521 Fuller Public Library, Hillsboro (or Hillsborough) New Hampshire

 

One or two at a time, I'm finding libraries that are carefully opening to patrons...and to the wandering library logger. Thanks to websites, I've been able to find a library to visit each week for three weeks in a row. This week my visit was to the Hillsboro, New Hampshire library, which is housed in an amazing building. It was once the governor's mansion for Governor John Butler Smith and his wife Emma. Because the upper floors were off limits, as was the children's library on the lower level, you'll see a lot of the main floor details, and there are plenty.

Many interesting tidbits about the building are found in a brochure that I was given. My favorite is that  when the governor's youngest son inherited the house in 1926, he wanted to raze the building so that nobody else could live in his beloved childhood home. The community got together and convinced him to give the property to the town. His stipulation was that it always be used in service to the community, and so it is to this day, 94 years later.

No, it's not a rug; it's a tiled mosaic at the top of the first set of four stairs.

The summer reading program included a challenge to youngsters to build a castle from cardboard tubes and other everyday material. Lots of creativity and engineering skills are reflected in the results.

Rules on CORVID-19 dictate limits on the number of people in the library at one time. Many of the chairs have been pushed aside to make it clear that there are limits. It's too bad that they limit the view of this fireplace.

The computer keyboard and mouse are enclosed in plastic for ease of cleaning. Although there must be rules, the last sentence on the sign points out that we are all in this together: "We appreciate you helping us all stay healthy and safe."

Plenty of media will help folks get through the needed quarantines

I was told that recent renovations included cleaning of the extraordinary ceilings, so I'll give them a chance to shine.

And I couldn't skip the chandelier!

This must be one of the fanciest Young Adult corners I've seen in my travels.

Here's the governor's wife, Emma Lavender Smith, to the right of another fireplace. John is on the other side; I didn't take his picture, for no particular reason. Emma intrigues me because, according to the booklet, she took a particular interest in the family's piggery. This strikes me as an unusual interest for a governor's wife.

This seems to fit with the library's goal of service to the community.

I think this is the first library where I've seen a "Use at your own risk" sign. Of course, such signs didn't exist before the pandemic, and I've only visited five libraries since it began.

I've been revisiting May Sarton's books, especially her journals. I was pleased to see this selection of her novels. She lived not too far from here for a number of years before moving to Maine,

This reading nook looks inviting.

This sign reminded me of a favorite T-shirt: READ...It's like taking your brain to the gym! As for the tour of the building, it wasn't available when I was there. I plan to return when the library is fully opened again.

A balloonist's-eye-view of Hillsboro (or Hillsborough). I didn't see a date on it and I forgot to ask.

No detail is too small in this handsome building.

You can see why I feel I must return to see the rest of the building. The stairs and balcony are teasing me. The grandfather clock chimed while I was there; it sounds great. And with that, and after a fine conversation with the staff, I bought a summer reading program T-shirt with a dragon on it, picked up an interesting-looking book from the sale out on the porch, and headed home to Concord. And yes, after almost five months Concord, NH, is starting to feel like home.

8/18/20

520 Webster Public Library, Webster, New Hampshire

My next stop, thanks to a tip in the Sunday paper, was the Webster, New Hampshire.Public Library. It's located on the upper level of the town hall, in a converted church.

It was a nice day for a drive, but as you can see, there was no breeze to alleviate the heat.

If you're returning library materials, use the drop box so they can be quarantined before returning to circulation.

This is a library that takes the corona virus precautions very seriously. Well, everyone does...but Webster goes the extra mile by provided multiple bottles of hand sanitizer, and asking that if you use one from the box with the yellow sign, you return it to the box with the pink sign, so that the outside of the bottle can be cleaned.

I took this picture simply because the juxtaposition of the clock and the book amused me. I didn't touch the book, but I did put it on request at my home library. I'm not sure why, because I no longer have any kindergartners to read to. (I used to be a guest reader, not a teacher.)

The stained-glass window panes are a reminder that the library is in a former church buiding.

The memorial window is a contrast with the square stained glass panes.

