561 Tracy Memorial Library, New London, New Hampshire

I hadn't been to New London in a very long time, and my last reason to be here was for the birth of my daughter, more than half a century ago. It must have been a college town even then, since it is the home of Colby-Sawyer College, founded in 1837, but I don't remember seeing any part of the college back in the day. I found a current picture of the hospital, and it certainly didn't look like the building I vaguely remember. Perhaps the red-brick building in the back of the picture?

Never mind all that history...I'm here to visit a library.

In addition to the long ramp pictured above, access is easy with power-assist doors.

This  nook near the entrance provides a small seating area and a display honoring donors who contributed to the major remodeling in 1990.

The library has many rooms with varied functions. The one shown here is, I think, one of the largest and has a handsome fireplace at each end.

Each fireplace has a pair of unusual andirons. I'm sure there is a story about these.

What really caught my attention in this room was the large number of matching pieces of furniture.The picture shows the details that are found in each piece. According to my notes, there are two small tables, one large table, a mid-sized table, and the round table shown here. I'm sure these must go back to the early days of the library when it opened in this building in 1926. [The library itself dates back to 1801.]

The room with all these matching pieces is home to periodicals, which are arrayed on the table I'm calling mid-sized.

What caught my eye here is the case full of puzzles. One of the puzzles is called "I Am Moose," which seems to be a cousin of the gift I got in my family's Yankee Swap on Christmas. Mine is "I Am Woodpecker." No, I haven't put it together yet; I first have to work out an agreement with the cats.

These stairs to -- wherever -- are in a small room that seems to be teen or young adult space. My guess is that the Welcome sign is related to the re-opening of the library after it was closed for the COVID pandemic

      

      

This hall is very attractive and welcoming with multiple shelves for book displays.

Media in the foreground, Middle Grade fiction in the distance.

I've seen many variations on signs related to cell phones. This one stands out for its acceptance of reality!

It's pretty standard these days to see alternate computers out of service. The goal is to maintain six feet of social distance.

Website  history says that the library went fully automatic in 1996. This large card catalog would have been phased out at that time; the drawers--the ones I checked--are now empty. The telescope to the left is one of the telescopes donated by the New Hampshire Astronomy Society. I believe the goal is to have a telescope available for borrowing in every New Hampshire library.

I remembered to "look up" and spotted the interesting ceiling with exposed beams. I imagine that this was the result of the roof remodel in 1997. 

I've lost track of where I am in my notes, but these two pictures are representative of spaces throughout the library.

      

These handsome curved windows are in a large meeting room. I was not supposed to be in here, but I was allowed to take a picture and get out--thank you! I believe these windows achieve that curve by using multiple small panes, unlike the library in Wilton, New Hampshire, where the glass is actually curved.

I'm now heading downstairs to the children's library. The stairs are a broad spiral, enhanced by a wonderful mural.

Here's a detail from that mural.

Many of the libraries I've visited have outdoor spaces. This is a view to the outdoor program area from the children's library.

This is part of the children's collection. Noteworthy children's author Tomie dePaola lived in New London for many years until his death in 2020. The tall cabinet with the blue paint holds a collection of most (perhaps all) of his 260 children's books, some in languages other than English.

Here's a close-up of part of the dePaola collection.

Some of the holiday decorations are extending the season. Isn't that a neat shelf?

The table is ready for a kids' art project. The cubbies along the back wall hold board books for the youngest patrons.

Here is the service desk in the children's area. The Plexiglass barrier on the left is a symbol of the pandemic, and is an example of what is now found in every business and office. I wonder if Plexiglass will remain when the pandemic is over, or will just be part of the scene from now on. 

The collection is extensive, and the shelves are tall.

It's time for me to leave, back up the curving stairs and with one more look at the mural. There's more to be seen here, and I was invited to return. But there are so many libraries to visit! Intentional re-visits are rare, but not unheard of. I'll see.

 1/27/2022