Every Library I Can: February 2016

Thursday, February 25, 2016

From The Atlantic, March 2015: Article Here, No Need to Link

I was reading "How America Is Putting Itself Back Together," by James Fallows,and as I read about the author's extensive "road trip" (by light plane) around the country I kept thinking, "What about the libraries? If you're going to write about what is going well in America, you need to write about the libraries!"

Then I reached the last page of this article and found that Deborah Fallows had done exactly that. Here is her piece, and within it you will find other interesting library-related links.

he Yolo Branch Library in rural Yolo County, CaliforniaWikimedia

The March issue of The Atlantic, just out now, features Jim’s cover story, “Can American Put Itself Back Together,” which reports on our American Futures project. I have a short accompanying piece called “The Library Card,” which is about one of my favorite American institutions, the public library.
My piece highlights three areas—education, technology, and community—where public libraries are becoming integral to the social and civic health of towns. The reporting for the piece comes from the dozens of public libraries that I have visited around the country over the past three years. We’re still going! I have written detailed posts about many of them for TheAtlantic.com. I’m still writing!
Here are links to the previous posts, which represent a large cross-section of towns around the country, from Maine to Mississippi to Oregon. To me, each library showed a particular strength and focus, each one reflecting the wants or needs of the different towns. Here they are, with links from each city’s name to the original post:

Columbus, Ohio

The Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Library system has 25 libraries, including the historic Andrew Carnegie-sponsored main branch. The Columbus system is a wonderful example of how public libraries are both staying true to their mission of being open and free to all, while responding sensitively and rapidly to the world a century after Carnegie. For starters, this means changing physical space, answering diverse needs of the diverse population, and balancing traditional and digital holdings.

* * *

Bend, Oregon

The Deschutes Public Library in Bend, Oregon, wages intense efforts on connecting itself to its community. The librarians have renamed themselves “community librarians.” They venture out to embed themselves in the civic life of the community, joining clubs and organizations, to forge relationships that translate into programs to better serve the community.

* * *

Redlands, California

A hallmark mission of the A.K. Smiley Public Library in Redlands, California is as steward of the rich history of the town, which was first settled by wintering Easterners as an orange-growing community. The library grounds include a shrine to Abraham Lincoln, an outdoor performance bowl, and now underway, a town history museum.

* * *

Winters, California

In tiny Winters, California, the public library is a driving player in the social and community life of this agricultural town, from its role as convener of public events to being a magnet for town’s kids, to acting as a uniter of the diverse population of the town.

* * *

Charleston, West Virginia

The public library is an example of the best of American democratic institutions, being of the people, by the people, and for the people. Voters in Charleston, West Virginia demonstrated democracy at work when they passed a levy to tax themselves—even as they were struggling to emerge from the recent recession—to keep their library afloat and start to build back what they had lost.

* * *

Duluth, Minnesota

What do public libraries mean to the library users of yesterday and today? Many points of view and many recollections are presented here. They include frequent comments about the importance of libraries in finding jobs, pursuing hobbies, and as a source of help in everything from continuing education, honing skills in technology, and as a haven in stormier parts of their lives.

* * *

The Big Apple

New York Public Library in Manhattan (Wikimedia)

The mothership of all libraries, the New York Public Library, with its 90 some branches, is pushing the imagination across a spectrum from the elite writers and researchers who have traditionally used the main library as their workspace to those who are seeking what they may lack at home: quiet, air conditioning, books, and computer access.

* * *

Shanghai

Sunday, February 21, 2016

62a Hennepin County, Hopkins

I first visited the Hopkins branch of the Hennepin County Library System (HCLS) on July 23, 2012. My notes were skimpy, and my main memories are of heat and some issue about where to catch the bus. No problem with heat today and I drove, so... I returned to Hopkins because the library was remodeled last year. Here's the official description of what was done:

Hopkins Library building project

Renovation

May 11 to June 26, 2015

A new single service point; enhanced areas for adults, teens and children; and new furniture and carpet improved the library. Casual seating and lounge areas were added, along with better access to power outlets for charging personal electronic devices. New automated materials handling equipment streamlined the book return process.

The first thing I saw today was this:

When I see something like this outside a library, I expect great things inside, because somebody has a sense of humor and isn't afraid to use it. (Or is allowed to use it.) I fed it a book I was returning to HCLS, then headed inside.

A glass-walled lobby allows one to see inside when arriving and be aware, from the service desk, of patrons coming and going. I noticed a uniformed security officer sitting near the service desk when I went in.

Teens have the first area to the left of the lobby entrance. It's a pretty large area, with a wall of windows, six computers clearly marked TEEN, a variety of seating and tables, and a good-sized collection of books.

Beyond the teen area is a large space for children with all sorts of interactive and play opportunities. The Minnesota Children's Museum has been involved here; some of the earmarks (aside from the sign) are a picnic table, "charcoal grill," lots of play food, and a "tree" feature that is different from any other I've seen. I didn't get interior pictures because the area was well-used on this Sunday aftrnoon. But there are wooden "branches" cut from boards, with leaf shapes at the end and cut-outs in the leaves that are filled with colored plastic. I'm not doing it justice at all; if you are in the Twin Cities area, just go out to Hopkins and have a look.

