fiction, and learned that reference books seem to get much more use this way, with only a small increase in the number of patrons who try to check them out.

I ended my visit chatting with a librarian whose husband was born in the same small NH town as my Dad.

Well, no, I really ended my visit next door at the ice cream place. This library has the best location!

For more information, go to http://www.co.washington.mn.us/index.aspx?NID=467.

4/27/2013, car

153. Lake Elmo Public Library, Lake Elmo, MN

This is the most extraordinary small town library! At the end of 2011, Washington County closed this small branch of its library system. The City of Lake Elmo responded by providing a community-based library run by volunteers. Read my comments, but also take a look at lakeelmopubliclibrary.org, for the details.

The library sort of unfolds like a treasure box. I entered from the street and was immediately in a comfortable room with a large storefront window, tables and chairs, complimentary coffee, even a basket of bite-sized Milky Way candy bars! A sign let me know that I could eat and drink throughout the library, but asked me to please help keep it clean.

The next room held periodicals, tables, and wooden chairs "from the old Oakdale Town Hall" from the early 1920s. Then I walked through a short hall where I saw a bulletin board with a notice (among others) for the East Metro Writers, a group that meets here twice a week. I loved their idea of a "procrastinator's station" with coffee! (It seemed especially apt, since I really should have been at home working on a paper for a geology class.)

A sign directed me down the hall to an immaculate restroom with a home-style changing table for babies. As I had guessed, and soon learned for sure, just about everything here has been donated, from shelves to furniture to toys and books.

Separate rooms, many with pocket doors to save space, are dedicated to non-fiction, children, genre books, general fiction, media and reference, large print, teens, and a computer lab with three public computers. I thought I had seen the whole place, until a volunteer took me under her wing to ensure that I didn't miss a thing, including the is a good-sized meeting room in the back, a kitchen (with a piano!). Even so, I've probably overlooked something.

The children's area has bins of picture books, a globe (I always like to see globes available), a decent collection of fiction, non-fiction, and series books, DVDs, and a couple of small tables with chairs. A low shelf offered crayons and coloring papers, with a request to "Color a picture for us -- thanks" and "if there is only one paper in the folder, please take it to the desk and ask the volunteer to make more copies."

Local art is on the walls, and there will soon be a collaboration of artists and library to provide a way to sell art without the library having to handle the money transactions. Very smart.

A parking lot is on the "back" of the library, and here you'll also find the bookdrop, a concrete deck ready for its patio furniture, and a mural on the outside wall--see the picture below.

I thoroughly enjoyed talking to today's volunteers. Their energy and enthusiasm were clear when, as we talked about libraries I've visited, they kept "making a note" of ideas that came up. Great place. They're open 34 hours a week; if you're ever in Lake Elmo during their hours, be sure you visit.

I almost forgot to mention a recent fundraiser, a "Twelve Shades of Gray" calendar, featuring photos of volunteers for every month of the year!

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

For a detailed story of "the little library that could", Pioneer Press July 21, 2013, go to http://www.twincities.com/ci_23696177/lake-elmo-its-their-library-and-their-making?IADID=Search-www.twincities.com-www.twincities.com

4/27/2013, car

152. Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota

Marine Community Library is within Washington County, but is independent. Last summer I posted a picture of the Express library lockers provided by Washington County Library, but the library itself was closed. Today I decided to get a look inside.

Before I headed out, I checked the web page, and I recommend that you have a look. You'll find this on the home page: "The Marine Community Library is as unique as the residents it serves. A new partnership between citizens, Washington County and the City of Marine, the library combines access to books and technology with a comfortable setting and a committed volunteer staff. Come spend time in our community living room!" www.marinecommunitylibrary.org.

"Community living room" seems to express the ambience very well. The library is totally staffed by volunteers, which tells you just how much this community values library services. It is mainly housed in a single, brightly-lighted room that seems to be about 1/3 for kids and 2/3 for adults, in terms of the collection. There is one public computer, and wi-fi is available for laptops. I had a fine time chatting with the volunteer on duty this morning.

