569 Lane Memorial Library, Hampton, New Hampshire

 I've been to the libraries in Hampton Falls and North Hampton; now it's time for the library in Hampton, which is known as the Lane Memorial Library.

At first glance I would guess that this is a Carnegie library. Not a bad guess, but in fact Mr. Carnegie and the people of Hampton were unable to come to an agreement of terms. A local resident then stepped up and offered to build a library in honor of his father, Joshua A. Lane. For the details, go to the library website and check out the Hampton History tab.

A private lending library became Hampton Public Library in 1881. The building dates to 1910, with an addition in 1985.

The broad stairs suggest the source of knowledge set upon a hill. 

An accessibility ramp is to the right.

During the days of strict Covid-19 pandemic policies, borrowed items at libraries had to be returned to specific spots so that they could be sanitized or quarantined. This sign indicates that in this respect, things are back to normal, and all material, books and media, go in the book drop. Please!

I don't know whether the limitation on the teen room is related to the possibility of
general chaos or social distancing.

Policies for the teen room are very specific and spelled out clearly. 

These are two policies that I have not seen in any other library. It's quite possible that they exist but I've not seen them posted so clearly. They seem sensible. Though they are posted near the teen area,
I assume they apply to the whole library.

The collection of Young Adult or Teen books is quite extensive.

I like the way the category signs extend over the aisles in the non-fiction stacks. I've seen these before, but it's been quite a while.

This is a larger print collection of reference works than I've seen in a while. Out of the picture to the right there is a sizable collection of Chilton automotive manuals!

Did you see the last post, number 568, with the sign that says if you bring a puzzle, you must take a puzzle? Here's another solution to the too-many-puzzles problem (if it is a problem): All of the bottom shelves in the stacks display puzzles. I like this because I've spent too much time shelving books on bottom shelves. Not a pleasant task for a tall old lady with bad knees!

There is an impressive assortment of recorded books.

This sign caught my eye for several reasons. I'd never heard of this author, although I worked at a library for eight years. And I wondered why his books would be in storage. I didn't see other signs like this, though I admit I didn't look very hard. In any case, I have taken out one of his books from my local library. I've started it, and so far, I like it. 

The telescope is ready to be checked out, along with its yellow backpack. I've  learned that the Astronomical Society started this program in New Hampshire in 2008, and it's now in effect in more than 300 libraries in 20 states.

It's much easier to browse music CDs on front-facing racks like these than on shelves 

where one must try to read titles on the narrow spines.

It's not unusual for rooms with historical collections to have limited access.

But it is a bit unusual for a room with the door standing open to have "no access."

Just what I needed...a reminder that I must to finish up my taxes. 

I  always try to remember to "look up" before I leave a library. In this case, it paid off when I spotted a couple of flying animals. I believe they had something to do with last summer's reading program. And they were brought out again for Twosday, 2/22/2022. Two animals wearing two-twos (tutus). I like the way these people think!

OK, we saw the flying animals, but something is missing from my visit: the children's area. The stairway has a delightful mural all the way down. Animals on land...

...and animals under the sea.

The Reading Nook is behind the librarian's desk and the murals continue.

I was told what is in the backpacks, but I've forgotten. I believe that there are others that normally hang on the wooden pegs. Puppets, perhaps? Those cushions look more inviting that carpet squares, though I do my best to stay off the floor. 

There are a lot of these World of Reading kits. My guess is that these would be very appealing to emerging readers. I've never seen kits like this before. I googled them and saw that they are strong on superheroes.

Once those emerging readers have emerged, there are plenty of books to keep them reading.

 What happened? That's it for the children's area? The truth is that I got chatting with the librarian and then...it was time to leave. I basically forgot that I hadn't finished my tour. My bad. Perhaps I'll be in the area again and can finish up properly.

3/18/2022

568 North Hampton Public Library and Cultural Center, North Hampton, New Hampshire

 

This is the first library I've visited that has "Cultural Center" right in its name, though of course any public library is by its nature a center of culture in a community. I like the crisp lines of the new building, with the broad curve of the walk that serves as a ramp for accessibility.

