306. MORE -- Balsam Lake, WI, Public Library

The town of Balsam Lake seemed even more quiet than one would expect for a Saturday in mid-winter. No surprise there...it seemed that everyone was out on the frozen lake, admiring vintage snowmobiles and watching races! But the library was ready to show The BoxTrolls Movie soon after I arrived, and it appeared that a few patrons were on hand for the show. Perhaps that's where the two teen girls were headed as I walked down Main Street to return to my car.

I'm glad I arrived before the movie, and my timing was fortunate in another respect: On February 2, no matter what the groundhog does, the library will close for about a week in order to box up the collection and install new shelving. I guess I will need to plan a revisit to see the new look!

The colorful children's area is highlighted by two wooden "trees" covered with plush hand puppets; these puppets can even be checked out, which is very cool. There is a computer with a brightly colored keyboard on a low table. The library participates in the "1000 Books Before Kindergarten" program. I liked a poster that answered the question "Can you really read that many books before kindergarten?" by breaking down how many that would be each day. Looked at that way, it seems very manageable. This is reinforced by a Dr. Seuss quotation painted on the wall, "You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child." Indeed.

There are three computers on a counter with tall stools for seating. A study table, easy chair, and coffee setup by the windows, close to the newspapers and periodicals, invites adults to sit for a while.

Good luck with the packing and reshelving project. I'll be back the next time I'm in that corner of Wisconsin!

For more about this library, go to http://www.balsamlakepubliclibrary.org/ and check out their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Balsam-Lake-Public-Library/204673411561?ref=search.

1/31/2015,  car