Another room in the building has a good-sized bookshelf with a paperback exchange.

Do look at their web page; there is much more to this site than meets the eye.

4/27/2013, car

3a. Ramsey County (RCL), White Bear Lake--Revisit

White Bear Lake library felt different from when I visited last summer--and very different from when I subbed there, 5+ years ago.

To the left as I entered from the street (not the parking lot), is a windowed browsing area with upholstered chairs and plenty of periodicals at hand. I noticed, on the Friends' sale cart, a selection of donated magazines. So far as I've seen, other RCL branches do not accept magazines, which is too bad. It's a good way to reuse them, and every 25 cents is that much more.

The children's area has two computers for kids and an L-shaped window seat. Beneath the seat are plastic bins of thematic play materials. This looks like a very nice way to store a lot of material while keeping it handy. I should have asked whcther having all these bins creates problems at clean-up time! I like the idea of keeping all the "Eyewitness" books together, adjacent to the circulating encyclopdia.

For April, the kids area has a notebook for jokes. I read a few, and they are clearly provided by kids. I believe this is an example of "passive programming"--something intersting to do at the library, without having to wait for the date and time of a more formal program. One joke: "Why is six afraid of seven? Because seven eight nine."

I counted 16 public computers and lots of tables and carrels for one or two people. Teens have their own room. And unique to this site: bound volumes of The White Bear Press dating back to 1911!

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

4/27/2013, car

49a. Burnhaven Library in Burnsville (Dakota County)--Revisit

This library is a nice walk from where I take my car for service, and this was the nicest day for a walk in a loooong time. On this visit I noticed 25 public computers plus 12 more in a computer lab, many in use. A sign states that "Movies on DVD free for 7 days. Look for the yellow 7-day label. Overdue fees are $1.00 per day." I looked for movies without a yellow label and didn't spot any; admittedly, I didn't look very hard.

There are at least 10 study rooms for 1 or 2 people; very nice; where I work, we don't have nearly as many, and we could use them. The teen corner has a nice big window, a diner-type booth, and plenty of books and magazines, but I didn't see any computers specifically for teens. Carrels are tucked into available corners, and some of the windows have comfortable seating. There's at least one computer near the stacks with word processing but no Internet.

The children's area has big windows, three computers for kids, and a couple of round tables with cute chairs. There are about 60 Playaway sets for kids, and about 350 juvie recorded books. That's a lot, compared to other places I've visited. The best thing for kids is the two-level program corner I mentioned in the original post about Burnhaven. This time I asked permission and got a picture; it doesn't do it justice, but it will give you a sense. The wooden "tree" is a nice touch.


4/25/2013,  car and walking

81a. St. Paul, Arlington Hills -- Revisit

Once again, the desire for a specific book had me revisiting a library. This one is a Carnegie gem, but the land is being cleared for a new building a few blocks away. The sign near the new building says that a community center will also be located there; these combined-use buildings definitely seem to be the future around here. I was assured that the Carnegie building will be put to use by some community organization; that's good.

I thought this was one of the few Carnegie libraries that had not succumbed to having an addition, but learned from the librarian that it does, in fact, have a small one, added to accommodate an elevator. It also houses an office that I could just peek at, enough to see an impressive collection of puppets.

A sign that was probably posted last summer, but I didn't record it then: "Please keep children and other valuables in sight at all times." I like the explicit sense that children are valuable.

The book I was after, and got, was Rain!, a brand-new title by Linda Ashman. I just read about it on Facebook, in a Children's Literature Network post. The kindergarten class I read to on Fridays is taking an "umbrella walk" every day this week, rain or shine, so I decided this would be a must-read. I am very fortunate in having many, many libraries, in several systems, within fairly easy reach by car or bus. When I really want a specific title, I can usually track it down!

