456 Hawkins Area Library, Hawkins, WI

This was my last stop on a six-day, sixteen-library road trip. Many of my trips involve crossing some portion of Wisconsin, and I choose towns from the map to fill in gaps in my travels there. This time: the town of Hawkins.

Most of the way the weather had been good, but at home May showers were bringing...overgrown grass. But I don't have to face it yet.

A sign read "All computers will be turned of 15 minutes before closing. There are times I wished for that, but the policy where I worked was that the computers turned off (automatically) exactly at closing. Then certain patrons would dash to the media area to choose their DVDs.

There's a lot to see in the early literacy center. I like these green chairs with their knobby legs. I expect that they slide nicely on the carpet. The attractive display has plants (painted on the wall), books, and the framed picture. I thought the picture might be Peter Rabbit at home, but at a closer look there are more than Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail in the domestic scene.

    

The early literacy center has the usual kitchen for dramatic play, and the unusual plastic workbench and tools for more dramatic play. Three carpeted steps create a small amphitheater setting.

More toys are ready for play, including a market, bins of plastic food, and more. And look at those great wooden trucks on the bottom shelf, just waiting to be driven across the floor!

I was looking for the "J" fiction books when I got a big surprise. All fiction (other than adult) is labeled "YA" and shelved together. This results in some strange shelf mates, in my opinion. For example, the early chapter book series Rainbow Magic by Daisy Meadows is adjacent to the teenage Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. I do believe that kids should have access to whatever books they like, but this did surprise me.

Adult books are on the stacks and along the walls. There are plenty of audio books and other media, and a large screen TV is available. The perennial tree is now decorated for spring. Yes, the ornaments change with the seasons. Why not have an all-year tree? I think it's a great idea.

I took some time to visit the adjacent History Center and was rewarded with a look at a metal dollhouse very much like one that my sisters and I had back in the day. OK, way back in the day.

This Singer sewing machine has a cabinet fancier than my mother's was, but otherwise it's totally familiar. In addition to the wide variety of assorted objects, there are rich collections related to railroading and logging. All items appear to be labeled with "what it is" and "who donated it."

Two pictures showed the Hawkins Elementary School students and staff for 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. Each year there appeared to be about 45 or 50 kids and about 9 adults. I wonder how the school's headcount has changed? Aahhh, a quick Google search tells me that the school closed in 2007. That explains the importance of these pictures from its last two years.

So, farewell to Hawkins, farewell to my road trip. It's time to pick up the cats, Frankie and Jerry, from their boarding place and get on home.

5/19/2017