I wasn't taking notes, but I believe this corner is for teens. Please, if I'm wrong, someone leave a note so I can make a correction.

This desk, which I would call a "secretary desk," displays some materials of historic interest.

 

Before we leave Webster, an observation. My last three libraries have all noted that they will limit the number of patrons in the library at one time. And here's the sad bit: none of the three had any patrons when I arrived. One of them had a patron come in while I was there. I shared this observation with the Webster librarian, who was glad (?) to know that she wasn't alone. Is this part of the general concern about going to public places? Each of these libraries is providing a version of curbside service, and perhaps that is meeting the local need.  I look forward to seeing whether other libraries have the same pattern; I now know that this is a question I'll want to ask.

8/12/2020

519 Elkins Public Library, Canterbury, New Hampshire

It's great to be able to visit libraries again, but it takes extra planning to find libraries that will let me in! I've found that the best bet is to watch the "town news" columns in the Sunday paper. Doing just that led me to a pair of pleasant visits this week.

My first stop was at the Elkins Public Library in Canterbury, New Hampshire. 

The library is to the left. Isn't that OPEN sign great? Definitely a step up from the generic signs I see most often.

I had a great chat with the library director, who pointed out all of the great features, like this handsome quilt. After we talked, I went back to take pictures. I hope I got all the features, but there is a lot to see here; I probably missed something. That's what the comment feature is for, folks!

A stunning display at the far end of the library is this handsome quilt that shows many buildings of Canterbury. What I really like about this quilt is that many of the blocks have small additions to the scene depicted, giving a three-dimensional quality. A sign nearby lists the names of the local quilters who contributed to this great project.

Another project was done (I think) by a single person. I've built a couple dozen dollhouses over the years, so I really appreciate the work here. These two room boxes are furnished in Shaker style, representative of the Shaker Village nearby. 

And nearby in a life-sized corner we see more examples of Shaker furniture.

These shelves hold publications about Shakers and their history.

Book clubs meet in this attractive area with its fireplace. If I recall correctly, this is a working fireplace.

Near the fireplace, a narrow set of shelves hold a special collection of books. We'll put these in the "things I haven't seen in any other library" list!

This caught my eye in the periodical collection. I honestly didn't realize that The Saturday Evening Post was still being published. These were a pillar of my childhood, and probably contributed to my reading development. I would have gone nuts over an issue with a horse on the cover. Even better than Normal Rockwell!

These days, even small libraries make room for a young adult collection.

I see more and more collections of games that can be borrowed from libraries. It's a great idea: try before you buy, or simply try. With all of the time spent at home during the pandemic, I would think these would be very popular.

Reference collections have been shrinking in this time of the Internet, but they usually survive in some form in every library.

Computers are available to the public, but usually just half the normal number in order to maintain social distancing. Notice that the computer in the foreground has a plastic covering over the keyboard, for ease of cleaning between users.

Of course there is a children's area. I like the bright colors, and the wooden picture book bins appear to be "home made."

If you searched the blog for the word "tree" you would find many hits, as trees are a very popular theme in children's libraries. This one is very special, however, as it was taken from a flooded river! I believe the tree and the background mural were created by a New Hampshire artist, but I failed to get the name. Perhaps someone will help me out here? [Also, when conditions allow, a very large fuzzy bear hangs out around this tree!]

When I started the blog, the 1,000 books before kindergarten program rarely showed up; now it is ubiquitous. Some Canadian libraries have a version in which families are encouraged to read 50 specific titles, helping ensure that kindergartners start school with a common core of knowledge. Both are great approaches to literacy.

I took this picture primarily for the poster in the center: I CAN ACCEPT FAILURE, I CAN NOT ACCEPT NOT TRYING.

Media is available, with children's materials facing the children's area, of course...

...back-to-back with the adult collection.

I'm sorry this is a poor picture; the sculpture, stained glass, and woodwork deserve better.

In one way or another, libraries now ask that books be returned in a special place, not walked into the library. They provide face masks for those who arrive without their own, hand sanitizer for everyone, and a reminder to "don't come in" if you answer Yes to any of the now-classic questions: Symptoms? Travel? Contact?

 

8/12/2020