Had to jump back in here with something I noticed about the library website; I assume this is true of all St. Paul branches. When I went to the "Locations and Hours" to refresh my memory of the exact location, I was able to link to Google Maps; very nice. But when I looked up the book I wanted and specified that I was looking for it at this branch, I got a map, driving directions, a link to customized directions from my location, AND (best of all, IMO) a link to the schedules of two bus routes that serve this location. That's service. That's good UX, in the current jargon.

Another addition, 4/24: This branch had a uniformed security person who was chatting with a patron as I entered. After I had roamed around, making notes, and peeked into the back where I found the elevator to the lower level and the office mentioned above, I headed for the service desk to pick up my reserved book--and there was security, seemingly keeping a very close eye on me. When I started chatting with the librarian, he drifted away; I guess he decided I was harmless. Good!


4/23/2013, car

This is the picture from last summer; the trees have not leafed out yet this spring, and there is still some snow on the ground from a 6" dump last night!

Counting Coup

I've been looking back at some of my early posts, and I'm amazed at how little I wrote. But now I realize why: in the summer of 2012, my goal was simply to visit each of the MELSA libraries. My few words, and the picture, were my "evidence" that I had been there, and sometimes little more. Early on, I didn't talk to anyone at a library, and sometimes I forgot to take a notebook. I didn't have the slips of paper that explain what I'm doing and give the blog address. I just rode in, "touched" the library with my presence, and disappeared.

This summer I'll be making many return visits the correct what I consider "defects." I'm looking forward to it! And I'll be visiting new places too, of course.

Ellen

27a. Anoka County, Northtown branch, Blaine, Revisit

I was back at Northtown today so that they could bail me out of a tight spot. I've had a book on reserve for weeks in Ramsey County; I promised to read it to a class of 3rd and 4th graders this Friday. Ramsey County has one copy, which was due this past Tuesday. St. Paul has none, Hennepin has none. So I looked for the next closest possibility, and that's what had me up in Blaine today, picking up "Fossil Feud" by Meish Goldish.

Once there, I started noticing things I didn't recall from last summer's visit, so I made some notes on the request slip. Worth mentioning again is the enclosed program room for kids with a very effective castle theme. A set of armchairs in a cluster in front of a window wall would be just right for a bevy of elementary school kids, but school was still in session when I was there. A nice "grown up" touch in the kids  area is an illustrated dictionary on a wooden dictionary stand on the broad window sill, just the right height for young wordsmiths.

I like the picture books in bins sorted by topics: Find It, Seasonal, Things That Go, Fire Safety, Featured Author (Berenstain at this time), Fairy Tales, and Favorite Characters. Close to these there is another set of bins for board books. The E books are shelved close by on shelves that seemed a bit high. Perhaps there are step stools that I missed seeing?

There are LOTS of book-and-CD bagged sets.

The teen space is large and inviting.

I didn't spend much time in the adult area. Well, actually, I did, but I spent it talking to a librarian about a poster I'd noticed in the entry. See www.dearreader.org to see what we were discussing. While standing at the librarian's desk, I admired a 3-1/2 x 8-1/2 inch card with the addresses and phone numbers of all Anoka County branches on one side--and even better, a nice clear graphic description of the phone menu options on the other.

The library is spacious and light, and seemed to be very well staffed with three librarians in the adult area, two in kids, and at least one at the general information desk. How did I miss all of this on my first visit? I think this was my last stop on a hot four- or five-visit day last summer. Mea culpa.

I was going to write that you should go to the Anoka County website and look at the Catalog page to see the Anokat, but I don't see it today. So you should go to their site and ask for it to come back. www.anoka.lib.mn.us.

4/8/13   car

No picture; put Northtown in the search field to see this library.

Louis Kahn library at Philips Exeter academy

OK, this HAS TO be on my itinerary in June. New Hampshire relatives take note: you have to get me here!

Credit (and thanks) to my nephew Byron for the photo.

And in fact it WAS on my itenerary in June. For comments and more pictures, put Philips Exeter in the search box.

