542 Town Library, Chichester, NH

This building has served several roles, and has been the location of the town library since 1899.

This eye-catching sign got my attention as I was parking. There is a plaque to the right on the post, but I was unable to get a legible picture of it. I suggest that you go and look for yourself.

Here's a look at the neighborhood where the library is located, and a sense of the weather. Although it looks threatening, I didn't need the windshield wipers until I was almost home,

I was arriving from the left, so getting to the parking lot required almost a U-turn. 

Here are some details about the building's history.

   

Steps straight up to the door, and a ramp on the left side for accessibility.

I had a mask in the car, but I forgot to take it in. Nobody accosted me. I'm fully vaccinated against Covid, but I'm trying to get back in the habit of masking when indoors.

The book drop is built into the front wall.

Every library has a different collection. When I see books that interest or amuse me, I make a note, then see if I can find them in my "home" library in Concord. In this case, yes; it's now on my request list.

Just a little detail from one corner of the children's area.

A recent grant allowed some updates to the children's area.

Here's a long view of the kids' area. I wish I'd taken a close-up of the chairs around the table in the middle. I've seen them in a number of libraries, and I like the cutout in the chair backs

Congratulations, Chichester Town Library! 

Winner of a 2019-2020 CLF Rural libraries grant from the children's literacy foundation.

Library scavenger hunt--a great way to get oriented to all that a library has to offer. I noticed that the upper-right box called for a book from the 921 non-fiction section. The 921 has been crossed out and 642 has been written in. My guess? The Dewey system uses 921 for Biographies, but I see many libraries that label those books as B for Biography. Just my guess; I forgot to ask or check the shelves.

Just a picture of a good-looking doorway.

A comfortable corner for reading or chatting. Just the spot for a book club meeting, perhaps.

The large print book collection is enhanced with a magnifying lens and a bright task light. I've often said that each library has something I've never seen before, and this fills the bill for Chichester! The task light is currently focused on a jigsaw puzzle in progress.

Two of these wooden racks hold the periodical collection.

Here's a portion of the history/genealogy/records collection, a staple in almost every library I visit.

This quilt looks like a project in which many people contribute to a large effort, perhaps for an anniversary. I couldn't find a way to capture it without the reflection of the fluorescent tubes.

This turkey looks to me like a cousin to the pigeon who wants so badly to drive the bus. And with that, I'll head home and see if I can beat the rain. [Actually, when I came out the sky had cleared quite a bit. It turned out to be a fine day for a drive.]

7/192021
 

541 Epsom Public Library, Epsom, NH

 Shaped like a big letter "C," the Epsom library sits back from and above a main east-west road in New Hampshire.

The approach is nicely landscaped...

...with a bench in just the right spot for waiting for a friend to join you.

After the restrictions of Covid-19, it's great to see comfy upholstered furniture making its reappearance.

You can't really tell from the pictures, but this endcap in the children's area is three-dimensional. It appears to be made of wood, but might be something synthetic. In any case, I can imagine kids spending time studying and touching all the birds.

A corner of the youngest children's area holds cushioned benches, a puppet theater, and some nice natural light.

These handsome modern quilts are a stunning addition. I also admired the quotations running along the frieze. Watch for them to make appearances in other parts of the library.

With all the rain we've been having here in New Hampshire, natural spaces like this are at their best. It's a fine experience to look up from reading and look into a natural scene.

The adult stacks are very tall and very full!

With its study table and "living room" space, I'd call this a classic look for a small-town library.

I always look for signs in libraries. this one caught my attention, not because of the issue it presents, but for its forthright explanation of the policy.

Shortly before I arrived, this versatile space had been used to present an afternoon matinee movie for kids and their adults.

Remember the end cap with the birds in the children's area? Here's another one, representing the seasons. There is at least one more, possibly two.

As a person who has built many dollhouses, I spent quite a bit of time looking at this one. It's really a nice job, with lots of details in each room.

Space on each side of the dollhouse has been nicely landscaped.

Rather than provide each work station with plexiglass barriers, only half of the available computers are in use.

Almost every library I visit, of any size, has a collection of old books pertaining to local history, genealogy, and records. The only exceptions may be where a local history society has its own facilities.

Ahh, a third three-dimensional end cap!

Another example of text on the frieze. 

"When I step into this library I never understand why I step out." 

This quotation is from Madame Marie de Sevigne, a noted letter writer from the 17th century.

A very welcoming room that has just about everything: natural light, comfortable seating, plants, and a fireplace. Those chairs look so inviting.

Another view of the outdoors.

Periodicals were not available during the year of the pandemic. Too easy to transmit the virus, of course. Next time I make a visit to a library, I must remember to ask what was done: subscriptions cancelled? issues stacked up and put out for public use all at once? something else?

 In the entry, I noticed as I was leaving these "Tween/Teen Art Bags" for older kids to enjoy. The libraries I've visited during the pandemic have all found ways to provide activities for patrons of all ages, from virtual story times for the youngest, to curbside pick-up and virtual craft programs for adults. They have all found ways to keep the connections alive.

And this display shows that their efforts have been appreciated.

7/19/2021