Some features that I wrote about before are still there: the fire engine big enough to sit in, a light table with translucent plastic blocks, a shadow-puppet theater, a farmers market with vegetable bins, and much more. A unique feature from "before" is the bicycle (front wheel and handlebars) mounted to the wall next to a map of the Hopkins area. Instructions are to spin the bike wheel to determine a destination, mark that place with a magnet, spin again for a starting point...then use your finger to find a route. Very cool.

There are abundant bins of picture books and shelves of children's fiction. Children's non-fiction is shelved with adult non-fiction, except for folk- and fairy-tales, which have their own spot. Large photographs of children and adults reading are posted at the top of one long wall. Many of the library's windows have stained-glass features. Everywhere you look, there is something interesting to catch your eye!

There are nine computers reserved for children, clustered around three tables, and at least six of them were in use. Near the children's books are some curved benches and other seating. Behind these there is a meeting room with glass walls into the library. When I was there, the room was being used as a quiet study room. Three family restrooms are nearby.

The adult area has about 36 computers in various groups. All the usual types of books are represented, fiction, non-fiction, Spanish, large print, science fiction, and so forth. The shelves and walls form various corners and spaces with one or more chairs and assorted tables. An actual "quiet study room" was busy, with high school kids and adults using almost every space. As I told the circulation clerk I spoke to, everywhere you turn there is another area, each with a slightly different feel.

2/21/2016, car

The relatively plain exterior is enlivened by the pattern on the retaining wall and at the roof line.

Saturday, February 13, 2016

99a. Golden Valley Library, Hennepin County Library System, MN

Part of my "every library I can" project involves re-visiting libraries that have undergone significant renovations...and that includes Golden Valley. I last visited here in August 2012, in the "first wave," when I set out to visit all the MELSA libraries of the seven-county area around the Twin Cities.

My overall impression today was a contradictory feeling of more open space and more "nooks and crannies." This is especially true of the kids' area as opposed to the adults'. The kids area is essentially two spaces, a large "alcove," perhaps 15 or 16 feet square, with picture books and the kitchen sink and stove, table and chairs, and toy food for dramatic play. The rest of the area is large and very open with a half-dozen computers, quite a few easy chairs and couches, and a wooden world map on a table (partially completed). Something I haven't seen before is a low table with a slate top; it appeared to be natural slate, not a smooth chalkboard surface. The cool part was a set of plastic tumblers with paint brushes. I assume that the idea is to "paint" on the slate with water. What a neat idea! There is also an unusually large array of Duplo base plates, perhaps 2' x 4', mounted on the wall above a generous supply of Duplo blocks, a space-saving and creative approach that seems to be catching on at the many of the libraries I visit.

There is a large collection of Childrens fiction, plus holiday and fairy tale books shelved separately. Bins hold easy readers and "Easy" non-fiction. And as I finsihed a walk around the kids area, I spotted a standing mirror next to a wooden clothes post holding what appear to be capes of various sorts for creative play. Overall, a very nice space for kids.

When I moved from the kids' area to the adult area, I was happy to see that the kinetic sculpture I remember from 3 1/2 years ago is still present and still operational. And it still reminds me of my favorite computer game, Marble Drop, which I haven't been able to play for years; it was left behind in a series of upgrades, I fear.

Directly behind the sculpture is a browsing area with large windows, easy chairs, and ready access to the periodical collection. I think there are about two dozen computers in the adult and teen areas; they are spread about in clusters, which minimizes the feeling of focusing on computers and neglecting books--they have roughly even status, which I am glad to see.

There are two pleasant seating areas, each with windows on two sides. Furnitre in these areas is designed to allow patrons to plug in their own electronics. One wall holds a decent refernce collection, including World Book Encyclopedias from 2014 and 2015, adjacent to the music CDs. I like seeing that encyclopedias still have a place! Another wall has collections of books in Russian and Spanish.

The teen area is overseen by a large construction on the wall, not exactly a mural; it incudes a group of computer keyboards painted black. For this, I would have liked a picture, but a) I forgot my camera, and b) the place was full of people! Both the DVD and non-fiction collections are in this area, as well as the teen fiction collection. The non-fiction shelves hold both adult and children's books.

One change made by the renovation is the addition of two one-person study rooms and two small conference rooms. Fitting in the conference rooms left the fireplace in an odd location, but I talked to staff about that and learned that it couldn't be used anyway. Insurance and all, you know? It was nice to talk to the circulation staff person, who is, in a way, following in my footsteps: she's retired from a corporate job and working part-time at the library. I'm just one step ahead, since I recently retired once more after working part-time at a library for eight years.

Many of the libraries I visit these days seem to emphasize computers and media over good old books. I did not get that sense here. Looking back, I could tell you where to find the music CDs; I'm sure there are plenty of DVDs as well, but I don't recall seeing them. If this makes me an old fogey, so be it: I like books to be primary.

I didn't attempt to take pictures. Yes, I forgot my camera, but part of the forgetting was that I had just looked at the terrific series of pictures, both current and showing construction, available here:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/hennepincountylibrary/sets/72157660078924170/

The library website, which also has that flickr link, is at http://www.hclib.org/about/locations/golden-valley. You can also search for Golden Valley Library on Facebook for some interesting posts...but be sure you add "Minnesota" or "Hennepin" to your search, as Golden Valley seems to be a popular place name.

2/13/2016, car