151. Wabasha, MN (SELCO)

I usually go to Wabasha for the National Eagle Center, but today was all about the library. It's not a large library, but very attractive and uses space well. The adult area is divided into informal areas for browsing and study, with a window wall that brightens the space. Large historic photos and a number of very detailed riverboat models above the shelves attest to the historic interests in this river town.

Two shelving practices that appeal to me are separating biographies in their own area and shelving non-fiction DVDs with the non-fiction books. I don't see either of these practices (especially the DVDs) very often in my travels, but I know that librarians are very sensitive to the needs of their patrons and the use of space, so I'm sure the practice at each library is "right" for that location.

I saw at least five public computers, and a tucked-away corner with a computer, microfilm reader, and other specialized materials for genealogical research.

The outstanding feature of the children's area is a collection of framed Book Week posters, currently from 1962 to 2012. They fill the space above the shelves on the three available sides, so... where will the 2013 poster go? I asked, and there currently is no answer. I have no doubt a creative solution will be found, and I may have to stop in again to see what is done. The book collection is not large, but looked well-balanced and quite up-to-date. My traveling friend and I spent a good bit of time looking at all the pictures in a book about Denmark that was on display. [Note: the picture of a house with a thatched roof is not a "typical Danish house."]

My other favorite in the children's area is a "sand table" with a clear top and bottom, sand between the layers, and magnets that can be used to move plastic "boats" around in the "water" (sand). There were no kids present when I was there, but I bet kids are drawn to this like (ahem) magnets.

3/26/2013  car

150. La Crosse, WI (Winding Rivers Library System)

[My apologies to the 11 visitors who reached this post before it was completed; welcome back. This is the first time I wasn't able to create a post on the same day I visited the library.]

This was my first visit to a Winding Rivers library. If this is a representative sample, WRLS must be a marvelous group of libraries, and I look forward to seeing others.

My attention was caught immediately by the handsome quilts hanging from the mezzanine, especially the one with the book motif. Quilts and libraries seem to go together--search the blog for "quilt" and you will find several other examples. Next I spotted a display about a new heirloom seed exchange; the information was good, the beautiful photos of produce even better. Perhaps it was the quilts that drew me upstairs to the adult non-fiction area. The mezzanine level overlooking the first floor had six large study carrels, about 5-6 feet wide. Very nice; a person could really spread out and work here.

Readers of the blog know I'm always on the lookout for interesting signs. I liked this one, which I believe was on the librarian's door: "Need help? If my door is open, I'm available to help you. If my door is shut, please ask for help at the reference desk." I turned away from the (closed) door and quickly found the sign above the reference desk. This seemed very respectful of the librarian's need to get work done and the patron's need to get help.

A narrow, one-sided cart at the end of one non-fiction shelf invited patrons to "Place books here for reshelving" and a stack of baskets were available for browsers carrying many books.

I spotted 32 public computers and a Wisconsin area with readers for microfilm and microfiche, as well as files of both formats and other Wisconsin materials. Across the building I saw an archives room for local history. The reference section pleased me; it's a long time since I've seen the likes of Facts on File (from 1941), volume after volume of Comtemporary Literary Criticism, the New York Times Index (1961 to 1993) and the Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature up to 2009. These works are "old friends" of mine; I'm sure that at some point space pressures will oust them in favor of all-computer research, but I'm glad someone is maintaining continuity for now.

Back on the main floor, I'm sorry to say that I bypassed the adult fiction area, drawn as I was to the covered bridge leading to the children's area, with its natural murals along the sides (see picture). The dominating feature inside the chidren's area is a river boat (the "reading boat") It's very impressive and realistic, with large doors that open to the inside of the "boat," which looks just like the inside of a boat and is the site of reading programs for kids. Opposite the boat is a wall of windows and other colorful features, like a four-sided set of carrels for kids' computers, with partitions that look like fish. (My memory says sailboats, my notes say fish; I hope one of those is correct!)

I like the practice of putting some books in their own labeled bins: Star Wars, Eyewitness, and Magic School Bus, in this case.

