557 Whipple Free Library, New Boston, New Hampshire

Many libraries in New Hampshire are right on the town square, or close by. In New Boston, I found a stealth library hiding in plain sight. Turn off the main road and drive down a hill to a cluster of buildings. Ah, not the library; these are, I believe, town offices. Make another turn, go down another hill and across a bridge, and yes, I have found the library. [Thanks to a tip, I now know that the library used to be in the center of town. The current building was erected in 2010, and the original is now the home of the Historical Society. An example of Yankee recycling.]

Next to the official sign is a special sign that both identifies the library and honors the blue heron that hangs out around here. This sign was created by Girl Scouts; I understand that in addition to making the sign, they took the feathers/tiles to a farmers' market and gave folks a chance to add a personal message before the final assembly. Nice job, Scouts!

I walked back the way I had come in order to get a picture that puts the library in context.

I was walking across the parking lot, prepared to head inside, when I spotted this sign: MILLRACE PATH ON THE SOUTH BRANCH. I was in no rush so I went a bit further...

...and found this cluster of log "chairs," Two sizes and backrests: perfect!

And here is the beginning of the path. If I'd had a trekking pole with me I might have given it a try. Instead, it's now time to look at the library.

See the cupola on the left end, with three small windows on each side? Let's look a bit closer.

Yes indeed, a wind vane in the shape of--what else?--a blue heron!

[Slight diversion: there are two solar panel arrays. They are between the town buildings and the library. I forgot to ask which buildings they serve.] 

The entrance to the library has some classic touches on a thoroughly modern building. Those bits of yellow are left behind by whoever put the fall treatment on the grounds. I'm happy to report that none of the chemicals listed on the form were checked; instead,, "Organic" was written in and checked at the end of the list.

After "checking in" and getting permission for pictures, I headed left and discovered the children's area. There is room for plenty of supplies and projects, and it appears to be designed for easy clean up.

Nearby there is tiered seating for the youngsters who come here for programs. [We'll see later that there is also space for larger programs.]

There are many quilts of different styles throughout the library.

Nothing but felt, some padding, and buttons are needed to make this little tree.

I was amused by an exhortation to turn off the TV and read a book...right next to the shelves of media.

Masking to limit Covid exposure was still in effect here, as was the practice of using alternate computers for social distancing. We're in an awkward time in this pandemic, with policies changing from week to week and place to place.

I remember a program in a Minnesota library with the Okey Dokey Brothers leading 50 or so kids in a rousing chorus of the Alphabet Song. The musicians challenged the kids to "Sing it so everyone in the library can hear you," and they certainly did. Not everyone was happy about it. We could have used a sign like this one. After reminding us that "Our library is a bustling community center. And sometimes it gets NOISY," it suggests that if you need a quiet place, speak to the staff and they'll see what they can do to accommodate you.

In the heart of the adult area there is a delightful "living room," nicely decorated for the holidays.

A fireplace and a grandfather clock are common features of library décor. I once thought that grandfather clocks were endemic to New Hampshire, but you'd be amazed how many survived the difficult trip to the Midwest, including Minnesota.

That lineup of classic books is matched on three other shelves, I believe.

This is a look at teen space. The white table to the left holds sign-up sheets for a variety of book clubs for different ages.

The blue object on the table is a plastic backpack with books and "toys" for teens.  I looked on the library website and didn't find any info about this. Would someone like to make a comment at the end of the post, please?

The teen area has two computers, but as in the adult area, only one is available for use.

I'm heading back out now. These glass-fronted display cases hold LEGO creations by kids on the left and Nutcracker figures on the right.

I had barely glanced here when I came in, but now I'll take a look at the community meeting space.

What caught my eye this time was a cat quilt. I must be a genuine "cat lady," since I spotted this across the length of the room!

Back in the children's area I said we'd see another "program space" for kids. Well, here it is, with a large rug and some chairs. I was told that a program had just ended before I arrived. This strikes me as a good idea, a rug that can be rolled up and moved to where it is needed. This allows for smaller programs in the kids' area and the use of the larger space when it is needed.

More quilts, created by various groups. When I got to the one on the right, with the flag, I learned that quilts were made to commemorate New Boston's 250 years, 1763 to 2013

      

A smaller meeting room is available down the hall. The blue-paneled features along the far wall appear to be some kind of special storage.

Past the meeting rooms, staff room, restrooms, into the vestibule, and I'll be on my way back to Concord.

