574 Byron G. Merrill Library, Rumney, New Hampshire

 My trip started at a very small library in the heart of a small town. My next stop was at this brick and stone classic in a somewhat larger town, about 2.5 times the population. 

Based on an engraved stone set into the brick front walk, I believe the library dates to 1904. 

As is true of many libraries from the early 1900s, this library prompts the question "Is this a Carnegie library?" No, it's not. 

As you can tell from the library's name, this building is in honor of a local resident, Byron G. Merrill. I didn't get the details into my notes; perhaps someone will leave a message and fill me in?

These granite benches that face each other across the walkway 

are in memory of Merill B. and Donald G. Keneson.

       

Finally, here we are inside. I was welcomed by the library Director who made herself available to point out features I might have missed and to answer the questions I thought of. [Not the ones I hadn't thought of, of course, and they are always many!]

This is a portion of the children's area. Note the large bin of Lego on the right. And those wonderful windows!

At first glance this looks like a card catalog, but the drawers are of several sizes, none of them the right size for book cards. And instead of rods to hold cards in place, each drawer has a label holder and pull tab. I discussed these with the Director and learned that when she arrived here the drawers were used for miscellaneous storage. There is a matching cabinet on the opposite side of the library, with drawers of other sizes. Some of the drawers on the other side are just the right size to keep DVDs out of the way...and out of sight.

Picture books are accessible in bins labeled by the author's name.

Eeyore is sitting in front of an ersatz birch tree. He'll stay nice and warm by that radiator!

Here's a closer look at the Legos, but never mind those; look at that rug! Children's areas in libraries usually have educational rugs: alphabet, animals, perhaps even a world map. Here, the kids have, well, let's call them "serious" rugs. The rugs fit the classic features of the building.

The teen area is identified by the beanbag chairs, and I think I see the Harry Potter series on the far wall.

Here's one for the "I never saw one of those before" category: a handsome hanging light fixture that surely dates to the time when the library was built.

Shelving like this, with wide sliding shelves, used to be for large reference books, like atlases. These have found a new purpose, holding comics and graphics.

I was told that most of the furnishings are original. (Not those beanbags in the teen area, however!)

The library is divided into matching halves when you enter. This curved seating area has a mirror image on the other side, to the left.

I wonder if anyone has used this feature to stage Romeo and Juliet?

The library uses book cards for check-outs. I've found several New Hampshire libraries continuing this practice, and why not? If it works, use it!

This handsome trunk is an intriguing addition to the "front room.".

Here's the other set of drawers, with the DVDs.

The table and chairs are original, I believe.

I know I missed a lot, but I was running out of steam. And I may have been a bit intimidated by the service desk, which is a classic like the one I grew up with, where staff stayed on one side, patrons on the other. And I never got a picture of it because of my "no people in pictures" rule.

I know that there is a lift, installed some time ago for ADA compliance. 

When I went back to my car I saw at this angle what I think is an accessible entrance and the lower end of the lift. And as I drove away I realized that I had missed most of the adult areas! Well, there are other libraries to visit in this neck of the woods; I may have to return some day.

4/20/2022

573 Hebron Library, Hebron, New Hampshire

My gps had a mind of its own today. I carefully put in the address, 8 Church Lane, and headed out for a beautiful drive. The gps was sure that I meant a different location, number 8 on some other street. (I've forgotten its name.) I got back on the road and drove a short way to a cluster of classic white buildings. One of them housed a store, and I asked for directions. Well Doh! The clerk walked me to the door and pointed to the left; to the library, "Where all those cars are." [She did this very nicely, without making me feel like an idiot.]

It is said that good things come in small packages. This is not the smallest library I've visited, but it fits the category. If you look closely at the sign, you will see that the book club is meeting on April 20. My visit? April 20. I walked in and found the book club members seated around a table. This is a first for me. [Though I do recall visiting the Dunbarton, NH, library several years ago and being strongly recruited for a book club meeting that was supposed to start in about 15 minutes. Only one member was there. Someone reported that a second member had been reached by phone and was in her PJs. But she would get dressed and be right over! Though the brownies were tempting, I begged off because my sister was waiting for me. One more way that sisters can be handy.]

The librarian greeted me and detached herself from the club members in order to learn what I was up to and point out a few features. Then she went back to the club and let me roam.

What she wanted to be sure I saw was the newly renovated children's room, which honors the memory of Isobel Blodget, a former school teacher and librarian. The room now features a delightful mural, shown here. 

My impression that the children's room is well-used is based largely on information that the artist, Phyllis Rockwell, plans to add a mural to the facing wall--after the spring break for the schools. It is a small space, and would not accommodate an artist and a bunch of kids. 

There is a good collection of books for kids of various ages, and the Hebron library participates in a state-wide Inter-library Loan program which makes the collections of libraries across the state available for loan.

Hebron is located on the north end of Newfound Lake, and I drove pretty much the whole length of the lake to get here. This gave me a good chance to see that there are many family camps and kids' summer camps. So it makes sense that the children's room theme is camping. The table top and the rug are two examples...

...and even the window valance picks up the theme.