The Friends of the La Crosse Public Library have a separate room for their bookstore. It closed a few minutes before I arrived, but I was able to buy one of their tote bags at the circulation desk. Thanks, Friends--it matches my luggage!

If you want to see the river boat in the children's area, take a look at www.tinytipsforlibraryfun.blogspot.com. You'll have to scroll down a bit to see it.

3/26/2013  car

Whistler Library, British Columbia, Canada

OK, branching out a bit here. I have not personally visited this library, but my sister and brother-in-law gave it a good looking-over while on a ski vacation, and her write-up is so good, I'm going to post it.

-------------------------------

We visited the Whistler library today and what a wonderful place. Maybe I can emigrate and work here as a page after I really retire.

First off, it sits in prime real estate here in the middle of a busy multi season resort which says something about the commitment to library services. There are multiple hotels, shops and restaurants surrounding it. Built in 2008' it is the busiest library per capita in British Columbia!. It's easy to use for permanent and seasonal residents. If you are vacationing, ten dollars entitles you to borrow and return at any library. You can also get a BC 1 card and use any library in BC with it if you are a resident.

They have a large, many windowed children's room which was quite busy at 1130 this morning. Computers for kids use, easy to reach shelves, bright murals and a relaxed atmosphere made it very kid friendly.

There is a large AV section, a 12 computer room for adults, including a posted schedule of computer classes. They will even help you learn to use your iPad! Open stacks, study corners, meeting rooms, windows everywhere, it is a beautiful, functional place.

Bathrooms are open, not locked, spotless and large.

We were greeted by a woman asking if she could help with anything. Turns out she is a trustee who was paying her overdue fines! She hooked us up with a librarian at the circulation desk who answered many questions. During our look around, the library director (I think) Elizabeth found us and offered her assistance and also answered questions. We have decided that I should start a project of checking out libraries in resort areas. She said the one at Telluride CO is pretty fantastic.

By the way, at the entrance to the library there were 2 racks, a bike and a ski one!

Here is the basic picture which shows the bike and ski racks. The stones on the right have I believe, First Nation carvings.

149. ECRL, Cambridge, MN

This is the headquarters of the East Central Regional Libraries. A sign on the bookdrop says "Please bring items in if the library is open. If bookdrop is full or the door is stuck, please take items home. Thanks for your cooperation." I meant to ask whether people were given a break on overdues if they had to take their items home, but of course I forgot.

Inflated planets hang from the ceiling in the children's area, and the top of the walls is lined with corkboard for displays. Children's CDs are displayed in plastic shoeboxes on their sides, on top of a low bookshelf. Just the right size! Picture books are in bins surrounding several sets of tables and chairs in bright colors. A sign says that children 5 ot 8 years old may be left unattended for nor more than 30 minutes, and the library cannot be responsible for children left unattended.

Restrooms are locked and the key must be obtained from the service desk. This is not the first place I've seen this, but it is uncommon.

I was intrigued to see that 6 shelves of adult non-fiction had shelves spaced to allow for tall books, just 5 shelves high, while the regular non-fiction shelves were 7 shelves high. It made the shelves look neater than usual, and except for having to be sure you were in the right place, I think it would simplify shelving. And I'm saying that as a person who does a lot of shelving!

A glass-fronted case holds old Minnesota books. A sunny browsing area for adults includes large soft chairs. I saw about a dozen computers for adults, but only a catalog computer in the kids' area.

My "something I haven't seen anywhere else" for this stop was posters with photos of library staff, including aides, naming their "favorite reads" and holding the books named. I spotted three of these posters, two on the end of shelves and one on a column; there may have been more.

3/2/13   car

148. ECRL, Mora, MN

Two wall displays caught my eye right away: "Books are eggciting" with an Easter egg theme, and "There's snow better time to read" with a winter theme. Kids have also contributed art; one wall above the bookshelves has works by junior high students, another by second graders. The staff told me that several teachers bring in their students' work from time to time.

Each library has something I've never seen before. In this case, it is a set of floor-level back-to-back shelves for picture books, topped with a fabric-covered piece of foam. I was told that kids love to sprawl on this soft surface with a book.