Something very rare occurred after I published the post: a librarian very kindly provided some additions and clarifications. Thank you so much...and Read On!

"The pictures are wonderful. Thanks for sharing them with us. The cluster of buildings near the library are the Post Office and some local businesses - Pizza Place, Beauty Salon and a local photographer's studio.

The solar panels are for the library. The blue bag in the Teen Nook is a Teen Peace Pack which is part of a traveling collection from the New Hampshire State Library. We have had it for 2 months and it is time for it to move on.
The biggest quilt in the community Room is commemorating the 250th anniversary of New Boston and is protected by safety glass. The others quilts in that same area were donated by a local teacher who did them with her Kindergarten classes over the years.
The quilt in the Children's Room is one of a set of four, one for each season. The set was made by the fourth grade classrooms in 2016 through an "Artist in Residence" program with a local quilter. The fourth grades chose to donate them to the library where they could be enjoyed by the whole town.
Lastly, the blue-paneled features in the smaller meeting room house our collection of New Hampshire town histories. Barb Ballou, Children's Librarian

12/13/2021

556 Daland Memorial Library, Mont Vernon, New Hampshire

Recall that my last visit ended with my camera out of commission, so I couldn't make the other visits planned for that trip--including this one. Well, here I am with another day of nice weather, a fully-functioning camera; it's time to catch up.

This is New Hampshire: sign posts are granite.

Libraries provide many varied services these days. In contrast to this sign, there seemed to be no requirement to wear a mask. I was the only person present who was masked.

The building is not handicapped-accessible, but that will change. The railings on either side of the steps gave me the help I needed.

 

Oops, before going in let's step back to the street corner and get the long view of this rather unusual Arts and Crafts building.

Then grab this view by the entrance. The library is thoroughly decorated for the season. The library where I worked for eight years eschewed holiday decorations lest someone be offended. Personally, I spilt the difference this year with two electric candles in my front windows. I guess it comes down to knowing your patrons and not going overboard either way.

The holiday centerpiece of the children's area is this handsome dollhouse, a recent gift to the library. It's on a rotating platform. (Sshhh, the kids don't know that.) The house is not electrified, but small dome lights in the ceilings of the various rooms make a good substitute. The picture book bins on either side are on casters. They had been pushed back to make room for a program and the librarian was in the process of moving them to their regular positions.

I was told that the children's librarian, who was not present, is the person behind many of the decorative touches, like the cut-out houses that line the window sills.

Interesting details abound. Here we see a creature (otter? mink?) with a holiday hat and scarf, a wall-mounted lamp (one of several), and one of the two guitars on display.

I haven't done the trees justice. Here is one of the pair. I learned that the trees were originally cardboard and intended for several weeks of a summer program. They proved so popular that they were reconstructed in plywood. Here they are decorated for winter; they will change with the seasons.

OK, the gremlins are at work again. This is the rear view of the dollhouse; tip your head 90 degrees to the right. I do know how to rotate pictures, but only while they are in the camera. So I went to the camera to find and rotate this one and...it's not there. Sorry about that. Perhaps you can go see it for yourself, but don't delay; it's only there for Christmas.

The Arts and Crafts-style library was built in 1909 with a generous donation by a local widow. According to my notes, her name was Sophia Daland. She was wise enough to include money to keep the library going. [At about the same time period, Andrew Carnegie was funding libraries all over the place. He knew the importance of operating funds, but his approach was to require the town requesting money for a library to promise to provide ongoing support.] In that era (1909) libraries provided reading space and "stacks" of books. The stacks were always behind the librarian's desk; no patron browsing!

The stacks here hold all sorts of treasures, including the borrowable telescope.

Evidence of the expectation of patron browsing is this eye-catching book that seems to be trying to jump into a reader's hands.

Everything has its place and no space is wasted!

     

  

The stacks are steadied by metal rods long the top of the shelves. 

Back in 1909 the library was heated by this fireplace. Light was provided by the windows along both sides of the reading area. Hours of operation were based on hours of light for reading. In the last 100+ years conveniences have been added: heating, electricity, running water...and air conditioning!

No electricity? Plenty of natural light...at least during the daylight hours.

Here's the festive little fellow again.

If I were a betting woman, I would bet that the children's librarian is a guitarist.

Look closely at the packages and you'll see how modern the dollhouse is.

I realize now that it might be a good thing that I didn't get here a month ago; I wouldn't have seen the dollhouse!

12/13/2021