I believe that flag etiquette calls for the flag to be flown only in daylight unless it is lighted. The small solar power generator attached to the flagpole will, I expect, allow the flag to be flown day and night.

The unpainted wooden entrance reminds me of a library I visited in Montana a few years ago. I'm sure that if I put them side by side the resemblance would be less, but I found it striking.

This memorial bench anchors one end of a long patio. My guess is that other furnishings will join it when the weather warms a bit. Well, warms a bit more consistently; the day I was here was the first T-shirt day of the season!

Keep your books out too long? Don't worry; put the amount you consider appropriate in the "Conscience Jar." Keep your DVDs too long? That's a different story!

The workroom is visible through interior windows. I like this for its transparency and for staff's ability to keep an eye on the rest of the library.

Here we go into the long, light children's room.

These chunky, many-colored blocks look just right for the youngest visitors. It's good to see the manipulatives coming back into use after their banishment during the Covid-19 days. Let's hope they can stay out.

Thomas the Train Engine is ready with an elaborate layout for imaginative play.

 

The bins on the far shelves hold thematic picture books with labels designating the theme. Portable bins are a nice idea if a kid wants to see a bunch of books about, say, cats. Go through the books in the bin (perhaps on the floor), make selections, put the bin back. That's one way it could work. In my experience, the "putting back" doesn't always go quite as planned.

Boy, did I have this one wrong when I first published this post! Fortunately, the library Director read this and sent me a message. I had said that the desk below is a minimalist workstation for the youth librarian. In hindsight, that was silly. I wish more readers would set me straight. Here, I'll let the Director tell you herself:  "One thing that wasn't exactly accurate is that the desk you saw in the children's room wasn't the office desk for the youth librarian. That was the circulation desk where work can also be done by staff working in the children's areas. The youth librarian's workspace is in the workroom and looks into the children's area through the open door to the work room. She has a work space all set up in there along with workspaces for 2 other staff members. We love our new library!"

Note that she said "one thing" was not entirely accurate. I cringe to imagine what other errors may be lurking in this post and the other 566! Well, ten years (almost) since I started this, and I never aimed for perfection.

I used to see these "big books" frequently. When I saw this one, I realized that they are pretty rare now. If you're going to have big books, you need a rack like the one shown here to hold the book while you read.

Here in North Hampton we're not far from the Atlantic Ocean, thus the ocean theme which you may have spotted in other places as well as here.

I don't think I've seen a three-lobed table like this, though I've seen many tables of varied designs. And I like the design of the wooden chairs, too. Elements like these are not only practical, but they also help kids broaden their understanding of concepts, like "what is a chair?"

These shelves hold a variety of toys and games. I was told that families will sometimes come in for extended visits and use these for a family playtime.

I took a picture of this sign because I did not know: I'm guessing that it means the little jelly beans, like Jelly Bellies, not the larger ones that were standard in my youth.

Leaving the children's area we come to the focal point fireplace, a standard in almost every library. I like the combination of tradition (fireplace, chairs) with modern (design of the fireplace and chairs).

This is one view of the Teen's room. Once again, interesting chairs.

Signs often make me wonder whether they indicate a problem that needed a solution.

I didn't keep track of how many meeting rooms are available, but this is not the only one.

And what caught my eye here in the staff break room? Easy chairs! Definitely upscale from any library where I have worked!

This counter is one-half of the available space for laptops.

As always, I applaud natural light and outside views. 

One corner holds the "library of things," which includes a ukulele, a sewing machine, and materials to get started on knitting or bird watching.

 

   

The largest space available is a program room for up to 65 persons.

Finally, a sign that really tickled my funny bone.  Libraries that have puzzles for library use or to check out usually have many, many puzzles, bursting from shelves. But not here. "If you LEAVE puzzles you must TAKE puzzles. We DO NOT have room for more puzzles."

3/18/2022