I was talking to staff about each library having something that sets it apart, and I mentioned the cake pans available in the Osage, Iowa, library. They told me that at least once, they have had a Mora patron request a cake pan through Interlibrary Loan! It wasn't clear whether this came from Osage, however. Then I mentioned the knitting needles and rubber stamps loaned by the Canaan, NH, library, and I saw a certain glint in their eyes. Maybe in the future...?

The "back" wall is a row of windows overlooking a (frozen) body of water. There is a small deck with stairs that go down to a bench. I hope there are chairs on the deck in warmer seasons. To the left is a playground in "Library Park."

I was most struck here by the neatness of the bookshelves, both kids and adults. I don't think a single book missed alignment with the front of its shelf by more than 1/8". When I asked staff how this was managed, the reply was "Lots of busy elves."

What caught my eye as I headed out of town past the civic center / fairgrounds made me certain that Mora has Swedish roots.

3/2/13    car

147. East Central Region--Milaca, MN

An outside sculpture (see below) was created by a local artist, working with local school children. This library is very well provided with art. The lobby wall has a sculpture of a many-branched tree with stones beneath, an especially attractive way to honor donors. The children's area has three large wooden sculptures on the bookshelves, a river boat, a tall house of some sort, and what appeared to be a combined houseboat/sailboat. I should have asked! There is a rounded alcove near the picture book area, with an upholstered window seat and tall windows.

A very interesting display tell about the original library and city hall being housed in a 1936 WPA building. The current building dates to 2007, and continuity has been maintained in many ways, including: a color palette in the new building that reflects the old; a beautiful stone fireplace; and brilliant murals on the walls in the high central portion of the ceiling. The four panels represent early settlers and Indians; early days of the town; farming; and a school bus.

Near the adult browsing area is a coffee maker, apparently one of the "K-cup" things I've heard of. Is this what they mean by a "coffee cart" for the remodeled Shoreview library? I don't know, but I DO know that SV won't want to deal with "Purchase your cup and water at the circulation desk!" It does appear that one can choose coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, which is nice.

Curved wooden ends soften the utility of metal shelves. In fact, this library is full of curves! The teen area has a curved alcove with a attractive fantasy art on three panels, and a display of portraits that I would guess were done by a talented local teen.

Outside, a sign indicated that there is a shortgrass prairie under the snow. This is not the best season to visit libraries that have special landscaping!

3/2/13   car

146. ECRL--Princeton, MN

Let's start in the lobby, where I saw a large community room with a meeting in session. I noticed a poster about the Legacy of Elmer Andersen, the 30th Governor of MN. It appears that 10 circular plaques about his life and accomplishments have been designed by an artist named Amy Sabrina. I thought I might see the actual plaques in the library, but I did not. Perhaps I missed them?

The kids' area has a cozy nook maybe 10' x 12', with two carpeted steps on two sides, murals on the walls, and an attractive fabric hanging. It was great to see a plaque that reads "We love our children. -- Princeton Friends of the Library." There's a long window wall that looks out on what I assume is a river; it's rather hard to be sure, since it's frozen over and snow-covered. There is also a puppet theater and a good collection of picture books and J fiction and non-fiction.

I saw 10 public computers. There are counters and chairs by some windows, but no obvious outlets for laptop computers. There's a teen area in a sunny window corner. An old-looking oak file cabinet is being used for a pamphlet file; I really like to see perfectly good older furniture still in use.

On the side of the building near the service desk is a browsing area with large windows, comfortable-looking chairs, and a magazine exchange.

I took a walk around the town and spotted a building that surely didn't start life as a dentist office; see below.

3/2/13   car

Rules, rules, rules

You may have noticed that I'm intrigued by signs I find in libraries, and often type them into my posts. A few times I've even included pictures. But now I've found a collection of library rules--and they always involve signs--that I want to share. Please, if you know of other rules or signs, add a comment.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/48843/9-very-specific-rules-real-libraries

[Thanks to MELSA, without which I wouldn't have found these rules.]