The book club was still meeting, so I quietly took a few pictures of the adult area of the library, on the side away from the meeting. This unusual couch is waiting for a reader. And someone has a canvas bag just like one of mine!

Shelves are labeled and hold various mementoes on the top.

This chair caught my eye--how could it not? 

Curtains at the window give the library a cozy, home-like appeal.

The top shelves hold historic volumes that are available when needed and decorative when not.

The screened door was propped open. It's a real classic, with a heavy-duty spring. It brought me memories of running out the kitchen door in summertime with my mother's voice calling "Don't slam the door..." But of course, with that spring, how could one not slam it?

Every bit of space is used. Here's a reading corner near the doorway, with a quilt on the back wall.

Although the library is small, safety is respected, as seen in this Fire Exit Safety Plan. It's very rare that I've seen something like this, especially in a small library.

Since the librarian was busy with the book club, I took my chance to get a picture of her "office," clearly the work space of a busy person. 

 And I don't want to end this without mentioning that the library website has a very detailed policy for acquiring and weeding material. And the library has two computers for patron use, as well as wifi for those with laptops.

4/21/2022

572 Howe Library, Hanover, New Hampshire

Now for a change of pace. The Howe Library is a large town or small city library. Hanover is the home of Dartmouth College, but if Dartmouth is "gown," the Howe Library is "town." [I don't know whether that distinction really applies, but it certainly did in Berea, Ohio, where I went to college.]

The library could not be much different in design from our last two small-town visits! I do like those benches. In my opinion, the world needs more benches. This approach is from a small parking area down to the main entrance on the lower level.

In contrast to the exterior, the first space I encountered has a classic look. It's nice to see the window shades. Natural light is wonderful, but it often needs to be controlled. Those blue bags on the far wall are book club kits, ready to go.

Here's another seating area with natural light and outside views.

The Café coffee shop is well-stocked...

...and provides a variety of seating.

According to my notes, the red stickers on the spines of these books indicate Graphic Novels. My impression is that there is an especially large collection of these.

Most of one wall is available as a community bulletin board. There are abundant possibilities posted.

A sign at the "name your price" book sale assures you that they really mean it's up to you how much you pay.

A multi-use space provides seating and computers.

Here's something I've never seen before in over 570 libraries. In the background you can see hanging folders holding newspapers. My left hand is showing you what these folders are like. Sturdy plastic hooks hold even a heavy Sunday edition. On beyond Pendaflex!

Here's a close up look. This picture acknowledges that newspapers do not remain pristine during use.

More seating, more light, and now a large plant. If I were sitting, this is where I'd head.

After the café and the casual seating areas it's good to see space for quiet study.

It's been a while since I've visited a library that had three levels and required maps!

It appears that the quiet reading area is closed. And don't worry about the elevator being out of order; there's another elevator available.

      

Here's another clever use for an unneeded card catalog: remove the front of each drawer and use the resulting pieces as small plaques to acknowledge library benefactors. 

I often used to see art available for borrowers, but not so much any more. Until here.

We're nearing the children's area. I'm a fan of building sets but I'd never seen this one. I looked for it on line but nothing matched. My guess is that the box is from Archiquest but the building materials are something else. In any case, they look like fun.

A larger-than-life wise old owl welcomes us to the children's area.

The stairs were tempting, but I resisted. The black hooks at the bottom of the stairs seem to be for holding thematic backpacks. The one on the right is Hiking; the one on the left may be Pet Vet. The other two are Magnets and Sewing, a good variety. It's nice to see these available; it's even better to see that they are apparently in use.

My notes and my memory fail me; these are a couple of shots near the entrance to the kids area.

     

This reminds me of a very quick visit I made to the main library in 
Boston. The children's area there was overwhelmed with enormous fancy strollers jockeying for space. They could have used this sign!

A fourth grade class created these mosaic versions of Ming pottery. I was glad to see the variety. I used to volunteer at a school where the art teacher put a lot of stress on making pictures just like hers.

Games and puzzles ready to be checked out.

The second library in a row where I saw children's magazines.

It appears that these bags hold ten books to check out at once when you're working on reading "1000 Books Before Kindergarten." This makes me wonder, do kids here get credit for reading (or having read to them) any books at all, or just books from the blue bags? And do they get credit for the same book more than once?

 This is cute, adult and child-sized rockers.

I don't know the story behind Lauren's Place, but I'm glad I spotted it.

A large program area is ready for messy crafts. Judging from the number of seats, programs here must be very popular.

A play area seems to have access to the outdoors.

This bin caught my eye as I was leaving. I've seen bins like this before, but always with gray canvas! The features I noticed were the springs mounted on each corner. This allows books to be added without dropping very far. The platform lowers as the weight of books is added. And of course, it rises as they are removed, so the library staff don't have to reach all the way to the bottom. Except, of course, to check that nothing slipped under the movable platform!

After I left the library I walked down a side street to see if there was another entrance. All I found was a parking lot (for staff, perhaps).

And that ends another three-library day. Where will I head next? I have some ideas, but you'll have to wait and see.

4/5/2022