Which shall I revisit?

While I want to visit as many libraries as possible, I also know that some deserve a second look. Perhaps I was rushed; perhaps I didn't have a notebook with me.... Look around and tell me which deserve another look, OK? And if there's something specific I should look for, let me know.

122a. U of M Andersen Library: Special Collections, Special Storage

Today I realized a goal I've had for a long time--I saw the underground storage areas, carved out of limestone, that house the U of M special collections. I took pictures, but trust me, they don't begin to convey the size of the space or variety and sheer volume of the materials stored. I'll quote from the Archives and Special Collections brochure:

"The University of Minnesota Libraries' Department of Archives and Special Collections (ASC) collects and preserves an amazing array of materials that document our rich heritage and culture, ranging from 4000-year-old Babylonian clay tablets to the latest illustrated children's books, from the 1507 'map that named America' to costume and set designs for Guthrie Theater productions. While the materials must be used on site, the collections are available to anyone with a desire to explore, discover, and learn. ASC sponsors an active program of exhibitions, lectures, seminars, and symposia, most of which are free and open to the public. More detailed information about each of the collections, hours of access, and services can be found at http://special.lib.umn.edu."

If you'd like to see this for yourself, get over to the Andersen Library on the West Bank at noon on a "first Friday"--have some (free and tasty) lunch and hear a couple of short lectures about the different collections--then join a tour. Allow time to look at whatever exhibits are current, too.

2/1/2013 bus and walking

The soaring lobby of Andersen Library

These rows stretch the length of about 2 football fields and tower about 20 feet high!

Patience and Fortitude!

In my visits to libraries around Minnesota and (slightly) beyond, I have seen relatively new buildings, like Elk River and the three visited in East Central Minnesota. I've seen renovated and remodeled buildings, like Roseville in Ramsey County. Old buildings, like St. Bonifacius in Hennepin County. Huge buildings like Minneapolis Central and Ridgedale. Carnegie buildings enlarged to (try and) meet current needs, like Little Falls and Minneapolis' Sumner, Franklin, and Hosmer. But the scale of the issues facing the central library in New York City, described in the article, boggle the mind. Patience and Fortitude, indeed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/30/arts/design/norman-fosters-public-library-will-need-structural-magic.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20130130

145. ECRL--Wyoming, MN

The tone of this library was set before I even set foot in the door, when a departing patron gave me a big smile and hello as I approached. That's a first! The two staff I talked to (for a long time) were equally friendly. Yay, Wyoming!

I saw a couple of posters in the lobby that interested me. One made sense of a sign I saw earlier in the day; from January through to summer, different reading mascots, like Clifford and Llama Llama, are going to be visiting the ECRL libraries. In the summer, a new ECRL mascot will be introduced. Cool--I should try to be there for that.

The other poster was about World Book Night (www.worldbooknight.org), which this year will be on April 23. I haven't been to that website yet, but I shall get there. I'd never heard of this event before.

This is another in the trio of long rectagular libraries I visited today, but in this case the entrance is on a short side. And as soon as I entered the door, I was enchanted by the "Reading Railroad"--see the picture below. This curved train was created, I learned, by a local Eagle Scout; on the other side is a curved counter with three computers for kids. It's a very attractive and inviting way to set off the kids' area. [I also learned that Eagle Scouts were responsble for the flagpole and some benches.]

The walls are enlivened by large book-cover posters and painted quotations. The fireplace was on, and a few large plants added to the "living room" feeling of the adult browsing area. There are at least two small study rooms, and a large meeting room. And very, very nice staff. Not that the staff at other libraries aren't nice; I'm always nervous when I say things about staff, that folks from other libraries will think I didn't like them or something. Not at all. But we had a long, wide-ranging conversation here, and I enjoyed it a lot.

1/17/13, car

I was strongly encouraged to return in the summer to see the rain gardens in bloom, and so I did. Pictures have been added below.

8/13/2013, car